Hi everyone. I'm back. Sorry that this took so long to update but school was horrible and I had to study for my finals and that took up all my time plus all of the essays I had to right that weren't part of the finals so I barely had time to write. As I'm sure some of you can relate I also had some boy trouble so that put me into a funk. This entire chapter has been pieced together over the past three months and I've spent the last week smoothing it over and making sure it flows with something resembling order.

But now its summer and I'm back and ready to write to my hearts content and I have so many plans for this and my other story that I don't know how I'm going to make everything fit together. At this rate you will be getting sequels.

To everyone who wanted this to be Harry/Hermione, I'm sorry but that is not going to happen. Now before you tune out this isn't going to be a Harry/Ginny pairing either. I've already mentioned the person who I want to pair him up with and it will happen later in the story. So try and figure it out and tell me who you think it is in a review. It won't play a big part in this story but in the sequel, maybe.

I NEED A BETA READER. If you are interested and have a beta account then please make a note of it in a review and I will get back to you. Thank you.

Now without further ado,

ON WITH THE STORY.


Harry was sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table by the time Ron and Hermione arrived. He motioned them over and watched as they reluctantly walked in his direction. They sat down across from him and just looked at him.

" I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I had no right to yell at you this afternoon at lunch. You two are my best friends and I don't want to let a little argument get in the way of that. I hope you will forgive me." Harry gave Hermione a little puppy dog look, even going as far as too stick out his bottom lip.

Hermione tried to suppress a grin but failed. " Yes, Harry, I forgive you. Just stop taking your anger out on us. We're on your side you know."

" I know Hermione and I appreciate it so much. I probably wouldn't have made it as far as I have without you guys." He looked over at Ron who still hadn't said anything. " Do you forgive me Ron?"

Ron glared at him for a moment before nodding. " Yeah I forgive you. If you ever do that again though I will curse you six ways from Sunday. Got it?"

Harry chuckled and nodded. " Yeah. I got it. Thanks for the warning."

Ron smiled at him and went back to eating. Harry followed his example and soon all three were eating and talking. Harry did his best to ignore the whispering that was going on around him but found that it was hard to. Hermione noticed this and put her knife and fork down.

" This is ridiculous. Lets get out here." said Hermione, standing up.

Harry smiled at her in thanks and put down his own utensils and stood up. Ron looked sadly at his plate before he too stood up. The three walked out of the hall, ignoring the stares they received.

" Thanks for that Hermione." said Harry. " I don't know how much more of that I could have taken."

Hermione gave him a gentle smile. " I understand Harry. We both do. You have to understand though they have been listening to the lies the Daily Prophet has been saying about you and Dumbledore all summer long. Before that we only had a few rumors about what had happened. Then Dumbledore says that You-Know-Who is back, that he killed Cedric and that you fought him. Even you have to admit that is a bit hard to accept."

Harry only nodded, to deep in thought to respond. He hadn't thought that his first day would have been so stressful. 'I may have done it once before, but that doesn't make it any easier.' He missed the worried looks Ron and Hermione gave each other. He not only had a ton of homework that needed to be done but he also had the beginnings of a headache starting above his right eye.

Harry noticed that they were in the Fat Lady's corridor and was surprised they had gotten there without his noticing.

" Mimbulus mimbletonia." said Hermione. The portrait swung open to reveal the hole behind and the three of them walked in.

The common room was empty, as everyone was at dinner. Ron and Hermione took there favorite armchairs by the fire while Harry took the couch. He stared into the fire, watching the flames dance about, he suddenly felt heavy and lethargic. He closed his eyes and let the soft crackling of the fire lull him into a light sleep.

Dream

Harry stood in front of the veil. It fluttered innocently in an invisible breeze. He could hear faint voices coming from the other side. Suddenly the scene changed to the fight at the Department of Mysteries. He tried to move forward but his legs wouldn't follow his command.

" Come on you can do better then that!" Sirius shouted.

Harry watched in horror as Bellatrix's spell hit Sirius in the chest, sending him backwards into the veil.

The scene changed once again. He was now in the drawing room at Grimmauld Place. Sirius rose out of the bottom drawer and slowly walked toward him.

" It's your fault I died. If you had just listened to Hermione I would still be alive."

Harry shook his head in denial. This wasn't real. It couldn't be real.

" If it wasn't for you none of this would have ever happened. Lily and James would still be alive and we would all be happy. Sometimes I just wish you had never been born."

" No! Sirius!" whispered Harry.

" Why did you do it Harry?"

Harry spun around and saw Hermione and Ron standing behind him.

" Why?" Hermione asked again.

" I was almost killed because you didn't think about the consequences of your actions. If I had died it would have been all your fault. Just like it was all your fault with Cedric.

Harry didn't even try to stop the tears from trailing down his face.

" I was almost driven insane because I followed you into the Department of Mysteries. I was attacked by brain s because of you."

"I'm sorry. I never meant for any of you to get hurt because of me."

Sirius stepped forward. " Sorry doesn't cut it. Every thing bad that happens to those around you is all your fault."

" No." whispered Harry.

" No."

" No."

" NO." Harry quickly sat up, startling both Ron and Hermione.

" Harry are you okay?" asked Hermione worriedly. She set her book in her lap and started at him.

Harry jumped up from the couch and stared at her with wide eyes.

" Harry, mate, you don't look so good." Ron said.

His gaze shifted to his best friend and Ron was surprised to see a deep amount of sorrow and regret in his eyes.

Harry gazed at his two best friends, both were surprised at the amount of fear, sadness and regret that they held. It was something neither had seen in there friends eyes before.

Hermione stood up and walked closer to him. " Harry are you okay? Ron's right you don't look to good."

Harry stepped backwards keeping an equal distance between them. He gave a shaky nod.

" Yeah I'm fine. Listen guys I need to be alone for a while I'm going to go do my homework in the Library."

He picked up his book bag and looked back at them and gave them a small smile. They had worried looks on there faces and it made him happy to know that they cared as much as they did.

" Don't worry guys I just need to be alone for a bit. I'll be back by curfew." At Hermione's doubtful look he gave a small smile. " I promise."

He walked out of the common room and headed down the stairs to the library. Harry enjoyed the silence that filled the halls. It felt good to walk around and not have everyone staring at him. He concentrated and allowed his hair and eyes to return to there normal color, though he kept it short so it wouldn't be quite as messy.

He entered the library quietly knowing that Madame Pince would be around. He walked towards the potions section in search of a book on the uses of moonstone. After a few minutes of searching he had found three books that held potential in helping him. He lugged all three books back too a table and went to work on his essay. He spent the next two hours writing his essay. Finally at 8:45 he put his quill down, done writing for the night and finished with the essay. He would scan over it and make any necessary corrections in the morning. He shoved the essay into one the books and took them up to Madame Pince to check out. She gave him a hard look which he returned with a smile.

He walked out of the library with his books in his arms. He was walking down the corridor his thoughts on weather or not he could sneak away to the Room of Requirements when Ron and Hermione were in class Monday's and Wednesday's. He wanted to start practicing some of the Parseltounge magic and some of the spells in his dark arts books.

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the other person walking his way until they both ended up on the floor.

" Watch where you're going." A girl's voice said angrily.

" Sorry I didn't see you." Harry apologized.

" Figures I would crash into a bloody Gryffindor. They never watch where there going."

Harry looked up when he heard that, guessing that he had collided with a Slytherin. He looked up and confirmed his guess. Sprawled out on the floor was a fifth year Slytherin. He recognized her from his potions class but wasn't quite sure what her name was, though he thought it was Daphne but he wasn't sure.

" Here let me help you." Harry said. Both their things had fallen to the floor. He helped her gather her books and placed them back into her bag.

She watched him do this silently, a surprised look on her face

" Thanks Potter." she took her bag from him and slung it over her shoulder. " Didn't think Gryffindors had in them to be nice to a Slytherin."

Harry smirked at her and replied, " Didn't think Slytherins could be half decent to a Gryffindor."

She smirked back at him and walked away, leaving him staring after her.

He gathered up his books and walked in the general direction of the Gryffindor common room. He reached the entrance and gave the Fat Lady the password. At first glance the common room was empty, the fire was dying down and everything was quiet.

" I wondered when you were going to come back?"

Harry jumped slightly and whipped his head around to the corner. He let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. He walked over to the corner.

" You really shouldn't do that Hermione." Harry smiled at her. " You're going to give a person a heart attack someday."

Hermione set her book in her lap and stared up at him. Harry took the unspoken request and sat down across from her.

" Did you get what you wanted done?" she asked him.

Harry nodded and pulled out his potions essay. " Yeah. I finished my potions essay. Can you look over it for me?"

Hermione nodded and took the offered essay with a smile. She reached into her bag and pulled out a quill and a pot of ink. Harry sat and waited for her to finish. Ten minutes later she finished and handed it back over to him.

" That was really well written Harry. I couldn't find any anything wrong with it." she complimented with a smile.

Harry put the essay back into his bag and stood up intent on going to bed and getting at least six hours of sleep.

" Thanks Hermione. I should get to bed I didn't get much sleep last night." He had just put his foot on the bottom step when Hermione's voice stopped him.

" What are you hiding from Ron and I? From everybody?"

Harry turned around to face her. His face noticeably blank. " I don't know what you mean."

Hermione glared at him. " I think you do Harry. You've been acting strange all summer. I've seen you reading strange books. You go off by yourself. Also you being a Metamorphmagi. I looked it up, it's a gift you have from birth or soon after that, you don't just suddenly become one. You haven't showed any signs at all these last four years and I'm willing to bet you didn't as a child either. So either you didn't tell us for some reason or there is something else going on."

Harry gave her a hard stare, which she returned full force.

" First off, I don't have to share everything I'm reading with you or Ron and what I do in my spare time is my business not yours. After what happened last year with Cedric I have just needed more time to myself to sort things out. As for me being a Metamorphmagus, how I just found out about the ability is my business not yours."

" I'm just worried about you and so is Ron. You've been distant lately and we're worried about you is all. After what happened to you Harry I can understand you wanting to be alone but you really shouldn't wander off without someone with you. It's not safe." she argued.

" I understand Hermione." Harry walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. " I'm a big boy now I think I can handle my own problems but if I ever need help you'll be the first person I ask. Especially on homework."

Hermione laughed a little and pulled away. " Promise you're alright?"

Harry smiled at her and changed his hair to a bright orange. " I promise."

Hermione rolled her eyes at his antics and picked up her book, " Goodnight Harry."

" Night Hermione." he called back to her.

Harry watched her until she was out of sight then slumped against the wall. Keeping this secret was getting harder and harder. First Remus and probably Sirius both suspect something then Fred and George and now Hermione. If any more people call him on it he was going to crack. He was half a thought away of just spilling his guts to someone, Sylvia didn't count. Harry walked up the stairs and quietly got ready for bed.

As he stared up at the ceiling he let his thoughts drift to who could be trusted to keep his secret. Finally he let himself succumb to sleep.


Harry woke up the next day just as early as before. He showered and dressed quietly so as not to wake up his room mates. He gathered his books for Charms, Transfiguration, CoMC and Herbology. He grabbed his Occlumency book and poked Sylvia awake.

' Syl, are you going to come with me today?' he asked her quietly.

She raised her head and stared at him. ' No snake-child. I plan on going exploring today. I want to see what makes this school so important to you. I believe that you will be safe for the day without me.'

Harry nodded and ran his fingers down her back. ' I'll see you tonight then. Bye Sylvia.'

Harry walked down to the common room and sat in front of the window. He opened his Occlumency book and started reading. He sat quietly for over an hour reading and listening to the rain pelt against the window before he saw Hermione. He set his book down and smiled at her.

" Hello Harry." she said. She sat down across from him. " Where's Ron?"

" Probably just waking up if he's not still asleep." Harry gazed out the window.

They sat in silence as they waited for Ron to come down. Finally they saw him walking down the staircase.

They ate breakfast with little conversations between the three. The morning was filled with double Charms and double Transfiguration.

" It is important that you all remember," the diminutive Professor said, perched on his stack of books. " that these examinations will influence your life for years to come and if you don't already have a place for your future then you must start thinking about it now."

The rest of the class was just like Harry remembered, they reviewed and practiced the Summoning Charm and were given an almost cruel amount of homework.

Walking to Transfiguration he tuned out Ron and his complaints and thought about what books in his trunk he would find the information that he needed. In McGonagall's class they had to endure another O.W.L.s speech. Finally they were set to work on the Vanishing Spells. By the end of class Hermione and Harry were the only ones to properly vanish the snail they had been given. Each were given a ten-point bonus and were the only two not given homework.

Harry and Hermione ate lunch while Ron was in the library looking up the uses of moonstone. Some time during the morning the rain had stopped and the day had become cool with a bit of a breeze. They met with Ron out in the Entrance Hall and the three made there way down to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures. It was just how he remembered it, they started off with learning about bowtruckles. He was just glad that he was able to avoid getting scratched by the damn thing this time around. He was going to lose enough blood tonight he didn't need a walking twig to do it for him.

They walked towards the Greenhouses for Herbology. The class passed with talk about O.W.L.s. and replanting some of the more dangerous and temperamental plants. Assigned another essay the Golden Trio made there way into the Great Hall. He had barely sat down when he heard his name being shouted.

" Oy, Potter."

Harry looked up and saw Angelina Johnson walking towards him.

He gave her a smile. " Yes Angelina. Is there something you wanted?"

" Is there something I wanted," she said sarcastically. " I want to know why you landed yourself in detention every night this week. I told you that I wanted to do a tryout with the whole team."

Harry looked at her before standing and guiding her out to the Entrance Hall.

" Angelina I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get detention on Friday. Maybe we should postpone the tryouts until next week. I'm mean we've only been in school for two days. I really don't think that is enough time to give everyone who wants a chance to tryout to really prepare for it." His thoughts briefly turned to Ron, who he knew was going to tryout for Keeper.

Angelina gained a thoughtful look.

" I see what you mean Harry and it is a good idea. I'll talk to Hooch and see if we can book the pitch for tryouts next week. If I get them you better not get detention again." She leaned in close to him. " If you do I will make Oliver's practices seem like a vacation."

She turned on her heel and stalked back into the Great Hall, probably going to tell the rest of the team the change in plans. He quickly followed her example and sat down between Ron and Hermione. He ate a small meal before biding his friends goodbye and heading towards Umbridges office. When he knocked on the door she said, " Come in," in a sugary voice.

Harry walked in reluctantly, for the first time wondering why he was putting himself through this again. He looked around the room, eyeing all the pink, flowers and kittens, trying hard to keep his dinner from making a reappearance.

" Good evening, Mr. Potter."

Harry turned around and looked at Umbridge coldly. Fighting the urge to curse her into oblivion.

" Evening." he said stiffly.

He made his way to the small table that he had spent so much time at once before and sat down. He saw her stare at him before standing up, Blood Quill in hand.

She smiled down sweetly at him, " Now you're going to be doing lines for me Mr. Potter. I want you to write ' I must not tell lies,'" she told him sweetly.

" How many times do you want me to write it?" he asked, with as much politeness as he could muster.

" As long as it takes for the message to sink in."

Harry braced himself for the pain he knew was coming and started writing. He may have done this more times then he cared to remember but the feeling of a knife cutting into the back of his hand was still painful. He bit his tongue to keep from gasping in pain.

Darkness fell outside before Umbridge allowed him to stop. His hand was red raw and he could make out faint lines spelling out the words ' I must not tell lies.'

" Come here." she instructed. He walked over and stood in front of her desk. " Hand."

He held out his hand and she took it in her stubby fingers.

" Tut, tut, I don't think I have made much of an impression yet," she said, smiling at him, showing off her pointed teeth. " Well, we'll just have to do this again tomorrow."

Harry walked out of her office without a word. He walked up a few staircases before he stopped and slid down the wall. He clenched his fists tightly, ignoring the pain it caused his right hand. It was only the second day and he was ready to give up and confess everything to someone. He rested his head on his knees and let a few tears slip from behind tightly closed eyelids. He spent a few minutes trying to collect himself. Five minutes later he felt calm enough to continue onto the common room.


He spent the next morning at breakfast putting the finishing touches on his bowtruckle drawing and working on his essay for Charms. Hermione was next to him looking over her bowtruckle drawing making sure it was labeled properly.

" How was your detention last night?" she asked, turning her attention to him.

Harry looked down at his plate and hesitated in answering, finally he said, " Lines."

" At least its only lines and not something worse." she said consolingly.

Harry nodded and went back to staring at his plate, suddenly not all that hungry anymore.

" I'm going to class I'll see you in McGonagall's class." he grabbed his bag and stood up.

" Harry you barely ate anything." Hermione looked at him a hint of worry in her voice.

" I'm not hungry Hermione. I'll see you in class." Harry walked out of the Hall and headed upstairs for Transfiguration.

The rest of the day past with relative ease. He are a small lunch spending most of the time going over his bowtruckle picture making sure he had the labeling correct. By the end of the day McGonagall, Grubbly-Plank and Sinistra had given them even more homework, that he had no hope of completing by the time he was supposed to go to detention.

Dinner that night was relatively peaceful and it ended with some good news. Angelina found him and told him that she had been able to reschedule the pitch for next Saturday. She told him she expected players who wanted to remain on the team to put training before anything else.

" I can't believe how much homework we already have. Its only the second day."

" Well why didn't you work on your assignments last night." Hermione admonished.

" I fancied a walk." he answered shiftily.

Harry rolled his eyes and held back a snort. He knew exactly what Ron as doing but decided he would keep it to himself knowing Ron would tell them on his own time. Harry sooner rather then later.

Detention once again took up most of his night and even though he knew what to expect it still hadn't made the whole experience easier to handle. He never let Umbridge know how much pain he was really in. He had to admit though that his uncle's beatings were worse then anything that toad could dish out. He was once again let out after midnight and headed back to the common room. He was suddenly glad that he had finished his potions essay and the bowtruckle drawing. He sat down and started on the questions that McGonagall had given them and flipped through his Transfiguration text looking for the answers. After an hour he finally was able to get started on his paper for Professor Grubbly-Plank on the proper handling of bowtruckles. It was nearly two in the morning before he was able to drag himself to bed, where he fell on top of the covers fully clothed.

Thursday passed in a haze of tiredness. He was at least able to get something to eat at every meal though he didn't eat much anyway. His third detention went just as he remembered it. He didn't look at the back of his hand already knowing what he would see. The only good thing that happened was that after two hours Umbridge let him go early after seeing that the words 'I must not tell lies,' hadn't faded away.

He made his way up to the common room keeping a look out for Ron. Once he reached the seventh floor he saw him, hiding behind the statue of Lachlan the Lanky, clutching his broomstick.

" Ron. What are you doing?"

Ron jumped in surprise and spun around to face Harry.

" Er ¾ nothing. What are you doing?"

Harry raised an eyebrow at him. " I asked you first and tell the truth you have to have your broom for a reason."

Ron looked nervous. " I - well - well, okay I'll tell you, but don't laugh, ok?" he said, turning redder by the second. " I thought I would tryout for Gryffindor Keeper now that I have I decent broom and all."

Harry smiled, " I think that is a brilliant idea. It would be cool if you got on the team."

They set off together toward the common room. Harry remembered to keep his hands in his pockets, he didn't want a repeat of Ron finding out what was going on in his detentions with Umbridge. He walked upstairs and fell onto his bed, he briefly wondered where Sylvia was but figured she was out exploring the castle. He let his eyes close and drifted off to sleep.

The next day passed much to quickly for Harry. The only good thing was that Sylvia had returned that morning and told him they would need to talk. Harry had just raised an eyebrow at her and asked what they would need to talk about. She had only bared her fangs at him and told him not to question her. Harry had left the dorm laughing and wondering if she mothered him like that on purpose.

At five o'clock that evening he walked to Umbridge's office for his last detention.

" You know what to do Mr. Potter." Umbridge said, smiling sweetly at him.

Harry sat down at the table and started writing. He continued quietly, trying to ignore the pain that continually radiated from his hand. The entire back of his hand was covered in blood. It dripped down to his wrist and seeped through his fingers. Blood dotted the parchment as he continued to write his lines.

" Let's see if you've gotten the message yet, shall we?" said Umbridge, almost three hours after he started.

She moved towards him her chubby hands out stretched. As he held his hand out for her to inspect he felt a searing pain in his scar. He winced slightly at the feeling. He'd forgotten that would happen.

" It hurts doesn't it?" she asked quietly. " I think I've made my point, Mr. Potter. You may go."

Harry hurried out of the room and made his way quickly to the common room. He had a lot to think about. He knew Voldemort was upset about something, the pain in his scar proved that. He just didn't know what he was upset about, though he could take a few guesses. It probably involved the prophecy.

He made a quick stop in a bathroom to clean his hand off. He pulled out an old rag and wrapped it around his hand and pulled his sleeve down so that it wouldn't be noticeable. He entered the common room and saw that it was mostly full. The twins were by the fireplace handing out order forms for there jokes, Ron wasn't there so he was probably on the pitch and Hermione was asleep on the couch. Harry made his way upstairs to his dorm he shuffled through his trunk and pulled out a piece of parchment a quill and an ink pot.

He wanted to make a list of what he needed to do. He grabbed a book so he could write and laid down on his bed.

List of things I must Do

1. Visit Chamber of Secrets

2. Clean Chamber of Secrets

3. Start on Potions

4. Practice Thestral and Centaur forms

5. Start practicing wandless magic

6. Practice the dark arts

7 Practice Parsel magic

Harry was about to continue when Fred and George walked in. He quickly shoved the list under his pillow and looked at them questioningly. They both raised an eyebrow but decided to ignore him.

" Harry we were wondering if we could borrow the map for tomorrow." Fred asked while sitting himself down on the bed.

" Why do you need it?" asked Harry, wondering why they needed the map when they knew the whole school like the back of their hands.

" We are going to testing some of our products and we don't want to get caught by Hermione." George answered, sitting down across from his brother.

" Yeah sure. I don't mind." He crawled down the bed and pulled his trunk open, glad that he kept the map in the first compartment as it wasn't password protected.

He sat back against his pillows and held out the map for Fred to take.

" Here you go."

Fred nodded his thanks and stuck the map inside his robes.

" Thanks Harry." Both red heads stood up and turned to Harry as he let out a large yawn.

" You okay Harry, your looking a little pale." Fred said, worry evident in his voice.

Harry smiled at them, " I'm fine. I'm just going to turn in early. Night guys."

Fred and George looked at each other before nodding. Fred was about to turn around when he noticed Harry's wrapped right hand.

" What happened to your hand?" he asked.

" Oh, this nothing. I cut my hand earlier no big deal."

Fred looked at him and nodded.

Harry could see that he wanted to say something and he was grateful when the red head decided not to.

" OK. Night Harry."

" Good-night Harry."

They walked out of the room and closed the door behind them. He got dressed in his pajamas and crawled into bed and fell asleep as his head hit the pillow. It had been a long week and he was just glad it was over.