AN: Sorry this took so long writers block and work kept it from progressing much for a while. Anyway only other thing I'd say is if anyone has similar dark thoughts to Harry in this chapter I recommend you consider seeking help. So slight trigger warning I guess the story is probably going to get much darker though so be warned generally.

Harry exited the abandoned classroom started making his way back to the Gryffindor common room feeling much better than when he had first entered it a couple hours ago. The nightmare that had awoken him had faded from his mind, plus he always felt a certain amount of unexplainable joy whenever he used magic. He wasn't sure if that joy stemmed from magic itself, the freedom it had given him, or if it was simply fun using it but he supposed it didn't really matter.

Harry had never been one to care that much about the theory and implications of magic the entire time he had been at Hogwarts after all. A summer of isolation and a good bit of studying had improved his respect and understanding for the theoretical side of magic some but it would always be his least favorite aspect of magic. He would always prefer to simply use or at least try to use spells than read about them. So testing out a few of the spells was definitely a good way to kill a few hours in the early morning when he couldn't sleep.

The nightmare hadn't been as bad tonight as it had been the first day he got back at least. He had suspected that he was going to have a bad one that night since it was his first night back where Sirius had died, but he hadn't expected it to be quiet that bad. It had caused him to wake screaming at the top of his lungs for all his roommates to hear had he not charmed his curtains to keep noise in and out. That particular spell he had learned last year after Ron and Seamus both started snoring.

Of course he hadn't been able to sleep any more that night and he ended up wondering the castle for hours under his invisibility cloak. Eventually he had found a particularly well hidden abandoned classroom on the previously restricted third floor of the massive school. He supposed well-hidden wasn't exactly the right word he would actually use for the room, at least not at Hogwarts, it was more out of the way and strange. The only entrance to the room was at the end of a short dead end hallway that looked inconspicuous and seemed to only have an empty broom closet in it.

Something about the hall rubbed Harry wrong though like there was something missing so he had continued past the empty storage closet to examine the wall for a while poking and prodding it only to find nothing. However when he turned around he noticed something, another door or well door knob that was directly opposite the broom closet.

There wasn't really anything else to it just a door knob that blended into the hall and a normal empty classroom collecting dust with a large desk and chair for a teacher and nothing else. It was strange but then again so was Hogwarts. He wasn't sure if he had simply missed it at first or somehow removed some protection keeping it hidden but in the end it seemed worthless so Harry had simply shrugged and moved on keeping note of the room for possible future use and well that future had come rather soon.

Only two nights later he had been woken again plagued by nightmares and decided against just wondering the school aimlessly again. Instead he had chosen to practice some of the spells he was to use this year and some he learned in the Black manor house over the summer.

The well-hidden room seemed to be the perfect place during these early morning hours when he technically was supposed to still be in bed anyway. During normal hours he, and most other students, wouldn't bother to go this far out of the way to practice spells, hell most professors all but encouraged practice in classrooms like this as long as it wasn't in the halls. At night though it was probably best he avoided anywhere Filch or that damn cat which might be roaming about. Even with his cloak it had a habit of seeming to wander in Harry's direction even if it didn't seem to know where he was.

His cloak might be damn near perfect hiding him from sight but Harry had learned the hard way that if he made too much noise then someone will find you anyway. He and his friends had nearly been caught several times now by Filch, and Dumbledore obviously heard him second year in Hagrid's hut. Of course since then he learned a pretty nifty silencing spell that probably took care of that problem while looking up spells to block Seamus and Ron's snoring. But that damn cat either had a damn good nose as he hadn't managed to find a spell to spell to erase his scent yet or it was just luck, bad luck.

He supposed it didn't matter this time as he arrived in front of the entrance of the common room without encountering a soul, even an undead one. He entered the common room after removing his cloak to find it nearly deserted except for a couple of boys he thought were in second year that he didn't know the names of. They didn't even seem to notice his entrance apparently they were too wrapped up in what looked like homework to care.

Harry chuckled quietly to himself as he made his way up to his dorm because he knew he and Ron had probably replicated the scene several times in their second year. Harry wanted to believe he had grown past that and would never be doing homework this early again but well he still hated studying even if he had a new found respect for its results.

Harry had no doubt he had gotten better at magic over the summer a lot better in some ways. He had learned plenty of new spells, old spells seemed to work better too, and he was sure he felt more in touch with his magic now. But he still wouldn't be surprised if he ignored his homework too long again and he and Ron ended up down there with those two first years at apparently 7 in the morning according the clock in his dorm room. Harry might respect the results of studying more now but he still despised it, especially all the theoretical shite.

The dorm room seemed dead to the world when Harry cracked the door open. His roommates seemed to still be asleep and Harry didn't need to have explain where he had been this early in the morning. So he crept past the beds to the attached large bathroom and jumped into the nearest shower. The hot water was certainly soothing this early in the morning, Harry could feel the last of the tension he had from training and the nightmare leaving his body as he cleaned himself. It was so tempting to just stay in there where it was warm and safe forever but eventually, after much more time they he needed to take, he left the sanctuary and finished the rest of his morning routine for the day.

"Harry?" a quiet voice asked as he left the bathroom

He jumped and spun toward the voice wand half drawn from his pants only to find the slightly rotund face of his shyest roommate looking back at him bleary eyed and clearly half asleep. Harry blinked once then twice to be sure it was him before moving his hand away from his wand, glad once again he no longer needed his glasses or else he definitely would've cursed the boy.

"Merlin, Neville you scared me. Thought I was the only one up this early." Harry said hoping the dim light of the room would hide his embarrassment.

Neville looked at him slightly confused before asking "What … what time is it?"

"It's um quarter past 7 mate you'll need to get up soon but you can sleep a little more if you want." Harry said glancing while glancing at rooms clock.

"Right I'll just" yawn "I'll just do that then…" Neville said tiredly before laying his head back down and quickly moving back toward dream land.

Harry quietly chuckled and finished preparing for the day before leaving as silently as he came in.

Nearly an hour later Harry was sitting at the Gryffindor house table alongside several of his quidditch teammates discussing the upcoming English league season. He was of the opinion that his favorite team the Appleby Arrows had a real shot this year of course. Once Gryffindor table was nearly full Harry started to wonder where his friends were, thinking if they didn't get here soon they'd miss breakfast. In fact he noticed just then that all his dorm mates in Gryffindor seemed to be missing. He noticed Kellah and Fay, two of the girls in his year, talking seat further down the table.

Harry called out to them to see if they had seen his dorm mates or Hermione but they answered back over the lively noise of the great hall they hadn't seen them. Harry was about to head back to the dorms to look for them when he saw them both Ron and Hermione appear at the entrance to the hall with Hermione leading a clearly irritated Ron by the arm. It was immediately clear Ron was angry and Harry had pretty good idea of why Ron was glaring at the entirety of Slytherin table. Most of their table were now laughing at the four Gyriffindor boys with Green and silver hair after all.

As they approached and took seats to his left Harry could hear what they were saying.

"lling you Hermione it must have been them why would my brothers do it I haven't done anything to piss them off… At least not recently … I think. Plus they would go with pink or something not this!" Ron said gesturing wilding around his head

"Ron for the last time it wasn't Draco and the 'rest of those no good Slytherins' as you put it. And I'm not saying it was your brothers just that it was obviously someone in Gryffindor who didn't have to sneak into our common room just to set up some prank."

"So you were pranked then?" Harry asked

"Harry there you are!"

Harry rolled his eyes "Yes well spotted Ron now are you going to explain what happened?"

"You're never going to believe it mate someone managed to set up some kind of paint prank on a whole bunch of us in the common room."

"A paint bomb?" Harry thinking of the similar muggle prank.

"Yep something like that, someone got it to land on Dean, Seamus, Neville, and me as we entered the common room. We were completely covered in green and silver paint head to toe and had to go change or you know McGonagall would've killed us. We managed to get it off our skin and clothes but it won't come out of our hair!"

"Wait it just got everyone in our dorm except me?"

"Well Pavarti, Lavender, and I were sitting nearby and both of them claimed to have gotten some on their shoes but I think they both just wanted to go put on more make up. I certainly didn't find any paint on me in any case, but yes it was seemingly all your dorm mates Harry. You were very lucky to have left early but if I had to guess only one of them was the target and the rest were just unlucky."

"What do you mean?"

"Well like I was telling Ron the ward trap only activated when those four came down the stairs to the common room so clearly it was just meant for one of them."

Harry nodded "Yeah I suppose that makes sense. So you two were arguing about who it was then?"

"That's righ-" Hermione started only to get cut off by Ron with his mouth still full.

"It was Malfoy I'm telling you. Who else would make my hair be green and silver?"

"Eww, Ronald I've told you a hundred times swallow before you speak that's gross." Hermione's disgust was obviously displayed on her face scrunched up much like she had just bit a lemon and had a furball at the same time.

Harry smirked and rolled his eyes at his friend's usual terrible table manners and Hermione's constant attempts to fix them. He often wondered if she would ever make any progress or realize it was probably pointless.

"Also for the last time it can't be Malfoy how could he have gotten into the common room?"

"Well I don't know but who else would do this to me?" Ron exclaimed fortunately after swallowing this time.

"He has got a point there Hermione. Malfoy might not be able to get in but he is the most likely person to do this. Fred and George probably would've made his hair pink or something, doubt they'd ever go for green and silver."

"That's what I said." Ron said before taking another bite

Hermione sighed "I know that but we can't just assume it was Malfoy without any proof."

"Why not? He accuses us of things all the time without any proof." Ron said

"Because it isn't right Ronald that's why." Hermione huffed

Harry smirked at Ron and rolled his eyes it seemed Hermione's crusade for justice would never cease. Ron smirked back as Hermione started ranting about the needing evidence and assumptions based on past behavior were wrong.

Fortunately for the two of them Hermione was soon cut off several minutes later.

"that's why you should never assume-"

"Mrs. Granger I'm sure your discussion is very important but I need to have word with Mr. Potter about the remedial ancient runes class he will be starting today." Came the voice of their head of house professor McGonagall.

Harry noticed Ron grimace at the mention of the class, needless to say when he had found out Harry had switched out of divination without him he hadn't been happy. It had led to a minor argument that only ended when Harry told Ron he simply couldn't stand Trelawney predicting his death all the time.

Quietly he thought it had already happened once and he feared it might happen again. It would be like remembering the event over and over every time she mentioned his impending doom. Harry didn't say any of that but he didn't think he would be able to handle it either so he was glad Ron had accepted his reasoning even if he was still annoyed.

"Mr. Potter you appear to be done with your breakfast if you could please follow me?"

"Oh of course professor, I'll see you both in charms huh?"

"See you Harry!"

"Soe yeu"

"Ron once again that's disgusting swallow then talk"

Harry laughed and followed the strict witch out of the great hall up a flight of stairs to the witch's office. Inside the room was decorated with a few Gryffindor banners and trophies from the Hogwarts Quidditch cup as well as British Inter-school cup. Both of which Harry had helped win last year causing him to smile fondly especially as he remembered beating Manchester Magic Academy last year in the finals of the inter-school cup. He had probably been one of the most upset when he had found out Hogwarts wouldn't be competing against the other English schools this year because of the tournament.

McGonagall caught his eye as admiring the trophies before saying "I do so enjoy looking at them too, I hope you and the rest of the team will be able to get us the tournament cup this year."

Harry only smiled and gave a nod back he hopped so too but was definitely unsure after all he would be competing against Victor Krum.

Well he and the other house teams were to compete against the Drumstrang and Beauxbatons teams being created from their school's delegations. Apparently in the past only three tasks were held but it seemed that wasn't enough for the organizers this time. The quidditch matches along with a series of other competitions that didn't impact the winner of the main tournament itself would be held. Some competitions were big and some small, Dumbledore had just said the additional events were meant to "foster a great sense of comradery and learning between the three schools." Harry was pretty sure it was because just three tasks over a whole year were too boring.

Harry supposed he couldn't complain too much he just wanted to fly but Victor Krum would be coming with Drumstrang if the rumors were right so he wasn't sure Gryffindor could win.

McGonagall cleared her throat before handing Harry a stack of papers.

"This Mr. Potter is the test you took with professor Babbling the other night to determine your current proficiency in runes."

Harry took the paper and was shocked by the grade seeing as it was an A for Acceptable meaning he passed.

"I can see from your slack jaw Mr. Potter you too didn't expect to do this well on the test since you didn't take runes last year. I'd accuse you of using Mrs. Grangers answers from her final but I know first that she wouldn't help you and second that you wouldn't cheat … at least not on a test like this."

Harry only nodded in response shuffling through his paper slightly panicking about if she knew Harry and Ron had used a few of the twin's previous assignments for help. Not to mention the number of times Hermione had helped them.

She continued on seemingly unaware though "That leads me and professor Babbling to the conclusion that you might have some latent talent for the subject Mr. Potter. Now normally remedial runes along with all of the remedial courses here are meant to move at a faster pace and cram the essentials of the year missed in the subject into your head in as short a time as possible. The purpose of this accelerated plan is to get you to essentially take a full year's class in one semester then another in the next semester. This allows sixth years to pick up the subject for the first two years then take Runes 3 their final year to sit an OWL for the subject. Or for students like you to switch in their fourth year and sit your OWL as normal in your fifth year."

Harry looked up from his papers and met her eyes for a moment before saying. "Normally, professor?"

McGonagall seemed to nearly answer but then she paused and seemed to simply stare at him for a moment.

Harry shifted uncomfortably before looking away only to look back at her as she slightly shook her head back and forth. "I apologize Mr. Potter I got lost in a memory for a moment. I'm still not used to seeing you in these new um … contracts"

"Contacts professor" Harry said using the lie he had begun telling everyone including McGonagall when she asked him about the lack of glasses when delivering his schedule.

"right … contacts, it's just without them I can see your eyes so much more clearly and well I and everyone else have told you how remarkably similar to your mother's they are. Just like hers they are incredibly vibrant so I suppose I got lost in a memory for second of her asking me a similar question."

Harry smiled in response thinking about his mother and how nice it was to share that with her at least. Though he wished he had gotten her reported smarts as well, he was pretty sure he hadn't considering his grades were average.

"It's alright professor I understand if it's a bit of an adjustment. It has been for me too…the contacts I mean that is" he said quickly although he had really meant whole thing around it including his scar.

Something she had also grilled him about, well her and just about anyone else that had noticed. He had simply told most people it had healed with a shrug and ignored any further questions so far. Though he had told his close friends and McGonagall the same lie he had told Dumbledore about it being destroyed seemingly as a result of the wards around his former residence collapsing around him.

Harry honestly had no idea if that was possible but it seemed no one really did. Harry already knew from Dumbledore that the wards that were there had been strong and different from most. So he was extremely fortunate that before Dumbledore found him at Grimmauld place Harry was already studying runes and wards.

He had needed a basic understanding of wards to control of the ones at Grimmauld place that automatically bonded with him when he entered so he could fix the decaying house and remove a particularly annoying portrait. Part of the introduction into the subject of course included warnings about the instability wards. Apparently unstable wards frequently collapsed and typically lead to one of three different effects.

The most common being nothing happened except the loss of the wards, the next most common being an explosion of varying size somewhere in the wards, or in extremely rare case sometimes extremely strange effects occurred when wards collapsed.

The book cited an example from 1814 or 1815 maybe, in which a families wards collapsed and when finally noticed the investigators initially found no trace of the family. Instead they found 4 rabbits in the house, two adult and two children. Well it was quickly realized with several spells these bunnies had magic and were in fact the missing family.

However try as they might no one could turn them back no matter what they tried. Fortunately for the family about a year after their wards had collapsed the adults changed back this was followed a few weeks later by the children. It was concluded that their natural magic had finally eroded enough of the wards magic and changed them back following the typical thinking of transfiguration centered on Merlin's law that objects return to their original shape once the magic is gone.

Harry had taken advantage of the story once he realized the night he ran away he had felt the wards collapse on him because it was similar to the feeling of bonding with the Grimmauld place wards. So Harry did a little more research and settled on the story that the wards collapsing around him as he left had purged the dark magic from his forehead. Something that Dumbledore after much convincing had seemed to buy once Harry had told him for about the third time while looking him in the eyes.

"Mr. Potter!" Harry looked up to meet a fairly annoyed McGonagall.

He flushed immediately "Ah sorry professor I seem to have also gotten lost in my thoughts won't happen again" he said flashing the old witch a grin.

She shook her head in response seemingly exasperated with this but he could see the ghost of a smile there.

"See that it doesn't Mr. Potter we don't have much time left before classes and we still haven't gotten to the main subject of the meeting. Now as I was saying normally you would attend the remedial course this year and join the 3rd course next year. However your results of an acceptable on the remedial entry test indicate that might not be necessary."

"What do you mean professor? Are you saying I could join the 2nd course instead?"

McGonagall nodded "That is correct Mr. Potter. An acceptable on the exam indicates you did some serious studying over the summer to catch up with your peers. You should be extremely proud."

Harry could tell he blushed a bit from the praise but was struck by a thought "professor I only got an acceptable though, that isn't really that good."

McGonagall sighed before saying "that's true you only barely passed really if I'm honest."

Harry visibly deflated for second before she said "Still you should be proud you are the only one that took the introductory remedial test this year that passed at all. Usually there are a two to three but this year it is just you."

That brought Harry's mood back up a bit but he was still unsure about jumping into the second year class he had barely passed after all.

"Professor do I have to take the second year class? If I barely passed I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up if I do that."

"Indeed that might be the case Mr. Potter in years past other students jumping ahead with an A or even an EE at times have struggled. However we at Hogwarts have come up with an adequate solution to the problem. You will be paired by Professor Babbling with a partner for the first semester of the course to keep you on track and tutor you."

Harry considered this, a tutor would be great and since Hermione was in the course he figured he could convince the professor to assign Hermione as his tutor. She was both brilliant and in Gryffindor so it would probably be easier than casting a lumos charm. Harry was pretty sure with her help he could keep up with the course, sure it had made his headache a few times over the summer but he was also pretty good at it apparently.

"Well professor if that's the case then I think I can handle the jump just fine."

"Are you sure Mr. Potter, I know it is going to be quite a busy year for everyone with both the main tournament and side competitions. I don't want you getting overwhelmed so there is no shame in sticking with the remedial course."

For a moment Harry hesitated but really the only part of the tournament that concerned Harry at the moment was quidditch and he had managed his schedule in years past with more games than this. Plus as much as he loved Oliver Wood the man had been mad about how long and how often they practiced. He had a feeling Angelina would at least keep the practices on schedule. Plus the tournament didn't start till November basically so he had two full months to get used to the class then he could decide if he wanted to compete in anything else.

"I think I can do it professor I'm not planning to do much besides quidditch this year anyway."

"I hope that includes none of your usual antics involving finding trouble as well Mr. Potter" she said with a wry grin.

Harry gave a small chuckle at that along with the professor.

"Well I never go seeking it professor, it just sort of comes to me usually" he said somberly.

The grin faded from the withes face "Yes I suppose it does Mr. Potter. Very well I'll send Professor Babbling ahead of you to let her know you will be there shortly. "

"Professor?"

"Your first class is less than 20 minutes from now Mr. Potter. Here is your adjusted schedule" she said sliding a paper across the table that Harry quickly scanned.

"What!? I don't have any of my books or supplies for runes in my bag. The remedial class wasn't meant to meet again till tomorrow." Harry said while gesturing toward his bag wildly.

"I assumed as much Mr. Potter which is why this note I'm writing will include you might be slightly late on account of that. Now off you go then back to the dorm to collect your supplies then straight to class. Same room as the remedial class so you will have no trouble finding it."

"Ah…uh of course professor I better get going."

McGonagall smirked as he gathered his things. Just as he opened the door she stopped him once more though.

"Just a moment Mr. Potter" she said before animating her note into a paper airplane that took off out the door presumably toward professor Babbling. Harry was again amazed by the simple yet brilliant display of new magic.

She smiled at him once again then said "Good luck this year in your new class Mr. Potter and in the tournament I'm sure you will help bring home the cup for Gryffindor once again."

He smiled back at her and nodded before turning to go once again.

"Harry" he paused in the doorway "I think Lily would immensely proud of you today I seem to remember runes as one of her favorite subjects."

Harry didn't look back at McGonagall this time he didn't want her to see his face she might be able to tell he didn't agree with her then. After all what mother would be proud of a son who was such a coward he had tried to kill himself.

Still he needed to act the part "I hope so professor. I really do hope she would be proud of me" and that at least was the truth even if Harry doubted she would be. Without a moment to let her respond Harry walked out the door shutting it behind him hurrying back toward the dorms.

On the way back Harry wondered if this the right choice after all it wouldn't be easy to simply jump in like this. He was really banking on Hermione being able to teach him everything he missed otherwise he might start failing.

He had felt similarly overwhelmed the other night during the announcement of the tournament which had met Harry with a lot of emotions at the same time. After annoyance from finding out quidditch wouldn't be normal he had been rather nervous that he would have to be involved in the 'deadly games' as Hermione put it. He really didn't want to be put into danger again at the moment, since he figured there was a chance he would just let something bad happen to him. He was convinced at this point he was getting better since the nightmares weren't as bad normally and neither were his thoughts but sometimes he still wondered. He just needed time he figured and eventually he would be alright … probably … as well as a freak like him could be anyway.

Just then Harry arrived back at the dorms and quickly grabbed his things before turning around and heading to class already late.

He returned to his thoughts as he ran about how he was immensely relieved when Dumbledore announced the rules for the main tournament that it was not just voluntary but he couldn't even compete because of his age. He very nearly jumped out of his seat and hollered but managed to keep it in to a faint yes that was muffled by the cries of many hopeful contenders all seeking glory, some galleons, and the greatest resume booster of all time. After all the main tournament let three of the most gifted witches and wizards show off for anyone and everyone in Europe and some even further abroad would attend.

That had been the only reason at all the Hermione had admitted she might have considered competing for anyway. She had already said she was likely going to try to compete in at least one of the academic competitions though. Ron on the other hand was clearly pissed he wouldn't have a chance to prove himself and win some glory and galleons that his family could desperately make use of. Ron hadn't yet expressed any interest in the side events though Harry wasn't even sure he had looked at the full list.

Dumbledore had mentioned there were a total of 33 different events if one included the main tournament which Harry thought was overkill. He didn't even see the point of a gobstones competition after all. But the wizarding world never did seem to do things by halves so he shouldn't be surprised they had decided to go all out even if he doubted many of the events would get much attention.

Finally Harry arrived at professor Babblings classroom and paused a moment to catch his breath. After a moment he opened the classroom door and heard "remember from last year that we studied…" the professor paused noticing him.

"Ah Mr. Potter it seems Minny was right you were late almost exactly…" she paused and silently cast a tempus "10 minutes which means I owe her galleon."

Harry stared at he a bit confused. Had they bet on his tardiness? If so why? Was this a common thing that professors did? Harry realized she and the whole class were staring at him.

He chuckled nervously and shifted back and forth "um sorry about that professor… the um lateness I mean … well and the galleon too I suppose."

For a moment Babbling stared at him blank faced and Harry was nervous now that she was furious. Instead she broke out into a smile and shook her head before seeming to say something.

"I'm sorry professor what was that?" Harry asked

"Nothing Mr. Potter just go ahead and find yourself any available seat but make sure to stick around after class for a moment."

"Uh … right professor" Harry said rather awkwardly while scanning the room full of mainly 4th years like him but also a few 5th and 6th years he thought he recognized. Eventually right down front to the far left he found his frizzy haired best friend looking back at him curiously.

Quickly noting the nearest open seat behind her he made toward it dealing with the stares of his many curious peers the whole way. As he made his way to his seat the professor continued.

"Right now as I was saying last year we studied the basic runes of Egyptian, Greek, and Celtic origin. This year we will continue to expand our knowledge of these sets as well as working to integrate them into combined rune sets which are crucial to modern wards."

"Now as…" the professor continued on but Harry was only half paying attention as parchment landed on his desk.

'Harry what are you doing here?' –Hermione

Harry looked up and noticed the girl give him a glance back with an almost desperate look in her eyes. He rolled his eyes at her knowing she was curious as usual. He was about to write his response but then he had an idea to tease her by pulling his own little prank.

Instead of writing his response he instead just made a smiley face before sending it back to the girl with a subtle wave of his wand. He then returned to his note taking pointedly ignoring Hermione's reaction.

It was few minutes later the note returned to his desk 'Harry!' He looked up again to see the girl shooting him daggers but he just smiled and returned to his notes not bothering to respond. Which was why he wasn't surprised when a few minutes later he was instead hit in the head by another piece of parchment this one balled up.

He looked up again to find Hermione looking forward seemingly ignoring him so he returned to his notes only for the same piece of parchment that just hit him to rise from his desk and hit him again. Harry confused grabbed the clearly charmed parchment and opened it only to find it blank. Harry chuckled, he supposed Hermione had decided to return his little prank with one of her own.

He decided to return the favor and after glancing at the professor he threw the parchment at Hermione's head. Only to be surprised when a moment from hitting her the parchment stopped and instead started rocketing toward his head again. Fortunately his seeker reflexes kicked in and he ducked the small ball.

Which he was pretty proud of until he heard an indignant squawk behind him. Causing him and most of the class to glance toward the noise.

"Are you alright Miss Greengrass?"Professor Babbling asked the blonde girl behind him. She glanced at Harry clearly thinking this was his fault and Harry did his best to look sorry.

Fortunately for him it must have worked because the girl sighed before saying "It's nothing professor please continue."

Babbling nodded clearly not buying it but said "Are you sure Miss Greengrass?"

Greengrass nodded "Yes professor nothing to worry about sorry for the interruption."

Babbling nodded and returned to the lesson and Harry sent Greengrass his best smile and mouthed thanks which after a moment she returned before mouthing something like "you're welcome."

Harry nodded and returned to his notes only to get hit in the back of the head less than a minute later. Picking up the fallen and obviously charmed parchment so he could banish it he noticed Greengrass indicating something that after a moment he realized was for him to open it.

Inside some writing. 'Potter next time you dodge please try to remember what's behind you. I don't want to be involved in yours and Grangers flirting.'

Harry blanched at that last bit. It was obvious she had seen the whole thing or at least most of it and had decided he and Hermione were flirting. Which was just … well actually it wasn't that weird Harry glanced up at his friend. She was certainly pretty, at least Harry thought so but he had never really thought about dating her. Till this summer he hadn't really thought about girls that way much anyway. That day he met Becca Harry later realized something had changed for him even though he never got to see her again.

So now he was pretty flustered thinking about his friend and what dating her would be like and well he didn't hate it. She was such a good friend, brilliant, always there for him, and she really was pretty he thought glancing at her again.

After a moment though he shook his head that probably wasn't a good idea and he definitely hadn't been flirting anyway. He glanced back at the blonde who was pointedly ignoring him now.

He wrote his response 'We weren't flirting Greengrass we were just pranking each other. Sorry you got caught in the crossfire though and thank you for not outing us to Babbling.' He glanced up at the professor and when her back was turned he flicked his wand and sent the parchment back to Greengrass.

A few minute later the parchment returned landing on his desk 'You're welcome Potter, you owe me one I suppose. That sure looked like flirting to me though. Potter you sure you're not just one of those clueless guys who can't tell when a girl likes you?'

To be totally honest Harry wasn't sure he could tell if a girl liked him. The only two he knew for sure had a crush on him was Ron's sister Ginny who was so obviously obsessed with him before he saved her from the chamber and after she didn't seem to have gotten any better, at least since he last saw her. The other was moaning myrtle who was both weird as hell and well dead which was not good obviously.

So if Hermione did like him then Harry probably had no idea. He glanced at his friend again who was oblivious to his internal dilemma. He suddenly got the image of kissing her and for a moment he got lost in the thought of it. What would it feel like? What would it taste like? Could he do more with her? He glanced a little lower and remembered he stared at her butt the other day while she had been stowing her trunk. She had been in pants without robes which really let him see her form clearly and well…

Harry shook his head blushing and a bit worried he had been thinking about his friend that way. Why was her arse even attractive to him anyway? Harry had pretty basic education on sex so he couldn't figure out why that was. Ever since he spoke to Becca at the beginning of the summer he had gotten turned on by just about every feature a girl had at one point or another.

From Becca's rather generous bust, to Hermione's arse, or even Greengrass' long slender legs that Harry had glanced at. Hopefully without being noticed while she was talking to professor Babbling. Did they connect to a butt as attractive as Hermione's? There certainly seemed like there was a good chance of that after all.

Harry really tried to imagine the pretty blonde without her robes in something more revealing perhaps and that was about when he realized he had a problem. A quite hard and embarrassing problem that he had to deal with more and more the past two years but had really increased during summer.

Harry knew he had two solutions to the problem and obviously one wasn't an option at the moment so instead he imagined Vernon's sister Marge, Dumbledore, and Snape all doing unspeakable things to each other. Fortunately that quickly did the trick and Harry was just left embarrassed with Greengrass' note.

Greengrass whose legs and body he had just fantasized about seeing more off. He shook his head not wanting to get lost in those kinds of thoughts again.

He realized his thoughts had completely got off track, damn he hated his body sometimes, well most of the time for being too thin and covered in scars but this too. He got distracted all the time now by girls even when they weren't around so no he would probably have no idea if one liked him like that he would be to distracted to notice.

But he couldn't let Greengrass know that so he wrote 'Of course I'm sure we weren't flirting Greengrass, Hermione and I are just friends after all. Also guys aren't that clueless. I would definitely notice if someone liked me much less my best friend.'

Harry sent the note back knowing most of that was lies but he didn't need Greengrass spreading any rumors which he was sure is what she was after.

For a while nothing happened and Harry continued to halfheartedly take notes distracted by his curiosity about what Greengrass was thinking. He really hoped she would just take his word for it and let it die but she was Slytherin. So he wouldn't be surprised if she spread this around anyway. It would be far more irritating to have to deal with rumors he and Hermione were dating than losing a few house points for goofing off after all.

Toward the end of class the paper landed in front of him once more. All that was written on it was 'Interesting Potter very interesting.'

That did not ease Harry's worries one bit and he was trying to figure out what to write back to convince Greengrass they really weren't interested in each other. He was racking his brain to keep the pretty Slytherin from spreading this when he ran out of time. Babbling announced class was over and Harry couldn't even follow the girl to talk to her because he had to stay back.

He glanced back at her as she was putting her things away only for her to look up and meet his gaze with a smirk. The kind Harry himself had sometimes when he was teasing Hermione, Ron, or really anyone. Which is why Harry was pretty sure he was in trouble so he sighed before looking away, there probably wasn't anything he could've said anyway to convince her anyway.

He packed up his own things and headed for the Babbling's desk. On the way he passed Hermione pausing to quickly say "I'll catch up with you in charms, I've got to talk to professor Babbling."

"Harry wait" he stopped but didn't turn he wasn't sure he could look at her without thinking about her in a way he probably shouldn't.

Fortunately Hermione didn't seem to care as she said "I uhh… just sorry about the paper I didn't mean to almost get you in trouble."

"Ha Hermione that was as much me as it was you, so it's no problem." He said half turning "You should probably apologize to Greengrass too though."

"Right… Yes that's what I was going to do next I'll see you in a bit Harry." Hermione said a bit awkwardly which was odd. But Harry didn't have time to worry about that and continued on to Babbling who was going over some papers on her desk.

As he approached she looked up "Ah Mr. Potter thank you for remembering to stay behind I won't hold you too long. Now I know you already discussed this with Professor McGonagall but I wanted to double check after you had sat through a class are you up for this?"

Ah shite harry thought he didn't think they would give another out. Harry was so distracted most of the class that he wasn't anymore more sure now than he was when he entered if this was a good idea or not. But not he had paid attention to was too worrying yet so he supposed there was no reason to back down after all that wouldn't be very Gryffindor of him.

He nodded "Yes professor I think I can handle the course load just go easy on me please huh?" He said with a nervous chuckle

Babbling smiled at him "Yes McGonagall did mention you had your father's pennant for wits and jokes at least. Though she also said you might have your mothers intelligence based on your performance in her class and this test."

"Did you know my parents professor?" Harry asked a little surprised

Babbling shook her head "Not really Mr. Potter. I did start teaching her your parent's final year so I did teach Lily but outside of class we hardly spoke. I'm sure I had at least one conversation with James while he was head boy but mostly I only know about the two through their reputations at the time and stories I've heard since."

"Oh I see." Harry said a bit disappointed he probably couldn't learn anything more from her than he already knew.

"Yes well now I'm sure McGonagall also sure mentioned that you would have a tutor to for the first semester. So I suppose you could say I am taking it easy on you by providing such wouldn't say Mr. Potter?"

"Ah… I uh suppose so professor." Harry said thinking that wasn't really what he meant but he couldn't really argue with her.

"Good then let me introduce your tutor for the semester. She had the one of the best scores in runes last year and volunteered to help those that passed the remedial exam."

She waved her hand to indicate someone apparently behind Harry to approach. Out of the corner of Harry's eye a girl stepped forward that had blonde hair and a bland look on her face.

"Mr. Potter this is Miss Greengrass please do try to listen to her this semester she is your best hope for passing after all. Also none of that silly Slytherin and Gyrfindor rivalry please it gets so tiresome."

Harry was stunned and could only stare silently at the girl who he had hoped for a moment was Hermione but instead he now had this blonde vixen standing to his right.

"What's wrong Potter, surprised I'm not your girlfriend?" she said then gave him another smirk that Harry was now 100% positive meant trouble.

AN: Well that was fun and I think better established the personality I going for with Daphne. Wouldn't say the it was amazing dialogue or anything but it seems like it got but my ideas across on read back. Anyway I think you all see where the story plan is going. Harry is going to have the hots for his tutor lol. Which is something I relate to once upon a time though mine was like a decade older than me and obviously one sided. Also I tried to make Harry come off as a realistic 14 year old with little knowledge of sex. This story won't have any sex scenes but there will be plenty of mentions of it mostly from Harry's perspective unless someone tells him theirs. So try to keep that in mind he his a teenage boy in the 90's growing up with seemingly no way to learn about sex other than experience and what other boys tell him. Unless Hogwarts has sex ed which I guess it does just cause I can't think of who else would've explained it to Harry at all. The only other choice is probably Arthur Weasley or Sirius, imaging Arthur do it is hilarious since the dude is probably a god at sex considering the amount of kids he has. It's also funny because Harry in canon hypothetically used whatever he was told to bang the mans daughter lol. Well let me know what you thought if you feel like it.