Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Harry's eyes opened automatically at 6:00 the next morning. He rose silently and carried his running shoes out of the dormitory, skipping down the stairs on light feet. He slipped his shoes on after he passed the fat lady and started his way through the quiet school to the front doors.

He wasn't one hundred percent sure it wasn't against school rules to be up and outside this early in the morning, but he was willing to take the risk. He made it through the school with no problems and breathed in the early morning air. He decided once around the lake was a good start.

His feet pounding the grass, all thoughts fled his mind. He concentrated solely on placing one foot in front of the other and listening to his steady breathing. He was halfway around the lake when a voice startled him out of his reverie.

"This is so boring."

Harry faltered a step before recognizing Dante's slight mocking tone. His eyes went to the pendant on his chest and he was thankful that no chains were trailing from it. Slowing to a walk, he caught his breath.

"It's better than sitting on a shelf in a dusty house all day, right?"

"Right…" Dante admitted.

"Well," Harry kept a firm hold on his patience. "Then don't whine."

"Can we at least talk while you run?" Harry rolled his eyes.

"Sure, as long as there is no one around." Harry started running again. "Hey how much do you know about the Animgus transformation?"

"Hmmm. It's not easy. And it's time extensive, and time's not something you have in abundance…"

Harry chuckled. "I know that…and we are going to continue with our lessons sometime during the day…Maybe I should get up earlier."

"Be careful not to push too far. Hmmm, maybe…no, I'll have to think about that…"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Will you make sense? Or don't start sentences you don't intend to finish."

"Sorry." There was no apologetic tone to his voice. "Anyway, you have classes most of the day, correct? It will be entertaining to watch."

"Is that a crack at my intelligence or at the curriculum?"

"Both."

"Right, just as long as we are on the same track." He said dryly as he completed the lap around the lake and walked towards the front door. It was 7:00 now, breakfast started at 7:30, plenty of time for a quick shower.

He made his way back to the dorms with no problem. Upon entering, everyone looked at him strangely. He scowled at this, but ignored them.

"Where'd you sneak off to, Potter?" It took half a second for Harry to realize that Ron was talking to him.

"Sneak off? I just went running." He shrugged and grabbed a fresh set of clothes. It was hard to keep indifferent to the fact that the guy you saw as your best friend for so many years was glaring at you as if you just kicked a puppy or something. He pushed that thought from his mind as he passed the still suspicious looking group.

He was thankful that by the time he was done with his shower, the dorm was empty. He scooped Esmeralda out from under the covers where she was staying warm and asked her to wrap around his upper arm, but to stay quiet throughout the day. He bribed her by saying he would try and get her some outside time in the gardens.

He got down to breakfast in plenty of time and grabbed his schedule from Professor McGonagall. Luck was on his side; he had a large break right after lunch and another at the end of the school day.

The bell rang signaling the first class of the day. Harry scanned the schedule and groaned slightly when he noticed it was DADA. He had briefly glanced at the head table to see the new DADA Professor the night before and noticed just how young he was.

He trooped off with the rest of the Gryffindors, Hermione throwing a concerned look his way. He wasn't surprised when the Slytherins met them at the door. Draco made his way towards Harry, sneering at Ron and Neville for good measure.

"So what do you think? This Prof going to suck?"

Hermione smacked his arm. "Draco, don't disparage a Professor."

Draco smirked. "Aye, Aye Miss Head Girl." Hermione rolled her eyes, but couldn't keep the pleased expression off of her face.

Harry shrugged at Draco's early question. "Seems kinda young to me…"

No more could be said as said professor opened the door to the classroom. The class filed in and Harry took a seat between Hermione and Draco. Harry wasn't very surprised to see Ron nab the seat on the other side of Hermione. Harry turned his attention back to the Professor.

"Okay class, my name is Professor Addison. I know I look young, but I have completed my Defense Against the Dark Arts Mastery." He tapped his wand against he blackboard and spider web like writing appeared. "These are my class goals and a short list of the spells for this year, as well as preparing you to take the NEWTs. If this classes progresses more quickly than I planned, we may incorporate a dueling club as well."

Harry looked over the curriculum and leaned on his elbow. It wasn't half bad, but he recognized most of the spells listed and was preparing himself for a boring year.

"We will also be doing a research project." There were collective groans, but he just laughed. "You don't even know what it's about yet!" he admonished.

The rest of the class passed quickly and Harry and the rest of the Gryffindors made their way towards the Greenhouses. They had Herbology with the Hufflepuffs and it pretty much mirrored what he had expected.

Potions was the last class before lunch and Harry was slightly surprised that all the houses were together, due to it being such a high level course. He, Draco and Hermione sat together at a table. Ron and Dean were the only other Gryffindors. Severus went over the potions they would be covering for the NEWTs. Harry was slightly surprised at Severus' manner; he wasn't intimidating at all, and almost joked with his students while still keeping a professional air.

Finally it was time for lunch and the class filed out quickly, Harry waiting behind a bit after seeing Severus give him a look.

"How are you? Any headaches?" Severus had asked this question frequently over the last month.

"Just kind of a dull throb, because I haven't had a chance to clear my head today. I'll be fine." He shrugged. He turned towards the door after Severus' nod, but stopped and turned back. "I have a favor to ask."

Severus raised an eyebrow as he picked up the folders left on his desk. "Yes?"

Harry scratched his head, wondering if this was such a good idea. "Can you teach me Occulmency?"

Instead of answering Severus walked towards his office. Harry followed, his brow creased in confusion. Severus plucked a book from the wall and held it out to Harry. "Read this first, then we will see." He gave Harry an intense look as Harry looked over the dusty and well-worn book. "Go on to lunch, your mother would kill me if you lost any weight." His mouth lifted into a half smile, that Harry returned.

He slipped the book in his bag and headed off to lunch. In his break after lunch, he decided to go outside to enjoy the sunshine and meditate. Esmeralda trailed down his arm and into the grass as Harry leaned against one of the trees by the lake. He warned her not to go far before closing his eyes and concentrating on his breathing. Meditating was something Dante had suggested when he complained about headaches.

After the break was over, he trudged back into the castle, meeting Hermione who was coming from Arthimacy (sp). They walked up the staircase together to Transfiguration, which they had with Ravenclaw. McGonagall was pretty much the same; and had the same warnings about NEWTs. Charms was next, with the Slytherins this time, and Harry was happy to see little Flitwick once again.

Harry was happy to see the end of the school day. He headed off to the tree had been sitting at before, shaking off Hermione and Draco, which wasn't easy. He cast a low-level concealment charm around himself and the tree. Once it was up, he called out.

"Okay, you can come out now." Dante materialized in front of him, smirk firmly in place.

"Fun day?" he asked sarcastically. Harry just rolled his eyes while Dante stretched, chains clanking in the background. "So what would you like to start on?"

Harry ran a hand through his hair which had grown a bit and now hung in his eyes. "Let's start with the tracking spells…"

Two hours later, Harry disabled the concealment charms and got to his feet. Dante was back in the book and Esme was wrapped around his wrist once again. He rotated his neck and started towards the castle.

After dinner, where he had to fend off questions from both Emily and Hermione, and watch Neville hang all over Ginny, he closed himself in his bed and pulled out the book Severus gave him to read.

An hour and a half later, Harry rubbed a hand across his tired eyes. The book was on blocking others from accessing your mind and self-control. The first chapter stressed the importance of not letting your feelings show in any outward way. He checked his watch and saw that it was 9:00. He tossed the book to the end of the bed and decided to work on wandless, wordless spells.

He concentrated on the book and held his hand out towards it. After several minutes of concentration the book jumped about two inches towards him. Harry exhaled loudly, then started again. He had been working on this, but it was more tiring than he had expected. After another hour, the book made it halfway to him. He sighed in defeat and placed the book under his pillow as he crawled under the covers.

"Nox" he said softly, making sure he had silencing charms placed around his bed. Esme curled up beside him on the pillow.

"Night, Harry." She hissed softly.

Harry smiled. "Night, Esme."