Thanks to Angeltears and Dreamer for your comments. I'm glad you are enjoying the story. Please let me know what you make of this chapter.

Chapter 11 - Painful Memories

Harry headed back to the Common Room after the pain finally left him. He glanced at the clock. Ten minutes until Transfiguration. He sighed. He still wanted to be an auror, it just meant having to do the hardest subjects. He had also decided to take Care of Magical Creatures and Charms. He had been very pleased to drop divination and he had always found Herbology hard. He decided he had better head off. His teacher, Professor McGonagall did not take kindly to students being late. He picked up his books and wandered out. He knew Hermione had taken, well ALL the subjects she could take. She hadn't decided what she wanted to be but Harry felt she would make a pretty good Professor and still do her charity work for House Elfs in her spare time, of course. That had become Hermiones obsession in her fourth year and she still insisted on keeping it up. He wondered what Ron had decided to take. He wished he could ask him but he just didn't recognise Ron anymore. Percy's death had turned him into a completely different person.

Harry turned a corner and walked down the long corridor to the Transfiguration class. Hermione was stood outside, as were Malfoy, Selina and Ron. Harry ignored all three of them and walked up to Hermione. "I missed you earlier", she whispered to him. "You didn't even come to see how Ginny was." She seemed quite angry with him. Harry's heart sank. He just couldn't tell her the truth. "I needed to be alone Hermione", he said quietly. "I'm sorry". She just gave him a look and nodded. "I guessed it was because of Sirius," she said. He glanced at her but didn't say anything. Easier to let her think he was so cut up over Sirius, he decided. She may leave him alone then. He looked over at Ron who was standing a little away from the Slytherins. Harry realised that Ron was such a loner now. Harry couldn't understand it. Ron had always been a great people person, even more popular than Harry. After all, Harry thought bitterly, all they see when they first meet me is the scar. And hey, now ive got two! He snorted in laughter and Hermione looked at him surprised. "What's up?" she asked. "Nothing," he replied with a smile. Professor McGonagall appeared at the doorway and beckoned the students into the classroom. They all filed in and sat at their desks. Ron did sit next to Harry this time but didn't look at him.

Professor McGonagall rapped her desk with her wand and the noise in the room died down. "That's better," she snapped. "I may as well start this lesson by telling you that you have all done yourselves proud and I welcome you to my NEWT class. But now, the REAL work begins." There was murmuring around the room. "You will find", Professor McGonagall, continued, "that you will be up to your eyeballs in coursework and these lessons will fly by. I believe that every single one of you are capable of getting at least an E in this class, otherwise you wouldn't be here. But now is the time to prove me right. Open your books please, and we will get started." Everyone opened their books and began copying down the new spell. "Avifors". "The spell to transform rocks and stones into living creatures", Harry read aloud. "Yes Potter, Im pleased you've regained the ability to read in MY class" she said and gave him a small smile. He grinned back. "If you master this spell Potter, you will be able to turn stones as small as a pebble into beasts to fight for you and protect you. Obviously that will not happen overnight. Come now, practice on the rocks in front of you please" she called turning to the whole class and wandering up to each group. Harry pointed his wand at the rock and said "Avifors" but nothing happened. He turned to Hermione and wasn't surprised to see she had turned her rock into a beetle. "McGonagall did say it would take time Harry", she told him with a small smile. Harry glanced around the room. Ron wasn't having any luck either and seemed to be getting very annoyed, Malfoy had managed to blow his rock up, resulting in 20 points from Gryffindor for not listening properly and Selina had made a little daisy, which everyone laughed at and she ran out of the class, sobbing. Once again, Harry found himself gazing at Neville in shock. He had created a small Eagle. "Mr Longbottom", excellent truly." McGonagall said, beaming at him. "10 points to Gryffindor and Miss Granger you may also take 10 points as the only other person to make progress today, the rest of you will continue to practice until we meet again on Thursday, I will test you all then. Off you go" she said. All the children slowly wandered out talking happily.

Hermione linked arms with Harry and smiled at him. He went a little red but smiled back. "You did really well then Hermione." "Thanks" she said shyly. "My beetle wasn't a patch on Neville's eagle though". Harry grinned "and Malfoys rock exploding in a thousand pieces, that was a good moment! Hermione laughed. Just at that moment, Malfoy stalked past speaking in a loud voice to Crabbe and Goyle "That mean old bat! Embarrassing Selena like that, God knows where she went." Harry walked in front of Malfoy. "Haven't lost your new girlfriend so quickly have you Draco?" Malfoy gave Harry a dirty look. "Piss off Potter, if your favourite professor didn't give you Gryffindors such preferential treatment.." Harry snorted and Hermione gave Malfoy a look of disbelief. "You have got to be joking," she snapped "Snape is always biased for you Slytherins. Malfoy smirked at her. "That's not biased Mudblood, that taste! He hates your prat of a friend here and who could blame him. Hermione had been pushed to far. "Protecta" she shouted and Malfoy found himself on his back unable to move a muscle. Harry laughed in surprise. "Come on Harry", Hermione called. "Hey!" Malfoy yelled "You can't leave me like this!!" Come ON Harry!" Hermione urged. "See you lot later" she called to the watching Gryffindors who were killing themselves laughing. Hermione then shrugged, turned around and called "seperante" and there was a yell. Harry and Hermione turned around to the sound of laughing. It seemed Goyle and Crabbe were helping Malfoy up when Hermione had released Malfoy and all three of them ended up in a tangle with Crabbe on top of Mafoy. "Oi Draco", Harry yelled "I would have thought you preferred it on top!" The Gyffindors laughed harder and Malfoy gave Harry a look that could kill. "Brilliant" Harry laughed as he and Hermione ran off and stopped by the Common room, out of breath. He then bent down and kissed Hermione on the lips. He pulled back as the too of them just stared at each other. "Erm.. Sorry.. I.. have to got to see Snape now Hermione and then he was off, leaving Hermione to stare after him. She shrugged and then said quietly. "He kisses me - then thinks of Snape??" she then smiled and headed into the common room, touching her lips.

Ron was walking slowly down the corridor towards the library, whistling to himself. He had got used to being alone by now. He enjoyed it, it gave him more time to think about what he would do when.. "Ron", a voice called. Ron sighed and turned "Luna, are you following me?" "You are not right, Ron." Ron laughed and rubbed his eyes. "You have no idea" he told her. "You need help Ron, please, talk to Harry and Hermione before its too late," she begged him. He walked closer to her and reached out and took Luna's hand. "I don't know what you've found out Luna, but it's too late for me to stop now. I HAVE to do this, for my family. Please Luna, stay away from me. Keep with Harry and Hermione, they are great people." He turned away. "I'd rather be with you," she whispered. He looked into her eyes and stepped nearer her. "Take care, sweetheart." He said, then rushed away. Luna watched him go, shaking her head desperately. What could she do to help him?

Harry headed to Snape's office with a skip in his step. He felt happier than he had for ages. He knocked on the door and his mood soon changed when he heard Snape call "Enter". Harry walked in and closed the door. Snape nodded his head to Harry and said "Sit Potter." He sat opposite him. "Before we begin," Snape said, leaning in close to Harry, "I need to say a few words. There were some problems last year with were unfortunate. I should have allowed for your curiosity regarding your father to get the better of you and should not have reacted as I did. Therefore, I regret what happened and will now do all I can to aid you in the fight against the Dark Lord". Harry was staring at Snape, he hadn't expected this. "However, I believe there are some things that we must sort out before we begin again. Come here Potter". Harry stood slowly and joined Snape. "I wish you too look into the penseive again." Snape told him. Harry gaped back at him. "What, why?" Because I told you too!" snapped Snape, grabbed Harrys head and forced him into the mist. Harry and Snape both fell onto grass. "Recognise him??" Snape asked. Harry tuned and smiled. He was looking at his Father. "This is 4 weeks before your parents death", Snape told Harry. James screamed, Harry gasped and looked back. He realised that he was watching his Father being tortured. "No", he moaned and stepped back. Snape grabbed his arm. "watch Potter!" he hissed. "Does that hurt Potter?" a voice said from the darkness in front of James and Snape, a slightly younger Snape, walked slowly towards James. He was dressed as a death eater. "I won't tell you Severus, I wont tell you where my son is," James was shouting, through his pain. Harry's heart hurt. "Oh you will" younger Snape was saying. "The Dark Lord is coming and you will tell him, believe me Potter." Just at that moment, people started apparating into the clearing. There was a roar of "expelliarmus" by at least 3 people and Snape was knocked back, wand spinning away. Harry gasped as his mother, Sirius, Lupin, Dumbledore and - Peter Pedigrew ran forward. "I'll kill him" Sirius snapped, his eyes on Snape. "Yes!" squeaked Peter, "kill him Sirius!" "Wait", Dumbledore said "I wish to speak to him for a few moments. Get James back to the safe house please all of you and send Hagrid to me, even though I know he loves babysitting young Harry". Dumbledore then turned to Snape. "We need to talk my friend.." and the picture vanished. Harry looked up at Snape but Snape just said "watch" and Harry looked back. They were now in a house. Snape, as he looks now, was stood in the middle of the room and as Harry watched, got down on his knees. "Master" Snape gasped. "My young friend Severus, you have come after all, I thought you had left my side". "Never my Lord, I was merely biding my time." "You have returned then, to my service?" "Of course Lord, I was spying on that old fool Dumbledore and will continue to do so for you. Please, forgive me" "I will give you a chance, dear boy." Snape seemed to look relieved. "But you just be punished." Snape now went very pale and looked like he was preparing himself. "CRUCIO" shouted Voldemort and Snape starting twitching and screaming. Harry looked up at the real Snape, who was pale himself. "seen enough I think" Snape said and in a few moments, both of them were stood back in Snapes office.

Snape sat back down in his seat and gestured for Harry to do the same, which he did. "You wonder why I showed you these memories?" Harry nodded. "Because I want you to understand Potter - not everything is as simple as it appears to be" He leant in closer to Harry "I will help you shut your mind to the Dark Lord and this time, we will work together to ensure you learn this. But, be warned Potter" he was now so close to Harry, Harry had to move back. "If you go near my memories again, you will be very sorry." Harry swallowed. "You have seen how much your Father and me hated each other and you, Harry, are your Fathers son. I hurt you, I hurt him. Never forget that." Harry looked back at Snape, fear going through him, but also respect. Snape had been tortured by Voldemort, just as Harry had been. Harry felt that he could understand Snape a little better now. "Lets begin" Snape said and as Harry took his place beside the table and prepared himself, he made up his mind to take these lessons with Snape completely seriously. He had just started to get some idea exactly how important they were and smiled at Snape as Snape said "Brace yourself now, Potter. One, Two, Three..."