A/N: Very quick, I've another story up; Live, Laugh, Love. It's on my profile and based on the old chapter 11.


CHAPTER 12

The next couple of days passed in a blur to Harry and Hermione. They were rarely seen in the common room anymore and even their classmates only ever saw them during class. By now the school had come to accept the fact that their saviour, The Boy Who Lived, was an intensely private person and for the most part had stopped going up to him, settling for a smile, a nod and a wave if they ever met him in the corridors. Unfortunately the same courtesy wasn't extended to Hermione and it was quickly considered to be open season by anyone who wanted to know more about the green eyed boy.

Hermione sighed as she watched Harry walk ahead. Alice and Lavender had been waiting for her to wake up in the morning so they could interrogate her about the rumours that Harry Potter had a Hungarian Horntail tattooed across his chest by a Ukrainian dragon smuggler. Hermione had simply stared. While she was glad to be Harry's friend and wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world, she did wish people would show a little more restraint and perhaps some decency while they were at it. Worse was while Harry would seemingly ignore any such events, in fact she could see he enjoyed it immensely, as long as they didn't bother him that is.

Harry and Hermione had taken to rushing off to the Library during as soon as they hurried down some lunch; or rather Hermione hurried down some lunch and reminded herself that no matter what, Harry would take it badly if she banged his head into the table, no matter how justified. After the day's classes the two would head down to the Library again for a goodish while and rarely appeared before dinner, sometimes forgoing the meal altogether . The mornings, before breakfast Hermione had wanted to go over the texts, again, but Harry had refused flatly. Firstly, they'd gone over it twice already and secondly, he had wanted to explore the castle. If it was to be his home for the next seven years, he wanted to find out all he could.

Today, Harry was especially happy. You couldn't tell by looking at him but Hermione had spent enough time with him to recognize the slight signs and unfortunately she knew very well why. Harry had been determinedly looking for a way to get back at Ron after the troll incident a few days ago and yesterday evening, he had disappeared for a few hours after dinner and refused to say anything about it to Hermione. Hermione had left it at that and with Harry shooting glances at Ron at breakfast this morning, it wasn't too hard.

The sudden bright light made her squint as she and Harry stepped out of the castle and headed towards a nice curve of green where today's flying lessons were scheduled. Hermione had been dreading this ever since she had received her schedule. She had never been particularly athletic and couple with a slight fear of heights, she was quite sure she wouldn't enjoy this lesson one bit. Harry, on the other hand had been dying to get his hands on a broom ever since Professor McGonagall had mentioned James had been a wonderful flier and one of the best Quidditch players her house ever had the misfortune to lose to graduation.

They waited patiently, enjoying the sun as the rest of the Gryffindors and the Slytherins made their way slowly to the spot. Everyone was early, eager to fly. As the students approached, Draco broke off from his group and made his way to the two already standing.

"Ready to fly, Harry, Hermione?" he asked, an excited grin on his face.

Harry gave a small smile and nodded, agreeing while Hermione simply looked green as she turned away. Draco laughed at that.

As the class finally assembled, their flying instructor, Madam Hooch marched out from the castle, two rows of broomsticks floating out behind her. An excited murmur swept through the waiting students as the brooms neared before, with a wave of her wand, Madam Hooch made all the brooms line up in two neat rows facing each other.

"Good morning class. I am Madam Hooch and I will be your flying Instructor. Now, I know you all are excited, it is your first flying lesson and for most of you, your first time on a broom. To those who may have flown before thanks to irresponsible parents, you will do precisely as I say and nothing more!" she looked around sharply as she said this last bit and Harry noticed her gaze linger on Draco rather pointedly.

"Very well, quickly take your positions next to a broom and move NOW!" she barked and there was a mad scramble as the students tried to line themselves up with a broom that didn't look like it was a hundred years old and liable to disintegrate mid flight. Finally, Harry managed to get beside a fairly decent broom while Draco next to him had a broom that looked suspiciously as if it had been used as a toothpick by a giant. Hermione was two places to his left, s close to Madam Hooch as she could get and desperately clinging to every word from the spiky, white haired, hawk like witch.

"Now, stick your right hand over your broom and say 'UP' clearly!"

Everyone dutifully put their right hand over the broom and shouted "UP!"

Harry's broom shot into his hand like a rocket and was one of the few that did. Draco's had taken a bit of pleading before it finally rose up slowly and Blaise Zabini's broom had shot straight up just as Harry's. Harry watched with interest as Ron's broom rolled around the ground while Neville's seemed to try to entrench itself deeper into the ground. Finally, when everyone had a broom in their hand (some had just reached down and picked them up in sheer frustration) Madam Hooch stepped in.

After giving them a quick lesson on how to grip their handles properly, she announced;

"Alright class, on my whistle you will kick off from the ground, hard, rise ten feet, hover before leaning in and coming back down. Now, I want absolutely no stunts when you're in the air or you'll be out faster than you can say 'But, Madam Hooch..'! Am I clear?"

A chorus of agreement was heard and Madam Hooch nodded in satisfaction. She raised three fingers into the air as the other hand held a whistle up. She put down the first finger….second…third…WHEEE!

The whistle sounded and they were off. Harry kicked off as hard as he could and rocketed upwards, the same exhilaration coursing through him as when he'd ridden the Gringotts cart. He let out a delighted whoop as he floated high above the others and wheeled about to see how they were doing. Blaise was rising steadily and Draco was almost up at Harry's level while Hermione was hovering about three feet off the ground, clinging to the broom with all her might. Alice Culpepper and Pansy Parkinson were still on the ground, glaring at their brooms and Seamus and Neville had fallen and were rolling on the ground on trying to kick off.

Draco's grey eyes scanned the air around them hunting for Weasley. He had been in on Harry's plan. Spotting him, he signalled to Crabbe who gave a slight nod and suddenly dropped out of the sky. There were a few shrieks as Crabbe plummeted and Crabbe's face scrunched up in pain as he hit the ground, hard. Madam Hooch hurried forward, wand out she bent over the groaning figure. She cast a few quick spells over him and straightened up.

"Not to worry class, just a broken ankle, nothing serious. I'm taking him to the hospital wing and I had better see all these brooms on the ground when I return or I'll tie you to one of them and float you around the Whomping Willow!"

She waved her wand around the still groaning Crabbe and a stretcher appeared. Crabbe found himself magicked into it and strapped down. With a last glance at the deathly quiet class, she left, Crabbe in tow.

Harry raked a hand through his hair and Draco nodded. He inched closer to Ron. There were about five people in between them. He edged forward. Harry had begun moving very slowly, careful not to draw to much attention as he drew his wand. Suddenly, a horrible cry pierced the air. Most of the class, with their shaken nerves screamed as they looked around, Ron included. Harry frowned. This wasn't ….

A centaur staggered towards them, gaping wounds in his flank, his side, torso and even a heavily bleeding cut on his temple. He could barely hold himself up anymore and it was clear from the sheer amount of red on the ground's green grass that unless he received aid immediately, he wasn't going to survive much longer. The young Gryffindors and Slytherins watched, frozen in shock and fear as the pitiful figure finally collapsed heavily within a few feet of them. The screams continued though and it was obvious the centaur was dying.

Harry darted ahead, ignoring the calls of his classmates and stopped at the centaur. He looked the centaur over, bent down and murmured something so quietly that none of the class could hear. The centaur's reply was lost as it came between great wheezing breaths and groans and Harry abruptly straightened.

"Draco, Dean, Blasie, Goyle and…Ron," Harry hated having to ask Ron but it was an emergency and Ron had flown better than the rest, "Take off your robes, NOW!" Draco was standing with his in his hand in an instant. The rest were reluctant to stand in the freezing morning air without their cloaks. Harry's eye's narrowed, "We need to get him to the Hospital Wing. We can't carry him so we're going to tie up our cloaks and make a stretcher. Between our brooms we can take him to the castle. Hermione," he ground out and turned to the waiting witch, "Do you think you could find a teacher and tell her we're coming?" Hermione nodded and after a moment's hesitation, took off on foot. On turning back to the group of boys in front of him, he saw that save Ron, everyone was already tying up their cloaks and threading a sleeve through the broom handle. His temper flared.

"Look, Potter, I'm not that good with the broom and I know I said I'd flown and al….."Ron never got to finish as he was blown back and landed a heap of robes and limbs. Harry turned to face the silent class. "Anyone thinks they can handle a broom without it being a lie?"

Lavender stepped ahead shakily. Harry nodded and stripped off his cloak. He gestured to Seamus, "I won't ask Lavender to remove her cloak" It took Seamus a few seconds but the very next instant it was off and in Harry's hands.

Harry, Draco, Blaise and Dean pushed as one and managed to get the bloodied body of the centaur onto the make shift stretcher. As one they kicked off and floating just enough to make sure the centaur didn't knock against the ground, flew off to the castle. It was tough, with the wind and need to co-ordinate their speeds and positions although thankfully, the people Harry had picked had all had some experience on brooms with the exception of Harry himself. But Harry was quickly getting the hang of it. They sped down the cure and up the small slope right up to the castle's main doors. Unfortunately Hermione wasn't anywhere to be seen so Harry had them push along towards the Hospital Wing. Just as they neared the first staircase and were wondering how to go up, however, Professor McGonagall strode into view, robes billowing around behind her.

Without a word, she whipped out her wand and the now gasping centaur's body floated out and trailed behind her she flew up the stairs with strength belying her age. Harry and the others watched as the two figures disappeared and finally slumped down on various stairs, exhausted. Hermione joined them quietly, smoothing her skirt as she sat beside Harry.


Whispers followed Harry wherever he went. As they had sat there on the stairs, the diminutive Charms instructor, Professor Flitwick had arrived and restored their cloaks, after which he informed them quietly that thanks to their help, the centaur might live although it was hard to say given that the infirmary witch had not had a lot of experience with centaur healing. They were, however, instructed to attend the subsequent classes.

The whispers and glances had begun right from Potions when Crabbe had re-joined the class mid-way, limping along and looking rather proud of himself. Draco had smiled and patted him on the back but the rumours had begun flying. "Did you hear? Potter was aiming at Weasley! I don't know what spell he used but it must have been a really dark one to take down Crabbe like that! Potter hurt that centaur to look like a hero! Potter blasted Weasley because he was making him look bad! Potter won't stand anyone disobeying him! Potter's the next Dark Lord!"

By the end of the class, there was a distinctly dangerous glint about Harry's eyes and his jaw was clenched hard making hollows form in his cheeks. Hermione noticed and edged away ever so slightly. Soon enough, class was over and the students shuffled out, throwing dark glances at the black haired boy who hadn't moved an inch after he'd finished potion. Hermione hesitated a bit, but taking another look at Harry's face, decided he needed some time alone. Looking over his shoulder, Snape noticed the unmoving figure.

"Potter! Slow as you are surely you're able to recognize the end of class? Out, now!" Snape was well aware of the whispers throughout the class and had been very interested to see Harry's reaction. To his disappointment, Potter had been his father's son and worn his heart on his sleeve. It was plain from a mile off that whatever it was they were saying, Potter was upset.

Harry looked up and Snape almost flinched. Almost. Looking back at him impassively were two cold orbs of green, and a very narrow mouth. Snape was suddenly reminded of the fact that the boy had survived the Killing Curse. The cold, lifeless and somehow glowing green of his eyes were like a pair of curses directed right at him.


Lunch was an awkward affair. Ron refused to have anything to do with Harry and had taken a seat as far away from him as possible while shooting glares between mouthfuls. The rest of the Gryffindors kept their distance as well except for Hermione who had dutifully scooted over as soon as she had seen him enter and looked at him pointedly. Harry gave her a small smile. About half way through lunch, Fred and George Weasley dropped into seats opposite him.

"Harry, Harry, Harry…"

"..Look at you, not a few days old and already saving the world.."

"..our hero!"

"We were up to see the centaur, you know…"

"..who, incidentally is fine now."

"And we've a bone to pick with you…."

"Yeah, how come you didn't save a female?"

At this Harry grew confused. "What..?"

"Centaurs crash around the forest bare torso-ed for a reason, ickle Harrykins."

Harry's eyes widened before an unwilling smile spread across his face.

"Right, well, he's all up and firing, Georgie boy, our work is done."

"Well, almost. McGonagall asked us to give you this, Harry", said George handing over a folded piece of parchment.

"It says to meet her in her office after classes today" added Fred without a blush.

"Yes, we read it. And a word of advice, if she starts yelling, just smile in that devilish handsome way of yours and remind her you killed big bad Dark Lords for a lark.."

"…in bed"

"…when you couldn't stand"

"…and still wore diapers, or at least we hope you did for your mum's sake."

"Anyway, toodle-oo Potter spawn."

And they were gone leaving a significantly more cheerful Harry with a note in his hand and murder in his heart.


A/N: First off, thank you for your reviews and I hope you enjoyed this one! From here on, there will be slight/significant changes to canon, sometimes blurring into AU. Next, in no particular order, some responses to reviews:

Euphemism; It's true, compressing the time line simply for the sake of establishing Hermione and Harry's friendship wasn't necessary but I needed him to be angry enough at Ron to get into trouble which would then bring something up with McGonagall which would set something else in motion. About as much as I can say, I' afraid.

Hpnut1 and Theta McBride, huge thank you, really!

Freedsama, Ratus and mychakk Thanks! And just so you know, I've posted a story based on the old chapter in case you'd like to take a look.

To everyone else, thanks a bunch and then some!

Also, I've started a new story; Live, Laugh, Love and it's up on my profile. I'd really love you guys taking a look and letting me know what you think!