Harry felt like someone had been standing over him all night, whacking him on the head with a tiny mallet when he woke the next morning. His head pounding he meandered into the exercise room to perform his circuit for the day. Remembering his promise to Lupin the day before he gave it maximum effort, and his mood had improved considerably when he had finished. He still hadn't totally banished his concerns of the previous night, but he had managed to push them to one side for the moment.

Classes continued in their usual vein, Harry was firmly grasping the theoretical knowledge that seemed to elude him for so many years. He was looking forward to returning to Hogwarts when he could put some of it into practice. Wondering if he would be able to do so sooner, he added it to the ever growing list of things he wished to discuss with Dumbledore.

After he had finished reading up on the chapters for the next days lessons he realised he still had 45 minutes before dinner would be served. He decided to use to the time to write to Ron and Hermione.

Ron,

If I have done something to offend or upset you I apologise, but I really have no idea what you are so angry at me for.

I didn't even know about the newspaper article. I believe that your names were kept out of it to protect you, not to make me some kind of hero, you know I don't like that sort of thing.

I also wanted to be able to fill you in on the order meeting, but it is a bit like what happened last year when you and Hermione couldn't tell me anything in your letters, I got mad at you then and you told me it was because Dumbledore wouldn't let you. Well this time I have Dumbledore AND your mum to deal with. (Don't tell her this, but I'm actually more scared of your mum.)

Ron, you're one of  my best friends, and you always tell me I can talk to you about anything, please just tell me what is going on so I can help fix it if I can.

Harry.

P.S. Say hi to Ginny and the rest of your family for me.

"There," he thought to himself, "hopefully he will write back soon and things can go back to normal."

Dear Hermione,

Firstly I want to thank you for letting me literally cry on your shoulder the other day, I felt so much better after that, and you helped me put some of my thoughts into perspective. Thank you Thank you Thank you.

I am looking forward to you coming and staying, I have a lot of things to talk to you about, but I really can't put them in a letter. What day are you arriving, do you know yet?

My summer classes have started, Moony has been running through magical theory with me for the last few days and I am really beginning to understand why you love studying so much, it is actually quite interesting once you comprehend what you are reading.

Has Ron written to you so far this summer? I saw him last night and something is bothering him. He got angry at me for no reason and said some really horrid things.

Write back soon.

Love,

Harry

P.S. Say Hi to Tonks from me and Remus

P.P.S. If Ron does tell you what is wrong can you please owl me as it has got me really confused.

Folding and addressing the notes he headed off to the Owlery. Hedwig swooped down onto his shoulder and nibbled affectionately on his ear. "Here girl, take these to Ron and Hermione for me please" he attached a letter to each leg. Hedwig flew off into the twilight to deliver the mail.

A short while later, as Harry was finishing his dinner, Dumbledore entered the Kitchen. "Good evening Harry, I am sure you have a few matters other than occlumency you wish to discuss with me tonight, would you like to cover them before or after our lesson?"

"Good evening grandfather, after if that's OK, that way if we run out of time, occlumency isn't being cut short."

"Good answer Harry, I am pleased to see you taking your studies seriously, Remus informs me you are making excellent progress so far."

"Well we have only been looking at first year stuff, nothing that complex yet."

"Aahh. But Harry, this is the very thing that most people overlook. All complex problems are but a series of inter-related minor issues. Once you have your basics totally absorbed you will find that everything appears easier. This is one of the points I was trying to make the other night."

They both walked into the lounge and sat down. "Now Harry could you summarise what Professor Snape taught you last year for me please."

"He told me I had to clear my mind."

"And then?"

"Then he attacked me telling me to force him out."

"And…."

"And that's all, he would tell me how pathetic I was, and how rude and arrogant I was, and how I was just like my father and I would go to bed. Anything else I have basically worked out for myself."

"Surely you are exaggerating"

"Not really, you're a leglimens, would you like to bring up my memories of my lessons?"

"No, no that's not necessary, I believe you." Dumbledore sighed, "I really wish there was some way that we could reconcile yourself and Professor Snape."

"Two years ago, even the beginning of last year I would have been prepared to forgive him and move on with my life, but after last year I am afraid that I will never be able to reconcile with him." Harry's face took an unreadable expression. "Did you know that before I met Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy, I had never hated anyone or anything before in my life. Not even the Dursley's. I honestly don't know why you let him teach at Hogwarts, most of the students hate him, and I know he doesn't like them. He is extremely unfair to anyone who isn't in Slytherin and seems to go out of his way to be as rude and abusive to me as possible. He took points off me once for breathing in his class, and he took points from Hermione for knowing the answer."

"Despite his obvious bias Professor Snape remains one of the best potions teachers in the world, his classes constantly rank over and above the international median scores for each year. Your own owl scores, and those of your classmates will reflect this. An acceptable from Serverus ranks the equivalent of an outstanding from virtually any other potions master. Your classmates had a slight disadvantage having you in their lessons admittedly, the only progeny coming from the marauders but as a rule his marks are hard but fair. His giving and removing of house points may not be just, but in the overall scheme of things is that really important? I trust him, and he is good at his job, that's all there is too it."

"I'll agree to treat him with respect if he agrees to do the same for me. I cannot offer anymore than that."

"If that's the best we can manage, I will organise a brief truce discussion before the next order meeting he attends."

Dumbledore resumed his teaching posture. "Now I will begin again and assume you have never studied any form of occlumency before. There are four types of occlumency defense. As you have never studied this previously I shall summarise each of them for you now and then send you a text with detailed explanations that I would like you to read before our lesson on Saturday evening."

"Firstly, there is the expulsion method, I believe that is what Professor Snape was trying to teach you. This is where you learn to recognize the signs that someone has invaded your mind and evict them from your thoughts. This is the simplest form of occlumency."

Harry nodded to show he understood.

"Secondly there is the warding method, this is similar to what I did with you at last nights order meeting. You establish wards around your mind that will prevent an attempt to break in. If someone manages to break through you will use the expulsion method to remove them. Once you have mastered this method you will find that it is easy to maintain the wards almost constantly, you will only need to exert any effort when someone attempts to pierce your wards."

"I did this last night once you shook your head." Harry sounded a little excited. "It just seemed like the natural thing to do."

"Yes, I felt you doing it. It appears you may posses some latent talents in this field, I incorrectly assumed it was as a result of previous training. This will make things slightly easier. Now the last two methods are extremely dangerous and should only be attempted by the most proficient of occlumencers as you leave yourself vulnerable to a counter attack."

"The Ambush method is where you set no apparent defenses on your mind waiting for an attack to occur. You will then trace the thought patterns back to the attacker and in turn assault their mind. Unfortunately this turns into a battle of strength, whilst you will have the initial advantage, if they overpower you they can destroy your mind."

Harry winced as he thought about how he had accidentally done this to Snape, silently relieved that the potions master had been too upset at the images he had seen to attack in turn.

"The final method is the most dangerous of all. It is simply known as Entrapment. You establish wards on your mind, leaving a slight chink in your armour so to speak. Once you feel the attacker enter your mind you seal off the wards trapping them inside. Now remember that a cornered animal fights dangerously, they have nothing to loose. Your enemy may have been weaker than you prior to your trap closing, but between their fear driven increase in power, and the effort required to maintain the wards you are extremely vulnerable. Please do not try this with Voldemort ever, no matter what the circumstances. I need you to make me a firm promise on this."

Harry nodded feeling slightly scared at how serious his grandfather was being about this issue, "I promise"

"Now Harry, what were the other matters you wanted to discuss with me?"

"Firstly, who do you think the attacker was last night."

"I have two theories on this, the first is that Percy Weasley was on a fact finding mission for Cornelius Fudge. We already know that he is firmly in the ministers corner, we just are not sure if he is prepared to sacrifice the order in his ambition. The second theory gives me the most concern, and that is that one of our newer members has joined us at the request of Voldemort. As to who this could be I really couldn't even speculate at this stage. Our only option is, as I suggested last night, to bait a trap for them, this is not as dangerous as it sounds. I will be setting the wards anyway, and merely adding one more spell to trace who it is that is probing your mind."

Harry felt relieved at the old man's confidence. "I also wanted to ask if we could maybe come up with a way for some practical lessons to happen. I am enjoying studying, don't get me wrong, but it would be easier if I could actually perform the spells without getting kicked out of school."

"I may be able to come up with a way for that to occur. It wouldn't be until after your birthday though. I'll make you a deal. If on your birthday Remus tells me that you have managed to master the theoretical techniques in all your lesson areas up to the end of your fourth year I will arrange it so that you will be able to practice during August. Now who else will be here during that period so that I may make similar arrangements for them."

"Well, Hermione of course, Ron and Ginny. I was also going to invite Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood to stay as a way of both thanking them and apologising to them for what happened at the Ministry that night."

"I will have all their names added to the arrangement tentatively pending their agreeing to my conditions on the day."

"Thank you grandfather that will be fantastic."

"Your welcome"

"Now the final thing is complicated. Firstly do you have any idea when the date of my custody hearing will be?"

"Not as yet, the matters regarding Sirius should be cleared by Thursday of next week, you will get a letter from his solicitor around your birthday outlining your inheritance. I have already indicated to him that you will be accepting the terms and conditions of the will. We should have a date for your hearing once that is all finalised."

"Well I have a plan for Cornelius Fudge that we will put into play after the hearing if things go our way." Harry went on to outline his plan in great detail. The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes steadily grew as the boy continued. Both of them openly laughing by the time Harry finished with "and knowing Cornelius Fudge, he would have alerted the whole press contingent to be at the courts so he could gloat when it is over. The beautiful thing being that he can't avoid the press conference because he called it."

"Oh Harry, there is no disputing that you are your father's son. That is a prank that not even the marauders at their peak could have topped."

"Speaking of my father, do you want to talk to him?"

Dumbledore paused, convinced he had misheard the boy. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that for me please."

"Do you want to speak to my dad, he is hanging in the hallway."

"Oh of course," Dumbledore caught on, "Yes, that would be delightful."

Walking into the hallway the old man slowed, not quite sure of the reception he would receive.

'Come on" said Harry knowing instantly what was on his mind, "I've explained it all to them, he is fine with it."

"Good evening Lily, Good evening James" Dumbledore offered tentatively

"Albus" "Grandfather" they cried, the simple pleasure in their tone at seeing him brought a tear to his eye.

"Firstly let me say I am so so sorry that I never told you of our relationship before you died."

"Harry told us why you did the things you did grandfather, there is no need to apologise. You chose the option you thought would be the best for everyone, there is nothing to be sorry for."

"I blame myself for not pushing harder to be your secret keeper."

At this Lily's eyes flashed "That's enough of that rot, between you, Harry and Sirius blaming yourselves for what happened to us, it leaves absolutely no room at all for Peter and Voldemort to shoulder their share. Now stop it the both of you."

"Yes Mum" "Yes Lily" they were both sounding a little sheepish.

The rest of the conversation went smoothly after the initial breaking of the ice, Albus promising to stop by for a quick hello whenever he visited if time permitted.

As Harry prepared to go to sleep that night he heard a tap on the window. Looking up he saw Hedwig with replies from both Ron and Hermione. Opening the window she flew into the room alighting on his desk. He quickly retrieved his letters and handed her an owl treat. Nipping on his fingers she flew off back to the owlery. He firstly opened the letter from Ron.

Harry,

I know you didn't do anything deliberately, sorry I snapped at you.

Ron

While it wasn't quite the response he had been hoping for it was better than it could have been. He quickly opened Hermione's letter.

Dear Harry,

Ron has not replied to any owl I have sent him so far this summer. I think Ginny may know what the problem is but she refuses to tell me saying that "he'll come around when he is ready", and that "he just needs to mope it out of his system." I am as lost as you are.

Harry made a  mental note to speak to Ginny when he saw her next.

Anyway, we shall be arriving on the 29th of July, that's the Monday before your birthday. Is it alright if my mum and dad stay for one night as well? That way they only have a short taxi ride to the airport the next day.

You are so lucky being tutored over the summer. I am so pleased you are now starting to enjoy reading and studying. We are starting our NEWTs next year, and they will have a huge impact on the rest of your life. I have already started drawing up a tentative study schedule for us to follow, I will show it to you when I get there.

Harry laughed at this, "yep, nothing will change my Hermione". He paused at this and reconsidered his thought, "my friend Hermione- yes that's it, nothing will change my friend Hermione"

I am intrigued about these other things you mention that you say you can't put in a letter, I wish you hadn't said anything, you know what I am like with things I don't know. Stop teasing me.

Tonks sends her love to both you and Remus.

Love

Hermione

Harry drifted off to sleep with a contented smile on his face, and the letter still in his hand.