Everything became a blur to Hermione. Harry had just gone head-first into the water, and he hadn't come up. She didn't know how long it had been, but it felt like hours. In the time most of the professors had shown up including the Headmaster, who above everyone else appeared worried. Malfoy was being screamed at by Professor McGonagal and Dumbledore was doing countless spells on the water, she assumed to try to recover Harry. She was shocked, no doubt, but she really didn't know him well enough to really have any strong feelings for him. She wondered what would happen if he did die. Would she cry? Would she really care? She would be sympathetic to the family, of course, but how would she react? It was an awkward thought. Was she obligated to be sad and cry, even if she didn't really feel like crying?

            There was a loud crash as a huge wave came off the lake, as if a huge plunger had just been used. Hermione watched as Dumbledore collapsed on his rump and sighed. Professor McGonagal came over, her face was white.

            "What happened?" she pressed.

            "I have tried everything I know. He is too deep for me, and it has been too long. I'm sorry Minerva. If anyone ever really knew the magnitude of this loss. I fear we must tell his Godfather." Dumbledore said with his voice quiet and sad. He was visibly tired and appeared much older than he had before. The deputy headmistress sniffled loudly as Dumbledore started shrieking softly. Hermione turned to the boy Neville who had come out with the rush of professors. He was looking at Dumbledore with renewed awe.

            "What is it?" Hermione asked, her voice void of emotion, she was too exhausted to put any into it.

            "He can talk to mermaids!" Neville said in a kind of gasp. Hermione took note that mermaids really existed, as she went back to watching. She lost her motivation to research. Knowing everything wasn't important right now. There was a bubbling in the lake and everyone watched with intense tension. But nothing happened and they all returned to their glum state. Dumbledore kept shrieking for a few minutes. She guessed that it took a while for the Mermaids to arrive. Dumbledore's shrieking was getting impatient. She could tell he was getting enraged. He stopped suddenly and turned to the other professors. He looked as if he was asking them what was happening, but they all showed their own confusions in their expressions. It was obvious no one knew what was going on. Maybe the mermaids were sleeping.

            Just then a bolt of green light shot out of the lake at a very steep, but not perfectly vertical angle. Everyone jumped as it continued into the sky.

            "What in Merlin's beard?" Flitwick squeaked and he fell backwards. Dumbledore had stood upright.

            "That was a Reversal Spell. He's fighting with them-"

            "So he's alive?" a girl named Parvati said. Dumbledore nodded quickly before putting a clear globe around his head.

            "If he's still alive now, he found a way to survive underwater, which means he can maintain it a while longer. I'm going after him, everyone, please resume your classes." Dumbledore said before he dove in. Shortly afterwards a golden beam of light came out of the water and burned a hole through a cloud as it went into the sky. Everyone looked a professor McGonagal with a pressing anxiety.

            "It was an Energy Spell. So he can keep doing magic without becoming so tired" she said quickly. She was sure to say 'he' because she had no idea who sent it. There was a rumbling and the waves on the water became plagued by the millions of tiny ripples caused by the shaking of the ground. There was a huge splash at the far end of the lake and a dark object was throw out onto the shore. The object stood up to be a person, and it seemed all at once, hundreds of heads made I to the surface, and they all threw spears through the air at the person while shrieking loudly. A blue sphere engulfed the person so that they couldn't be seen, and the spears stuck in it, making the sphere look like a pin cushion. As the last of the spears landed, the sphere disappeared letting all of the weapons fall to the ground. The boy started running in an all out sprint as more mer-people made it to the surface and threw their spears with good accuracy at the dodging and sprinting figure. The figure stayed to the far side of the path as he made full speed to the school. One of the spears got between his legs and he tripped over it landing hard on the ground as the dust was kicked up around him. The mer-people took advantage and unleashed another wave of spears. The person put up a pink wall which the spears bounced off of. He jumped up and stopped suddenly when he saw the large group of people watching from the shore. He decided that getting to them would be a good idea and made the last stretch of his race without trouble. He collapsed near Professor McGonagal and lay down panting. It was Harry.

It was an awkward moment. With only the panting of Harry, and the sloshing of the waves as the mer-people gave up and dove back to their homes. Harry seemed to be nearly dead from exhaustion, and he kept his eyes closed. His breathing slowed and the water splashed as the Headmaster came out of the lake, his beard and clothes stuck to his body from the water. He approached Harry and stood above him, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts, Mr. Mutton. I suppose you enjoyed you little excursion." Dumbledore said with amusement. Harry opened his eyes and sat up.

"Yeah- It was- fun actually.- Where's- Neville, I have- his wand-" Harry said between breaths. Neville came forward and Harry took two wands out of his pocket, he looked at them closely, before handing one to Neville. "I think- this one's yours-" Harry said. He leant back after Neville took his wand and let the sun wash over him. He was glad it was a warm day.

"He's bleeding." A girl behind him said. Harry looked down and saw the blood trickling on his shirt. He traced it up to his shoulder.

"I don't remember- getting hit" Harry said quietly.

"Maybe when you dove into the rock" said the Weasley boy. Ron. Yup, that was it.

"Oh yeah. That was probably it. Good thinking Ron. Anyone have something to drink. Preferably something with too much sugar." Harry said to anyone. He felt a little awkward being the center of everyone's attention.

"I believe I can fulfill your request in my office, Mr. Mutton" Dumbledore said. Harry knew it wasn't an invitation. It was a request.

"Sure. Why not" Harry said as he stood up. He really didn't have anything better to do. He really did not want to stay in front of all these watching eyes. He stood up and walked with Dumbledore up towards the castle. He noticed that the old man smelled like lemon drops. As soon as they made it in the castle, Harry let out a sigh.

"You gave us all quite a scare, young man" Dumbledore said. "I'm sure there is a good explanation as to why, after retrieving the boy's wand, you didn't immediately return to the surface."

"There is, so why are we going to your office?" Harry asked.

"Because, despite my knowing there is a perfectly reasonable explanation, I must know that explanation. From what little I could gather, you have severely damaged the diplomatic relations between us and the mermaid population, therefore, I must know what you have done to rectify the situation. Peanut Peppermints." The gargoyle in front of them stepped aside revealing a moving staircase.

"Right. Well, I started diving after the wand and I had it, but I hit the rock, and I let go of it, and it went into the water, and me after it. So I put an air bubble around my head and dove after it. It took a while, because it kept sinking, but I found it and I was going to come back when I saw two eyes, which turned around and began to swim away. I swam after it out of curiosity, which, before I forget, killed the cat (Dumbledore looked confused), and I caught up to it while I was near the floor. They kept fleeing in front of me until I came to this underwater village which was empty. Giving up on whatever the creatures were, I turned around to go back up to the surface. They appeared behind me, and I could actually see what they were, and that they were carrying spears. They surrounded me and told me to surrender my wand, and myself…" Harry said as he rubbed his temples.

"And…" Dumbledore pressed.

"Well, I said no, but my voice doesn't work in the water, and they started poking me, so I defended myself, and more attacked. I kept defending. I turned one into a fish, I think someone needs to turn it back. This one had a particularly large flipper, and seaweed as a belt…" Harry saw Dumbledore's head fall into his hands.

"You turned the mer-king into a fish?" Dumbledore said incredulously. Harry winced.

"That was the king? So that's why they all got so angry and like two hundred of them came out of nowhere" Harry said with a silly smile. Dumbledore gave him a short look. "Oh, sorry. So yeah, then I gave myself an energy boost, and I ran, or swam, actually, until I got out. And they threw spears, and I used Shielding Charms, and then I made it, and I was happy to be free and alive, and to know mermaids really exist. So overall, it was a worthwhile and pleasant experience, and I would gladly do it again. Or not." Harry said as he judged the look on the Headmaster's face. "Am I being punished?" Harry said after a minute passed.

"I would, but as you are a first year, you have no privileges for me to take away. I can take away points however. Five from Gryffindor for flying without supervision, and five more for endangering relations with our neighbors. You may go Harry. Please try not to get into any more trouble, and let us know if you're alive. It was not pleasant when we thought you had died." Harry nodded understandingly. "One last thing. What happened to the cat?"

"What cat?" Harry asked.

"You mentioned something about the killing of a cat." Dumbledore said. He knew that this would be a terrible step if the boy killed a cat. Harry was thoughtful for a while.

"Oh. Curiosity. Curiosity killed the cat" Harry said. Dumbledore looked confused. "It's a phrase used by muggles. To warn people from doing things that you have no idea what the consequences will be." Dumbledore nodded and watched the boy leave. He was so much like his father, and yet so much like his godfather. He appeared to be the offspring of the intelligence of the one, and the absolute disregard for rules and utter lack of humility of the other. He was the freak hybrid of the two worst types of students. To say it was scary, would, unfortunately, be an understatement.

/\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/

            "No, I didn't purposely try to start a war with the mermaids. I was only protecting myself" Harry said for the twentieth time. It was getting annoying. No one would take him seriously. He guessed it was because he couldn't say it without smiling, and that was because it was so ridiculous. Who would want to start a war with the mer-people? Who could the mer-people ever defeat? Harry had to feel that their history must be similar to the French; the only war they ever won was their own revolution, primarily because they were fighting themselves. Although they could win a battle or two when they weren't being led by a French man. IE, Napoleon, a Corsican, and Joan of Arc. Of course they were both eventually defeated. One burned at the stake and the other under house arrest.

            "Whatever you say, Mutton. You were close though, in almost getting Malfoy expelled. I would have enjoyed that." Dean said with a smirk.

            "Malfoy will never be expelled, he could kill us all before he would be expelled" Harry said disgustedly. The first years who were surrounding him at dinner, and there were quite a few, turned to him curiously.

            "Why's that?" asked Ron, through a mouth full of chicken.

            "Because his father bloody owns the Board of trustees. He buys them with his money and power. All the spoiled little brat has to do is run to daddy and he would be re-instated faster than he could ever be expelled" Harry said matter-of-factly.

            "I doubt he could get that far. In 1432, the son of one of the governors was expelled for killing two students from a rival house. I read it in Hogwarts a history." Hermione said. Mutters of 'know it all' were heard from various students nearby. Many had crowded nearby to be in the light of the only popular first year.

            "I don't get it…" Hermione whispered into Harry's ear, "…You say just as many obscure things and you get everyone's attention and admiration and when I do it, I'm a know it all. Why?" He could tell she was half joking. He turned to her and leant into her ear.

            "It's because, my dear, I have something you don't" Harry said, mysteriously.

            "I would hope so" she retorted aloud. People glanced at her but generally went back to their food.

            "It's called class" Harry said in an arrogant tone. He breathed on his invisible rings and rubbed them on his chest. She snorted at his antics.

            "Hey, Harry…" Seamus said. Harry had never been great at names, but he was slowly remembering them. "…you should have seen the bloody magic Dumbledore was doin' when yeh fell in. He was incredible. Made waves the height of trees. Now I think we all know why You-Know-Who never dared challenge him." Seamus' statement was met with various nods.

            "Voldemort never attacked because he was a coward. I however, am not. I will challenge Dumbledore right now." Harry said despite the cringing of most of the students. The muggle-borns were catching on quickly. Harry turned in his seat, and waved his wand in the direction of the Slytherin table. Se Tempius Projectus. Harry muttered before turning around. He saw the confused glances on all of their faces when nothing happened. "I put it on a timer." He explained. They watched cautiously, worried what a challenge to Dumbledore would look like. There was a white blur followed by a splat as mashed potatoes landed roughly on the Headmaster's face. There was a collective gasp as everyone's eyes turned to where the potatoes had come from.

            Draco Malfoy was explaining to Crabbe how he had dueled a Werewolf. To create an effect he had taken out his wand and was swinging it exaggeratedly. There was a quiet flopping sound, but Draco ignored it and kept his act going. Then there was a splatter. Probably some mud-blood couldn't hold on to their food. Draco continued despite the silence, but it soon became too much and he looked around. The Headmaster was covered in food, and he was looking straight at Draco. His eyes were cool, despite the roaring blue within them.

            "Mr. Malfoy. For all of our safety, please refrain from using your wand in the Great Hall during mealtimes. As you can see, the consequences of not being able to control your magic could be great. Imagine if you had sent a knife at me instead."

            Draco was confused beyond belief. He hadn't done it. But now didn't seem like a good time to argue. Even his housemates were looking at him strangely. He searched the hall to try to find a scapegoat, or even the villain, but everyone was looking at him, and the first year Gryffindors were snickering at him. He turned red and slipped his wand into his pocket. He would get that Mutton. Damn wise-ass.

            Harry turned back to his audience as the noise returned to a normal level. Dumbledore used a napkin to wipe his face. Harry supposed he didn't feel like using magic to do it. "See, I challenged the big man himself. I never said I'd do it openly, though" Harry said with such a sinister grin, most of the first-years burst out laughing. The noise drew the attention of the professors, and it wasn't long before Minerva McGonagal arrived standing behind Harry.

            "Mutton, if you are done with your supper, the headmaster and I would like a word with you. No, you are not in trouble, however my gut feeling tells me you probably should be." This received a nice round of laughs from everyone including Harry. He nodded good-bye to his friends and made his way behind the Professor all the way up to the headmaster's office. They entered behind the gargoyle, and seconds later he was seated. McGonagal went to a narrow open door o the left of the oval office. Harry looked around. Something he hadn't really done before in this office. He had noticed the bird perch, but last time it was empty. This time an old looking reddish bird was seated upon it. It looked amazing.

            "Albus, just use magic to remove it. I hate to say it, but I feel that boy will end up being a terror, with the father he has…" she stopped from saying more as the headmaster exited the room with his glasses replaced and clean on his recently washed face.

            "Ahh, Mr. Potter. I have confirmed a bit of your life story, and I was told more is on the way. It seems Mr. Black was working on something and didn't want to hold up the owl too long without a response. I am glad to see your stories coincide. Another fact has come to my attention which I desire to discuss with you. I mentioned it to Mr. Black and I await his feelings as well…" Dumbledore began.

            "Where was the place of first contact?" Harry asked seemingly out of the blue.

            "Excuse me?" Dumbledore said.

            "Where did the food hit you? Your nose, your eye?" Harry asked.

            "My nose first, but I assure you it made it around most of my face. It seems Mr. Malfoy is a good shot." Dumbledore said in a tone that meant he wanted to move on.

            "On your nose?" Harry asked.

            "Yes, my dear boy, dead center, I assure you."

            "Oh. Then I missed, I wanted it to hit just under the nose. Then it gets pushed up it and the people begin to snort." Harry said as a terrible and cruel smile crossed his face. Professor McGonagal jumped up.

            "As his head of house I reserve the right to take away points!!!" she screamed. Dumbledore had his hand up and an amused smile graced his features.

            "No, non of that, Minerva. He has done no wrong, and cause no pain. However, Mr. Potter, this again is why I wish to speak to you. You show a knowledge and talent for magic which sets you apart from the other first year students, putting yourself at an advantage, and them at a disadvantage. It does not do well for them when you can do so much magic and they are just learning. Perhaps you would like to move up one year, and attempt certain second year tasks?" Dumbledore said.

            "No." Harry said in a perfectly normal voice.

            "No?" Dumbledore asked.

            "No." Harry reaffirmed.

            "No?" Minerva asked incredulously. It was such an honor to be advanced. No one had ever turned it down before.

            "No." Harry said again.

            "No." Dumbledore sighed.

            "No." Harry said again, just in case.

            "No?" Dumbledore asked. He was confused. Harry had said 'No' when he had confirmed his 'No.'

            "No." Harry said one more time. They sat in silence for a second. "I may be proficient in defensive charms, and perhaps a few attacking spells, but my transfiguration training is very basic. What you saw, professor, was pretty much all I know.  I know next to nothing on potions. All I know about history of magic is that I stopped Voldemort and he killed my family. I can defend myself, to a degree, but that's about it, minus the spells that Sirius taught me for entertainment purposes." Harry said in a matter-of-fact voice.

            "Entertainment purposes?" Dumbledore asked. He thought he knew, but he needed confirmation.

            "Lets just say you had a taste of one of them tonight." Harry said with his smile. It made even Dumbledore squirm.

            "And how many of these spells have you learned?" Dumbledore asked out of pure curiosity. There was no fear there. Absolutely none. He had recalled that Mr. Potter and Mr. Black were nightmares, but they never had the, the chuztpa to come after the Headmaster. This kid did it on the second day of school, the first day of classes. He was fearless, truly and undeniably fearless. He would need to be resisted. He was very much thinking of the idea of fighting fire with fire.

            "Well, I finished Spells to Make Little Kids Laugh, and Spells to Make Big Kids Cry, and The Science of Pranksternationalianism, and What it Takes to Get Away. That one was my favorite, probably because it was published by Moony, I mean, Remus Lupin. Anyway. I am halfway through 42,806 Ways to Get Back at Him. That is a brilliant work too." Harry said.

            "Wasn't that one banned six years ago?" Professor McGonagal said hopefully.

            "It was, but you know Hogwarts never supported censorship, Minerva." Dumbledore responded as she sent death glares at him. Harry would have to learn to be able to accept glares like that nonchalantly.

            "Good. I know not to leave it out. And after I finish that one the next book is Specific Tricks for People With Specific Traits. I've only glanced through it, but it looks good. Teaches you how to single out individuals with certain traits, and hit them where it hurts. You know. How to get men worst, women, tall people, short people, happy people, smart people, popular people, arrogant people, rich people, jealous people, people in love. It looks good." Harry said as Minerva sighed.

            "Albus…" she groaned. Dumbledore saw Harry's mouth curl. He was enjoying this.

            "Well, Mr. Potter, or Mutton I should say. We are done here. Wait, one second. What are your thoughts on revenge, or retribution?" Dumbledore asked. Harry immediately recognized the deeper meaning of the question.

            "I don't know. What goes around comes around? Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth? That alright?" Harry asked.

            "Very much so, You both may go." Harry got up quickly and waited for the deputy headmistress to follow. Harry made it to the door of the office and turned around.

            "You don't have it, don't think that you do, and I think that you will regret it when it finally happens." Harry said. Minerva looked between them worriedly, and Dumbledore just looked confused. Harry turned to the door, and slowly turned the knob to give the headmistress time to catch up to him. He opened the door sharply as he feel to the ground. A white mass of something came forward and went right above where Harry was laying and hit professor McGonagal in the chest, splattering it all over her robes. She looked down in shock and anger as she wiped some of it off with her fingers. Harry jumped up and turned to the headmaster.

            "You had your wand drawn, you were doing the spell loud enough for us to hear, you even asked about revenge, it was too obvious. I told you, you don't have it, Headmaster. Stick with the games you're good at. I'll leave you two alone to work this out." Harry made a mad dash out the door and down the stairs. As he passed the gargoyle, he supposed that the professor had come to her senses, because "ALBUS!!!" was echoing loudly in the halls. Harry could barely hold on from laughing to death as he stumbled clumsily all the way to the Gryffindor common room. This was going to be an awesome, awesome year.

Thanks everyone for reviewing. Sorry to take so long. Very busy, no time, and now spring sports have started. Good fun! I hope you enjoyed this. Leave me a review.

DaBear- You get the credit for the merpeople. Yup. Harry decides to make an unwelcomed visit into their deep abode.

BlackDragon- I know it was unfair, but I was too tired to continue at the time, and it seemed like a good place to stop. Sorry. Hope you liked this chap.

Thanks to everyone else as well. Have a nice night.