A/N: I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY!!! Before all of you come at me with pitchforks, hear me out. I told you before, I am extremely busy. I have three clubs that I am part of as well as my difficult classes. I also was distracted by the thought of abandoning this story in favor of another one, which I now feel would be ludicrous, as I really hate to abandon this. But I will tell you this. I will not release a chapter until I have additional review since when I last posted. I have 32 at this time, making your quota to be the number 42. I'm not doing this as torture; I am doing this so that I can get feedback and ideas on how to direct this, as it is at a young enough stage to go almost anywhere. Please review, and I promise I will set aside time every night to add a little to my chapters so I can post when you guys meet the number! THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING!!!!!!!

Chapter 6: Dumbledore Knows All

Harry followed Dumbledore inside his office, looking around at all the various instruments and whirring contraptions. He crimsoned slightly, remembering how many things he had destroyed the last time he was here. The office had certainly been tidied up, and several of the damaged trinkets had been fully restored. Dumbledore made his way around his desk and sat down.

"Please, Harry, do sit down." Harry did indeed sit down, and before he knew it, he was spilling the entire contents of the dream to Dumbledore. Dumbledore did not speak, but listened carefully.

"Professor! This means that the Death Eaters escaped Azkaban!"

"Yes I realize that Harry. In fact, it was Mr. Moody who informed me of this early this morning, thus breaking me from my deep slumber." Dumbledore smiled kindly at him. "But thank you for letting me know straightaway."

"Yes Professor." Harry flushed.

"Now that I am your guardian, Harry, I would much prefer if you called me Albus." Dumbledore smiled. "It is much less formal, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes, Pro- Albus," Harry said. He was starting to get irritated with Dumbledore's happy vibe.

"Is there anything else, Harry?" Dumbledore said patiently.

Harry wanted to tell Dumbledore about the diary of his father, mother and godfather, but was afraid of Dumbledore's possible reservations about the diary that could write back and invite you into a memory.

"Erm- No...Albus," Harry hesitated.

Dumbledore looked into his eyes carefully, as if trying to see whether Harry was being truthful. Harry got that same feeling he had had in his second year upon a similar examination by Dumbledore about the attacks on other students. Dumbledore sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"Very well, Harry. Before you go. I do understand that your friends, Ms. Weasley, Mr. Longbottom, and Ms. Lovegood happened to, shall we say, discover you conversation about the prophecy with Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley. I want you all to start Occlumency in one week's time. Both Professor Mc Gonagall and I will be teaching you all, as there are six of you and only one of me. Shall we start, say, next Monday and arrange a more convenient time for all at that point?"

Harry had almost forgotton all about Occlumency lessons. He nodded.

"Very well, Harry. You may go to your dorm."

"Thank you Professor, I mean, Albus" Harry said.

"Good night, Harry." Dumbledore nodded. Harry looked at him a last time before leaving the room and closing the door behind him. He made his way to the Gryffindor Tower and stood before the fat lady's portrait.

"Hello Harry! So nice to see you! What is the password dear?" the fat lady smiled.

"Um. I don't know. No one told me it. Hmm. Lemmondrop?"

"Nope."

"Godric Hollow?"

"I'm afraid not."

Harry tried several more incorrect guesses, frustrating both him and the fat lady. He jumped as someone tapped his shoulder.

"What!" Harry yelled, whirling around. "Oh, sorry Neville." He looked at the boy, dark haired with large dark eyes. He had certainly grown taller since last school year and had lost a considerable amount of weight, making him look a tad gangly. Harry had not realized until now just how much Neville had changed since Sirius's death at the Ministry, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. He was more resilient, assertive, grown-up, and tended to remember things much better. Harry also assumed that Neville's remarkably good O.W.L. scores were part of the reason for this transformation.

"Need the password?" Neville asked happily. "I actually remember it very well." He smiled.

"Erm- Yea," Harry said sheepishly, smiling back.

"Dumbledore's Army," Neville said confidently. It indeed was the password, for the fat lady smiled, said "that's the one" and swung the portrait door open.

Harry went up to bed, quite weary, after telling Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville about the future Occlumency meeting.

He fell asleep without a dream.

Next Chapter: Harry meets some interesting new people, including a very intriguing girl........