DECLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter nor its characters. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 5

Remus & Runes

It was past midnight; the Hogwarts halls were empty and desolated. You could hear the snores from the portraits. All lights were of, candles burned out. But outside the Defense classroom, a small lit of light came from through the door slit. Wavering lights, changing of intensity, clear sign of a fireplace. Through the silence of the halls, a fait sob came from within the room.

It was 3 am and Remus continue drawing his firewhiskey. Harry had left an hour ago after telling his story. It was so much information, almost unbelievable, but there was no way a 13-year-old muggle raised would know so much otherwise. He was exhausted, but couldn´t find rest.

James had been like a brother to him, and as soon as Harry was born, his wolf had adopted him like a cub. Those twelve years apart had been like hell, but he thought it was the best for Harry. It pains him now to know all his cub had to suffer through and that he hadn´t been by his side.

After that Halloween night, he had been very week when he received the news. It had been a full moon and he had spent it alone. Since the prophecy was made, and his friends went into hiding, (James under the fidelius and Sirius supposedly because he need protection for being the secret keeper), he had spent many moons by himself. He used to suffer a lot by himself, but when his friends became animagus, he had found something he never expected to have. Going back to spending the moons alone had been worse than ever. After having known how it felt having a pack, loneliness was a pool of angst and depression.

He was in no state of caring for Harry. He knew he was more dangerous than ever, a baby couldn´t stop hi, hide, nor ask for help. He had no job to support him, and the Ministry will never support giving him custody. But even then, he never even dares to visit, to look for him and how he was doing; and now he truly regrets it.

Maybe Harry wasn´t thirteen, but seventeen wasn´t so much better. At least he had another chance to be there for him from earlier. He would do all for Harry to have a happy life.

If only he could get a grip pf himself….

Remus took another sip of his drink and smashed the empty glass to the fireplace. He was supposed to feel happy, he had his cub back, and he could have his m-, and he could have his friend back. He bent next to his trunk, kneeling over the broken glass. At the bottom of his compartment, there was a picture frame.

He took it in his hands, his eyes were watering, his throat was dry. There it was a bushy red hair holding a little black-haired baby. And behind them, there was James. Prongs had taken him into his group from the start. They had accepting him with his studious behavior and his disappearances. And then he had been accepted with all his characteristics included. They did not turn their back on him, there weren´t afraid, but fought harder to be at his side.

Just as the marauders took care of him as a kid, he had failed to take care of their kid. Not just James´s but also Lily´s. Lily had been a great friend even when she constantly criticized the marauders. She had been his study partner, and she had treated him with lot of respect and same love to anyone else not caring about his condition. They both had been great friends, and he had failed them.

However, what hurt him more, was that they had not trust them. So far, he had tried not to think much about that. A war, revolution, dictatorship, and time travel had been enough to occupy his mind for more than an hour. But finally, he reached the point he had been avoiding.

"Why?" He asked no one looking up to the ceiling. They had change secret keeper and they hadn´t told him. They hadn´t trust him and thought he was the spy. Was it because of his condition? Was all they lived together before really meant nothing at times of war? Or has it been something different. Was it because he had been distant lately, with all of them hiding and he having to support himself for his own? How come they trusted Peter more than him?

And as regretful as he was for failing them regarding Harry, he was angry and upset. He had believed Sirius had betray them. His heart had been filled with hate. It had been such a strong feeling that he could not let it go just like that now that he knew Sirius was innocent. He couldn´t. He genuinely wanted to forget, to forgive, to get back as things were before. But he had been too broken. Healing took time, and he didn´t know how long it would take.

He went to put back the frame in the trunk and moved a few clothes. There was another frame. His finger touched it slightly, but he did not pick it up. He closed his eyes and put the lid down. With a final breath, he went back to his bedchambers and soon, felt into oblivion.

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Sunday was a calm day. Harry had woken up early for Quidditch practice, but Oliver had gotten detention the previous night and practice had been canceled. Luckily, the news was given by McGonagall or Oliver would have told them to practice on their own.

Harry wondered around the castle aimlessly until he reached the dungeons. He wanted to avoid the so he went through another passage that would lead him to stairs back to the fourth floor. On his way, he found a door slightly opened. Now he had seen that door before, always closed. There was some scratching from inside, like writing with chalk on a wall. And then there was a humming of magic that he knew to be signs of wards. He considered keep walking, but his curiosity got the better of him.

He glances through the slit opening of the door, and there was a small room. It was practically empty. There was a small window at the highest of the wall, which brought some light into the room. The left corner also brough some light on his own even if he could not point out what was producing such light.

Harry saw nothing interested and decide =d to pay more attention on the floor. Maybe with his seeker skills he could find something. AS his eyes traveled through the stone floor, he spotted a table leg, and as his head went up, a large table and two chairs came into view. How come he did not see it before? There must be a notice-me-nit charmed. It was not visible unless you specifically looked for it. Then he remembered he had felt wards at the beginning, as soon as he looked inside, the wards had taken effect and he has started to lose interest. But now he was more determined as he had seen the table appear. The chairs had cushions on them, one was static, but the other had a clear butt shape pressure with small movements indicating someone was there.

Harry took out his wand and started dissolving the wards. They were fifth level wards, but he still had two extra years of experience to dissolve them.

As soon as the wards came down, he saw Draco sitting on a chair, a book open on his lap, and a pile of books on the second chair. The table was full of scribbles drawn with chalk. The Slytherin boy was wearing a fancy silver shirt with an unbuttoned black cloak around. Even as this early in the morning, his hair was immaculacy neat, not at all like Harry's which was sticking to all sides. Draco's finger was white from the chalk, but the rest of his hands and cloth were as clean as water. His boo however had s thin layer of dusty chalk covering the pages.

As soon as Harry opened the door to come in, Draco raised his head and shut his book. He looed directly to his eyes but stayed still making no sound, thinking he was still protected by the wards. Harry looked back and gave him a smirk.

"Fancy wards there, Draco" his eyes opened in surprises realizing he could no longer feel his wards up.

"Potter! What are YOU doing in this part of the castle? And at dawn, I may add."

"Shouldn't I ask the same?" he questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Draco seemed displeased as been treated the same way he dishes out. His posture became dignified if royalty as he lashed out.

"If you haven't realized, this room in neighbored facility to my common room while you seem to be 7 floors too much under."

"That doesn't explain why you are up so early and secretive. Just next door you can have privacy in your own common room, as you said, I doubt there are more awake at this time."

As he was saying this, Harry went closer to the table to see what Draco was doing, but soon parchments and books were covering the symbols on the time.

"This is not for your eyes, Potter" the blond warned him.

"As if I care. Seems nonsense anyway, I don't think no one will care about a bunch of scribblings on a table" These words immediately offended the blond who stood up.

"This scribbling, as you call them, are incredibly old and potent runes. One of the most powerful types of magic there is, but only few can master. I doubt you would be able to comprehend it give that you are just drinking tea with a looney teacher" the offense remark ended in mockery.

Harry stays in shock but in silence. He had nothing to say about that. He was, after all, wasting his time in divination, giving that he already knew the future and he would never have the gift. The probabilities of coincidently be present through another real prophecy were null, and there was no point in taking that class.

"Maybe you are right, Runes are important, but I don't think you are that good if you need extra time to study to keep up with the rest." Harry was unsure what he was doing. He had promise himself not to lower down himself to Draco's level and taunt him, they seemed so childish after living through a war. But everything was so now, and he was bored.

"Hhmph, this is way over the level the others are at, the Malfoy's share an extensive library that has never been open to the public. Plus, I bet you couldn't even last a week in Babbling's class."

Draco expected Harry to back down or come up with useless remark. After all, he was already enrolled in other classes, and the time schedule would not fit.

"You know what, I may take you on that bet." Harry was eager for a challenge and to proof himself. He needed something new now that he had already cover all his subjects up to sixth year.

"Why don't we make it more interesting, I would love to get something from you, but I guess your reputation is more important to you than any material."

"What are you getting up to, Potter?" He was frowning and pressing his lip into a thin line.

"You would announce, at a full Great Hall, that I, Harry Potter, a half-blood, outsmarted you, a pureblood. And that blood statues do not define you better not more powerful."

"Are you out of your mind! Why would I ever say something like that?"

"Unless… you don't think you van out do me. Then my statement would be truth."

Draco breathed through his nose three time and then extended his arms signaling a deal.

"You are on!"

"Pleasure doing business with you, Draco."

Harry turned around with and left through the corridor.

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"Where are you going now?" Ron questioned when Harry had a quick and small meal for lunch and immediately stand up to leave.

"Harry," Hermione intervened, "you are eating too little, you were late for breakfast today and now you are rushing out from lunch." She started lecturing him. "Ron said you were not at bed this morning and no one knew where you were. Are you sleeping enough?"

"Yeap, I'm fine. I just have to talk with McGonagall soon."

"About what?" They said together, but Harry ignored them and rushed out from the great hall.

Outside the doors, the Fat Friar was coming out through the wall at the same time and pass through him. Harry shudder at the feeling and wrapped his cloak together even if he knew it will make no difference. He went up to the staffroom, knocked on the door and immediately opened it slightly to hear a better answered.

"Come in", Remus had answered in a dull voice. He had shadows under his eyes, and his hair and cloth were messier than usually. But upon seen Harry, he got up with more energy and went to him.

"Harry! Are you alright? Do you need anything?" he said with a hand on his shoulders.

"I am fine don't worry Moony. I am actually looking for Professor McGonagall."

"Could you call Professor McGonagall?" He asked one of the portraits. It was a small dwarf-like man who left the portrait after a nod.

"What do you need Minnie for?"

"Minnie?"

"Sorry," he said with a blush on his face "that is what your dad uses to call her when we were back at school." To which Harry answered with a chuckled.

"I wanted to change my elective classes to Ancient Runes."

"A bit boring your current classes?" he said knowingly, "I do not blame you, if I had to learn the basics again, I would be truly bored."

Harry was about to answer when McGonagall appear.

"Mr. Potter, did you request to see me?"

"Yes, professor. I want to talk about my classes." Harry said excitedly.

"Very well, Mr. Potter, lets continue in my office to discuss it properly.

Remus gave him a bright smile supporting his decision. McGonagall led him through a short cut as soon they were at her office. It was one of the largest offices of the castle, given her position as deputy headmistress. There were a bunch of shelves with books and parchments. There were two sections dedicated to transfigured objects, and another section of supplies. Her desk was large, full of opened parchments and quill and ink as she corrected essays. On a side of the desk, there was a small box which Harry knew contained biscuits. Another small table was set next to the desk with a pot, a couple of cups, and a variety of tea.

The McGonagall say behind the desk and point him to take a sit.

¨What seems to be the problem, Mr. Potter?" started the inquire.

¨Well, it is not exactly a problem, per say." Harry started mummering. "You see, I was wondering if I can get out of Divination class."

McGonagall gave him a stern look, "You can´t have less than nine subjects. If you drop Divination, then you…"

"No, that´s not what I mean!" interrupted Harry. "I actually wanted to change electives."

"Oh", McGonagall stared at him surprised.

"Well, Mr. Potter, normally I would be against such inconsistency with one's study. Changing subjects after only one week shows low determination. Not that I care about Divination. However, sometimes changes can be for good. I´ve heard nothing but compliments about your work in class this week. I must say I am glad you have taken interest in your studies." By the end of his speech, she was giving him a proudful smile.

"I will take a decision after I hear more of your reasons to change electives, what do you want to take now, and of course you will need to talk with both, Ms. Trelawney and your new teacher."

"Thank you for the chance. I have realized that Divination will not help if I don´t have ´the sight´, and it is a waste of time to study the theory when I could be learning something more productive than I day I will be able to use one day. I want to take Ancient Runes. It is the basic for understanding all magic and I regret having underestimated it is importance and wanted to take an easy way out. I regret some choices that I did following some of my classmates. Being muggle raised have deny me the possibility of seen the important areas in our world and I got myself distracted with pre-teens views."

"Teens as yourself, you mean" she gave him a look. "I have much to say about your previous behavior and where you were raised is no excuse about how you act now. But I am glad you came to your senses." This gave Harry good vibes in been allowed to change electives. "However,..." and his mood went down. Nervously, Harry looks at McGonagall expectantly.

"Ancient Runes is a very heavy subject, just over this week, they have already seen over twenty runes, as well as the basic theory behind tracing and crafting withing different materials and the power it gives to them. There are three essays do next week, one project on the way, and not including classwork and anything new that might come out this week."

"I can do it!" McGonagall look at him with suspicious and doubt.

"Mr. Potter, I know you have improved a lot this school year, but it still will be harder to get a new subject, takes new notes without knowledge of previous classes, and you still need to keep you grades in you other classes."

"Don´t worry, professor. I will keep my grades and give my best for his class." He kept assuring him.

"You must also consider that fourth year Runes depends a lot on Arithmancy and you are not taking that subject either. While it is not a requirement, it will make the subject much more difficult."

"Then I will take both" Harry said in an overconfident tone.

"Look professor, I know it won't be easy, but I am willing to make an effort. I am sure I can keep my grades in my other subjects and will have to dedicate a lot of time to achieve those results in my new subjects. However, I have a strong will to succeed, and determination is a strong force. I made a mistake, I had no idea of what the subjects entailed, and I am trying to correct it as soon as possible. It is not just a school subject, is a life choice. What subjects I take determines the OWLS and NEWTS I get, as well as the type of job I will get in the future. I do not want my life to depend on a small mistake I made at thirteen if I could do different. It will affect what kind of wizard I will be, with or without those NEWTS. As subjects that represent the base of all magic, it will help my development in all other subjects, affecting all my life. So, I ask you again, professor, let me build my path to a great future."

There was silence for a minute. McGonagall stared at him, stood up and took the tea pot. She served him a cup and filled with tea and then one for herself. Then she sat back down and took a sip.

"What I value most in a student, is their determination to do their best. And if I have to help you to achieve it then I will do my best." Then she flicked her wand, and three books came flying to him.

Harry had a big smile on his face at having succeed.

"Read this before Monday and I will talk to Professor Babbling and professor Vector. You are here by off Divination class, and in wait for approval to Ancient Runes and Arithmancy."

"Thank you, professor." Harry answered as he took his books and rushed back to the common room.

AN: I hope you enjoyed the story, I wanted Harry to change classes but didn't know how to included. His interaction with Draco was going to be post pone or different, but I finally got it. It will be really interesting writing about Ancient Runes class. Well I hope you enjoy this chapter. I have visit my profile, you will find a link to my blog. It contains more details about the story, where I got some ideas from, and including some fan art. So far, those that I don't personally mention to be from someone else, then it had been done by me. But I just got someone to help me with the fan art, let´s see if I like his work. Visit my blog in the following link, delete spaces and put the correct symbols.

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