Enjoy!
The first day of classes started out easily for Ron and Harry. They both had a free period and enjoyed watching the first years running through the halls, very obviously lost.
Their laughing was interrupted by a stern looking Professor McGonagall.
"Potter, Weasley" She greeted.
"Professor" They replied.
"And just what are the two of you doing loitering about in the hall?"
"We have a free period, Professor" Harry said.
She raised an unimpressed eyebrow, "I would think you would want to fill it with Potions. Or is it no longer your ambition to become Aurors."
"Neither of us got O's on our O.W.L results" Ron said.
"Yeah, and you told me I had to get an 'Outstanding' in my O.W.L., Professor." Harry said.
"And you would be correct, if Professor Snape was teaching the subject. Professor Slughorn, however, is perfectly happy to accept N.E.W.T students with 'Exceeds Expectations' at O.W.L." She informed them.
"Brilliant" Harry said quickly. "Um, we'll head right over then."
"Please do" Professor McGonagall nodded.
"Harry, we don't have any of the supplies needed for Potions." Ron complained.
"I'm sure it'll be fine" Harry assured.
They entered the Potions classroom and immediately saw a difference. The room was no longer dark and damp as it was when Professor Snape was still teaching. The windows were open and light poured into the room, making the atmosphere warm and welcoming.
Professor Slughorn was standing in front of a large table covered in different cauldrons. The class was clustered around him.
He looked up and smiled at the two boys, "Ah Mr. Potter. I was wondering when you would show up."
"Sorry Professor, there was a mix up with my schedule. I didn't know I qualified for Potions; I don't have any supplies. Neither does Ron."
"Not a problem, you can borrow some things until you order your own." He motioned to the cabinet where all the potions' ingredients were kept. "Take what you need"
They both nodded and make their way to the cabinet. They gathered supplies and a book before making their way over to the rest of the class.
Slughorn continued the class, going over each of the cauldrons on the table. He quickly grew impressed with Hermione and her knowledge. After all the potions had been named, Slughorn gave them a challenge. Whoever created the best Draught of the Living Death potion would get the Felix Felicis – liquid luck – potion.
Harry opened his book to the correct page and quickly noticed writing in the margins. Whoever owned this book previously had altered the instructions to the potion. Shrugging, Harry followed the new instructions and was surprised by the end result. He was never very good a Potions, and yet, he seemed to create a perfect potion.
Slughorn was suitably impressed and happily handed Harry his reward.
"How did you even do that mate?" Ron asked as they left the classroom. "No offense, but you're usually only passable at Potions."
"I followed the instructions in the book." Harry showed them the scratched-out instructions replaced with neat handwriting.
"Harry, you shouldn't be following some mystery person's instructions. What if something bad happened?"
Harry rolled his eyes, "They simply wrote a few tips in the margins Hermione. It's not like Riddle's Diary where it asked Ginny to kill people."
"We don't know that" She hissed.
"Then check it!" He shoved the book at her.
"Fine, I will" She sniffed and held her wand to the book, "Specialis Revelio!" she said, rapping it smartly on the front cover. Nothing whatsoever happened. The book simply lay there, looking old and dirty and dog-eared.
"Finished?" Harry asked irritably. "Or do you want to wait and see if it does a few backflips?"
"It seems all right," Hermione said, still staring at the book suspiciously. "I mean, it really does seem to be just a textbook."
"Good. Then I'll have it back," Harry grabbed it from her hands and returned it to his bag.
/
They made their way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Harry was not looking forward to this class. He may excel at Defense, but Snape was not going to make it easy.
The classroom had changed since last year. It was gloomier, the sun blocked by curtains and replaced with several candles. There were also several pictures on the walls – Representations of different curses – Snape had explained as he introduced the class.
"Now, you are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?"
Hermione's hand shot into the air. Snape took his time looking around at everybody else, making sure he had no choice, before saying curtly, "Very well — Miss Granger?"
"Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you're about to perform," Hermione answered, "which gives you a split-second advantage."
"An answer copied almost word for word from The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six I see" Snape said dismissively (over in the corner, Malfoy sniggered), "but correct in essentials. Yes, those who progress to using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course; it is a question of concentration and mind power which some" — his gaze lingered maliciously upon Harry — "lack."
Harry knew Snape was thinking of their disastrous Occlumency lessons of the previous year. He refused to drop his gaze, but glowered at Snape until Snape looked away.
"You will now divide," Snape went on, "into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on."
The class split up and proceeded to try and jinx one another with varying success. Snape wandered around the room, watching his students until he came to Harry and Ron where he lingered to watch them struggle.
Harry sighed softly when he noticed Snape stop and watch Ron turn purple as the red head attempted to conjure a spell.
"Pathetic, Weasley," Snape said, after a while. "Here — let me show you"
He turned his wand on Harry so fast that Harry reacted instinctively; all thought of nonverbal spells forgotten, he yelled, "Protego!"
His Shield Charm was so strong Snape was knocked off-balance and hit a desk. The whole class had looked around and now watched as Snape righted himself, scowling. "Do you remember me telling you we are practicing nonverbal spells, Potter?"
"Yes," Harry replied stiffly.
"Yes, sir."
"There's no need to call me 'sir,' Professor."
The words had escaped him before he knew what he was saying. He was going to be in so much trouble.
Several people gasped, including Hermione. Behind Snape, however, Ron, Dean, and Seamus grinned appreciatively.
"Detention, Saturday night, my office," Snape replied coolly. "I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter. Not even 'the Chosen One'."
Harry sighed and nodded. He's likely to get an earful from Aileen tonight. He wasn't looking forward to it.
"That was brilliant, Harry!" Ron chortled, once they were safely on their way to break a short while later.
"You really shouldn't have said it," Hermione said, frowning at Ron. "What made you?"
"He tried to jinx me; in case you didn't notice!" Harry fumed. "I had enough of that during those Occlumency lessons! Why doesn't he use another guinea pig for a change? What's Dumbledore playing at, anyway, letting him teach Defense? Did you hear him talking about the Dark Arts? He loves them! All that unfixed, indestructible stuff"
"Well," said Hermione, "I thought he sounded a bit like you."
Harry stared at her in silent disbelief. The girl blushed and quickly continued, "when you were telling us what it's like to face Voldemort. You said it wasn't just memorizing a bunch of spells, you said it was just you and your brains and your guts — well, wasn't that what Snape was saying? That it really comes down to being brave and quick-thinking?"
Harry continued to blink at her, unsure of what to say to that.
Luckily, one of the Beaters from last year's Gryffindor Quidditch team interrupted them to hand Harry a roll of parchment. Recognizing the handwriting, Harry hurried off with Hermione and Ron.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"It's from Dumbledore" Harry replied, unrolling the parchment to read the message. "It says he wants to meet this Saturday night. And that he likes Acid Pops."
"Acid Pops? What does that mean?" Ron asked.
"It's the password to get into his office" Harry replied quietly. "Ha! Snape's not going to be pleased. I won't be able to go to his detention!"
They returned to the common room for their break. Ron and Hermione were swapping ideas on what Dumbledore would teach him at their session. Harry, however, found Aileen sitting primly on his bed, waiting for him.
Harry sighed heavily, "Alright, let me hear it."
If cat's had eyebrows, Harry was sure Aileen's would be quite high. "What do you mean Harry?"
Harry rolled his eyes, "I know you know about my class with Snape."
"I do"
"So…aren't you going to give me a lecture?"
"You seem to already know what I'm going to say. Why don't you enlighten me?"
Harry rolled his eyes, "You're going to say how I shouldn't have mouthed off to a professor. How I should just ignore him and keep my head down. I need to keep up with my studies and getting a detention is not helping."
Aileen nodded, "I make very good points."
Harry turned away with a huff, "Right. Except for the fact that Snape has had it out for me since first year. What was I supposed to do? Not defend myself?"
"Yes"
Harry turned and yelped, finding a human Aileen towering over him. Sometimes he really hated being short.
"Do you know how to best get revenge on someone, Harry?" Aileen asked.
"Uh, humiliate them?"
Aileen scoffed, "By living well"
Harry gave her an incredulous look, "Living well? What does that even mean?"
"It means, to succeed. Whatever challenge he gives you, complete it. Any obstacle he puts in your way, overcome it. He tells you to defend yourself a certain way, learn how to do it. Show him that you can handle anything he throws at you. That you will not back down. His actions may be petty, but you will learn what he has to teach you and you will succeed. Do you understand?"
"You make it sound so easy" Harry sighed.
"It's not. He knows how to get under your skin. It's a good skill, Dad uses it all the time. The key, is letting those words wash over you. Words are only weapons if you give them that power."
Harry nodded. "I'm going to have to practice a lot for this aren't I?"
Aileen nodded, "Practice makes perfect. And based on your track record, I think the first time you actually succeed in class will be quite the surprise for Snape."
"I'm not that bad"
She raised a skeptical brow, "When it comes to Snape, yes you are."
Harry grumbled but didn't disagree.
Aileen chuckled and brought Harry into a comforting embrace, "Work hard this year. If we do this correctly, Voldemort will be gone by the before summer's end."
"Really?"
She nodded, "You'll have quite the boring seventh year if I have anything to say about it."
"I think I can handle boring for a change." Harry smiled.