Chapter 3 – A Second Chance



'Harry! Ron!'

A second later they were almost knocked over as a running Hermione gave them both a hug.

'Oh I'm so glad to be back. How was your summer?'

'Ok I guess' Harry grinned, 'Ron spent the summer working at Fred and George's shop, and I did a lot of reading. How was your trip to Spain?'

'Hot, and I hardly got any work done!'

Ron instinctively rolled his eyes at that comment

'I saw that Ron!'

'Well let's get on the train.' Harry said, 'I'll try and find Neville or someone to sit with, and you two can come and find me when your prefect duties are done'

He found the cabin where Neville and Luna were sitting and joined them. Luna was reading a copy of the Quibbler while Neville was reading his herbology book, but they both looked up as he came in.

'Hey Neville! Hi Luna!'

Luna looked at him and gave a vague smile; Neville on the other hand seemed thoroughly excited to see him.

'How was your summer Neville?' he asked as he sat down next to him.

'It was great! My grandmother has been really nice to me. I think she was really proud of what I did at the ministry. '

'My father was rather horrified, but at the same time I think he was in awe' Luna said.

'Hey Harry, do you think we could start up the DA again this year?' Neville said hopingly. 'I learned much more from you than I ever did from Umbridge, Lockhart, and Quirrel combined.

'Well I don't know' Harry grinned; 'depends on how bad our teacher is this year I suppose.'

They talked for what seemed like hours, and he felt comfortable spending time with the two of them. They both knew what it was like to lose someone, and they spared him any pity. Eventually Ron, Ginny, and Hermione joined them and they talked for the rest of the train ride to school.

He sat down at the table next to Ron and Hermione, and to his chagrin almost the entire great hall was staring at him. He guessed that by now they had heard what happened last term, and some people were staring at him incredulously. Thankfully professor McGonagall came in with the first years behind her, and the sorting hat launched into its song.

A long time ago

Before the school was born

There was an evil wizard

Of which a prophecy did warn

Because all things are equal

A great hero did appear

     They fought each other long and hard

For many countless years

     And though one was defeated

And the other did prevail

It was just the first battle

In the war of good and evil

     The past is long behind us

You may think to yourself

But heed my dire warning

     For history will repeat itself

     Step forward now you first years

And I will sort you out

For I've never yet been wrong

Though some of you may doubt

The brave belong in Gryffindor

And Ravenclaw the smart

Slytherin the cunning ones

And Hufflepuff those with heart

I've told you and I've warned you

As these words I sing

     So put me on your head

     And let the sorting begin

As various names were shouted into their houses by the sorting hat, Harry avoided all eye contact with the rest of the students. He hated the fact that they were probably all feeling sympathetic towards him; he didn't need or want their pity and it made him angry.

When the sorting ceremony was over, Dumbledore stood up and the hall became silent.

'Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Before we begin the feast there are a few things I would like to say to you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.'

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of Harry, Ron, and Hermione for a moment.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.'

At that moment the door to the great hall opened, and a pale thin man dressed in black walked through and sat in the empty teacher's chair.

'And lastly' Dumbledore continued, 'it is my great honor to introduce to you our new defense against the dark arts teacher; Nikolai Vladislav'

There was a pause before a mild applause broke out, but most people were too busy staring at this strange teacher.

'I think that should be all, so Let the feast begin!'

Everyone was still staring at the new teacher however, who seemed surprisingly unconcerned.

'Blimey I can't believe it Seamus' Dean mumbled to his friend, 'They really DID give us a vampire'

'Don't be silly' Hermione snapped, 'Dumbledore would never let a vampire in Hogwarts'

But Harry saw that she wasn't her usual confident self, even she was staring at the new teacher with a confused look.

'Well as long as he actually teaches us, I don't care.' Ron said. 'In fact, if he is a vampire then I hope he drinks some blood from Draco, that slimy little git'

They all laughed at this, and Ron spent the rest of dinner telling the story of how Malfoy had tried to ambush Harry at the end of last term. After dinner they were to meet their head of houses to plan their schedule for the last two years. Harry was slightly nervous he walked to McGonagall's classroom. How was she going to take it if he couldn't get his potions NEWT? Could she force Snape into accepting him? He knocked on her door and it promptly swung open by itself.

'Come in Mr. Potter. Am I correct in assuming you still want to be an auror?

'More than ever, professor'

The resolution in his voice made her pause momentarily; she stared at him and then to his great surprise smiled.

'Very well, so you'll need to sign up for the courses I mentioned to you during your career advice.'

'But professor Snape said he wouldn't let anyone into his class unless they had an outstanding mark'

'Well then, we'll have to go talk to him won't we? Follow me Potter'

He followed her down into the dungeons where Snape was talking to Goyle

'Severus, a word with you please'

Snape looked at them, and his face transformed into an expression of intense dislike when he saw Harry

'Of course, that will be all Goyle.'

When Goyle had left the room, he turned to Mcgonagall and looked at her expectantly

'I'm sure you know why I'm here Severus, I'd like you to make an exception and accept Mr. Potter in your class.

Snape smiled evilly

'I'm afraid Mr. Potter does not have either the predisposition or the motivation to master the art of potion making. I'm afraid there is little hope for him, and he would only disrupt the students who ARE in my class'

'Professor, I need to get a potions NEWT. I promise if you let me in your class, I'll work hard and do my best'.

'And why would I do that Potter? Why should I give you a second chance? I know you haven't changed a bit!'

Before Harry could reply Professor Mcgonagall cut in

'Haven't you ever been given a second chance Severus?'

Snape was speechless for a moment, obviously taken aback by this comment'

'Well yes, I suppose –'

'Then it's settled?'

Snape quickly regained his composure and then menacingly said

'Very well, but if he fails any tests at all, forgets his homework, or does not get an outstanding on his final exam, I will throw him out!'

'That is agreeable, thank you Severus. Follow me Potter.'

Snape was furious, but he didn't care. He was in the class! All he had to worry about now was not screwing up.'

As he followed professor Mcgonagall back to her classroom, she turned to him and said

'There is no further help I can give you Potter, now that you are in the class your fate rests in your own hands. Oh, and the headmaster will be expecting you Tuesday evening. The password this year is "bumbling bee". Stay out of trouble.'

With a sense of relief he ran back to his common room. He said the password to the Gryffindor common room; 'dracos anhelitus'; and ran inside to tell his friends the news.

He saw Hermione sitting by the fire with a book and sat down next to her

'I got into potions!'

'Really? Wow, that's great Harry; we'll be in that class together! Did you know we're the only two Gryffindors in our year? All the others didn't want anything more to do with Snape.'

'Well I wouldn't be in his stupid class either if I didn't need it. He's going to make that class a living hell for me, I just know it' Harry said gloomily.

He went to bed that night with a sense of relief. With all the studying in the summer he had done for potions, he felt sure his only problem would be putting up with Snape's constant provocations. He fell asleep and had a pleasant dream about being accepted into the auror training at the ministry.

Harry and Hermione made sure they were early for their first potions class. They were not going to give Snape any reason to criticize them. They arrived and took seats as far from Snape's desk as possible, as Harry felt that the less intimidated he was, the more success he would have at potions. When the rest of the class came in, Harry saw that they were almost all Slytherins. There were two Hufflepuff girls and one Ravenclaw boy, who came to sit with Harry and Hermione. Slytherin unpopularity was apparently universal, as the students of the other houses looked despairingly at the overwhelming amount of Slytherins.

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle walked in and sniggered when they saw Harry.

'How did you get into this class scarhead? No don't tell me, I bet our muggle-loving headmaster bent the rules for you again.'

'Well we know you got in on your own this time Malfoy' Harry replied, 'after all I understand your father is a little too, err, "busy", at the moment to go around bullying people. How does he like his new home by the way?'

Malfoy's face turned into hatred at the reminder that his father was in prison.

'You're going to pay one day Potter, mark my words.'

'Right, I'm trembling. Oooh look at me shake Hermione!'

Hermione giggled, as did the two Hufflepuff girls and the Ravenclaw boy

'You too, you filthy little mudblood, you'll get what's coming to you' Malfoy snarled

'Sticks and stones Malfoy' Hermione smiled at him

At that moment Snape came in and Malfoy and his thugs reluctantly went to sit at their seats.

Snape stared at them all silently, and then spoke in a low and menacing voice.

'You are in the most advanced potions class offered at Hogwarts. Some of you are here because you have shown talent, and some of you are here because you are in denial.'

At that word, his eyes paused on Harry, who defiantly returned his stare.

'Nevertheless, I will expect every single one of you to work hard and complete your assignments on time. Failure to do so means you are wasting your time and mine, and you will not return to this class.'

He paused again and let his threat sink in before continuing.

'The first potion we will be making this year is the polyjuice potion. Get out your quills and copy down the instructions on the blackboard. By next class you will have memorized how to make this potion and you will begin brewing it. There will be no further talking, begin!'

Harry and Hermione smiled at each other, this wasn't the first time they had made this potion and this gave them a distinct advantage.  

In the Afternoon they had their first care of magical creatures class. Very few people had signed up for it; knowing Hagrid the advanced class would probably mean creatures that were even more dangerous than blast ended skrewts. Ron and Hermione were there of course, as were Neville, Seamus and Dean, and to his surprise, Parvati and Lavender. Half a dozen Hufflepuffs and four Ravenclaws had also signed up. He was glad to see there wasn't a single Slytherin.

''Ello' Hagrid beamed at them 'glad yeh joined my class; I've saved the most interesting creatures for yer last two years. Today I'm gonna to show yer an incredibly dangerous beast; I can hardly believe it meself that we've got one captured. Now follow me, yer gonna love this one!'

They followed Hagrid round a corner and entered a clearing, where they saw it.

'No!' Hermione gasped

'WOW!' Ron and Harry exclaimed.

Nearby one of the Hufflepuff girls nearly fainted and had to be held up by her friends.

Tied to two trees with thick iron chains going from the collar around its neck, was the most awe inspiring beast they had ever seen.

'Now who can tell me what it is?' Hagrid said while looking at it as if it was a beautiful flower or a painting by Renoir

'You brought a Manticore on to the school grounds?' Hermione said meekly

'Yeah' Hagrid said, still admiring it, 'ain't she a beauty?'

'But they're one of the most dangerous creatures in the world!' Hermione snapped

'Yeah that is SO cool' Ron exclaimed

'Now now Hermione, they can take care of themselves, no doubt about that'

'Take care of themselves?' She said, her mouth hanging open, 'they'll rip you apart if you get too close

'Yeah, and that stinger will kill you instantly.' He said still staring at it like it was a trophy, 'Now I don't want anyone to come within 30 feet of it.'

It really was rather an interesting creature Harry thought to himself. The face of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion; it had a very noble look to it, and it was clearly unhappy about being chained up.

Hagrid continued telling them about the Manticore, telling them how to escape from it, how most magic wouldn't work against it, the use of its poison in potions. It was altogether a very informative class, even if most of the students were too terrified to pay attention to Hagrid.

That evening he told Ron and Hermione he was going to the library to do some studying so he could go to Dumbledore's first lesson. He felt both excited and scared as he approached Dumbledore's office. After all, he was going to be taking lessons from the greatest wizard in the world, what if he couldn't manage it? He said the password and went up the staircase.

'Ah Harry, good evening, come in please. I was just making some tea, sit down won't you?'

'Good evening sir'

He looked around and saw many familiar items. The old sorting hat was on top of the shelf and it seemed to be sleeping. He saw the pensieve below it swirling with the grey liquid of the Headmaster's thoughts. Fawkes was sitting on his perch in the corner of the room and looking at him affectionately.

'Now then, let's talk about our lessons. Occlumency will of course be the first thing I teach you, it is the most vital one at this stage. I would also like to teach you to apparate and disapparate'

'Excuse me, but isn't that illegal sir? Since I'm underage?'

 'Well yes, we'll just have to keep it a secret won't we?' Dumbledore winked at him

'Right' Harry grinned

'And I would also like you to know that if there is anything you wish to know, or learn, then please don't hesitate to ask me.'

Harry thought about the dreading question that had been lurking in his mind all summer.

'Sir, how can I possibly kill Voldemort? Would I have to learn the Avada Kevara curse?'

'There are other ways to defeat a wizard Harry, killing is not necessarily the best way'

'But the prophecy said one of us has to kill the other'

Dumbledore paused, an expression of deep thought on his face. He suddenly looked weary and old, before he looked up again.

'Perhaps you will have to learn the killing curse someday, Harry, but I will not teach it to you or to anyone else. I long ago swore never to teach unforgivable curses to anyone. Now then, why don't we start your lesson? Stand up please and take out your wand.'

Harry stood up and found his wand in his robes; he was becoming very nervous now.

'Occlumency' he went on, 'is one of the hardest forms of magic to learn. It requires intense mental discipline, but it also relies on preparation. It is much easier to defend yourself against legilimency if you know you are about to be attacked. It is much harder to break the spell if someone has already broken into your mind. Now try and clear your mind and think only of the reality you perceive. The key to breaking the attack is to realize that what you are seeing is not real. You must force your mind back to the here and now, and then cast a counter spell. Let's try shall we? On three I shall attack your mind and I suggest you try to cast a shield spell. Ready? Three – two – one – legilimens

The office swam before his eyes, and memories of his childhood began to play back before his eyes

'Wait, this isn't real' a voice in the back of his mind said. 'This can't be happening now, it's the past'. The memory flashing in front of his eyes was of him sitting down to dinner with the Dursleys, but for a moment he thought he saw Dumbledore standing in front of him. 'You are in Dumbledore's office, not privet drive' the voice said, and that instant he had a moment of clarity and instinctively cast a blocking spell. Immediately the office rematerialized in front of his eyes, and Dumbledore was smiling at him.

'Excellent! You seem to be most gifted at controlling your own mind. Let's try that again shall we? This time you must try and break the spell faster. Ready? 3 – 2 – 1 – legilimens

Once again the office swam before his eyes but this time the voice in the back of his mind knew what was happening. 'Break the spell! Do it now!' Before he realized what he was doing he heard the words for a blocking spell coming out of his mouth and the office came into focus again.

'Most impressive Harry, you broke the attack almost instantly. We'll keep practicing, and every time you succeed in breaking the spell I will try a little harder too. Voldemort, after all, will not take it so easy on you.

They practiced for what seemed like hours. Every time Dumbledore tried to break into his mind he felt he got a little better at controlling the effects. After what seemed like the hundredth time Dumbledore called the lesson to a halt and offered him another cup of tea.

'You're doing extremely well Harry, even better than I had hoped. One more lesson of breaking the legilimency attack should do it. After that you'll have to learn how to stop someone breaking into your mind in the first place. I think we should stop here for tonight, shall we make it next week same time?'

Harry nodded and turned to leave, but something occurred to him.

'Sir? I... I was wondering if you could tell me about Voldemort. I know he was your student a long time ago.'

Dumbledore stared at him thoughtfully, and he suddenly had a very serious tone.

'Yes, by all means. As I'm sure you've heard me say before, he was probably the most brilliant student to ever pass through Hogwarts. He never played quidditch or made many friends during his time year, choosing instead to spend every minute reading books from the library.

'Then was he always evil, even when he was young?'

'I cannot attest to that, however I noticed a rapid change during his third and fourth year at the school. He became more anti-social and prone to tempers, my guess is that by that time he had found a way into the restricted section and had begun studying it. Sinking into the dark arts can have a profound change on a person; it amplifies all the negativity you feel. I believe he was badly abused at the orphanage he grew up in, and he was always tormented by the thoughts his father had abandoned him. I started becoming very suspicious, especially when the chamber of secrets was opened. I kept a very close eye on him after Hagrid was expelled, but as far as I know he never did anything illegal again. I assume he knew I was watching him and forced himself to follow the rules. After his graduation, he disappeared for years to study the dark arts, sinking deeper and deeper into them. When he finally returned into the open again, he was unrecognizable as the boy he had once been. Tom riddle was a brilliant boy who felt betrayed by the society he has chosen to revenge himself upon. As he grew older whatever good was in him slowly died. We can talk more next time Harry, I think you should go to bed now. Goodnight.'

'Goodnight Sir'

He walked back to his common room where he found Ron and Hermione talking. They looked at him when he came in, and asked him where he had been.

'I just felt like going for a walk' Harry lied, 'goodnight'

They stared after him as he walked to his bed, but didn't question him any further. He didn't enjoy lying to them, but at the same time he wasn't supposed to tell anyone he was getting private lessons, nor did he want to tell them about the prophecy or why he was pushing himself so hard. He fell asleep quickly into a restless sleep after the grueling occlumency lessons that had tired his mind.

On Tuesday morning Harry woke up early because he was excited. His first DADA class was this morning and he couldn't wait to find out just how good the teacher was. He had breakfast, and then got out his potions book to brush up on the polyjuice potion. An hour later Hermione woke up and joined him and they went over the potion together until their class began.

They went to their DADA class a few minutes early so they could try and get seats at the back of the class, but apparently everyone else had had the same idea. He sat down and smelled something funny, when he looked around he noticed that Dean had made a necklace of garlic and hung it around his neck. He tried to stifle his laughter as he prodded Ron and told him to look. He noticed the class was packed to the brim. Everyone had wanted to take it; despite the fact that they thought the teacher might drink their blood. At that moment, the pale thin teacher dressed in black walked into the room and stood in front of the whole class.

'Greetings class, my name is Nikolai Vladislav' He said with a heavy Slavic accent.

'I will be your Defense against the Dark arts teacher this year, and hopefully many years after that. I've been informed of the, ah, bad luck that seems to have befallen my predecessors, but I hope I can break that streak.'

'Now – yes what is it miss -?'

'Granger, sir. Excuse me, but are you … are you a vampire?' Hermione meekly said

Nikolai smiled, and walked over to Dean who looked like he was about to wet himself.

'May I borrow this a moment?'

The whole class was awestruck as the professor took a clove of garlic, put it into his mouth, and began chewing it.

'Delicious, really, I use extra garlic in all my meals. Now then, let's continue.'

At that moment Ron and Harry burst out laughing, and Dean turned a bright shade of red making his head resemble a tomato.

'Ah Mr. Potter, and you must be Mr. Weasley. You two will make excellent assistants for this first demonstration, please come up here and bring your wands.'

Harry and Ron walked up to the front of the class and drew out their wands

'Today we are going to learn how to defeat a banshee. I have actually defeated a banshee myself, though unfortunately a rather annoying idiot of a wizard put a memory charm on me and took credit for all my work. It took me 3 years and a lot of nasty potions to recover my memory, something I will not soon forget. If I ever run into that man again, I will transfigure him into a pig. But I digress. Yes Mr. Weasley what is it?

'Professor Lockhart had his memory charm backfire sir; he's currently in St.Mungo's recovering his own memory.

'Is he really?' Nikolai said, obviously delighted. 'I'll have to send him a get well card sometime. Now let's continue.'

He spent the rest of the class showing them the spells to scare of the banshee, and asking Ron and Harry to demonstrate. Harry managed the spells effortlessly on his first try, while Ron struggled with some of them. It was altogether a good class. Not as good as Lupin's class, but definitely very informative and useful.

Their first Transfiguration class was in the morning of the next day. He found this class rather easy too, and even Hermione was giving him inquisitive looks. She was usually miles ahead of everyone else in the class, but this time he was even with her. They both managed their transfigurations in five minutes while everyone else took the whole class.

They spent the rest of the class helping other students until Mcgonagall finally said 'Class dismissed'

He was about to get up and leave when she walked up to him and said 'Mr. Potter, please stay after class, I would like to talk to you about something. '

She waited until everyone else had left and then said

'I received a letter from Miss Johnson last week; she said that she recommends you for the captaincy of our quidditch team. Since you're the only member left who played for more than one season, I have to agree. I assume you're ready for this responsibility?

'Well … No, I think Ron should be the captain'

'Weasley? Why do you say that?'

'Well to be honest I've got enough to deal with this year, and even though Ron has only been on the team a year he knows a lot about quidditch. He's also an excellent tactician, and the keeper is in a better position to control the game in my opinion.'

Mcgonagall looked at him for a moment with her eyebrows raised and then said

'Well if you're sure Mr. Weasley is up to the task, then I agree. Your motivations are certainly valid'

She afforded him a quick smile, and then continued.

'Very well, I shall inform our new captain; that will be all.

As he got up and turned around she said one last thing to him

'Oh and Mr. Potter, do try and win won't you? We haven't won three years in a row since your father was on the team'

Enjoy it Ron, he thought to himself.

That evening a flabbergasted Ron ran up to the common room to see him.

'Harry! You're not gonna believe this, but McGonagall asked me to be quidditch captain!

'Yeah I know, I told her you should be captain'

'You what – but – how – why – wait a minute, you should be the captain!'

'Look I've got a lot of other things on my mind, and I think you'd make a much better captain anyways. Don't argue with me ok?'

Ron paused for a moment, and then grinned

'Ok I won't, thanks Harry'

'Don't mention it', now let's do our homework.

The first month went by very quickly. Snape was as vindictive as ever, however since Harry had studied his potions book in advance all summer, and he made sure to do a very thorough job on his homework, Snape had little to criticize Harry over.

Charms and Transfiguration classes were remarkably easy; he had always been fairly good at them but now he was just practicing what he had already learnt in the summer, and he was easily the best student in the class. Only Hermione could match him, and she had read the entire Hogwarts library.

DADA was always the class he most looked forward to most. Professor Vladislav would often captivate them with personal stories, before launching his class into practical tasks. He seemed to waste no time going over theory, preferring to just throw them into practicing various spells.

The weekly private lessons from Dumbledore were also going extremely well. He managed to both defend against the legilimency attacks nearly every time and throw them off very quickly when he did fail. Even Dumbledore praised Harry saying he was the quickest learner he had ever taught.

They had quidditch tryouts during the second week of term and Harry felt that Ron had his work cut out for him. They had the best seeker, and Ron had certainly become an excellent keeper, perhaps as good as Wood had been. Ginny also made an excellent chaser, and she was chosen by Ron to lead their offense. Their other two chasers however, were awful. Out of all the people that showed up, two third year girls called Mandy and Fiona had been chosen. Their skill level was atrocious, but they showed a good work ethic and were ready to listen. With a little work they could be reliable team players. For their two beaters they had chosen Dean and Seamus, who were both delighted to get on the team. They weren't as talented as some of the other players who had shown up, but they were prepared to take a few bludgers to the head for a win. Ron, in the tradition of past quidditch captains, took on the mentality of a drill sergeant and held intense weekly practice sessions. Hopefully by their first game in November they would be able to play cohesively as a team.

Life quickly settled into a routine for Harry at Hogwarts. As he was walking back from his class on the last day of September little did he realize what was about to happen. He rounded the corner in an empty part of the castle when he saw three figures standing in front of him.

'There's no one to help you this time scarhead, and now you're gonna pay!' Malfoy's voice drawled