Dear All.

I suppose I should start off with a massive apology for this slow update, It wasn't what I wanted but merely a fact that I have been away for a night and couldn't update in time.

Now then, I regret to say that from now on I think I will update only twice a week, rather than daily. This is due to a request from my beta, John Foxton, who has constantly been on my back over the crazy schedule, but somehow (and this deserves real praise) manages to correct my chapters and get them back to me within hours of having sent them off! he is a real trooper!

I will say the usual thank you to my reviewers, they are truly amazing to read and never cease to make my day. So if you want to make an exhausted students day, please leave your thoughts in a review!

without any further ado,

Enjoy!


Chapter 11

"… And following that delicious feast, I hope you will all take a few minutes to listen to an old man." Dumbledore said, his bright blue eyes twinkling. Harry was sat back in his seat, his stomach felt inordinately full and all he fancied was curling up in his four poster and trying to forget about the whole Dementor Incident.

"First off, I feel I have to inform you that the list of banned objects in Hogwarts has increased yet again, and now includes Dive bombing Darts, Singing Snails and the eloquently titled Bang Bang Basher. The full list is on Mr Filch's door, and can be viewed at any student's pleasure." Dumbledore gave a small smile, and paused taking a sip of water.

"It is also my great pleasure to welcome to the school three new teachers, first of all, Let's hear a big hand for Professor Hagrid, who will be nobly filling in for Professor Kettleburn as care of Magical creatures teacher., who is sadly retiring." The Gryffindor's gave a mighty cheer and standing ovation. The Ravenclaws and Slytherins looked put out, the half giant's penchant for vicious creatures was well known.

"In addition, following last year's rather uh, lacklustre defence instruction, the governors and I have decided to try a new system, For NEWT students, please welcome Professor Black, and for fifth years and below, Please Welcome Professor Lupin." Harry saw the man from the train wave, Professor Black, whilst another man who looked exhausted and wore rather shabby robes sat next to him, Professor Lupin.

"Finally, due to the situation of a certain escaped criminal, Hogwarts will be playing host to a number of Dementors of Azkaban. These are not creatures to be trifled with, they know not fear, pain or mercy, I urge each of you to stay away from them wherever possible." He paused and looked around the hall, his expression grave.

"Whilst this criminal is on the loose, I expect this school to remain vigilant, however, should anyone be persecuted for being perceived as potentially aiding Mr James Potter, their persecutors will be punished severely." His eyes flickered to the Gryffindor table, where several students had been throwing Harry dirty looks. "Now I believe that is all the announcements for today, off to bed."

The first week passed quickly, Harry was not pleased by the new found hostility he experienced from the rest of the non Slytherins. Wherever he went whispers followed, and younger students would clear the hall where he walked.

So far nobody had attempted to harm him, thanks to his reputation as a prodigy in all wand magic's and duelling, but Harry believed that his reputation would not protect him forever. His frustration at his treatment was not doing wonders for his mood. A scowl was often to be seen on his face, and he frequently snarled out at students who came close.

The other rather annoying facet of his new year was Professor Sirius Black. Sixth year Defence against the Dark Arts was predominantly practical, learning duelling techniques and the like. The new teacher was like a reverse of Snape, showing blatant favouritism to the Gryffindor's and he seemed to have a grudge against Harry from the first.

"Welcome sixth years." He had begun, before taking a register. When he got to Harry's name, he had looked at him with a glare, before continuing.

"As you know, there is a vicious criminal on the loose." He had begun, lecturing from the front, "this man is cold blooded, and would have trouble in betraying his friends and family for power." He looked coldly at Harry as he spoke, clearly hoping for a reaction, but thanks to his Occlumency shields, Harry kept his face carefully blank.

"This year you will be learning advanced techniques of defence, putting together the spell knowledge you already have in ways that will give you advantages in an actual fight." He looked around, rubbing his hands excitedly.

"Now then, can anyone cast silently?" he looked hopefully, no one raised their hands, Harry kept his down too. "Pity, well in that case, we shall start there. Stand up, wands out!"

They spent the rest of the session practicing silent casting, and by the end of the class nobody had managed it. Professor Black seemed relaxed about the failure though.

"Practice it for homework, I'm sure you'll have it soon, not to worry!"

After defence Harry had transfiguration with the Hufflepuffs. He sat in his usual seat next to Cedric, and the two boys took careful notes on Inanimate-organic animate transfiguration. Harry sighed, he had been proficient at this skill since his fourth year.

"I will give you all a lump of granite, you have the rest of the session to transfigure it into a cat." McGonagall announced, dispersing the rock with a wave of her wand. Harry sat back, watching the rest of the class, none of them seemed able to get it, and McGonagall was going around offering suggestions and advice.

Next to him, Harry saw Cedric glaring at his rock intensely, "Mutare!" he cried, a bright jet of blue light left his wand and struck the rock.

Nothing happened.

The flash had caught McGonagall's attention, and she made her way over to their desk.

"Show me again Mr Diggory if you please." She asked, Cedric cast the spell again and the Professor hummed.

"You're pronunciation and wand movement are perfect, the fault therefore lies in your intent, you must visualise the transformation and will it into being." The Scottish woman lectured, her voice kind, she then turned to Harry, who gave her a charming smile.

"Mr Potter, why are you not attempting the spell?" she asked, but the fond smile she wore ruined any other feeling she was trying to convey.

"I must confess Professor, I taught myself this part of the course in my fourth year." Harry said with a humble shrug of his shoulders, McGonagall looked shocked.

"In you fourth year?" she shook her head, "Once again you surprise me, you truly are one of the most skilled practitioners of transfiguration I have ever taught." Harry ducked his head in a show of humility. "Please show me your transfiguration." Harry nodded and a careless wave of his wand later, a large tom cat sat on his desk.

"Marvellous, excellent detailing, the fur feels real, and oh my, it purrs, truly magnificent. Ten points!" Harry smiled gratefully.

"What level are you at Harry?" the aged professor asked, instead of replying, Harry merely waved his wand again, saying nothing, everyone in the room's granite suddenly became a perfect cat.

"Show off!" Cedric Muttered, Harry merely grinned at him. Before flicking his wand and wand and transfiguring the tom cat on his desk into a full sized lion.

"Bravo! Bravo!" McGonagall called out, her eyes excited. Harry had always been one of her best students, and she had developed a soft spot for him over the years. The rest of the class past quickly, with a bit of help from Harry Cedric soon mastered the spell, and earned Hufflepuff points.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPH

The weeks rolled by with little drama, people continued to avoid Harry, but after hospitalising two Gryffindor fifth years with a subtle trauma curse, no one seemed willing to get on Harry's bad side. Harry therefore set his mind to the Quidditch season, he was frustrated because Draco had gone and got himself injured by a rogue Hippogriff, Harry was only minorly mollified when he learnt Draco's father intended the have the creature which interfered which his Quidditch schedule executed.

On the seventh of October Harry called together his first Quidditch practice of the year. It was an unseasonably warm day and there was not a cloud in the sky. Harry surveyed his seven players, exactly the same team as it had been the year before and gave a brief smile.

"Seven Years gentlemen, Lady." He announced, "Slytherin has held the Quidditch cup for seven whole years, a feat which I think will not be repeated for many decades!" He clapped his hands together, and straightened his back.

"Today, as Draco hasn't fully recovered yet, we will merely be practicing basic drills and moves. Everyone on brooms, you know the drill, you have ten minutes to warm up. GO!" He shouted the last bit and the seven green clad players kicked off. Harry watched the fly, he was pleased to see they all looked just as good as they had the year before.

Draco was still a little uncomfortable using his right arm, but Harry hoped that he would recover soon, else he would need a new seeker.

With a thought of Sonorous Harry's voice became magically amplified. "Alright. All of you to get to the East set of posts." Harry had the team practice some basic passing drills, beaters and seekers included with the Quaffell, before making things a little more difficult.

"Marcus, Run Opposition, rest of you carry on." The team were playing well Harry noted, whilst the drills were still extremely easy and basic, the fluidity and ease with which the team moved around the pitch gave him hope.

"Derrick, Bole, grab bats." He released a lone bludger and had the two beaters rally it between them. He kept the game going for fifteen minutes before grinning.

"Get down here!" he yelled. "Alright, good practice, it was nothing special, just a warm up, I expect you all here for next practice, which is…" he consulted his journal "Thursday at four. Well played, go shower and change. See you in the common room."

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPH

Despite Harry's best hopes, Draco's arm didn't recover fully in time for the match with Gryffindor, but he was able to successfully negotiate with Cedric to switch the Hufflepuff – Slytherin match with his own. This it turned out was a good move.

The weather had turned foul during the match, Heavy rain lashed down and the visibility was awful. Hufflepuff were good, Harry thought, but Gryffindor were better, as the match approached the thirty minute mark, the score was 80 – 50 in Gryffindor's favour.

Suddenly, Harry felt an awfully familiar sense of cold descend upon him, it was like ice within his very bones. His Occlumency shields suddenly came under aggressive attack, but Harry knew what to expect this time, and through great effort managed to defend his mind. His vision blurred from the effort he was putting in, but he saw dozens of tall black shapes gliding onto the pitch.

His concentration was almost broken when he heard a scream from nearby, he looked up and just made out the figure of Longbottom falling to the earth, remembering Tom's instruction, Harry whipped out his wand and caught the boy with a feather weight charm, causing the boy to slow his descent and float gently through the air.

With another lazy flick of his wand, he banished the floating Longbottom towards the teacher's stands, where he landed on Professor Black with a crash.

After the excitement of the match, Harry made his way to the Library, he was disturbed by the way the Dementors affected him, and he vowed to learn to defend against them. However, after reading through half a dozen tomes, he had learnt only that it was bloody difficult to do so.

The Dementor is a near immortal creature, they are intelligent, fast and invisible creature. No Spell or curse is known to kill it, although they can feel pain if burnt.

One book had mentioned, whilst another suggested they were impervious to all forms of pain. The only thing he learnt that was useful in his opinion was that there was a charm, the Patronus Charm, which was said to repel the monsters.

Therefore that evening Harry found himself outside Professor Flitwick's office. He knocked and entered the small room.

"Good evening Mr Potter, How may I help you?" the small wizard asked kindly.

"Good Evening Professor. I know that your time is valuable, however I have read about a rather advanced charm and hoped for some assistance with it." He said a charming smile on his face, the charms instructor beamed, Harry was his best student, and Filius Flitwick enjoyed helping students with their academic struggles.

"Of course Mr Potter, It must be very complex if you are struggling!"

"Well, it may not be complex at all, it is simply that I can find little information on it." Harry said with a grin, "The spell is the Patronus charm, and all I know of it is its name I am afraid." Professor Flitwick gave a deep nod, sighed, before indicating for Harry to take a seat in one of the available chairs.

"I do indeed know of the Patronus charm, as I am sure you are aware, it is used for repelling Dementors and is one of the hardest charms to fully master that I know of." He stood up and walked over to one of the bookshelves.

"If nearly any other student were to come and request my assistance I would say they stood no chance of ever mastering the charm, but I believe you can do it Mr Potter, I truly do." Harry smiled appreciatively and allowed a small flush to appear on his cheeks.

"Don't be so modest Harry, you're without a doubt the best student I have taught in many decades, I wouldn't be surprised if you gave the headmaster a run for his money when he was your age!" Harry's flush this time was not faked.

"Ah, now, here we are, the Patronus charm." He handed the heavy book to Harry who saw an image of a Silver Swan bursting from a wand and driving Dementors away.

"The incantation is Expecto Patronum and requires for the caster to focus strongly on positive emotions, The Dementor feeds off your negative emotions and feelings, the Patronus acts as a shield of positive thoughts. A master of the charm can drive the Dementors away by creating a Corporeal Patronus, which takes on the image of an animal."

"Expecto Patronum?" Harry asked

"Exactly, the wand movement doesn't matter, but you must focus your intent. Think of your happiest memory and use it to fuel your spells." Harry nodded,

"So it is the opposite of Dark Spells? Which are fuelled by negative emotions?" Flitwick looked at him oddly, and Harry realised his slip.

"That is correct I suppose Harry, do you want to give the charm a try now?" Flitwick asked, although his expression was still troubled. Harry nodded and drew his wand.

"Positive thoughts Harry, Positive memories." Harry thought back, he discarded his life before Hogwarts, there was little happiness there, and he discarded memories such as his first Quidditch victory, he contemplated the time he had won captured the stone, but realised that was malevolent joy, rather than pure happiness.

Eventually he decided upon the time he and Miranda had gone to Edinburgh, and both had tried their hand at the local Kaylee he remembered the look on her face as they reeled around the street. He felt a grin cross his features, and forced his emotions to mingle with his magic, as he did when casting dark magic.

Expecto Patronum! He thought, a silver mist shot from his wand and formed a round shield in front of him. He frowned, and forced more magic through his wand, the mist remained hazy and indistinct, so he tried putting more emotion behind the spell. He used his Occlumency to replay the memory in his head, forcing the emotion from it into his wand.

Before his eyes the mist coalesced into a more solid shape. It wasn't the animal he had hoped for, but it had formed a more solid barrier. He released the spell, and rubbed his hand across his brow, upset to discover a sheen of sweat. He had to work on magical endurance.

Flitwick was clapping beside him, "Excellent, Excellent… that was an incredible first effort, well done!" Harry nodded

"I don't know what I did wrong Professor, I put a lot of power into it, and I used the emotion in the correct way, mixing it with my magic and sending both through my wand…" He suppressed his feelings of frustration, and looked at the diminutive professor.

"Harry. That is not the correct way to use the emotion." Flitwick said cautiously, Harry looked at him puzzled.

"That's not true is it Professor, all the book's I've read state that emotion must be used in that way." Flitwick wrung his hands before him.

"Harry, that is the correct way to funnel the emotion for dark spells." Harry blinked, "but not for this spell."

"Professor…" Harry began, but Flitwick waved him away.

"Don't worry Harry, I know about the sorts of pressure you must be under, and I am not concerned, regular practitioners of Dark Magic become corrupted by it, it can be addictive, and the feeling of power that comes with practicing the spells. I think we all experiment at one stage of our careers." Harry looked at the man shocked.

"Don't look so surprised!" Flitwick said with a jovial grin, "I thought that it would give me an edge on the duelling circuits." Harry nodded with a cheeky grin.

"I will not tell you what you should and should not do Harry, you are obviously a brilliant student. But be careful, Dark Magic is fun until it controls you, twists you into a bitter and violent shell of what you once were." Harry repressed his emotions, and instead nodded slowly.

"Now, for the Patronus charm, the emotion and magic must be separate." He looked at Harry curiously, "Do you know Occlumency Harry?" Harry gave a nod and Flitwick laughed, "yet again, you know magic the ministry would really rather you didn't!" Harry gave a grin and the small professor continued.

"Use the positive feelings like you would use Occlumency if you were a beginner. Let it fill your mind, leaving no bad thoughts available for the Dementor to feed upon, then cast the spell, try again."

Harry did as he was bid, he brought up the memory, drew his wand and with a vicious flick cast the spell, this time, there was no mist, instead a bright white flash filled the room, and coalesced into a very solid looking shield.

"Excellent Harry, Excellent!" called the charms professor, and Harry ended the spell, taking a deep breath.

"Now, You have the theory, and clearly are already far more proficient than most people who know the spell, all I can suggest is practice. Now I believe it is nearly curfew. You should get to bed Harry. Now, take twenty points to Slytherin, and please think on what I said Harry, these things must be done in moderation." Harry nodded and shook the professor's hand.

"Thank you Professor Flitwick sir, I will be careful." Flitwick sighed sadly and dismissed him.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPH

Harry was awoken that night by one of the third years. "Professor Snape want's everyone in the Common room right away, he seems really angry!" Harry groaned and quickly slipped on a black jumper and dark grey trousers. He pinned his prefect badge on and walked down to the common room.

Most of the house had already been gathered. Professor Snape stood at the front of the room looking extremely grave. Harry quickly sat down in one of the chairs by the embers of the fire and looked at the clock. What is so serious that they would wake us up at 12.30 in the morning? He thought bitterly, thinking of how comfortable his bed had been.

"Slytherins, for the remainder of tonight you will all be sleeping in the great Hall." Murmurs of interest sounded around his room at this,

"Silence." Snape called and the room instantly quieted.

"This is because James Potter this evening was spotted trying to enter the Gryffindor Common Room. SILENCE!" Snape roared at the whispers his pronouncement created.

"Prefects will escort the house to the great hall at once. Any deviation, bad behaviour or failure to obey every instruction a prefect or member of staff gives will result in two months detention. Am I Understood?" Everyone nodded, and Snape gestured for the House to leave.

The great hall was full, the tables had vanished and instead there were rows of Sleeping bags on the floor, it appeared Slytherin was last to appear and they were left the patch of floor closest to the doors.

"Potter, with me." Professor Snape called, and Harry turned to his head of house. The potions master gestured for the two of them to leave the Great Hall.

"Potter, you will be accompanying me tonight. We are to search the Dungeons along with Mr Filch and Professor Sinistra."

"Professor? Are all the Prefects searching the school?" Harry asked, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Snape scowled at him, "No, However I hardly trust you to remain in here protected when your father is loose in the school, at least this way I can keep an eye on you." Harry flashed a grin but nodded.

"Very well, lead the way Professor." The two of them walked off, making their way down to the cold dungeons.

"I trust you have no intentions of finding your father alone Potter?" Snape asked,

"I would like to meet him at some point Sir," Harry replied, his voice cautious

"Azkaban changes men Potter, he may have gone in your father, but after 12 years in Azkaban, he will not be the same man." Harry looked at the Potions Master interested, and the greasy haired man expanded. "Continued exposure to the Dementors ruins the mind Potter, most of Azkaban's inmates go mad after a year or two."

Snape paused, pointing his wand into a storeroom and checking for anyone inside, it was empty and the two quickly left.

"Whilst Occlumency can keep you safe from their effects for a while, the strain of maintaining mental shields under attack for a long time will kill you quicker than starvation or dehydration, there is no defence Potter." The man gave Harry a piercing gaze.

"I do not tell you this to upset you Potter, just to drive it into your skull that the man who escaped that accursed prison is a bent and broken shell of a traitor." Harry nodded slowly,

"If he is as damaged as you think, how has he remained concealed for so long?" Harry asked, Snape looked down his hooked nose as a rat ran past his ankles,

"I would imagine that if you strip away all the kindness, the humanity from a man with formidable magical talent, the resultant being would be near unstoppable." Harry felt a deep sense of cold which had nothing to do with the chilly air of the dungeons.

The search continued for another couple of hours, before Harry and Professor Snape returned to the Great Hall. They were met there by the Headmaster, who peered at Harry carefully from behind his half-moon spectacles.

"Good Morning Severus, Harry, how went the search of the dungeons?"

"No sign." Snape answered and Dumbledore sighed,

"I am not surprised, I hardly expected him to linger." Snape quickly peered at Harry next to him,

"Headmaster, you will recollect the conversation we had before term began about appointing his best…"

"My beliefs have not changed Severus." Dumbledore said warningly.

"Of course not." Snape bit out. Dumbledore sighed,

"I do not think anybody who is in this castle would have helped James enter it." They were joined at that point by Black and Lupin. Black gave Harry his usual angry glare, whilst Lupin merely smiled pityingly at the sixth year.

"Headmaster, Sniv… Snape." Professor Black said in greeting, "Is it wise to have Him" he gestured to Harry, "in on this conversation." Dumbledore gave a small smile,

"Mr Potter has been helping Severus clear the dungeons." Dumbledore said calmly.

"Well those two clearly have Hogwarts best interests at heart." Sirius said sarcastically. Harry resisted the urge to glare, instead maintaining his neutral mask.

"I will say again, If I did not trust anyone in this castle to act in its best interest, I would remove that person without question." Dumbledore's voice radiated authority, Black was silenced, and Harry was reminded that behind his friendly exterior, Dumbledore was very much a powerful and experienced warlock.

"I will call off the search, I never expected it to work, Join your housemates Harry, good night." Recognising the dismissal, Harry made his way over to an empty sleeping bag, and with a flick of his wand transfigured it into a mattress and duvet, he heard Dumbledore chuckle behind him, before he lay down and closed his eyes.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPH

The next morning, the school got back into routine quickly, although to anyone who was paying attention it was clear that there was a great deal of fear throughout the student body. Most of the younger students had taken to wandering the castle in groups, something which Harry thought was ridiculous, how could ten first years have any chance of defeating a single determined wizard skilled in the dark arts?

Following the attempted break in by his father, Harry dived into the Dark Arts. He was careful not to practice to much lest the corruption Professor Flitwick had mentioned took him over, but it was difficult with each entrails expelling curse, blood boiler or dark cutting curse, Harry felt more and more powerful.

During one session in the dungeon classroom Harry called his practice room, he was discovered by none other than Professor Snape.

He had conjured a dozen dogs and had used a compulsion charm so they could run around, helping improve his aim.

He dodged and rolled as though avoiding incoming spell fire and cast spell after spell. Diffindo, Reducto, ossus explodum, Corprohibus, uclcus oculus, Avada Kedavra!

He stopped after the last spell, feeling the rush of power flow through him, and to his horror heard slow applause behind him. Harry turned slowly on the spot, a stunner and obliviation spell on the tip of his tongue.

"Most Impressive Potter." Snape had said, his voice mocking,

"Thank you professor." Harry had replied cautiously, wand still slightly at the ready.

"And may I compliment on your excellent use of wards protecting the door."

"clearly not excellent enough." Harry replied cheekily, Snape smirked,

"Indeed." They looked at each other for a moment before Snape began, "Potter, you will find that very little happens in my dungeons that I am not aware of. I know you have been practicing… questionable magic first with Miss Rookwood, and then alone." Harry frowned at this, but said nothing,

"I have done nothing about it because I know that the lures of such powers can be great, and that each man should have to teach himself the dangers." Harry felt a strong urge to roll his eyes.

"I am aware of the dangers Professor." He said slowly, Snape frowned at him

"And yet each night you spend several hours practicing dark spells." He took a slow breath, "I am concerned that you are starting to become affected." Harry chuckled,

"I am not Professor, I have been careful, my Occlumency will have protected your mind." Snape sneered at him,

"I am sure the Dark Lord thought much the same thing when he first started to use the Dark Arts intensively, and yet when he was defeated he was a psychopathic megalomaniac, hardly the charming political idealist of his youth." Harry frowned at that,

"What would you recommend?" he asked casually,

"Ideally, I would ask you to stop using Dark Magic, however I think we both know you would not listen, therefore, how about a compromise?" Harry gestured for the man to continue.

"I will teach you some dark magic, nothing obscure, once a week alone. In return, you are not to use dark spells outside our lessons unless absolutely necessary."

Harry considered it, Snape was rumoured to be a very powerful dark wizard, with a great repertoire and was even said to have created his own spells. Harry knew the value of knowing magic others didn't. It was a good deal, his head of house hadn't told him he couldn't practice other magics in the evening.

"Deal." He eventually said, and in the dim light it almost appeared that the potions instructor looked relieved.

"Excellent, I will see you the first week of term after Christmas." He turned and left, leaving Harry to clear up the blood stains and corpses that still littered the walls of his practice room.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHHPHP

As he got onto the train, Harry smiled, Miranda had taken a holiday from her work, and they were planning to go to Israel together to celebrate Christmas, Harry was in a jovial mood lately, the opportunity to leave the school for a month was something he was thoroughly looking forward to. As he stepped off the train, he considered that it would be very nice to get away from the glares and cruel remarks that his school mates had been subjecting him to since the news of his father's escape had surfaced.


There you are, please don't hate me when I say that the next update will either be tuesday or wednesday, depending on how busy I am, If I can update before then, well obviously I will.

Much Love

Marshall Angmar