Well, I swear it wasn't may fault that this was ssssooooo late. See, what happened was that after I got over my writers block. I started typing, I had it almost all typed out, but my computer deleted it! STUPID COMPUTER! Then, my exams came up, and I had to study like crazy so I had no time then. SO after Christmas, I started typing it again. I was almost done, and my computer deleted it AGAIN! No joke. I swear. Then, I had to get my braces…. Ugh….. Basically I've been to hell and back, and there aren't any computers there… * sigh* Here's my REALLY over do thank you's:

Immortal Rose- I love AU fictions too, that's why I started writing one! Lol! In the middle of this chapter, it skips like a month, so he tells him in that time…. You'll see.

BlackDragon- Hmmm….. If I told you what was so special about my Harry it would give away the story! Yes the writers block did suck, and now I think this chapter sucks! ARGH. It never ends.

  Destonius- Oops...*blushes* sorry bout my spelling.

Rachel A. Prongs – AW…. Thanks so much.

buubles* - thankfully after a while it did.

hmr- thanks

NightBlossom – ooohh please don't… my bad grammer and spelling would have worsened. I know, we need more guys like that eh?

Codfish_CM – YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH A WONDERFUL REVIEWER! Thanks sssssssooo much! Its Haley or VipyGirl831, or Vipy…. Whatever you prefer. It didn't come to me, your suggestion helped, trust me….. but many I did that a little too much… lol.

Tina- Ya, but for now, I'm gonna stick with this story.

Av – yes, it is illegal in the books, but this is AU! I can change whatever I like in the books.

I probably missed some peoples, but thanks to you too! You're reviews inspire me. And, I have some good news: Next chapter Harry will finally meet Hermione! Isn't that great. I've been itching to write it. Anywho:  A Disgruntled Reader: for $1 what is:

"It is…" She said faintly.

            "Then why…"

            "With a wand." She finished.

            "Oh…" Harry grinned sheepishly, "Oops."

            (I've decided to do a little foreshadowing thingy before every chapter.)

^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------^^^^^^^^^^^^---------^^^^^^------^^^

            Hermione sighed deeply as she reread the letter from Ron. She pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment, and a new quill. She knew she wanted to say it, but saying it was another thing.

            Dear Ron,

            She hesitated once again.

            I appreciate your invitation to come to the Burrow for the rest of the summer, but

            But what?

            I'm very busy with training for Quidditch, and my studies.

            What a lie, but at least it was believable.

            ~Hermione

            Satisfied with the professional state of the letter, she folded it up and sent it off with Emerald, hoping Ron would get a clue.

^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------^^^^^^^^^^^^---------^^^^^^------^^^

            The door opened with a bang, startling Harry for a moment, but he quickly recovered. The man who stormed in had black, greasy hair, slicked to his head. His hooked nose, pale skin, and cold eyes made him just a tab bit intimidating.

Harry, wanting to make at least a partly good impression spoke up, "Good morning, Professor Snape I assume."   

The man sneered, giving Harry a look filled with such hate, that the Dursley's would have been proud. "And what, Mr. Potter, is so good about it. I do have to spend it with you after all."

Oh well, can't say I didn't try. Looks like sucking up to this teacher wouldn't ease any punishments.

"It's not like I have it any better."

Snape's scowl increased, "50 points from Gryf….." He trailed off. "Never mind that, let's get started. I don't want to spend any more time with you than necessary."

"Fine by me."

A foul smile crossed Snape's face, "We'll just see exactly how 'special' you are."

Harry simply shrugged, "Okay."

"What would I get if I added powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

"They make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught Of The Living Death."

Snape frowned, "Where would you find a bezoar?"

"In the stomach of a goat."    

Harry could tell Snape was beginning to become frustrated, " What is the difference between monkshood and wolfbane?"

"They're the same plant, also called aconite." Harry was starting to enjoy the look of desperation on Snape's face.

"What is the only ingredient which is optional in a Truth Serum?"

"Jobberknoll feathers."

Snape's face was becoming red, "What other main potions are Jobberknoll feathers in?"

"Memory Potions."

"And what exactly is a Jobberknoll?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, "Is this Potions or Care of Magical Creatures?"

"Just answer THE QUESTION!" Snape bellowed.

Harry smirked, " A Jobberknoll is a tiny blue speckled bird, which makes no sound until at the moment of its death, when it lets out a long scream, which consists of all the sounds it has ever heard."

"Bloody hell…" Snape muttered. Then louder he added, "You can go now Potter. I was just testing your capability." He stormed out of the room, but Harry didn't miss the remark he made under his breath as he left the room, "How am I supposed to teach a boy that already knows everything?"

^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------^^^^^^^^^^^^---------^^^^^^------^^^

            Harry jogged lightly back towards his sleeping quarters. He couldn't figure out exactly why Snape hated him so much, when he hadn't even done anything.  It just didn't add up. He hadn't said anything offensive to him, that is, until after Snape had started to offend him.

            Harry shook his head, trying to clear his head. What he needed was a way to get rid of these questions, which he had no answers to. He looked around the room. Maybe a good book, or… his gaze fell on his Lightingbolt. He grinned.

^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------^^^^^^^^^^^^---------^^^^^^------^^^

Minerva McGonagall did not like Quidditch. She did not find enjoyment in watching her prized students fly at heights, which they could undoubtedly be killed.

However, she did like to win.

Despite the team's excellent Chasers, including Hermione Granger, this did not seem to happen very often. The reason: Ron Weasley.

He was a complete discrase to all seekers all over the world. She didn't believe you could find a worse Seeker in the world. Of course, if you asked him, he would tell you that it was all the rest of the team's fault, and he would try harder if they were better.

Rubbish, Ronald Weasley was all talk.

But the disturbing thing was, that people actually believed him. Merlin, with all his bragging, Blaney Picket, who was the seeker for England, would be intimidated. This was why no one would try out for the team. No one thought they were better than Mr. Weasley. And that's why they always lost.

But, there were more pressing matters to deal with at the time. It seemed that the Magical world was becoming less and less safe, so Hogwarts students would be coming back from their summer holidays early. These days, Hogwarts was the safest place a person could be. This meant less time for Mr. Potter to study and learn magic, but according to Severus, the boy didn't need any help at all.

She would just have to see for herself. She had a class with Mr. Potter in a few moments.

^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------^^^^^^^^^^^^---------^^^^^^------^^^

            Harry ran into the classroom, broom in hand, and out of breath, "Am I late Professor?" He panted.

            "No Mr. Potter, you are right on time."

            "Good." Harry said, slouching down into one of the front seats of the classroom.

            "Now Mr. Potter lets see what you are capable of." She placed a match on his desk, "Turn this match into a needle."

            Harry looked at her skeptically, "Okay…" He said slowly, and concentrated hard on the match.

            McGonagall was about to say that nothing was going to happen by simply looking at the match when suddenly it began to change. The light brown colored to silver, the end became pointed, and the material became sleeker. The match had turned into a needle.

            When Harry looked up at McGonagall, she appeared to be speechless, "Umm… Professor? Why so surprised? That must be beginner magic…"

            "It is…" She said faintly.

            "Then why…"

            "With a wand." She finished.

            "Oh…" Harry grinned sheepishly, "Oops."

            "No matter Mr. Potter. This makes things easier. We can simply skip the first 6 years of magical learning in Transfiguration at Hogwarts. Now, what do you know about animagi?"

            "Animagi, the plural for animagus, is the ability for a witch or wizard to change form into an animal. It is very difficult and takes years of training."

            "Correct, but at the rate things are going so far in your studies, it wouldn't take you long at all. You may leave now Mr. Potter."

            Harry grinned and grabbed his broom.

            "Do you fly well Mr. Potter?"

            "Well, I just started, but I would like to think so."

            "Ah."

            "Thank you for your time Professor." He said and walked quickly out of the room.

            She was once again struck by the immense politeness of the boy. A sudden thought stuck her, and she walked swiftly towards a large window in the classroom overlooking the Quidditch Pitch. She was not disappointed, after a few moments Harry came out, and quickly mounted his broom.

            As she watched him go to unspeakable heights, doing loop-de-loops, and dives that made him come so close to the ground that his shoes skimmed the grass. Unconsciously she realized that she desperately wanted Harry Potter to be in Gryffindor.     

^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------^^^^^^^^^^^^---------^^^^^^------^^^

            Remus Lupin walked quickly down the corridor, a slight smile on his face. Harry had been training at Hogwarts for over a month, and he was getting along wonderfully. He would easily fit it with all the other sixth years. However, this was not the reason he was smiling. Today was July 31, Harry's 16 Birthday. From what he had heard from Dumbledore, Harry had never received a decent Birthday gift from the Dursleys in the past.

            He opened the door, not bothering to be quite, and set down the cage. He grabbed a glass and walked to the bathroom, filling it with water. He then headed towards the lump under the sheets in Harry's bed. Now grinning like a madman he poured the water on the lump.

            "Time to wake up Harry."

            "A little too late for that." Said a voice from behind.

            Remus spun around and was greeted by a cold splash of water to the face. The sound of laughter soon followed.

            "I suppose I deserved that, eh Harry."

            "You bet you did." He threw him a towel.

            Remus easily caught it, "Thanks." He paused wiping off his face, "Oh, and Happy Birthday Harry."

            A bewildered expression crossed over Harry's face, "H-how did you know?"

            Remus grinned, "I have my sources."

            Harry beamed, "Okay then. Thanks."

            "And…" Said Remus grabbing the cage, "Here is a gift from the staff of Hogwarts."

            "Except for Snape." Harry muttered, but Remus didn't miss the slight red tinge that appeared on his cheeks as he accepted it. For the first time since he had meet him, he saw Harry Potter blush.

            "You didn't have to." He said, the blush gone so quickly that Remus wondered if he had imagined it.

            "We know that. We wanted to."

            "Well, thanks." He took the cover sheet off the cage, and let out a chuckle. "Why Remus!" He exclaimed, "I don't think I've ever seen such an unusual bird. It's so flat and square-like." He grinned pulling the small sheet of paper out of the cage.

            "We weren't sure what kind of bird you wanted, so we just got you a Certificate of Ownership to any bird in the shop."

            "When can we go to Diagon Alley?"

            "Well see, that's the beauty of this little card. All you have to do is say, 'I want a bird,' and it will transport you directly to the shop."

            "Like a portkey?"

            "Exactly."

            "Awesome. Can I use it now?"

            "If you'd like, but I'm not sure the owners of the shop would appreciate you walking in with only your boxers on. There is a shoes and shirt policy."

            Harry looked down and grinned sheepishly, "Oh, I forgot."

            "Apparently."

            "I'm gonna go after I get ready. Is that okay Remus?"

            "Sure, have fun. I'm going to pass though. I like having breakfast in the morning."

            "Okay. Suit yourself. See you later Remus."

           

           

^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------^^^^^^^^^^^^---------^^^^^^------^^^

           

            Harry dried off thoroughly, putting on one of his new robes. The bottle green color matched his eyes, as his mirror had pointed out. However, now that he had come up with a new alias, he needed a new look. Not too drastic, in fact, not many changes would be needed at all. No one in the magical world, aside from the Professors at Hogwarts had seen him for almost 15 years.

            His scar would of course have to go, it was legendry, and even if all his other looks were changed, people would still realize it was him. He changed his hair to a light brown, even though it probably wasn't necessary.

            For a moment he contemplated whether or not he should change his eye color or not. After all, a few of the Professors had previously told him that his eyes were almost an exact replica of his mother's. Maybe it was this fact that persuaded him not to change the shade of his eyes, or maybe, it was that nagging feeling in the back of his head that if he changed his eye color he would regreat it.

            Great, Harry thought, hearing voices in your head is never a very good sign.     

^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------^^^^^^^^^^^^---------^^^^^^------^^^

            Hermione Granger woke in a cold sweat. Now that she thought about it, the dream hadn't been that scary. She wracked her brain for the details that were slowing fading away.

That boy had been in it. She knew that much. And, there hadn't been any visual in the dream, just… thoughts, that was the best word for it. The boy had been thinking, about… something.

She bit her bottom lip, and struggled to recover any more information as to what the dream had actually been about.

Wait! It had been his eyes! He had wanted to change his eyes!

Merlin knows why. They were quite gorgeous eyes; you could easily become lost in the deep pools of emerald. She remembered…trying to tell him not to change his eyes, and then…. She had woken up.

Quite strange really

She almost laughed out-loud at the thought of what Ron would say if she happened to bring up the fact that she was having dreams with a person she had never met, and probably never would meet, and that she could feel some sort of connection in these dreams.

After pondering the dream for quite a while she realized that she had more important things to worry. These dreams were completely irrelevant to her life, so why should she lose sleep over it?

She laid her head back on the pillow, trying with all her might not to think about the mysterious green-eyed boy.

^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------^^^^^^^^^^^^---------^^^^^^------^^^

            The shop was crowded

            In fact, it was completely jam-packed.

            Witches and wizards of all ages, shapes, and sizes bustled hurriedly around the shop. There were many younger children, begging their mums or dads for a new owl or cat.

            "Mum! I can't get a toad they went out of style years ago!"

            Harry, picking up on bits and pieces from conversations around the shop, soon understood that owls were just about the best type of magical creature one could get. Maybe a nice snowy owl. He had seen some of those in a window in another shop in Diagon Ally (A/N I just realized that that spelled diagonally! Hehe sorry bout that… had to point it out.)  But it seemed that fate had something else in mind for Harry Potter at this time.

            "OH! You stupid bird!" A bluish-gray blur speed past Harry, followed closely by a huffing shopkeeper. The bird flew to the top of one the high shelves, out of reach of the young woman.

            "Excuse me? Do you need any help?" Harry asked.

            The woman blushed, suddenly aware the whole shop was watching her and the troublesome bird.

            "Umm…. Well… I doubt there's anything you can do. Peregrine Falcons don't trust many people, which," She added in an annoyed tone, "I told Gina, but would she listen? Of course not…" The woman sighed, "I'll just go get a ladder. Thank you for the offer though."  She walked off, muttering under her breath.

            Harry observed the bird closely. It was quite a handsome bird. His head was black, with slate gray on the back and the wings. There were some dark flecks from the base of the throat to the chest. It seemed that the bird was watching him also. His watchful eyes peered at Harry intensely. Then, the falcon gave a sort of caw, and flew over to Harry, and perched atop his shoulder.   

            "Where did that bloody bird go?"  The woman was back with the ladder. Her eyes fell on Harry, "How…. I mean…what?"

            "Why didn't you just use magic to bring him down?"

            "B-because…magic doesn't affect them."

            "Really?" Harry paused, "Is he for sale?"

            "You want to buy him?" 

            "Sure. Why not? I have this card." He handed is gift to her.

            "The woman seemed to be in a daze, "O-of course. I'll go get his food for you."

            Harry grinned and stroked the bird lightly on the head.

            (A/n Ok, here I wanted to use a raven for his bird…. they're cool, but that was already taken… (Which fic has that? I can't remember) Anywho, so I used the Peregrine Falcon. Hopefully it wasn't too stupid of an idea.)

^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------^^^^^^^^^^^^---------^^^^^^------^^^

            Magical textbooks were spread out messily all over his bed. However, studying was the furthest thing from Harry's mind.

            "How about Mallecrit?"

             The falcon gave a shake of his head.

            "No, too long right?" Harry snapped the book shut, and opened another, leafing through the pages, "Wronski?"  He paused, "No too long too. How about Nimbus? No again." He sighed frustrated, and threw aside Qudditch Through The Ages. "These books have no good names!"

            He sighed again, running a hand through his hair, and laying back on the bed.

            "I guess I'll have to make up one of my own." The falcon cocked his head to the side, watching him.

            "Hmm…. Fides? No I don't even remember what that means." He rubbed his temples, thinking deeply, "Argus? I think that means watchful or something of that sort." He rubbed the falcon on the head, "How about Adonis? I think that means handsome."

            The falcon let out a cry of approval and flew to his shoulder.

            "Great…. Adonis. I like it."

            It was then that the door to Harry's room burst open and in ran Remus, wearing all black, and looking downright terrified. He seemed to relax when his eyes fell on Harry.

            "What's the matter Remus? Didn't think I could handle myself at the big bad shop?"

            "No!" Remus scowled, "There was a Death Eater attack near the store you were at. I wasn't sure if you had gone to any other shops, or…."

            "How did they get in?" Harry interrupted.

            "We don't know yet… Hey, you got a Peregrine Falcon?"

            "Yup!" Said Harry proudly, "His name is Adonis."

            "Oh, well, nice choice, and I'm glad you're alright."

            "Me too." Harry fell silent; he had never been treated this way before. Like an equal, well, except at school, but there, well he wasn't exactly an equal with anyone there either.

            "So…." Harry said eager to get rid of the awkward silence, " Why are you wearing all black."

            Remus expression turned into one that displayed misery and anger, "Our gamekeeper, Hagrid, was killed on a mission. Now you'll never get to meet him, you would have liked him, he was…" Remus stopped, looking close to tears, "A great man."

            A hot flash of anger shot through Harry. Another life lost to him, and more lives affected. It was at this point, that he swore to himself that no matter what, he would finish this battle, even if it cost him his life.

^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------^^^^^^^^^^^^---------^^^^^^------^^^

            Hermione couldn't help but sob as she read the letter. Hagrid had always had been such a sweet man, and such a good friend to her. She had known he was going away on a mission, but… she started to sob again. 

            It wouldn't affect Ron; she thought bitterly, he had always made fun of Hagrid, the little… Nevermind that. Why Ron was in Gryffindor bewildered her. Maybe, just maybe if things had been different, if things had turned out differently, then he would be kinder. Just maybe if… it was no use going down that path though. What was done was done. There was no use thinking about the past.

            She wiped her eyes, and continued reading. At least there was some good news. They were going back to Hogwarts in less than a week. That meant Quidditch, and studies of course. This also meant she would be seeing more of Ron, unfortunately. She would just have to break up with him…soon.               

Hopefully that wasn't too bad…..I had a tough time with this chapter. REVIEW