A/N:

Insight into characterization for book 6- Harry Potter.

We all remember the sweet, innocent, wide-eyed boy that first stepped foot in the wizarding world. Now, he's gone through the incident with Voldemort in GoF and turned up in the OotP to be the most resentful character in the book besides Sirius Black. That was after seeing what happened to a passing acquaintance (Cedric), and being tortured a little.

Now the closest connection he's had to his parents and surrogate father has been destroyed in front of his eyes. Our not-so-innocent Harry goes home without speaking of the incident with anyone but Dumbledore, and will not get a chance to speak to anyone for at least a month at Privet Dr. So he's here stewing in his own juices, blaming himself, Snape and, Dumbledore for the incident, probably vowing revenge on Bellatrix and Voldemort.

In my opinion you are gonna see one heck of a change in Harry come book five. He will be one of two characters, in my eyes. 1)self-destructive, and hateful, seeking nothing but vengeance, or 2) He will finally take control of his life, becoming massively independent, and increasingly sarcastic. He won't be taking crap from anyone, Malfoy, Snape, , the Prophet, the Ministry.

Now it probably won't go as I have written here, but I think we can understand if Harry's character changes drastically in the next book.

So ... why am I writing this? Enough with the, 'I don't think Harry would act like that.' We don't know what Harry's gonna act like. Anyone would change, big time, after a scene like that. I don't want to take up anymore time talking about it so this is my last word on the subject: Harry wasn't the same person from books 4 to 5 he won't be the same person from 5 to 6. In my opinion he will be the take charge Harry we all want to see.

Review Comments:

Katre - You noticed that, did you ... huh (Heather said to herself thoughtfully.)

Ears91 - yep!

Cataclysmic, and Syvixxe, and Jade, and Aryanna, and fulldark, and sky, and LiZz, and Erieka127, and hpforever1, and MovieStarMissy, and Twisted Anjel- Thanks!

Angl - Nope it's a Nom de Plume. No relatives.

Burgundy - Thank you, read A/N above for explination of Harry's behavior.

Oriana8 - Who knows what the future holds ... well, I do, but still.

~*~* - SCHOOL!!!! (runs shrieking)

Duckymander - no, she didn't mean that, but Ron cut her off before she could answer. For your piece of mind she meant something along the lines of "lovingly kiss" in here eyes snogging is such a derogatory word.

Little Lily - already been explained, Remember the conversation with Harry?

Shdurrani - yep.

American Mione - More in the future.

Jenna Kathleen - 1, no comment, 3, nope that was Harry, and they haven't, 4, I'll keep you in mind. 6, ;)

More soon!

Chapter 32

"We've been practicing for over a week, Harry. I'm just no good at flying."

Actually, Neville had gotten considerably better. The difference in his flying strategy presently is that he falls off his broom after ten minutes instead of at push-off. As long as there are no sudden moves or sharp turns involved he's fine.

"Look, maybe it's my teaching style. I've asked Ginny to come down here and help out. Perhaps she can show you something that might get you going."

"G ... Ginny?" stammered Neville.

"Yeah, look. Here she comes now. I'm going to make sure we have the Room of Requirement prepared for tonight's lesson, okay. Good luck."

Harry was off before Neville had a chance to say anything further. Ginny came up moments later hefting her broom and looking from right to left.

"Where's Harry off to?"

Neville's face was turning increasingly redder. "He said ... tonight's lesson."

Ginny, pretty much, ignored him, "All right, you're going to follow my lead, but first I want to warm up, okay?"

He nodded nervously.

She was off before he knew it shooting into the air with practiced ease, turning loops and barrel-rolls. Stopping in air and re-starting, diving and scooping. Neville just watched her red hair blowing in the wind, amazed at her talent.

But something went wrong as she gained her greatest height. Her broom stopped and flipped her over the slide.

"Neville!" she screamed. "Help!"

He didn't think twice before he mounted his Firebolt and was pushing the to maximum speed of the broom. Ginny's broom lurched and she let go.

"NEVILLE!"

He missed her hand by scant inches as he shot passed her too fast. Correcting himself he looped around and went into a sharp nosedive. He knew she only had seconds before she'd hit the ground. It would be his last chance. Or worst, her last.

Her frightened eyes bored into his as they reached out their hands to one another. Finally grasping wrists he set the broom in freefall and jerked it around throwing Ginny behind him. Then he put on all the speed he could before they crashed into the ground. Their progress backward slowed and before he knew it they were shooting off again back up into the air.

She hugged him around the middle and then pointed up at her Firebolt, hanging in the sky where she left it. Neville pulled up along side and she hopped from his to hers with a light bounce.

"Aren't you scared of it throwing you again, " he asked nervously.

She shook her head. "It didn't throw me. I made it look like it threw me."

Ginny smiled at him and was off again.

"Are you insane!" he called after her and pushed forward trailing close behind.

She started laughing and looking backward every chance she got, urging him on.

"Catch me if you can, Neville," she yelled behind.

**********************

Ginny burst through the locker room doors, "Stop him Harry! He's pissed!"

Her giggling fell behind as Harry made his way outside to hold Neville off.

"She's gone nutters," said Neville. "We've got to stop her before she hurts herself."

He made to push pass Harry, but was held up.

"Neville -- Neville, it's all right. It was planned. She wasn't in any danger. I was here watching the whole time."

"What?"

He expected this kind of reaction. "Come here, I want to show you something."

"You knew about this?"

Harry nodded on their way back out to the field. "It was Ginny's idea, but I wouldn't let her do it unless I was there ... just in case."

Neville overtook him, still breathing heavily from the chase.

"Her idea? For what?"

Harry grabbed his broom that was leaning against the inside wall. "Come on, let's fly."

Neville stopped, "Harry, I'm tired of trying to do something that I'm not meant to do."

"And what's that?"

He huffed, "I just can't fly!"

Harry laughed, "And exactly what is it that you have been doing for the last 45 minutes? Not to mention that unbelievable save you made at the beginning?"

"What are talking ..." Neville looked down at the Firebolt he was carrying and back up to the sky. "I ..."

"You've been flying, and I'd like to add that you've been out-flying half the Order." Harry kept laughing. "You almost caught Ginny three different times while you were chasing her around up there, and that's not an easy thing to do."

Neville was speechless but that didn't keep him from trying. "I ... she ..."

Once Harry calmed down he moved in closer to his friend.

"When it's just practice, you are the shy uncomfortable, uncoordinated Neville we all know. But when there is something to distract you from thinking about what you're doing, then you become the same guy I saw back at the Ministry that night.

"It's time to stop convincing yourself that you'll never live up to your parents image. You already have. You've faced Death Eaters and lived through the Cruciatus Curse intact."

Harry pointed up to the sky, "And you just made the save of a lifetime without even thinking about it."

He saw Neville was starting to feel uncomfortable of all of the praise that he normally doesn't recieve.

"Neville, We all have faith in you; it's time you had a little in yourself. Now come on and show me how you did that turnaround before you and Ginny hit the ground ... never saw anything like it."

********************

"In my opinion, it is a fitting memorial to Sirius' life, Harry," noted Dumbledore. "And one that will be difficult to live up to."

The headmaster surveyed the members of the Order of the Dog Star with a critical eye.

"All of you have taken this responsibility on your shoulders willingly?"

Heads nodded in sequence as he looked at each of hem individually.

"Very well, I will make one last statement and give you one last opportunity to withdraw without prejudice."

Dumbledore's hands folded behind his back. "This group has been created for one reason only and that is to battle Voldemort when the time comes," he paused for effect. "As Harry has told you, only he will have the opportunity to kill him and because of another prophecy the Order of he Phoenix will not be able to interfere directly lest one or more of you die."

They nodded in understanding.

"I and others from the Order, over the time we have left will train you in battle. You will pay strict attention and will set all non-essential activities aside."

Ron and Ginny's faces fell and Dumbledore smile briefly.

"This, of course, does not include Quidditch. You will need all your skills in flying and strategy which Quidditch supplies in great quantity."

He eyed Neville, "I witnessed your latent abilities on the Quidditch pitch this afternoon. I daresay that Longbottom will be a name that will once again strike fear in the eyes in those that choose to practice the Dark Arts."

He reached into his robes, withdrew a scroll and handed it to Harry.

"Within the scroll is a list of requirements that I insist will be complete before any of you participate in any further engagements with Death Eaters or the final battle with Voldemort. If any of you do not conform with the required tasks then you shall return to your studies and not concern yourself with the goings-on of the Order."

He drew a deep breath, "Each of you will be asked to give up certain portions of yourself, and it will be a difficult road ahead if you choose to do so. Sacrifices will be made, possibly in your social lives and most probably in your mortal life."

His eyes narrowed, seriously, "This is your final chance to withdraw from the Order."

None of them moved, however Ron shuffled from foot to foot nervously.

"Very well."

Now shall we begin your first lesson in combat with the Dark Arts?

"Stupefy!" came a voice from behind them.

Ginny Weasley flew forward, knocked to the ground.

Harry ducked and fell to the floor, "Separate!"

the rest of the Order split apart, but Neville ran to Ginny's side to protect her from further attack.

"Expelliarmus!" yelled Hermione, striking at their unknown assailant behind a Death Eater mask.

"Protego!"

The disarming spell was cast aside inadvertently hitting Ron. His wand went flying to the other side of the room.

The dark figure watched the remaining students warily.

"Two," Harry yelled.

All the remaining, armed members minus Ginny and Harry yelled, "Stupefy!" from their various positions around the room.

"Sker Scield!" was the response from the Death Eater. The magic silver shield appeared instantly and repelled the three hexes.

"Obicere Animare!" Harry muttered, pointing his wand at the coat-rack in the corner.

"Is that the best you've got?" the figure taunted them.

The rest watched as the coat rack ran over and swung itself at the back of their enemy's head, but it was stopped at the last second.

Dumbledore stepped forward, "I think that I should stop this before any serious injuries occur."

The Death Eater stood straighter and lifted off his mask to reveal Remus Lupin underneath.

"I could have had them. Why did you stop?"

Dumbledore smiled, "Look behind you, Remus."

He turned around and bumped his face into the still form of the coat-rack hanging, and bent at an odd angle, in the air behind him. "Oh."

The headmaster muttered the counter-curse and aroused Ginny from her stunning.

"It appears as if they have already been training."