March 1994

A few days into the next week, Dumbledore had an announcement to make at breakfast. He had often been absent from the school lately, and from the constant stream of articles in the Daily Prophet, was clearly getting mixed up in a lot of politics as he talked with people and got the wheels of bureaucracy starting to turn for a trial for Black. So far, it was clear he'd been talking a lot with the Minister about rescinding the Dementor's Kiss order for Black, and the paper was increasingly full of people's stridently stated opinions in favour of a trial, which Harry thought was an excellent start. More ordinary news of things like burglaries, a missing person, and an infestation of Jarveys plaguing the Suffolk wizarding community (and a few Muggles who had to be Obliviated) were all pushed right to the back of the paper to make room for more sensational news.

Dressed in rather resplendent long purple velvet robes edged with too much gold lace, Dumbledore stood and waited for the crowd of chattering students to hush.

"Good morning students! I have a few short announcements to make regarding some staffing changes. Firstly, as you are all no doubt aware by now, regrettably your Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Lupin is still incarcerated pending his trial. I am confident he will be found innocent of the charges laid against him, however, the process will not be as swift as we might all hope for."

There was a muttering of discontent and arguing about that statement, before quiet fell again.

"I shall be unavoidably busy in my position as Head of the Wizengamot over the next month or so, as I oversee the start of trials for both your erstwhile Professor Lupin, and also Mr. Sirius Black. Regardless of your opinion on the matter of his guilt, I think we can all join with Mr. Potter in upholding the ideal that every wizard or witch accused of a crime should be entitled to a fair trial."

Harry sunk low in his seat as people turned to look at him. He appreciated the sentiment, but wished the Headmaster hadn't called him out by name. People were staring.

"While I am absent, Professor McGonagall as my deputy will be acting as Headmistress, but will continue to teach Transfiguration. Filling in for her own role as Head of Gryffindor House will be Madam Hooch. Gryffindor students are invited to call upon Madam Hooch if you have any concerns you need addressed during this busy time."

The Flying instructor gave a cheery wave. Students at the Gryffindor table murmured their general approval, and she stood and bowed at the polite round of applause.

"I would wager that's the new defence teacher," Neville whispered to Harry, pointing discreetly at the rather rotund, bald man sitting at the teacher's table. He had an enormous silvery moustache, and was wearing an embroidered lilac vest with silver buttons, and a plain black robe was open over the top of it. "They can't keep having other teachers filling in for Defence for too long. It simply won't work long term."

"Do you think he'll attack you too?" asked Hermione.

"Surely he wouldn't want to break the chain," said Harry with a slightly nervous smile.

"We shall be ready for him," Neville promised determinedly.

The newest teacher stood at Professor Dumbledore's gesture. "It is my pleasure to welcome our newest member of staff, Professor Slughorn, who has kindly agreed to resume his former post of Potions Master at Hogwarts."

"Wow! Fantastic!" said Neville with delight, joining in excitedly as people clapped for Slughorn.

"But what about Professor Snape?" said Harry, glancing at the staff table and seeing him still sitting there. The Slytherins were also looking curiously over at their Head of House.

"Professor Snape, however, will not be leaving us. Please welcome him in his new role as your temporary Defence Against the Dark Arts professor!"

There was enthusiastic applause from the Slytherin table and many excited faces, and a smattering of clapping from the other Houses – Harry was one of the politest Gryffindors in applauding for their teacher's new appointment, and he could see by the barely hidden look of triumph on Snape's face that he was very happy with the change in position. Neville had lowered his head to the table with a soft thunk, and Ron was complaining loudly at their missed chance to be rid of him for good, and consoling himself with the hope that the curse might get him.

"Do you think he needs to worry about the curse?" Harry asked Hermione.

"Well, he's just filling in temporarily," she mused thoughtfully. "Professor Trelawney said no-one stays longer than a year, but if Snape is planning to go back to teaching Potions later this year, or at worst for the start of next year, perhaps he's confident that no supernatural force will need to drive him from the role? It's a very odd kind of curse, isn't it? Still, there are Ancient Egyptian curses that have lingered for thousands of years, so it's certainly plausible."

Neville wasn't saying anything, but from despondent way his head still rested on the table it was clear he was closer in attitude to latching onto Ron's optimistic hopes of doom for Snape than Harry's polite acceptance of the new state of affairs.

"I thought you liked Professor Snape now, Neville?" Harry asked.

Neville raised his head slightly to look at him as he replied. "Well, I like him more than I did the last couple of years. But… no. Not a lot. He still scares me how he stands too close when I'm brewing. I drop stuff sometimes. And he takes too many points from Gryffindor – even if he doesn't take them from you very often I am sure you have noticed that the rest of us aren't so lucky. Professor Lupin was much nicer, don't you think? He was our best Defence teacher yet. I've been doing so well in that subject. Until now. Now I'll probably fail."

"Professor Lupin was alright, I guess," said Harry with a shrug. "I do hope he gets a trial quickly. He deserves that. Professor Dumbledore likes him, so I'm sure that will work in his favour."

Hermione scowled. "I like the idea of Professor Lupin being let off, because he's innocent – or mostly so – as a lot of this seems to be trumped up charges based in racial prejudice against werewolves. But I hate the idea that it might happen because of judicial bias. There's too much corruption in the wizarding government, I think. Things should be fairer than that."

Harry shrugged at that. "I don't like it either. I hate it. But we don't have to like the world, we just have to know how to survive in it."

"That sounds very Slytherin. Don't you want to fight to make things better?"

"There's nothing wrong with being in Slytherin. And sometimes the best way to win is for no-one to notice you're fighting." But while Hermione would've liked him to explain that statement more, Harry demurred and focused on eating the rest of his breakfast. Hermione wouldn't understand, and for her sake, he was glad of that. She'd never had to struggle quite like he had, in her idyllic family.

-000-

Professor Snape still looked excessively pleased with himself, standing at the front of their DADA classroom that afternoon. He must have done some swift redecorating of the classroom, for the creatures in cages had been removed, and the walls were now covered in pictures of people who appeared to be in horrible pain, sporting grisly injuries or strangely contorted body parts. Neville shuddered as he took his seat, and Harry sat next to him as he often did. It looked like his best friend would probably need some extra support today.

After a rather loving introduction to the topic of the "ever-changing and eternal" Dark Arts, Snape got down to specifics.

"Today we will be discussing vampires, thus quickly concluding the uninspired syllabus focusing on so-called 'Dark' creatures, so we can conclude the year covering more interesting and relevant topics such as simple jinxes, curses, and counter-curses suitable for this class' rather unimpressive level of puissance. In this morning's lesson I shall also cover the legislation surrounding vampires including the Guidelines for the Treatment of Non-Wizard Part-Humans. Those of you from less… educated backgrounds may assume that vampires may or should be killed on sight, yet this is specifically banned by the Ministry, in case a wizard or witch's own judgement and common sense should be deficient."

Professor Snape's lecture was enlightening, if peppered with the usual scattering of insults. Vampires were classed as part-human, and like many other recognised Beings, they were barred from using wands.

"Any pathetic fool who is unfortunate enough to fall prey to the vampiric curse will lose their status as a wizard or witch, and be reclassified by the Ministry as a Peregrini class Being, alongside hags, werewolves in human form, Veela, and goblins."

He then graciously allowed a couple of students to ask questions. He was in a good mood. "What about the centaurs?" asked Finnegan. "They're smart, and part-human."

"Merpeople and centaurs were both offered Being status but rejected it in favour of retaining their classification as 'Beasts'. They refused to be classified as Peregrini class citizens – they did not want to be subject to the laws governing our people, nor ruled by our government. Their lands – or watercourses – are thus not able to be acknowledged by treaty as their sovereign territories, but in most cases are recognised as sacrosanct areas for the conservation of magical creatures, and not subject to settlement or seizure."

"How about sphinxes? They're intelligent Beings surely, they can carry out complex discussions and ask riddles," Hermione said, after impatiently waiting for her waving hand to be acknowledged.

"Along with Acromantulas and Manticores, they are classed as Beasts despite their intelligence, having too violent a nature to be judged fit to join wizarding society. Giants currently hold Being status, but it is a matter of ongoing contention. However dull their minds, they are able to comprehend the concept of an alliance or treaty, and thus have been negotiated with in the past, according them Being status. In between wars, that is. They are extinct in Britain now, with only one or two tribes remaining in mainland Europe. So it is rather a moot point for the Ministry at the moment."

Hermione raised her hand again and waited for the nod before asking her question. "Sir, I was wondering if there are any other Beings like house-elves that have Servi status?"

"The nixie, also known as water-elves, though they are extinct or nearly so. The goat-legged fenodyree, or field-elves, found in the British Isles only on the Isle of Man. And nymphs of all kinds, which are still relatively numerous across Europe, though only in comparison as they too are in decline, as the Muggle encroachment into former wizarding lands and previously untouched forests continues."

"And why do they hold that status as Servi class?" Hermione asked. Her mouth was tight but her words were (with some effort) kept relatively polite.

"As a matter of practicality, and for their protection. For instance, should land with a river be sold, any resident naiads or nixies pass to the ownership of the new landholder, with all responsibilities for their protection and upkeep that may entail. And should a hamadryad's tree be hewn by an interloper, the landholder may seek vengeance or compensation for the loss of his property."

Hermione folded her arms and didn't look happy about it. "They could be offered Peregrini status at least," she muttered.

"Matters could be worse. For instance, Muggles held Servi status too, once upon a time," concluded Snape with a thin smile at Hermione's gasp of horror. He waited for the uproar, which took time to develop into full flood as it required the more informed students to update their friends as to the implications of his statement.

He took a handful of points off Gryffindors unwilling or unable to keep their mouths shut, before waving away the dissension by assuring everyone that Muggles held Being status now. "Muggles themselves bought and sold each other as slaves. You can hardly be shocked to hear that wizarding society followed suit for a time, unless you're mentally deficient."

After the class, Hermione vented angrily for some time about the horrific historical classification of Muggles as a slave race, and built up a fine rage upon hearing from Ron that there used to be a push to make Muggle-hunting legal, from the Dark families. He was tagging along in earshot as they were all headed to the same class next, and got drawn into the conversation.

Eventually she wound down, distracted by another thought. "Did you know about the other types of elves? I didn't find anything about that in my reading!"

"It was news to me," said Ron.

Neville shrugged uncomfortably. "Well, obviously there's other kinds. Otherwise we'd just talk about 'elves', not 'house-elves'. But I though the other kinds were extinct."

Harry said, "I've heard of water-elves, in reference to 'water-elf disease'. It gives you pale or blackened nails, watery eyes, some kind of neck trouble that makes you want to look down all the time, and nasty sores. There's a very interesting and complicated potion to cure it, with ale and sacred well water as the base, along with a dozen plants and herbs. And a long counter-curse or charm that you sing, with a refrain repeated three times!"

Hermione stared at him as he rambled enthusiastically. "You didn't think I'd want to know about that?"

He shuffled his feet. "Sorry. It was just that the book was centuries old. So, much like Neville, I thought water-elves were extinct. It was just interesting." He told her the title, so she could look it up herself, which mollified her.

-000-

With a new teacher at the helm, Potions was a revelation of cheerfulness. Professor Slughorn's round beaming face and giant walrus moustache greeted them at the door as the Gryffindors filed into class, and he seemed particularly enthusiastic in his greetings for Harry and his friends.

"Mr. Potter, a pleasure to make your acquaintance at last. I expect superb work from you today, m'boy! Professor Snape warned me to expect nothing less."

"Yes, sir." Harry wondered exactly how illuminating that conversation between the two teachers had been.

"And this would be your friend Longbottom, yes? 'Much improved', he said."

Neville beamed happily. "Thank you, sir!"

"And Miss Midgen? No? Miss Granger, then. A pleasure. Any relation to Hector Dagworth-Granger, who founded the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers?"

"I'm Muggle-born, but Parkinson – Pansy, that is – is helping me research my family tree further back to see if there's any connection to the Dagworth-Grangers, or any other wizarding family. If there's a connection it's probably going to be a distant one, however." Pansy gave Professor Slughorn a little wave at the mention.

"Well it's still a pleasure to meet you whether you are related to them or not, my dear," he said with a genial smile, which brought out a return toothy grin from her.

He shook a few more hands as the rest of his students entered. "Do have a look around while I'm greeting everyone – there's a number of potions on display to intrigue and inspire! Look, but do not touch! These are all NEWT level concoctions and I will be most interested to hear what you make of them."

Harry and his friends sniffed and peered interestedly at the range of bubbling cauldrons on display. The gold cauldron full of shimmering mother-of-pearl potion with spirals of steam was definitely the most delightful to smell – Harry said he thought it simultaneously smelled like treacle tart, leaf mulch (which reminded him of Storm's faint odour he picked up from his habitat), and musty old stonework. (He didn't say so out loud, but the stonework smell reminded him vaguely of his comfortable secure hideout in the Chamber of Secrets.) It was an odd but truly scrumptious combination of smells, and the scent felt like it alone could fill him up, like eating a good meal could.

Neville said, "It must have some leaves or perhaps even the flowers from the Flutterby bush in it, because I smell something totally different. Wow, if it needs the flowers this must be a frightfully expensive potion to brew." He tucked his hands behind his back and took a wary step back, as if worried he might knock the cauldron over. "The Flutterby bush only blooms once a century, and their blossoms are adaptive - they can smell like whatever you like the most."

"What did you smell, Neville?" Harry asked curiously.

"I thought it smelled like the earth after rain, the spicy scent of Puffapods, and bubblegum."

"Bubblegum? I've never noticed you chewing it? Do you like bubblegum?" said Harry, surprised. But Neville shook his head and didn't want to explain that.

Hermione said, "I can smell freshly mown grass, new parchment, and mint toothpaste."

"Grass?" asked Harry.

"Summers at home," she explained. "Why do you smell old stone?"

"Hogwarts," he said vaguely. "I like it here, I guess."

Professor Slughorn called the class to order, and after a few quiz questions about the potions on display, during which Hermione restrained herself sufficiently to let others field a couple of questions by raising her hand a second after someone else in the class had. Though she put her hand up very high and clear so it was obvious she did know the answer, and was just being polite in not calling it out. Harry identified the cauldron of Veritaserum, Hermione talked knowledgeably at length about Polyjuice Potion and impressed the Professor greatly, and identified Amortentia too. Neville got a chance to talk about its properties, however, with a little encouraging prod from Harry to put his hand up. The last potion of molten gold in the tiny black cauldron was the most mysterious and unfamiliar to the three of them, and Draco was very smug and proud to identify it as "Liquid Luck" and win the first points for Slytherin for the day.

"Quite right, Malfoy! Felix Felicis! A curious little potion, that one," said Slughorn. "Desperately tricky to make, and disastrous to get wrong. But oh, what a delight it is. Highly toxic in large quantities! But taken sparingly and used very occasionally, and you have the most perfect day."

He held up a miniscule little vial, which was on offer as a prize for the most perfectly brewed potion. "Not to be used on examination days or during sporting events, of course!" he warned with a smile. "But just try it on an ordinary day, and see how it can make it into an extraordinary one."

"You shall need your wits about you for this little competition!" he said with a hearty chortle. "If you brew well, you will be making exactly what you least need – a Wit-Sharpening Potion! Now, it is a fourth year potion, but that should give you a little bit of a challenge! Let us see how you fare. Individual efforts only!"

Students scrambled for the supply cupboard, with Hermione pushing her way to the front of the pack, grabbing ginger root, armadillo bile, and scarab beetles, and rushing back to her bench to start peeling the ginger root.

Harry hesitated nearer the back of the pack – there would still be plenty of supplies and another minute wouldn't make a big difference. Should he try his best? The prize sounded amazing – liquid luck! There would be no flying under the radar with the new teacher if he brewed his best. But it sounded like Professor Snape had at least told him to expect and demand an Outstanding level of brewing. Harry decided he'd go for it. He really wanted that prize – it would be perfect to help him with homework. Or to sit his IGCSEs! No-one from the wizarding world needed to know. And he'd been working towards an O in class lately anyway – no-one would be too shocked if he did well.

At the end of a tiring session of brewing, the class waited with bated breath for the results. Professor Slughorn seemed to be considering Harry's potion, Hermione's, and Draco's as the top picks. "Excellent brewing, I can see you three are the ones to watch in this class!"

Neville sighed, and shrugged with a smile at Harry. His potion had worked out well enough to please himself, at least. It was a year above their level.

Slughorn scooped up some of Draco's potion with a ladle to judge the consistency. "No surprises here from you, Malfoy! Excellent work. Your grandfather Abraxas had a good eye for potions ingredients, you know. Gave me some lovely Abraxan wing feathers as an early Christmas gift one year, when his mare was moulting."

"And I'm sure you put them to good use, being a Master Potioneer," Draco flattered.

"Indeed I did!" he said with a jolly laugh, wandering over to Harry's bench next.

"Good work, Potter, outstanding potion," he said, giving Harry's own concoction a stir and a tiny taste test. "Perfect consistency. I expect to see you keep up this standard in class, now!"

"I will sir," he replied respectfully, with a smile. The new professor seemed a gregarious type who gave the impression of wanting to make friends with everyone, so a smile seemed appropriate.

Harry's potion was more an orange-yellow than Hermione's, which Slughorn looked at next. Hers was more of a dark orange. Harry knew he'd done everything right – hers must have been brewed too quickly. She did get impatient sometimes. He mentally rehearsed what to say to comfort her when she lost, as their professor peered into her cauldron and took a tiny spoonful to try from her brew. He didn't want to hurt her feelings – he just really wanted that prize.

"Superb, Miss Granger! The clear winner!"

What?!

"Thank you sir," she said proudly. "I worked hard at it."

"And it shows! Perfect colouration and consistency." He handed over a tiny vial of liquid gold as her prize, which she tucked away carefully in her bag amongst her quills.

Hermione offered Harry soothing words of consolation which had sounded much better in his head when he was planning to say them to her.

"Your potion was fantastic too, Harry," she said soothingly. "You've come so far this year, and Snape was even giving you Outstanding marks like you deserved! It was still an Outstanding potion even if it wasn't the best – and it was a Fourth year potion, remember! I just had a good day – I beat Draco too, and you know he was top of the class last year!"

He'd given it everything he had, and he'd lost.

He lingered after the class to quickly quiz their teacher about where he'd gone wrong. "I followed the instructions to the letter, sir. And extra cleaning for my cauldron and knife – I know they were fine. Ginger root peeled perfectly, scarab beetles ground to a fine dust, no legs. What went wrong?"

"Nothing went wrong, dear boy! You did some outstanding brewing today! And I don't mind you taking a little sample or two for later in some vials – yes I did see that you sly thing – it's perfectly good to use, just like Malfoy's was. If I had to guess I would say you didn't add quite enough ginger root. Just another thirty grains or a dram more would have been perfect, I would hazard."

"I added ginger until the potion turned the colour of limes – careful slivers off the end of the second piece until I got the right shade. The recipe doesn't mention a precise weight?"

"Ah, that would probably be the problem, then! While you don't weigh the peeled ginger root, due to the varying potency of the morning dew and the strength of the vinegar, you want to add the ginger until the potion turns lime, not the colour of limes. You want a rather precise light green shade with a tinge of yellow, not just any old shade of lime. Otherwise you won't obtain the right shade of orange at the end – yours was more pumpkin orange than salamander orange. You can find a colour chart in Potion Opuscule."

Harry sighed. "Oh, I remember that now. I haven't reviewed that book since first year. I guess Hermione was better at memorising the colour chart than I was."

"Well it was a rather ambitious book to be tackling in your first year!" Slughorn said, sounding impressed. "You should review it when you get a chance. Run along now, I have another class about to start. And keep an eye out for my owl! I will be sending out invitations to a little soirée shortly! I hope to see you there, young man. And don't be so downhearted. A drive for perfection is what turns a good potions student into a Master, given time!"

-000-

Hermione glanced around the Gryffindor common room to make sure that she and Harry weren't near anyone close enough to eavesdrop, before leaning in to whisper conspiratorially, "Have you gotten a letter lately from you know…"

Harry flinched. She raised her eyebrows and waited expectantly.

"Your godfather?" Hermione finished after a pause, much to his relief.

"Oh! Him. Yes, I did, actually. A couple of days ago. Though it was quite brief – no real news. He didn't send any packages unfortunately, just a letter. Hang on, I'll pop up to my dorm and get it to read to you."

"If it's not a bother," she said politely.

"Not at all," he responded, and fetched it promptly from the hidden compartment of his trunk. He offered it to her to read, but she declined.

"Maybe you could read it to me instead. In case it's charmed to self-destruct," she said. Harry smiled at her thoughtfulness. He would hate to lose the letter, for it was a very nice one, even if it was short. He read it out quietly to her.

"Dear Harry,

Sorry I haven't returned your cloak yet, or your friend's necklace (you know the one!) as I might still need them, with Aurors still after me and poor Remus arrested. But it looks like a trial might be in the offing, so here's hoping the stars align in my favour soon! I shall send them back soon, I promise. Hopefully it should only be another week or two.

Don't forget I want you to come and live with me when I get my name cleared! It is what your parents would have wanted. I know you said no when we first talked about it, but maybe you will change your mind now you know I am innocent? I really would do my best to be a good guardian. I'm doing better all the time, away from all the Dementors. I'm not entirely sure what the goblins will have done with the family finances while I was in Azkaban, but I should have a couple of properties to choose from – you can help pick! There is an old family home I think you might like – it is rather old and mouldering but it's in the middle of a Muggle area so that would be nice and familiar to you, and I could fix it up.

Your snake could come too – he can have all the magical pests he can catch! I would wager the Dursleys aren't keen on magical snakes in the house? I don't know how you talked Petunia into that but I doff my hat at that accomplishment.

Address return letters to "Padfoot", as I'm charmed against a lot of name-based location spells, which will affect owls too.

Yours sincerely,

Sirius Black"

Hermione sighed. "Well, I can see why he'd want to hold onto the you-know-what a bit longer. I guess I did the right thing in dropping some classes," she whispered.

"I just got another letter you might be interested in too, hang on, I'll just call Neville over," said Harry. "Oh, and Ron too. This one's not so private, and they should hear about it."

Neville and Ron were promptly summoned away from a circle of students playing a game of Exploding Snap to join their private huddle.

"I was just up in the dorm a minute ago, and one of the waiting owls there this evening had a letter from Dumbledore!" said Harry. "I thought you might all like to see it."

"Dear Mr. Potter,

You may be pleased to hear that having enlisted the full co-operation of Ms. Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, as well as the eventual agreement of Minister Fudge, I have finally managed to secure a date for a full trial of Mr. Sirius Black on Wednesday, the sixth of April. This date falls within the Easter holidays and will thus allow yourself, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger to attend as witnesses, should you desire to assist in the court case. I commend to you the task of persuading them to present themselves in court as it will make the case for his innocence on several charges a stronger one. Official Wizengamot notices requesting your presence shall arrive in due course; please respond promptly.

Mr. Black shall be required to present himself for peaceful surrender into Ministry custody no later than two full days prior to the trial, or he risks the trial being cancelled altogether. From today onwards, Aurors are under instructions to use minimal force necessary to apprehend the elusive Mr. Black, and while alas the Dementors shall remain stationed at the school for the time being I have secured the Minister's agreement to have them withdrawn as soon as Mr. Black is in custody. A great relief it shall be to us all, no doubt!

Your erstwhile Professor will also have his day in court soon. Mr. Lupin's trial has been scheduled for Monday, the second of May. While regrettably this will fall within the school term, perhaps a leave of absence from classes could be arranged should you again wish to render assistance.

I am, yours most sincerely,

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Head of the House of Dumbledore, Grand Sorc.,
Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)"

Everyone was eager to hear the good news, and agreed that they'd all do what they could in court to help the two.

-000-

Tap tap. Harry rapped on the mosaic's frame to wake up its inhabitant. "Greetings Ambrosius! It's been about three weeks since my last visit – it's now late March."

Ambrosius sat up on the klinai and stretched. "Goodness! So long? You were visiting almost every single day before. Was there a holiday I missed?"

"No, the Easter holidays are still coming though they're not far off now – the first week of April. Sorry I haven't been by in a while – I didn't have time."

Ambrosius frowned at him. "You did before. But I suppose you are tiring of visiting an old man who rambles too much."

Harry waved his hands apologetically. "No, no! It's not that at all. I like talking with you. The thing is, I had access to a Time-Turner. I was sharing it with my friend Hermione, but unfortunately it's been lent to my godfather now, and even when he sends it back it looks like it'll have to go back to the original owner."

"A what?"

Harry explained about what a Time-Turner was and how it worked, and why he had one and how no-one was supposed to know about it (in case Professor McGonagall disapproved of him sharing it when she'd lent it only to Hermione). "So you see, that's why I was able to visit for hours and hours, even though I have so much work to do. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I guess I thought you knew? I didn't realise I hadn't mentioned it. Didn't you wonder how I could visit for so long?"

Ambrosius let out a deep sigh, looking tired. "My vanity got the better of me – not for the first time. I assumed you were awed and honoured to spend so much time in my company. I thought perhaps you were a very lonely young boy who was happy to spend his afternoons and evenings down here. Tom certainly was, for a time.

"A 'Time-Turner'. My greatest magical accomplishment was a ritual that allowed me to travel back in time. Most mortals who knew of it regarded me with either awe or fear for being god-like in my power – that I could live backwards in time and speak of what was yet to come with the utmost precision. Those of us with such high levels of magical skill were in more ancient times worshipped outright, with temples dedicated to us and generations of followers ready to carry out our every whim. And now, such a power is incorporated into a device used by children. A plaything, to allow extra time for scholarly studies or socialising."

He looked broodingly thoughtful as he spoke again, "I cannot decide whether to delight in how far our people have come, or whether to weep for what has been lost. It is a strange age you live in now."

"I'm really sorry I haven't visited for a while," Harry apologised again. "It's not just not having the Time-Turner. Having to keep it secret that I can sneak down here into the Chamber is a problem too – I haven't told anyone that I'm doing that. And there's all this stuff with my godfather going on too."

"The madman who is trying to kill you? I remember."

"No, you see it turns out he's actually innocent!" Harry explained the tale in full, and Ambrosius relaxed the more they spoke. The poor man had clearly been lonely for company, or at least felt it now he was awake again. Harry found it was nice to have someone to confidentially unburden his woes to, as well.

"I have so little time these days. I guess I got used to the Time-Turner, and now everything's so difficult. And I agreed with my tutor to do the exams for French, Latin, and Maths at the end of the school year!"

"You will do fine," soothed Ambrosius. "Those are your best subjects."

"I know," Harry grumbled, "but I should have had heaps of time to review."

"You're happy that your godfather got away safely, though. Isn't that worth the risk of a slightly worse grade?"

Harry thought about it. "I guess. I just wish I knew how to squeeze more time out of the day. Madam Pomfrey said it was best to limit the use of Wideye Potion to no more than two to three times per week, and that extended use by children hadn't been studied. So I'm only using that once or twice a week – when I've used more than that it has left me feeling weirdly tired, but unable to sleep. And now Professor Slughorn wants me to spend some of my free time in a club of his! I got a formal invitation on parchment wrapped up with a violet ribbon to come and join his 'Slug Club', and I don't know if I should or not."

They chatted for a while, and after attending carefully to his description of the man, Ambrosius convinced him that it was a worthwhile investment of time. "Wizarding society runs on patronage and favours, and nothing you've ever told me has suggested that has changed significantly in the past couple of hundred years. Good grades are important, but connections are what will see you flourish or fall. Don't think of it as a waste of your time – think of it as an investment in your future career. You should instead save your time by ceasing to assist your cousin with his studies so much. He is not learning anything except to be dependent on you."

Harry looked a bit shifty as he admitted, "That's kind of the idea. We had a deal, where he would help me with some problems at home, in exchange for study help."

"Ah! Well then, if you need more time, but still need the obligation, perhaps you could offer him the choice of which subjects to drop assistance for, and which few to keep. Then he should feel empowered in the shifting balance of the favour, because he retains the power of choice. However, he will still be indebted to you."

That sounded like a good idea – he could do that. "Thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it. I'm sorry, but I have to go now. I'll visit when I can, I promise. Mostly on weekends, now."

"I look forward to it."

-000-

Harry whistled cheerfully as he helped himself to some toast from the silver toast rack on the Gryffindor table, topping it with some butter and thickly sliced ham.

"Word of warning, Potter," muttered Ron quietly.

"You can call me Harry again, if you like," he replied cheerfully.

"Oh! Thanks Harry," said Ron, perking up. "Friends again, then?"

"I think so. Not best friends, maybe, but friends, yeah?"

Ron nodded gratefully.

Harry took a bite of toast, and asked through a mouthful of food, "So what was this warning?"

"Oh, it's Fred and George's birthday today. They're always flush with new prank items, and say it's traditional to share the wealth, given it's April Fools' Day today. So don't accept any snacks today."

"Is it?" said Hermione, distractedly scanning the air above the tables.

Harry waved a hand dismissively. "They offered me pranking immunity for dashing off to save you, Ron. They were really worried about you, you know! I think I'll be safe, unless they forget."

"I'm safe too," added Hermione, still glancing around the hall expectedly.

Ron snorted unhappily. "Typical. I'm their brother – I'm the one who was in danger! And I don't get prank immunity. Ginny's not off the hook either."

Harry smiled amusedly.

"You're in a good mood this morning, Harry!" said Neville cheerfully, helping himself to some more scrambled eggs for his breakfast. "Enjoying the start of the Easter break, then?"

Harry shrugged. "Not with the amount of homework they're piling on – it won't be much of a break, though it's nice to have some time off classes. No, I just woke up in a good mood this morning."

"And I reap the benefits," grinned Ron. "Did you hear? We're a first name basis again, officially."

"He's called you that for a couple of weeks now, when talking about you," said Neville.

"Finally!" muttered Hermione.

"I'll say!" said Ron. "It's taken forever, hasn't it?"

"No!" she said exasperatedly with a shake of her head. "Not you. I mean the morning paper. Look! Here come the owls at last." She pointed to where the small flock of incoming dull brown post owls swooped over the House tables towards the regular subscribers, among whom Hermione was counted. Thomas reflexively covered his breakfast protectively with his hands as they flew past.

As she unrolled the paper, Hermione let out a loud gasp at the news, which was echoed around the Great Hall as others opened up their own copies of the Daily Prophet, and read the day's shocking headline.

"MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN

MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS 'RALLYING POINT' FOR OLD DEATH EATERS"

A/N: Dramatic cliffhanger! :D *ducks for cover* C'mon, they're fun! *ducks again*

I was re-reading bits of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for this chapter, and Hermione in sixth year at nearly 17 yrs old is still thrusting her hand up in the air to answer every question like it's a race with the rest of the class. She didn't even let Professor Slughorn finish his second and third Potions questions before punching the air (yes that's how JKR describes it), and answered the second one without even being called upon (Harry also knew the answer to that one). The slightly bewildered Professor Slughorn didn't even try to ask anyone else the fourth question – she got that one asked just for her to answer. Malfoy got an I-sucked-on-a-lemon expression at her getting twenty points for Gryffindor, and frankly I can't blame him. I honestly thought she'd grown out of it by that point, but there you go, in canon she was still a desperate question hog for years. I empathise. I'm a hand-waver too – it's a hard habit to break! She's getting toned down in my fic now because she has so many friends (or friendly acquaintances, at least) willing to confront and nag her about her behaviour.

I've fallen behind the past couple of weeks with responding to reviews - sorry about that! I will catch up as soon as I can.