Harry didn't want to believe it. Snape as the Defense teacher? But how would that even work? What would Voldemort think if he found out that a man he thought to be his faithful hound was teaching a class on how to defend themselves from dark magic. It didn't make any sense.

Then again, Harry remembered that in his fourth year, Professor Karkaroff, headmaster of the Durmstrang school, had been a Death Eater and had, instead of teaching dark defense, just taught the dark arts. Was the Order going to try to convince Voldemort that Dumbledore was just standing blindly by as Snape did just that? Or was there something more to this?

Harry was still contemplating this as he and Ron walked up to the room they were again sharing.

"Bad luck, that," muttered Ron sullenly. "Imagine. Thinking we were free of Snape only to have him teaching something we're actually not that bad in."

Harry perked up a bit. "That's it Ron! You're a genius!" Harry slapped his friend on the back and started skipping steps up to their room, looking behind him to get Ron to follow him more quickly.

Once they were in the room with the door closed Ron immediately asked, "Now, what exactly is it you're so happy about?"

"Don't you see, Ron? We're good in Defense Against the Dark Arts. We weren't in Potions. He'll have less to pester us about if he sees we can actually do this stuff." Ron didn't look convinced.

"Well, yeah, maybe. But you know Snape will probably be able to make even Defense class detestable. No doubt he'll give us things far beyond the level we've done before just to see us squirm." Ron sat dejectedly down on his bed.

"Yeah, but Ron, this will be different. We've always enjoyed Defense Against the Dark Arts – okay, maybe not always –" Harry added, belatedly, thinking of their last year in Defense class, "and if he gives us really hard work, I for one wouldn't mind having to work a little harder on it." Harry went over to sit next to Ron who looked like he was almost convinced.

"I guess so. I mean, it can't be any harder than stuff we'll have to do as Aurors someday," replied Ron slowly.

"Exactly!" Harry couldn't get over this burning desire to prove himself. This year was going to be better than any other. He'd do better in Potions without Snape breathing down his neck, and he'd prove to Snape that he wasn't incompetent.

*

Over the next several weeks, both Ron and Hermione had received their summonses for their Apparating tests, and both passed them as effortlessly as Harry had. Harry's birthday was spent in celebration unchallenged by any other birthday he'd ever had. Harry couldn't remember having been this happy in a long time. He still thought often of Sirius, and had times when he just wanted to shut himself away in his room, but his friends made sure he didn't cut himself off from the world again.

Ginny was especially helpful is these times. She didn't just sit there and let him brood. She'd often stump into his room and tell him off for being a prat. Harry couldn't quite understand how this was more helpful then Ron sitting beside him with a look almost matching his own, saying every once in a while, "It's okay." Harry knew it wasn't good to dwell on these thoughts and was very thankful to Ginny for getting him out of them.

All too soon it was time to go back to school. Being newly inducted members of the Order of the Phoenix, they were informed of a way to contact the others that could not be traced (Harry thought vaguely how much help this would have been last year, but didn't say anything for the fear of Ginny's glare).

It was quite ingenious, actually, and Harry could see why they hadn't wanted them to use them last year (and why Mrs. Weasley was still uneasy to let them use it now). They were each given pieces of parchment, reminding Harry strongly of the Marauder's map that was still hidden in his trunk.  This piece of parchment, however would, after using the right incantation, copy down whatever was dictated to it, and would then send the message to everyone else that had the parchment. Mrs. Weasley was afraid they would be careless and leave them somewhere that others could see, and possibly read the messages. It all seemed very simple and Harry wondered shortly why they didn't just use two-way mirrors.

It was the night before they were to head back to school, and Mrs. Weasley had just handed out all of their new school books and other supplies. Thanks to the Weasley Wizarding Wheezes, both Ron and Ginny got new robes, and Ginny got a new cleansweep, for which all three of them were happy about. Ginny was going to be trying out for the recently vacated Chaser spot on the Quidditch team and it would be in her favor to have a decent broom.

That evening was filled with a scurrying of people as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny all tried to round up their things and pack them away for tomorrow. Ginny's new cat Eumenide (a gift from her parents for becoming a Prefect), a graceful calico kitten, kept following Crookshanks wherever he went, meaning there were suddenly two cats getting in everyone's way and more than one person tripped over one cat or the others while carrying things.

The next morning, Harry, Ron and Hermione were all able to sleep in a little later than usual. They would be Apparating to platform 9 ¾ this year. Harry half woke up as he heard Mrs. Weasley waking up Ginny and felt a bit of sympathy towards her for having to wake up so early, but then promptly forgot about it as sleep overcame him again. About an hour later Mr. Weasley shook Harry and Ron awake, and the three of them as well as Hermione got ready to Apparate to the Hogwarts Express.

The three said goodbye to Mr. Weasley and loaded their stuff onto the train and were just getting on themselves when Mrs. Weasley and Ginny arrived. Harry and Ron got back down to help Ginny get her stuff stowed away then hopped back on and waved goodbye to Mrs. Weasley. The four of them found a compartment and were soon joined by Neville, who looked somehow different then he had last year, and, as could be expected, but not hoped for, Luna also found their compartment, walking in as though in a daze and sitting down as though there was no one else there.

"Oh, hello Ronald," she said, seeming to notice them at last.

"Er. . ." was all Ron got out before she started saying hello to everyone else.

"Harry, thanks for the letters this summer. It gave me something to read other than my dad's paper. Some of his stories are starting to get a little unreliable."

Harry smiled in what he thought was a reassuring way as she continued to realize that other people were in the compartment with her.

"Ginny, you have a new cat," she stated, as though Ginny didn't already know. "Hermione..." Hermione looked up, almost daring her to say something she'd regret, "you still have your cat too." Hermione rolled her eyes after Luna looked away.

"Neville...is that a new wand?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Of course. I couldn't use a broken one, could I?" he answered with a smile as he proudly showed the rest of the compartment his new wand. "Ten inches, oak, with a harpy tail feather."

"A harpy? Wands with harpy tail feathers are supposed to be really temperamental," stated Hermione matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, I know. Gran was really surprised. Ollivander figures that since this wand is such a good match with me that my magic will probably work better now." Neville gave a wide smile. "Gran figures that she won't even be too mad at me about my dad's wand since I got paired with such a good one myself."

Harry was really happy for Neville and made sure to tell him so, along with everyone else.

The rest of the ride to Hogwarts went by in about the same fashion, just catching up after a long summer. Neville was both excited and depressed about Snape no longer teaching Potions and teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts instead.

"I wondered why I was being allowed to take N.E.W.T. level potions when I only got an Exceeds Expectations on my O.W.L."

Luna didn't seem to care one way or another.

In no time, they were able to see Hogwarts out the train window. They all changed into their robes, Ron, Hermione and Ginny being sure to pin on their Prefect badges.

"I didn't get made a Prefect," sighed Luna. "I guess I just don't have the right kind of authority for that." Hermione had to just about swallow her fist to keep from laughing.

They all grabbed their trunks, greeted Hagrid and set off for the not-so-horseless carriages. Hermione, Ron and Ginny walked to the carriages without looking at the Thestrals. Of course, they still couldn't see them. Luna went over and patted one on the head before getting into the carriage.

The sorting seemed thankfully short, and after eating a large dinner Harry was very much looking forward to getting to sleep. As the plates were cleared, the three Prefects went to join the others and lead the first years to the Common Room.

"The password is bellybutton?" asked Ron. "Where do they get these?"

Harry and Neville started walking a ways behind the others until Harry felt someone grip his shoulder.

Harry turned to see the pallid face of Professor Snape and decided that this was definitely not something he wanted to look at right before he went to sleep.

"I thought we could start our Remedial Potions again tonight." He sneered as he spoke and Harry thought there was nothing in the world he would like less at that time.

Surprisingly, Neville spoke up. "Remedial Potions? You're not the Potions Master anymore. And Harry got outstanding on his Potions O.W.L. Why would he need remedial Potions?"

Snape turned his glare on Neville, who didn't even flinch. "Why do you think I need to answer to you, Longbottom? Get up to your common room before I take points away from Gryffindor for your cheek." Neville looked as though he was going to glare back, but thought better of it. Harry couldn't believe this was the same guy!

Neville walked away after the retreating figures of the rest of the Gryffindors.

"What this all about? Sir. I didn't have any," Harry dropped his voice to a whisper for the next word, "dreams. . .all summer. Why do I have to continue this?"

"You didn't have any dreams this summer because your Aunt's house protects you from that."

"But last summer I had one of the dreams."

"Yes, well, Dumbledore took extra precautions this summer."

"Then why can't he do that here as well?" asked Harry boldly.

"No more questions," Snape hissed. "Professor Dumbledore told me to start the Occlumency lessons up again tonight, and that is what we're going to do!"

"Fine." Snape glared viciously at Harry, who just looked back at him, his insides wreathing.

Stifling a yawn, Harry followed Snape, not to the dungeons as he had expected, but instead to the room that had housed the Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. This was not how he wanted to spend his first evening back at Hogwarts.

*

Harry stood opposite Snape in the middle of the classroom, wand raised, and eyes burning.  He couldn't remember ever being this tired.  He stifled a yawn as Snape locked eyes with him and spoke.

"Three, two, one –"

Harry felt Snape racking around in his mind for another thought or memory, but this time felt different.  He seemed to be having trouble grabbing hold of one.  This, in itself was not that strange, as Harry had felt this the last several times, but there was a difference; this time Harry could tell he was controlling whatever it was that was keeping Snape from his thoughts.

Hardening his resolve, Harry realized with a start that not only could he keep Snape from seeing his thoughts, he could push Snape out of his mind all together.  He smiled triumphantly at this realization and was about to act on it, when he felt Snape finally grab hold of one of his thoughts.

Harry saw that he was again within the pensieve inside Snape's thoughts.  Harry began to panic.  Snape of course knew all about this, but there was one bit he didn't know and Harry was afraid that his thoughts during this time would flow through as well as what he saw.  His fears were justified.  As the link with Snape, that he couldn't stop, grew stronger, Harry heard his thoughts outloud.  As suddenly as it had started, it was over.  Snape was looking at Harry with an unreadable expression.  He thought Snape was about to ask him something, but all he said was, "That's enough for tonight.  Dumbledore will be contacting you next week at this time.  Get off to bed."

~*~*~*~

hermionegreen: You've read my story three or four times already?? Oh, bless you! I love you (strictly platonically, or course lol). Thank you!!

Kemenran: You shall see, you shall see!

Jaded Angel8: Thanks for that. I changed it. Did you notice?

Denise: hehehe Me neither!

Kyra Invictus Black: Yeah, I just had to let him have the job. I see no reason why Dumbledore hasn't given it to him yet, so I made up one, and then worked around it!