Disclaimer: I'm out of ideas. It belongs to JKRowling, I make nothing off this. I'm just sharing with those willing to read, what my twisted mind has come up with.

Chapter 24: First week finished

By the end of the first week, it was not uncommon to see either Susan sitting at the Gryffindor table, next to Harry, or Harry at the Hufflepuff table next to Susan. They were both equally welcome at either table, at least openly.

It was lunch time on Friday of the first week, right before his Charms class with Susan, when he received a summons to the Headmaster's office. It had been Professor McGonagall who had walked over to the Gryffindor table to inform him.

'Right when potions would have been.' he thought with a smile.

What is? Came Ginny's thoughts.

'My meeting with the Headmaster this afternoon. Don't you ever get tired of being nosey and in peoples minds all the time?' he asked in a playful manner.

Not yours Mr. Potter. Besides, you're the only one who knows my secret, which makes it more fun to pick on you.

'Ah, I see. You know, you could solve that problem by telling someone else, you know.'

True, but that would take all the fun out of listening to them guess. I don't know how, but someone actually thought I was Snape at one point.

'Well...I can see the similarities.' thought Harry teasingly.

If it would have been possible for someone to mentally stick out their tongue at someone else, Ginny would have. Just for that, Mr. Potter, I'm leaving. She sent, teasingly.

Ginny got up and said goodbye to everyone at the table with a smile before heading off to class.

"Practice Saturday, Harry. Our first game is only 3 months away, beginning of December, and I need to get everyone working together properly before then." said Ron as he ravaged another sandwich.

Try-outs had been a success. Even though Harry personally thought Ron was being a little obsessive about it. Most teams were waiting for a few weeks before choosing their new players and beginning practices, but not Ron. Harry could see the advantages: more practice time, better pitch times and so on, but Harry still thought it a bit much for so early in the year.

As expected, Ginny had made the team, as did Athena, who with Katie were the three chasers. Among those who tried out were Neville, Dean, Seamus, some of 4th years, a few 3rd years and even a couple of 2nd years. No 5th years wanted the added burden of quiddich, this being their OWL year, leaving Kirke and Sloper as the only 5th year representatives. The two of them had improved over the holidays, but to everyone's surprise Neville was actually the best beater of the bunch. His new found confidence had been popping up in the strangest places, but no one ever expected him to be such a terror with a beaters club. He was given the lead spot and since Kirke was the better of the two returning he got the other. Ron had decided to keep Sloper as an alternate, and to help with the practices. Ron also picked two reserve chasers, Natalie McDonald a third year who had tried out, and Sylvain Roi a second year student. This kept them covered for injuries in any position except keeper. If Harry couldn't play, Ginny would cover for him, and Natalie would come in as chaser.

"I already told you that I can't be there, mate. I got a detention with Snape. All day. Ten hours." said a disgusted and somewhat depressed Harry as Susan rubbed his back.

"Could be worse, it could be Umbridge." said Susan thinking to get a laugh out of everyone at the table. Unfortunately she wasn't aware of what Harry had gone through last year, so all she got were somber nods of agreement.

"Anyways," said Harry, not wanting to think about that, "It's class time, then I'm off to Dumbledore's office. Let's go."

Arriving at the Headmaster's office with a large covered portrait in hand, Harry noticed that the gargoyle jumped out of the way again before he had a chance to give the password.

Harry knocked at the office door and Albus called him in.

"Ah Harry, good to see you. And I see you've brought us a present." said the aged man, eyes all a twinkle. The portraits in the room could be heard whispering to each other in anticipation.

"Yes Sir. I'm sorry I didn't bring him sooner, but I've been a little busy. I hope you don't mind." asked Harry as he slowly unwrapped it.

"Not at all Harry, and please, since we're alone, call me Albus."

"Of course Albus, my apologies." he said, smiling.

A grumbling voice got clearer as Harry began unwrapping the large portrait, "Was that really necessary Harry? It felt like I was suffocating wrapped up in that thing. And it doesn't help that I was no longer connected to my other portraits either..." complained Godric before being interrupted.

Harry cleared his throat, causing Godric to look around the room in shock and slight embarrassment. "Remember Godric, you never get a second chance, to make a first impression."

Then, smiling sheepishly, Godric spoke "Maybe I should try that again. Hello everyone," said the portrait, addressing all the others in the room, "My name is Godric Gryffindor...and I'd like to welcome you all to my castle." he said with a bigger smile now before bowing in his frame.

Most of the portraits smiled or laughed at his obvious attempt at lightening the mood. Only Phineas seemed to be grumbling something about insufferable Gryffindors.

The Headmaster hung the portrait on an open space of the wall before speaking, "Now I would ask you all to please go easy on Master Gryffindor, we don't want to frighten him on his first visit." Then turning to Godric he said, "Harry and I have some business to discuss, do you think you'll be able to manage without my assistance?" asked Dumbledore.

"I'm sure I'll be ok. I have a feeling I'll just be answering questions for the next few hours anyways. You kids go have fun." Godric said with a wink, before sitting down in his chair and preparing himself for the onslaught of questions that was about to come.

"Very well. Harry? Would you please join me in my private study? We'll leave the portraits to talk amongst themselves." he said, waving his hand towards a back door in his office, and beckoning Harry to follow.

Sitting themselves down, the Headmaster started, "Harry, I've called you here today because professors McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout and even Reinblut have all come to me at one point or another during this week and told me that you were performing at a level that was well beyond that of a sixth or even a seventh year student. They are all convinced that right now, without any extra work on your part, you could write and pass the NEWTs for each of their classes."

Harry was a little surprised, especially about Herbology. He knew he was ahead of everyone else, but he never thought he was THAT far ahead. Though, with all the extra work he had done over the summer, he really shouldn't have been all that shocked.

"The only problem is that the new NEWT exams for this year have not yet been written, and will not become available for you to write until well after Christmas." said the Headmaster with a very satisfied and proud smile.

"Wait a sec...you want me to write my NEWTs this year?" asked a disbelieving Harry.

"Harry, I have no doubts, from the information I've received, that if I were to test you at this very moment, you would pass them all. So yes, I would like you to write them this year, but I do have a personal motive behind this as well. You see, once a student finishes their NEWTs, they are then aloud to go and become apprentices in their field of choice. Some go to study to be a healer, others to be lawyers, cursebreakers, aurors and so on. Since there are no magic universities or colleges as in the muggle world, this is how one learns the skills necessary for their future profession. Now in your case, once you finish your NEWTs, I would like to offer you an apprenticeship to me, here at Hogwarts for the next few years." explained Albus.

Harry was more then a little surprised this time. He wasn't sure why he had been called to the office, but he surely wasn't expecting anything like this, "What kind of apprenticeship?"

"Well Harry, my areas of expertise are primarily Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts so I would train you in both of those, but as an added bonus, you would also have access to every other professor in the school, who if willing, could take you on as a graduate student as well." explained Professor Dumbledore. "This would give you more advanced training then possible, had you just decided to work on your own, and allow you to be better prepared for your inevitable confrontation with Voldemort."

Smiling slightly, he continued "Since I promised that I wouldn't be keeping secrets from you this year, I must confess to an ulterior motive in all this. Professor Reinblut has only agreed to fill the vacancy of DADA professor for one year as a personal favour to me. This leaves that post open, and so I was hoping that you would be able to be the new Defense Professor next year as you study under me, as the two tasks will be closely related. With all of your practical past experience, and having completed your NEWTs you would be more then qualified, even by school board standards, to teach the course."

"You want me to teach?" asked Harry. "Wait a sec, I'm only a student! I have no experience in a class room setting?"

"I beg to differ Harry. I have seen the results of the students who studied under you in the DA last year. Not one of them scored below outstanding during their OWL examinations. Not to mention the NEWT students also scored outstandings on their tests. As for your lack of classroom experience, I have a solution for that as well." the long time professor explained.

Harry just sat silently, trying to take all this in.

"Since you are so far ahead in the majority of your courses, I would ask you to become a teachers assistant in Charms, Transfiguration and DADA. You would attend Herbology regularly on Mondays, as it's the lesson days, but on Wednesday, as the others do the practical, you will work on things assigned to you by Madame Sprout to assure that you know all the necessary information for the NEWTs. You would be moved into the seventh year Ancient Runes and Arithmacy classes, joined by miss Granger if she so chooses, but would continue to attend CoMC regularly, getting an outline of the seventh year material from Hagrid to study on your own when you have the time.

"You would then sit every exam a month or two after Christmas, when they become available and become a full time teachers assistant there after, helping in classes of various ages from first to seventh years. What say you to this proposal?"

"Uh...um..." stuttered Harry.

"I assure you that I have put a lot of thought into this Harry, and even reviewed the memories of your professors in my pensive. You can do this. Of that I have no doubt. The question is, do you want to do this."

"Ya...I do. Do you really think I can?" asked Harry sheepishly and with uncertainty.

"Most definitely. I have no doubt that you will be able to...find the time necessary for all this." He explained with a wink.

'OF COURSE!' thought Harry. 'I can just set up the mansion to give me an extra day every night, giving me 14 days a week. That's perfect!'

"I accept Albus." said Harry before shaking the hand that had been extended to him. "What do I need to do?"

"Excellent! I must say, you make an old man proud Harry." said Albus with a smile. "as for what you need to do, each professor will tell you what's expected for each of their classes. Now, on to new business.

"With the capture and questioning of Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black has been declared innocent." Harry smiled at the news. "Unfortunately, this brings up another subject, and one that will need your immediate attention. Sirius left a will, as with every member of the Order, in my possession. This will is now legally and magically binding." Harry appeared crest fallen. He still didn't want to admit that Sirius was truly gone, let alone watch all of his things be divided up by a bunch of hungry vultures. "He left everything to you and Remus. He said that he left you a letter in which he made some requests of you, but other then that, half of all this things are yours Harry. The reason I bring this up, is that unless you go to Gringotts in the next week, the will becomes forfeit, allowing anyone of blood relations to state claims to his possession. This would include the Malfoys and Lestranges."

Harry's head shot up at the sound of those names with anger burning in his eyes. "May I have permission to go as soon as we are finished here sir? We can call Moony from Headquarters and go together. There's no way I'm letting those people have a knut of Sirius money." said Harry calmly, hiding his true passion on the subject.

"Very well Harry. I'll let you go directly to Grimmauld Place and collect Remus. You will have several hours before the bank closes for the night."

"Thank you Albus."

Their business completed for the day, Harry said goodbye to Albus before flashing over to collect Remus.

After arriving at the Leaky cauldron, Harry and Remus made their way over to Gringotts.

"For some reason I'm still finding it hard to believe that he's gone. I don't know why, I just can't." confessed Harry as they walked.

"I know Harry. I don't want to believe it either." admitted Remus.

"It's not that I don't want to Moony, it's just that I can't. I've tried to admit he's gone, I've even gotten over the guilt of feeling responsible for it. But I just can't."

"I don't know what to say cub. You might just need more time." said the werewolf pensively.

"I guess." muttered an unconvinced Harry.

Then with a smirk, Remus said, "You know what we DO need to do though?"

Harry looked at him, "what?"

"Well...since you're now and animagus, we need to get you a nick name, and make you a full fledged Marauder. You're hardly a cub anymore, and you need an identity of your own." said Moony with a grin.

Harry just smiled, his early confusion set aside for this, much more pleasant, topic of conversation.

"It should be something that encompasses all of them, and not just one or two." said Moony.

"What about..." but Moony cut him off.

"Nuh uh! You don't get to pick. This is something that another Marauder bestows on you at the time of your inauguration. Do you really thing Sirius would have picked Padfoot? Or me Moony? Sorry cub, you get no say in the matter." explained the last of the originals.

"And when will this 'inauguration' be?" asked Harry.

"That all depends on you. To be admitted, one must perform a large scale prank, on a number of people greater then 20, and not take credit for it, nor get caught. After a confession of said prank to myself, I will set up a time for the ceremony at which I will tell you all the responsibilities and perks that go along with donning the title of Marauder. Oh, and that's when I give you your name too." clarified Moony.

"Ok, I can live with that. I guess it couldn't possibly be too bad. It's not like my name could be any worse then Wormtail." he admitted with a grimace, causing Remus to laugh along.

The Gringotts visit was uneventfully. They were seen quickly and all they had to do was sign a couple of documents, then they were off. It was short mostly because neither wanted to see the vaults yet. They figured that it would take a while to sift through it all, and neither of them had that kind of time right now.

Harry talked Remus into making a quick stop at Quality Quiddich Supplies before going back to Grimmauld Place, but where off again in a few minutes after Harry placed his order.

Harry checked out the library in Grimmauld place for anything he might like to read, or take with him. He found a couple of tomes, mostly on and about Dark Magic, in the short time he looked and shrunk them down before flashing back to the Headmasters Office at Hogwarts. After a short good day to the headmaster, he left in search of Susan, not wanting to think much more about everything that had happened in the past few hours.

The next morning came much to early for Harry. Though that had to do less with the amount of sleep he had had, and more with the company he was being forced to keep that day.

Harry knew that he shouldn't be late. Even though he no longer had Snape as a teacher, he saw no point in going against his word in his dealings with anyone. He had told Snape he would meet him in the Entrance Hall at 7 am, and he would be there, but he didn't have to like it.

"It's about time, Potter." sneered Snape even though Harry still had a good 5 minutes.

"Shall we Professor?" asked Harry as he motioned towards the door.

"Humph!" grunted Snape as he walked past.

Harry had a feeling that Snape would be looking for any excuse to give him another detention since he'd no longer be able to give them to Harry in class. So Harry had decided to be on his best behaviour today.

Upon reaching the edge of the forest, the Snape turned to Harry.

"You will follow me, staying close and making no sounds whatsoever. I will say this once: I am fully aware of your previous excursions into this forest, and as much as I have no aversion to allowing your stupidity to have free reign when under the Headmasters care, I will NOT allow you to kill yourself on my watch. Therefore I remind you that I am the adult, and the fully trained Wizard and you shall do as I say. Stay behind me, and you should remain intact. I am going to cast a couple of charms on us to mask our sent and to render us silent. This should be sufficient to avoid most creatures in there if you remember to say anything." he lectured with his face full of anger and malice.

Harry just nodded, thinking that now was as good a time as any to stop talking to the git and after the two spells were cast, they moved forward into the woods.

Snape would point to a plant, which Harry would immediately recognised, and then Snape would harvest what he needed, and place it in a small container, which he then handed to Harry. Harry found it rather amusing that approximately 95 of the ingredients that Snape had collected could be found in his private garden.

Harry found the odd ingredient he wanted as well, and when Snape wasn't looking, he would make a note of where he found it so that he could return later to collect the whole thing to transplant it into his garden.

The first few hours or so passed by in this fashion, rather uneventfully. They did have a short run in with a a few cornish pixies, but Harry let Snape handle it.

At about the 4 hour mark, however, their luck took a turn for the worse. Apparently the Acrumantula had needed to expand their territory, and unknown to Snape, he had just walked into the thick of it.

Harry heard the faint clicking sound before Snape did, and looked up to see a good 30 to 40 man sized spiders lowering themselves down slowly, attempting to surprise their prey. Harry quickly threw up the same shield he had used in Diagon Alley just before the first spider was about to land on Snape. Unfortunately, the spider had already been inside the spell radius before the shield went up, and was now on top of Snape.

Having been totally surprised, Snape had just managed to draw his wand when the spider that had thrown him to the ground was stun by Harry.

"Potter! What are you doing! I said I would take care of our safety. They don't hunt alone, make sure there are no others!" said the professor, refusing to acknowledge the fact that Harry had just saved his life.

"That wont be necessary, Professor, I found them." he said, pointing up.

Snape, who was still struggling to get the large, stunned beast off of him, hadn't had time to look around yet. Following Harry's finger, he saw the now, approximately 50 spiders which were crawling all over the invisible barrier trying to find a way in.

"Wha...what's is that?" asked a bewildered Snape.

"That, is a large number of spiders, being held at bay by the shield that I erected. The same shield that I used in my battle in Diagon Alley." explained Harry.

Snape's external reaction was a scowl of anger towards his student, but inside, he wasn't sure how to react. Snape had been so sure that all the stories about Potter's new found abilities were exaggerated, but in the face of hard facts, it was hard to deny.

"And what do you propose we do now? We can't fire spells outside this shield of yours! We're trapped!" growled an angry Snape.

"Now," Harry started patiently, "we wait."

"WAIT? For what!" screamed a frustrated Snape.

"Aragog." said Harry.

"What?"

"We wait for Aragog, their leader. I have a bone to pick with him anyway. He should be here in 20 minutes, tops."

"And what makes you so sure it will come? It's a spider. How can you confidently predict their behaviour."

"Because they are not spiders, they are Acrumantualas and according to the book I read on these creatures this past summer, any encroachment onto their territory that cannot be handled by the group that encounters it, must be reported to their leader, who will come itself and assess the risk. If it is something that can be defeated, he shall do so, if it is something that is more powerful then it is, for example, a Basilisk, it shall retreat and find new territory to occupy until the thread has left, or is defeated by some other means." explained Harry.

"And how can you be so sure of the time frame?" asked Snape, hoping to poke a hole in Harry's prediction.

"Knowing where the main den is located, and the average speed of travel of both the size of the messenger and the size of Aragog himself. I figured that they will realize their inability to penetrate the shield in 2 to 5 minutes, so if they send word at that time, Aragog should arrive in 15 to 20 minutes. He'll definitely be traveling at full speed as will the messenger since they take protection of their territory very seriously." Harry explained while looking at the spiders above, not even making eye contact with Snape.

With only a grunt, the potion master waited.

As Harry had predicted, Aragog arrived in under 20 minutes. The other spiders moved aside, and surrounded the captives and Aragog.

Harry lowered the shield, and bowed slightly to Aragog.

"Ah, friend of Hagrid, why have you returned? You should have learned the first time that you ware not safe in my domain." asked the giant arachnid, clearly confused as to why Harry would willingly return to his death.

Snape was about to speak when Harry cut him off, "We were not aware that you're hunting grounds had grown, had we known, we would not have ventured within them, however, since we are here, I bring news of the creature that we discussed during my last visit."

"Yes...I was told it had been killed, what of it?" asked a curious Aragog.

"It was I who ended its life." said a confident Harry, "With this." he said as he drew the Sword which had, until this point, been invisibly hanging at his side.

The clicking of the group increased, and many of the spiders, backed away a several feet from the humans, even Snape seemed surprised, not having seen the sword on his student earlier.

"How do I know you are telling the truth, friend of Hagrid. You could be lying to me in attempts at gaining safe passage."

"I know you can smell it, even now, after it had been cleaned and four years later. You know the smell of basilisk" all the spider flinched "blood. And you know too that you smell the killing blow. So I ask, why kill the one who destroyed the creature you feared?" asked Harry, mildly amused that the spiders react to the title of basilisk just as most wizards do to the one of Voldemort.

"You also know that I could easily defeat you. You can smell the power that I am emanating, let us go free, and I promise that no harm will come to you, and we shall leave your domain swiftly." Harry finished.

Snape was rather angry at the pompous attitude that this young Gryffindor was displaying, and was about to tell him so when he saw the resolve in Harry's eyes. He wasn't bragging, he wasn't exaggerating, he was dead serious, and Snape didn't doubt that if he wanted to, he could most probably make good on his threat. He chose not to speak and talk to the Headmaster about it later.

After several seconds, Aragog responded, "We thank you for what you did in slaying the beast, and you are free to move throughout our lands. Anyone with you will be safe too, as long as they do not stray from your side. What shall I call you in future meetings Friend of Hagrid?" leaving Snape standing dumbfounded.

"You may call me Lord Gryffindor," he said as he willed his Robe to return to it's original colour and design. "and spread the word throughout the forest of what you learned. Tell them to leave me, and those with me, alone. Any who disobey that order do so to their own peril." Harry thought he might be going a bit over board, but with Acrumantulas especially, one could not show any weakness. And Harry had a feeling he would need their help before the end of this war, and he knew they only responded to power, so power he showed them.

"Very well, Lord Gryffindor, It shall be done." said Aragog before turning and leaving. In like manner, all the other spiders turn and left them also.

After he was sure they had all gone, Snape, his face contorted in a grimace, turned to Harry, "WHAT do you thing you were doing!"

Non pulsed, Harry picked up the bag he was carrying and without looking at Snape, answered, "Saving our lives. Shall we continue?" he asked looking at the man before him.

Unsure how to react, or what to do, Snape vowed to make mention of this to the Headmaster upon returning. If Potter was truly as powerful as he was letting on, then Snape would have to rethink his treatment of him. It never does well to tick off someone more powerful then you.

Without a word, Snape turned on his heals, and walked on.

Harry figured that Aragog must have spread the word quickly indeed, since with only about an hour left, they had had no other run ins with any creatures at all. Just as Harry was thinking this, however, rustling in the bushes off to the right caught his attention.

Turning to face the noise, he realized that it had bee deliberate as they were actually surrounded, the noise was just for him to focus his attention on the leader.

Bane.

"You were warned not to return, and now that you are no longer a foal, we will have no qualms about punishing you properly." said the centaur.

Harry knew the respectful greeting, having read up on all known creatures in the forest this past summer with the knowledge that he would soon be meeting with the majority of them, but he was too annoyed with Bane's lack of proper etiquette in this situation to follow what was proper.

"Did you now receive the spiders' warning? Any who threatened me, any, would do so to their own peril?" asked Harry, casually, much to Snape's annoyance.

Bane just snorted with laughter. "We do not fear you, wizard."

Snape started ranting, "I am here with the Headmaster's permission, and you have no right..."

"SILENCE! This is OUR land!" shouted Bane, as others in his group approached Snape and pointed spears at him.

"That is where you are wrong, this is MY land. I am the Heir of Gryffindor and so this forest belongs to me.

"We do not recognise the boundaries of humans, only those which we have established. If this is your land, then why is it that you do not defend its boundaries? That is what WE do. This IS our land!" replied a visibly angry Bane.

Harry decided that he was too frustrated to deal with this right now, though he would never let it show. Calmly he continued, "Fine, if you seriously think you can defeat us, go ahead and try, I promise you in less then 5 seconds, you will be the only one left conscious." said Harry, in all honesty, causing Bane to laugh yet again.

Shaking his head in dissapointment, and ignoring the scathing looks coming from Snape, Harry started sending out silent, stunners.

After only 4 seconds, all the other 10 centaurs were unconscious, and lying on the ground.

Both Bane and Snape's anger dissipated immediately.

"Now, as I was saying," continued Harry, "next time you threaten me, either make sure you have a larger number, or come in peace. The choice is yours, but I promise you this, if it even appears ass though you have a hostile intent, you will not live to regret it. Do you understand?"

Bane was still too stunned, to respond coherently. "the stars are true...Firenze was right...Mars...bright..." and he slowly backed away into the bush, before galloping off.

"Nice leader, leaving all of his troupes unconscious." Harry woke two, and explained that Bane had run off. The others would wake up in 30 minutes, and they were too stand guard. If they had a problem with this, Harry would just stun them again and wake two others. They agreed and stood quietly as Harry and Snape started to make their way out of the Forest.

Once back on Hogwarts grounds, Harry turned to Snape, "Will that be all professor?"

"Yes." With that, Snape just turned and walked away, carrying the bag of things he had collected.

Harry laughed silently to himself at the plethora of facial expressions that had crossed Snapes face that day, heck, in this last encounter alone! Frustration, anger, fear, awe, confusion, frustration again and so many others. It was clear that Snape didn't know what to think about Harry.

'And now he owes me 2 more life debts, poor guy. I wonder if he'll remember, not that I really care either way.' he thought to himself as he made his way into the school.

"Hey Harry" greeted Ron, as Harry entered the common Room.

Seeing Harry's smile, Neville asked hesitantly, "How'd it go?"

Harry just shrugged, "Same old same old."

AN: Ok...another chapter finished. I posted this one at the same time as the last, but that doesn't mean I don't want a review for each ;) I like getting them for each chapter. Your thoughts on what happened, and suggestions on where to go with it are always appreciated.

Farfumsane.