A/N: Sorry for the delay. Had some medical stuff to take care of but I'm back with a brand new chapter on this Independence Day. Hope you all enjoy!

UPDATE: Yes I know it seems like I'm rushing through the first book and I kind of am to get to the more interesting stuff. Also this has been changed. I took Luna out because she isn't in school yet. Blame the drugs they've got me on. It makes me kind of spacey. LOL! It will get better. Anyway, Nobody else will know the secret. It is necessary for some of these people to know in order to evolve the story line. Will they all be trustworthy though? Hmm...

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15

The following day found Sirius, Remus, Harry and Susan in the training room sweating as they learned the first steps to martial arts. By the time they were done they felt exhausted. Wonderful but exhausted.

"Alright team, hit the showers," Amelia said before looking at Susan and Harry and adding "separately" causing Susan to blush.

"Why Aunt Ami! I'm shocked and appalled at the innuendo that we would do such a thing at this tender and delicate young age," Harry said mocking surprise which earned him a laugh from Sirius as Remus tried to suppress one as well. Amelia looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh you've convinced me. You're totally right. My apologies," Amelia said sarcastically. "I didn't make it to the head of the DMLE by being born yesterday."

"What about the day before," Harry asked before dodging a towel thrown in his direction.

"Get out of here and go shower!"

As Harry and Susan left with Remus shortly behind them, Sirius walked up to Amelia and put an arm around her. "Just like his father that one."

"So much so it's almost scary."

"So….I have to ask…," Sirius said with a grin, "that shower rule. That doesn't apply to us right?"

Amelia just grinned as she walked away. She stopped and looked over her shoulder. "I guess you'll have to try and see what happens." With that she left the room followed quickly by Sirius.

Later that afternoon after everyone had showered and Sirius had gone to Hogwarts to start getting thing settled Harry went and got the pensive to show Susan what had happened at the school. When he got back to the bedroom though Susan was fast asleep on the bed. He sat the pensive on the dresser and pulled a blanket around the sleeping girl. He gave her a kiss on the forehead and walked out of the room, silently closing the door behind him.

He wandered around for a bit idly trying to find something to do when he decided to try his friends. If it wasn't winter he'd floo the Weasleys and see about a make shift game of Quidditch. He stuck his head in the fireplace and rang Neville. A moment later the fireplace flared up in response and a familiar face appeared.

"Hey Neville! What are you up to? I was wondering if you wanted to come hang out for a bit. Maybe play some Wizard Chess or some Exploding Snap?"

"Uh…sure Harry. I've got Hannah over. Is it cool if she comes too?"

"Of course," Harry replied. "Besides I think Susan would kill me if I said no."

"Probably. Let me talk to Hannah and Gran really quick." With that Neville disappeared. A few seconds later the face of Hanna Abbott appeared in the fire.

"Heya Harry! What's going on?"

"Not much. Susan crashed. Sirius and Aunt Ami are out and I have no idea where Remus is so I figured I'd see what you guys are up to. What are you guys up to anyway?"

"Oh not a whole lot really. Just hanging out, reading, studying, and talking with his Gran. Same old, same old."

"You guys HAVE been hanging out a lot. Is there something I should know Miss. Abbott," Harry asked with a grin.

"No and you're one to talk Mr. Potter, stealing my best friend and all," Hannah replied. He saw her flame reflection turn and talk to someone before turning back to him. "Neville says we're ready to go. Step back cuz we're coming through!"

Harry got up and took a few steps back and sat in one of the armchairs as the fireplace chimed incoming and FWOOSH'd in a ball of green flame and Hannah stepped out followed shortly by Neville.

"Hi guys! Welcome to my secret lair," Harry said as he tapped his fingers together.

"It's not a very good secret if we know where it is," Neville replied.

"That's true," Harry answered in a nod and a shrug. "OH," he remembered excitedly, "did you guys hear we have a new defense against the dark arts teacher?"

Neville shook his hide. "No. When did that happen," Hannah asked.

"Yesterday actually," Harry replied.

"Wow, you must have some serious connections within the school to hear about that already," Neville responded.

"Just so happens I know the new defense teacher quite well. Older guy, long dark hair, currently dating the head of magical law enforcement."

"NO!" Hannah replied with a shock. "You don't mean…"

"No way," responded Neville.

Harry nodded. "Yep. Professor Black will be our new Defense teacher. Now we'll actually have a chance of learning something useful."

"You can say that again," Hannah uttered.

"I said now we'll actually have a chance of learning something useful," repeated Harry with a grin.

"Smart arse," came the response as well as a flying couch pillow.

"So have either one of started homework yet," Harry asked as he snatched the pillow out of the air and put it behind his head. Hannah and Neville shook their head.

"Not at all," said Neville with a shrug. "What about you guys?"

"We've started on some of it but with a change in our dark arts teacher as well the class for Susan and I, we've avoided that for the moment."

"What do you mean a change in class?" Hannah raised an eyebrow.

Harry sighed. "Part of Sirius accepting the job was that he wanted Susan and I in a higher year of defense, specifically in 3rd year."

"But why would he do that," Neville asked, "we're only first years. How can he think you two are so far advanced?"

"Well…er….actually…we should probably wait for Susan to have that conversation."

"You're absolutely right you should wait for Susan. Can't have you running off and telling our friends our deep dark secrets without me," came a voice from the top of the stairs. They turned to the see Susan heading down the stairs.

"Yes dear," Harry replied sarcastically.

"Don't you yes dear me young man," Susan began as she walked over and sat on his lap before putting her feet up on the armrest. "Now do continue."

Harry heard nothing after she sat down on his lap. He may be 11 in body but his mind was older than that and it had trouble computing with a young girl sitting on his lap. The next thing he knew there was a hand waving in front of his face.

"Hello. Earth to Harry. Are you there?"

Harry blinked and blushed. "Uh…sorry…what now?"

"I said you could continue with the explanation."

"What explanation?" Harry was lost. His mind was completely gone and had forgotten everything when she sat down on his lap.

"The explanation of why we're here, why Sirius wanted us in year 3 Defense, and how we know each other so well." Susan replied as she rolled her eyes. "Boys…honestly…" Hannah and Neville giggled.

"Oh so you think it's funny," Harry asked Neville. "I'm sure you wouldn't feel the same if Hannah were to sit on your lap." Just in mentioning it, Hannah got up and moved over to copy Susan's actions on Neville. The young boy turned bright red.

"Wow Neville, you're so red you could be a Gryffindor," Susan teased.

"Or a Weasley," Harry added. They all laughed before Harry got serious though. "In all actuality though we do have something to tell you two. Susan and I….we're…we're from a different timeline. We were actually in our 4th year when we got sent back here by Death herself. It's my fault, for not being strong enough to defeat Voldemort."

Hannah and Neville sat there for a moment before busting out laughing. "That's a great story Harry! You really had us going," Hannah laughed before noticing that neither Harry nor Susan were laughing. "Wait….you guys are serious? But how? And why? And WHAT?" By now Neville had stopped laughing too and was looking back and forth between Susan and Harry.

"I guess it starts with me," Harry started. "I'm sure you've all heard about my parents and Voldemort and how I survived the killing curse. Well there is a little bit more to it than that. Before that Voldemort had created horcruxes that allowed him to stay alive by splitting his soul. Anyway when the killing curse rebounded off me and hit him, he didn't actually die. His body did but he become a ghost wraith thing. He had taken over Professor Quirrell and was hiding beneath his turban." Neville and Hannah gasped. "Yesterday, I went up to Hogwarts to confront him, knowing that he couldn't hurt me because I was protected and after last time around I knew how to defeat him but you'll have to see it to believe it. Twinkle!" POP "Can you please fetch the pensive from Susan's room?" Twinkle nodded. POP POP Twinkle reappeared and set the pensive on the coffee table.

"Master Harry needs anything else from Twinkle," the small house elf asked.

"No. Thank you Twinkle. Sorry to bother you." POP

Harry quickdrew his wand and pulled the memory of yesterday's events out of his head and handed the wand with the memory to Susan who was still sitting on his lap. She stood up and deposited the memory within the pensive before tossing his wand back to him which he caught with one hand and returned to its holster. Neville, Hannah and Susan dove into the memory while Harry got lost in his own thoughts.

A few minutes later the three slightly pale teens came out of the pensive.

"Remind me never to hug you," Hannah joked.

"Awww…..but where's the fun in that," Harry grinned as he held out his open arms.

"And that's the second time you've done that," Neville asked.

Harry nodded in response. "Yup but I promise the first time didn't go as well. So that's how we got a new defense teacher. Hope you guys don't mind. Didn't feel like waiting til the end of the year to deal with that." When all three of them looked at him confused he explained further, "For some reason Voldemort usually waits til the end of the year to attack. At least he's courteous of our learning."

"So…if what you say is true and I'm not doubting it, just wanting to inquire and clarify. Why were you sent back and what does Susan have to do with this? Were you guys dating or something," Hannah inquired.

Susan blushed at the implication as Harry shook his head. His face grew serious as he continued, "No actually. Susan and I were acquaintances at best. It was hard to interact when we were in different houses. We were friendly but didn't really know each other that well. As for why I was sent back…." Susan moved back over and sat down on his lap and held his hand as Harry looked down ashamed. "It's because I failed. I allowed Voldemort to be resurrected with a new body. We dueled and…and…he killed me. I wasn't strong or fast enough."

Susan put her hand under his chin and lifted his face so that his emerald green eyes met her brown eyes. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have known the cup was a trap nor could you be expected to defeat Voldemort who has had decades of experience on you not to mention being one of the most powerful ones of all time next to Dumbledore."

"Yeah but you don't understand," Harry replied with tears in his eyes. "I'm the Boy-Who-Lived. The Chosen One. The one destined to defeat Voldemort but I didn't. I failed. I died. I have nightmares about it….or I did….before you."

The two stared into each other's eyes for a moment before they were interrupted by a cough. They had forgotten that Neville and Hannah were there as they turned bright red. "Soooo…" Hannah asked, "If you remember everything then are you guys older or are you the same age." Neville looked at her confused.

Susan spoke up, trying to interpret her friends question the best that she could. "Harry and I were almost 15 when we were brought back here and since we remember everything I guess we're mentally still that age despite being physically younger. Does that make sense?" Her friends nodded.

"That certainly explains a lot," Hannah retorted. Neville nodded in agreement.

"What does that mean," Susan asked.

"Have you seen you two? Walking around holding hands. Sleeping in the same bed. Just the way you two act. I mean look at you. You're sitting on his lap. You two might as well be dating already even if you're not."

Susan looked at Harry and shrugged. "So? Besides I happen to see that you're pretty friendly with Neville over there, not that there is anything wrong with it."

"There's nothing wrong with it. It's just a little weird is all. You don't see any other first years acting that way."

"To be fair, how many first years are actually fourth years," Harry asked.

"Fair point," Hannah replied.

Just then the floo chimed incoming and a bright green flame later Sirius stepped through the fireplace to see Susan sitting on Harry's lap and Hannah sitting on Neville's.

"Am I interrupting something here," Sirius asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No Professor," Harry replied with a grin. "Just filling Hannah and Neville in about the whole time travel, killing Voldemort and being forced into a higher level Defense class against our wills."

"Oh, is that all? You make it sound like it's everyday news Mr. Potter."

"It is for us…well as long as yesterday doesn't turn into tomorrow that is. It's all a bit timey-wimey."

"I'm sure it is."

"Is it true that you're going to be our new defense teacher," Hannah asked.

"Sure am but don't expect me to go easy on you just because I like you. Got to show I'm unbiased unlike Snivellus. That goes double for you two, especially since you're going to be in a higher class." He answered looking at Susan and Harry.

"No sir. Wouldn't dream of it Professor Dogfather sir," Harry barked before saluting causing them all to laugh.

The train ride back to Hogwarts after the break was uneventful as everyone took turns catching up. Hermione told adventures of her travels while Harry, Susan, Neville and Hannah just told of the local adventures, leaving out the whole killing Professor Quirrell thing as Hermione might flip out over it.

There was a knock on the door before it slid open. There stood two Slytherin girls. One blonde and one brunette.

"Can we hang out in here with you guys? Malfoy's being a pain and we figure he'll leave us alone if we're in here with you," the blonde asked.

"Sure. Come in. It's Daphne right," Harry asked. The blonde nodded. "And Tracey if I'm not mistaken." The brunette nodded as they took the last two seats in the compartment. "You know who I am or you probably wouldn't be here. This is Susan, Hannah, Neville, and Hermione."

After greetings were exchanged, Harry looked up to his two new guests. "So what did you two do over the holiday break?"

Tracey and Daphne exchanged confused glances. They weren't used to people asking about how their wellbeing but here was the golden child of Gryffindor, bane of all Slytherin kind asking.

"Well. I didn't do much," Tracey started, "I mostly spent the time at home with my family but I did manage to get some time to spend with Daphne. She….wasn't so lucky though…."

"TRACEY!" Daphne hissed before taking a deep breath and turning to them. "Sorry I'm not used to talking about myself. That's not the way we do things in Slytherin. However, Tracey's right. I had to spend part of the break with Draco. His father is trying to negotiate a marriage contract for either me or Astoria with my father. Trying to ensure pureblood supremacy was his excuse."

Harry made like he was going to fake vomit, causing the rest of the car to laugh. "In all seriousness, I'm sorry. That is an awful fate for anyone. Nobody should be subjected to that."

"Except maybe Pansy Parkinson," Tracey added.

"I was going to say except for Voldemort," Susan chimed in.

"Or Crabbe and Goyle," Neville threw in.

"Or Professor Snape," Hannah commented much to the laughter of the rest of the car.

About that time, the door to the compartment opened once more and there stood the blonde Slytherin with his two henchmen and he did not look happy.

"Daphne! What are you doing in here? As much future wife…" All of a sudden he stopped making noise. His mouth was still moving but noise was coming out.

"I hope you don't mind me muting that. I didn't really care to hear the rest unless you did," Harry said to Daphne. As they looked at him they saw his wand was in his hand. Daphne looked relieved.

"No. I'd rather not if it's all the same," she replied. All of a sudden a hand reached in and grabbed her arm as Draco tried to pull her out the compartment. Harry shot forward and punched Draco in the face causing him to stumble out of the compartment. Harry followed it up with a quick stupefy to Goyle while another red stunner flew over his shoulder and hit Crabbe. Harry quickly cast a glacius on the floor outside causing Draco to slip and slide before falling and landing on top of his unconscious goons.

"Mr. Potter," an unhappy voice came from outside the compartment. Appearing next to the pile of Slytherins was Professor Flitwick.

"10 points from Hufflepuff for attacking a fellow student. However 20 points for a perfectly cast silencing charm and freezing charm. I saw what was happening and was on my way down here but it seems you took care of it. You should refrain from doing so in the future." The diminutive professor then turned to the Slytherin offenders. "As for you Mr. Malfoy, 20 points from Slytherin for attacking a fellow student, not to mention a housemate and a detention tonight with Mr. Filch. Now get out of here and I suggest you leave them alone. I may not be here next time." Draco got up and ran down the hall holding his nose while Professor Flitwick levitated Crabbe and Goyle down the hall after him.

Harry closed the door and turned back to Daphne. "Are you ok?"

The young blonde nodded. "Yes I am. Thank you, both of you. I would've taken care of it but you moved faster. Must be why they put you on the quidditch team."

Harry just grinned. "Anytime. Just wait til his father hears about this," Harry mocked in his best Draco voice causing the compartment to once again bust out in laughter.

"Oh no! I'm shaking in my boots," Daphne replied sarcastically. "Maybe now his idiot father will think twice about trying to force us to marry."

"Is it always like that in Slytherin," Neville asked.

"No. Sometimes it gets interesting," Daphne said with a grin. "Most of the time it is though. Draco Malfoy is a first year and already he thinks he runs the place with his cronies. Being a Slytherin can definitely be…challenging but being a pureblood it's almost required."