CHAPTER TWO

Harry throws himself into his studies and ignores everyone else. A few days later, when he is in the library studying a book about the Potion Ingredient Reaction Table and making comparative notes with his Potions Textbook and old class notes, he sees Neville at the next table and ask him about a plant he was trying to find in the Table.

Neville suggest that Harry look for genus name rather than the more common name.

Harry finds it, and then explains what he is doing to Neville. Neville picks up his things and joins Harry's table.

They were in the Room of Requirement, practicing DADA, when Neville accidentally picks up Harry's wand and starts using it. He becomes surprised at how much easier it is to use.

Harry suggests that Neville get his own wand, before the exams, so that he will have a few days to become accustomed to it. So, the next Hogsmeade weekend, Neville has Professor McGonagall, take him to Ollivander's for his own wand.

Harry shared his Meditation Room with Neville and after a few days of meditation Neville is again surprised. This time it is because he now knows, that magic is easier when he has a calm and clear mind.

Harry begins to teach Neville Occlumency, and after a time they go to Snape and ask him to test Neville's Shield. Severus is surprised to find that Neville's Occlumency Shields are just as strong as Harry's, even after he is told how they accomplished it.

"Perhaps the overall magic that is Hogwarts is aiding you," he suggested.

"If so, I am not going to complain. I welcome the assistance," responded Harry with a shrug.

In mid-April, it was announced that all fifth years would be undergoing careers advice with their Head of House.

"Have you put any thought into what you would like to do after Hogwarts?"

"Do you know that, I just found out last week, that there was once an Ancestral Potter Manor?"

"I don't see what that has do with your career choices."

"It has everything to do with my choices after Hogwarts. I am the last Potter. It is my responsibility to see that my Ancestral Home is restored. That means a full study in Cost Management and Estate Management, neither of which are taught at Hogwarts, so I will have to seek instruction after Hogwarts.

And assessments will need to be done to see if it will be a Restoration project or a complete Rebuild. Then there is the fact that, Ancestral usually means hundreds of years. The older it was, there better chance that were Warded bolt holes and wall safes, that may have withheld through the overall structural damage to the Manor.

Also, I was told that the Estate included both floral and herb gardens. Then there are three greenhouses, still standing, that haven't been touched in almost twenty years. I will have to get them under control. We are looking at a project that is going to take anywhere from five to twenty years, before I could even think about resuming the Annual Potter Grand Ball. Did you ever attend one of those Balls.?"

"Yes, I attended many of them. I was friends with your grandmother Euphemia," answered professor McGonagall with a smile.

"I highly doubt it. Because if you were any kind of friend, you would have made sure her grandson did not grow up completely ignorant to his heritage or his responsibilities. So, I will allow that you and my grandmother were once acquaintances, but you have proven that were never any kind of friend to her."

Harry stood up, "And with your presumptions now known, I think we are done here. I don't believe I will ever have anything to say to you again."

He walked out.

A few days later Snape found Harry wandering the halls outside his office and drew him inside to talk.

"There was a time near the end of our fourth year, that Lily and I strongly considered transferring to a different school, except that I knew I would not be able to afford it. The only school my mother's family would agree to pay for was Hogwarts.

My mother came from a very old pureblood family. The Prince family is older than the Potters. But, because my mother married a routinely drunk Muggle, they cut her out of the family. After I received my Hogwarts letter, she went to her family and begged them to pay for my tuition. She wanted me to attend a prominent Potions Academy in Prague, but they would only agree to pay my tuition if I attended Hogwarts.

My mother felt that if I concentrated all my efforts on Potions, after I had my O. , her family would help me transfer to the Potions Academy," explained Snape, "Lily refused to transfer schools without me."

"But she did want to go to a different school?" asked Harry.

"Yes, the whole thing was her idea. She wanted to find a school that didn't allow open prejudice and bullying. One that taught subjects based on a persons individual skills, rather than a set mandate, that kept everyone on exactly same level for every subject."

"Does such a school even exist? Or was it just one my mom's … if only dreams."

"I do not know if such a school exist. But I hope so. I hope that one day, Hogwarts will be that school."

Towards the end of May, Harry visit's the Hogwarts kitchen with Neville after a heavy study session. They find a very hung-over Winky. Neville then explains to Harry the history of true house-elves and how most need a wizards magic, in order to survive.

Harry decides to ask Winky to be his elf and they make a bond. Later that same day, Dobby comes to Harry and ask if he can bond and have a small pay, so Harry agrees. He then has both elves swear to never share any information with Dumbledore or any other Professor of Hogwarts.

Knowing what Hermione was like, he added the stipulation that no information was to be shared with her or any of the Weasleys or Black or Lupin.

After the O.W.L exams, which Harry and Nev found to surprisingly easy, Dumbledore has Fawkes flash him into the locked down Headmaster's office, where he then calls Harry. When Harry arrives after contemplating ignoring the request, Dumbledore tries to get Harry to recant his Oath.

He gives a long speech about forgiveness and then shows Harry the Prophecy. Harry simply states that he will think over the Headmaster's words, while knowing the whole time that he will never recant the Oath.

Harry goes to the ROR and calls all information on other Magic Schools. He then sends his elves to Gringotts to take out money to buy him clothes and a new multi-compartment trunk, that can shrink and lock at a wand's touch. Then he asks the elves to take all books and scrolls from the Potter Vault and put them in new trunk, along with the new clothes, so that no one would learn of his plans before he was ready.