Chapter 4 The Unexpected
Harry made his way to the common room through the empty halls. He reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Password" "Whomping Willow" Harry said. The portrait swung forward to reveal the Gryffindor common room. It was a welcoming sight, the soft chairs, the warm fire, it was very relaxing. Ron and Hermione had been waiting up for him. "What took you so long?" Ron asked. "I had to go meet with Dumbledore because someone " Harry glared at Hermione, "sent him an owl about what happened on the train." "Harry, you know very well that you wouldn't have told him, and he needed to know. So I took matters into my own hands." Hermione said. "Well, now I have Occlumency lessons because of it. The only good thing about it is that it isn't with Snape, it's with the new Dark Arts professor, Professor Grey." Harry said. "Really Harry, well maybe you'll do better with her than with Professor Snape." Hermione replied. "Well, I'm going to bed. I'll see both of you in the morning." "Night Hermione," both boys said as she made her way up the steps to the girls' dormitory. Harry and Ron followed not long afterwards. The next morning, Harry woke up early, for a reason he didn't know. He looked around the bedroom from his four post bed and realized he was the first one awake. He got out of bed and went downstairs and sat down in one of his favorite chairs by the fire. He sat there thinking in the stillness of the morning for a little while when he heard someone coming down the steps from the bedrooms. Hermione came and sat in the chair across from Harry's. "What are you doing up so early this morning?" Hermione asked. "I don't know, I just sort of woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. So I decided to come down here, since it's quieter than the dorm, especially the way Ron snores." Harry said. Hermione smiled. They sat there, not needing to talk, until Ron came down twenty minutes later. "Mmm...mor...morning," Ron said, failing to stifle a yawn, "Let's go down for breakfast, I'm starving."
The trio walked down to the Great Hall. They sat down and began to eat. The Hall began to fill up around them as they ate. The morning post came; Harry instinctively looked up, but knew that Hedwig wouldn't have any mail for him; it had only been one day. Professor McGonagall handed out their timetables and Ron looked in disgust. "Double Potions and Double Transfiguration first thing, this is going to be harder than last year." "Ron, this is N.E.W.T. level classes, of course it's going to be difficult. If you would study once in a while then you should do fine." Hermione said. "I do study, that's all I did last year!" Ron retorted. "And you did well on your O.W.L.'s didn't you." Hermione said. "Come on guys, let's go. We don't want Snape taking points for us being late, we get enough off as it is." Harry said, stopping the argument before it could progress any further. They made their way down into the dark dungeons. When they arrived, they took a seat towards the back. The class, which was quite a bit smaller than last year, though full of Slytherins, filed in later and as Professor Snape entered, the entire room fell silent. "Welcome to NEWT Level Potions. I thought at the end of last year, I would not be seeing some of you, but it appears that the level of expectations in OWL's is not very high." He was looking straight at Harry. "Today we will be working on a Weakening Solution. Ingredients are there." He pointed to his wand to a table, "Procedure is there." He pointed his wand to the board on which magically the steps appeared. Harry looked at the potion and was immediately glad he did his summer homework. He was partnering with Hermione and Ron was with Neville, who had somehow gotten an "O" on his OWL. This was probably because Snape was not at the exam hanging over him like an overgrown bat. The potion was quite a bit more difficult than the Strengthening Solution they had made the previous year, but Harry found that it seemed almost easy. His and Hermione's potion looked almost exactly like the deep green that it was supposed to. Neville and Ron's was a lime green and giving off a little steam. "Add a little bit Armadillo bile Ron" Harry said under is breath while Snape came over towards his cauldron. Snape looked down and said, "I need to see you after class Potter." "Why?" Harry said, glaring into Snape's eyes. "I will tell you after class, and 10 points from Gryffindor for you lip." Snape said as he went over to Ron and Neville's cauldron. Their potion was now, though not as green as Harry and Hermione's, still better than Malfoy's. Snape looked down in disgust and went back to his desk,
The bell rang and much of the class exited. Harry went up to Snape's desk while Ron and Hermione waited outside the classroom. "Yes Professor?" Harry said, trying to keep his voice calm. "Two things Mr. Potter, one is that you are in my class because I am doing a favor for the Headmaster, if you mess up one time I will ask you to leave. Secondly, I am not going to let Ms. Granger tell you what to do to stop you from failing. Tomorrow you will not be partnering with her. Goodbye" Snape said as he turned to go into his office. Harry left in a foul mood. "What was that about, mate?" Ron asked as he, Hermione, and Harry hustled down to Transfiguration. "Snape is trying everything he can to fail me. He banned me from partnering with Hermione." Harry said as they entered Transfiguration with the bell ringing. "Why would he ban you from partnering with me, you did half the potion today." Hermione said. Harry didn't have time to answer as Professor McGonagall came in.
"Good morning class, and welcome to your N.E.W.T. level of Transfiguration. You will find that this level requires much concentration in order to perform spells of this difficulty. Today we will be working on the Conjuration spell. Take down these notes," she waved her wand at the board, "and only after you have done this will you been to conjure anything. I trust you know the incantation from your homework, but for those of you who didn't due their homework, the incantation is aperacta. Today you will be conjuring toothpicks. Over the next few weeks we will be progressing to larger objects. You may begin." The class began with a flurry of quills. It took about half of the class period to take the notes. The notes were very helpful, stating things like: one must be concentrating fully on the object to be conjured. Until the witch or wizard is well practiced, the mind must have a clear picture of the object. The spell did appear to be quite difficult for much of the class. Harry was able to conjure a toothpick on the second attempt, even though much of his mind was still angry at Snape. Hermione was able to get it on the fifth attempt and together they earned Gryffindor 25 points. They were the only two to do it however and so much of the class was assigned homework. They made their way to lunch after class. "That was probably one of the hardest Transfiguration classes I've ever had. I STILL can't conjure anything. How did you do it so quickly?" Ron asked as they went into the Great Hall. "You just need to visualize the toothpick in front of you and concentrate. That's how I did it." Hermione replied. She then turned to Harry, "I would like to know how you were able to conjure it before I was, not that it's a bad thing, it's just that usually I'm the one who is top in the class." Harry didn't know what to say, in truth the spell hadn't been that difficult for him, but from the sound of it, many of the others were having a very tough time. "I guess I just sort of thought 'toothpick, made of wood, small' and said the incantation. To tell you the truth, I was still rather mad at Snape for the whole trying to fail me thing." He said as they sat down. "That reminds me Harry, why is Snape stopping you from working with me when you did most of today's potion?" Hermione asked. "Yeah mate, you even helped me with that armadillo bile, saved my neck." Ron said as he began to eat. "I think he is going at any length to make my life a living hell, of course most of it already has been, but that's beside the point. Ron, I'll probably work with you tomorrow." Harry said taking some steamed carrots and putting them on his plate. "Anyway, what do we have this afternoon?" Harry asked. "Care of Magical Creatures followed by Double Defense Against the Dark Arts. Well, at least we'll see how the new professor is."
Care of Magical Creatures went well, mainly because many of the Slytherins had dropped it after their O.W.L., so much of the class was made up Gryffindors. Hagrid had shown them panklors, they seemed to be a mix between an Iguana and a badger. After the lesson the trio went back towards the castle for their next class. They arrived about 5 minutes before the bell and took seats in the very front of the classroom. The class filed in soon afterwards. As the bell rang Professor Grey walked in. The class fell silent, Professor Grey was still an unknown to them, so they did their best to evaluate her reactions before they broke the rules. "Good Afternoon class, welcome to N.E.W.T. level Defense Against the Dark Arts. It is my understanding that your teachers over the past 5 years have been of different caliber, only 1 seemed to teach with thought of the class. And, as I look at your O.W.L. results, it appears that many of you were able to score well on the test despite the lack of qualified teachers." Many of the DA members smiled broadly. "I still, however, must find out the level of aptitude all of you have for this class. And so, books away, quills and wands out. This is just a miniature OWL type of test, a written exam for the first hour, then a practical the next. When I hand out the test, there will be absolutely no talking. When you are finished, raise your hand and I will come by a take it up." She then went around and handed out the test. When she got to Harry, she took one off of the bottom of the pile she had been passing from. He, however, did not catch this. "You may begin." She said as she turned over a small hourglass on her desk. The test was as difficult, if not more so, than the owls. Harry thought that most of the questions were on topics they had never studied, yet he seemed to know the answers anyway. After the written test was taken up, the class was put in alphabetical order and one by one called into Professor Grey's office. Those waiting talked adamantly about the test. "That was just like the O.W.L. exam, most of the exact same questions." Hermione said to Harry as they stood and waited for the practical exam. "Yeah, but what about the question on the dome shield, we didn't have that O.W.L.'s. I'm just wondering how I got the answer I got when I don't remember learning it, it's like it was just there" Harry said. Hermione looked puzzled, "Harry, we didn't have that question. Why would she when we've never studied it, it isn't until 7th year N.E.W.T. level. The only reason I know what it is, is because I read about it when I went and got your birthday present." "But why would I have a different test than you?" Harry asked. Just then, Hermione was called in for her practical exam. "I'll talk to you about it after class, I have an idea." She said as she walked towards the office. Harry just sat there and talked to Ron, who didn't like reliving tests, until his name was called. He went into the office. He had seen the office under every teacher since his second year. With Lockhart it was full of photographs of himself, with Lupin it was full of creatures the class would study. When the fake Moody was teaching, it was full of Dark Detectors such as Foe Glass and sneakscopes. Then, under Umbridge last year, it looked like a dentist office, except more pink than necessary. Now, however, the office looked welcoming. A couch against one wall, pillows on the floor, which, Harry thought, were probably for the exam, and behind a desk, Professor Grey sat in a comfy looking chintz chair. "Hello Harry, I was really looking forward to this part of the exam with you. During this portion, we are going to duel. Don't worry, I will do my best to bring no harm to you. You may use any and all curses and jinxes that are legal. The point is to disarm me, or knock me out. If the latter occurs, I would appreciate being revived." She smiled. Harry wasn't sure what to think, he had never dueled a teacher before. Oh, he had wanted to duel Snape quite a few times, but not a teacher he didn't hate. "Wand at the ready, now bow." A memory was stirred up in Harry, Bow down to death Harry . He felt something well up inside him. "Now walk back, turn, on the count of three. 1...2..." Harry remembered his first duel, against Malfoy, who had gone on 2 instead of 3. A fire came behind Harry's eyes. "...3!" Professor Grey yelled "Expelliarmus!" "Protego!" Harry said and a the spell reflected the hex back to the Professor, who cast a spell and the red light vanished. The duel went back and forth, Harry casting every spell and shield he knew. Finally Harry made like a whip with his wand and a red flame came and rapt around the Professor, who yelled out in pain. Harry then stopped the spell. "Good job Mr. Potter, where did you learn that spell?" Professor Grey said panting. Harry thought for a little while, "Honestly Professor, I don't know. I just remember seeing Dumbledore do something like that last year and it just sort of came to me." He said as he walked up to help the professor get some burn cream from her desk. "I see, well, I must say, you are the first student to ever beat me in a duel. Oh, and with Occlumency lessons, how about Wednesday after classes in my office. You did well today, you may go now." Harry left the room and went to the common room, thinking about what just happened. How did I cast a spell I've never been taught, or for that matter, beat a teacher in a duel? What is going on? Before he knew it he was at the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Whomping Willow" he said and the portrait swung forward. He went inside to see Hermione sitting near the fire, reading. He walked up quietly towards here and put his hand on her shoulder. She jumped, "AHH, oh. I'm sorry; I didn't see you come in. How was it? How'd you do?" Hermione asked closing her book after marking the page. "Well, first off, what did she have you do for the practical exam." Harry asked. "Well, it was similar to the O.W.L. but she asked for a few more hexes. Why?' Hermione looked at him questioningly. "Because that's not at all what she did with me." Harry replied looking into the fire. "What? What did she have you do?" Hermione said, looking strait at Harry. "We dueled." He said quietly. "You DUELED! BUT, WHY, SHE COULD HAVE HURT YOU. WHAT HAPPENED?" Hermione said standing up. "I won." Harry said very quietly. "What?" Hermione asked going nearer to him. "I won, and I don't know how. I cast this spell that I've only seen done once, and that was by Dumbledore. We've never even learned about it in class, at least I've never learned about it in class. I still don't know how it came; I don't even know what happened, like it was all just an instinct." Harry said as he started to pace. "Hmmm, that's interesting." Hermione said, to herself more than anyone. "What's interesting?" Harry asked. "I'll be right back, I need to go look at something really quick." Hermione said and left the dorm. Ron came in shortly afterwards. "Where's Hermione off to?" Ron asked as he walked into the common room. "Probably the library, to 'go look at something'," Harry said as he sat down into one of the chairs. "What's you think about it mate? Just like O.W.L." Ron said smiling. "Maybe for you, I think my test was different." Harry said as he took his Transfiguration book out of his bag and began to read. "Why would yours be different? If she was trying to find how good everyone was, why wouldn't she use the same test? And, why are you reading?" Ron asked looking at the book in Harry's hand. Harry looked up and shrugged, "nothing better to do I guess." The bell then rang, signaling the end of most classes. Ron met up with Seamus Finnegan, and they were playing a game of chess before dinner when Hermione came into the common room. Harry looked up from his book, "Yes Hermione?" "We should discuss this in private, so that means not right now. Tonight, ok?" Hermione said as she put a few of the books she got in the library up into her dorm. "Check Mate!" Ron said as he beat Seamus in yet another game of chess. "Ron, let's go to dinner." Harry said as he got up and put away his Transfiguration book into his bag. "Yeah, let's go, I'm so hungry I good eat a Hippogriff." "You're always hungry Ron" Hermione said as she came back from her dorm. As the three went down to the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall came out of a class room. "Ah, Mr. Potter, the Headmaster needs to see you. You two may go to dinner." With that, Hermione and Ron went into the Great Hall and Harry turned and went to Dumbledore's office. "Cotton Candy," he said as he came in front of the gargoyle, which jumped aside to allow him entrance. He went up the rotating staircase for the second time in two days, knocked on the door, which opened on its own accord. He walked in to an empty office, only Fawkes, who was sitting on his normal perch. The phoenix flew over and rested on Harry's shoulder. "Hey Fawkes, is Dumbledore here?" Harry said, stoking the phoenix. The bird let out a note as if to say "of course." Harry smiled and looked towards Dumbledore's empty desk. He closed his eyes, and waited. He then felt a presence behind him. He opened his eyes, "Hello sir, you wanted to see me." Dumbledore chuckled and walked in front of Harry smiling. "Yes Harry, but first things first, hungry?" With a wave of his wand a plate of food appeared in front of Harry, along with a goblet of pumpkin juice. "Thank you, sir." Harry said, still wondering why Dumbledore had asked him into his office. "Now then, I understand you had Defense Against the Dark Arts today, correct?" Dumbledore asked. "Yes sir." Harry replied looking up into those sparkling blue eyes of the Headmaster. "Well, I'm sure you were wondering why Professor Grey gave you a more difficult test, or for that matter, decided to duel you for your practical." "Yes sir, I was. But that isn't my only question." Harry said, "I was wondering how I beat here with a spell I've never performed before." Dumbledore just smiled and sat down at his desk. "Well Harry that is something that I can only guess right now, but I would need to perform some Occlumency before I can be sure. Do you mind?" "No sir, but I won't be able to block you out." Harry said. "Oh, I don't expect you to right now, I need to look at some of your memories, if I see you in pain, I will stop. Ready?" "Yes sir" Harry said. "1...2...3...Legilems" Harry's vision went black, then memories flashed in front of him...Dementors flocking towards three bodies...A graveyard, with a voice "Bow down to death Harry"... a room with a squat witch behind a desk, blood running down his hand...The room with the vale, "Come on, you can do better than that!" Sirius said laughing. The curse hitting him, his graceful fall into the vale... "NOOO!!!" Harry screamed as Dumbledore lifted the curse. "I am sorry Harry, if it was not necessary." He said as he reached to pick Harry off of the floor. Sweat was mixed with tears on his face, his eyes were closed. "Harry, I did this because of something Professor Grey told me after your Dark Arts class today. She said that before your duel the room felt that it was 'charged with electricity.' Now, Professor Grey knows that this was from you because of two things. The most obvious is because there were only two people in the room at the time, but the second and most important is an observation she made the moment she saw you in the Great Hall. She has a unique gift in that she can see the amount of magical energy a person contains, it's like a magical signature. She cannot be fooled by things such as Polyjuice Potions and Invisibility Cloaks. When she saw you she was amazed that you have..." "He has more magical energy than I have ever seen in a person at his age." Professor Grey said as she walked into the room. "It is quite amazing." She said as she stood next to Dumbledore's desk. "I have what? How can I have all this magical energy when Hermione has always been able to have better grades than I. I couldn't even transfigure a plate last year." Harry said looking at them both. "That is something that I must explain Harry." Dumbledore said. "You know that Voldemort is the Heir of Slytherin, well it is also said that Gryffindor, in response to Salazar Slytherin's vow to have his heir return, said that one from his lineage would return to finish the fight that they started. I believe, Harry, that that person is you. The blood of Godric Gryffindor flows through your veins. I told you in your second year that only a true Gryffindor could pull the sword out of the hat. I wasn't talking about your house; I was speaking of your blood. I believe that this instinct as you call it is part of the power Voldemort knows not of. I also believe that this power should be practiced. I know that you have quite a bit on your plate right now, but this is important. I think Thursday, 9 o'clock, at the Room of Requirement will be good. For now Harry, eat your dinner and then you may go back to your common room, and I don't think any owls will need to be sent. I will inform anyone that you would like me to." Harry hadn't been thinking about food and was not in the least bit hungry. He said thank you and left, leaving his food untouched. He arrived to see Ron and Hermione sitting in their usual chairs, waiting for him. He walked in and sat down in silence. Hermione was the first one to speak. "Are you ok Harry?" she said, seeing the look on Harry's face. He didn't say anything. He just sat and thought about what Dumbledore had said. I'm supposed to be this "Heir of Gryffindor." I can't be, I mean, how? I speak Parsletongue, that certainly isn't a Gryffindor trait. His thoughts were interrupted by Ron's voice this time. "Mate, what did Dumbledore talk to you about? What's wrong?" He said, quietly though, a little scared that Harry might get angry. Harry thought for a while, contemplating how much he should say. Then he realized that they had been with him through many of his problems, they had a right to know... everything. "Do you really want to know?" Harry said, looking straight into their eyes. "Of course Harry, we're your friends." Hermione said sympathetically. "Ok, you might want to get comfortable, it's pretty long" He said, more to give him time to think than anything. After a few seconds of silence he spoke again. "Remember last year with the Prophesy?" Harry asked. "Of course, it got smashed and no one knew what it said." Ron said; Hermione remained silent. "Well, yes, but that was only a record. The original prophesy was told to Dumbledore, who told me that morning. It involves why Voldemort," Ron shuddered, but Harry continued," wanted to kill me as a baby. It's why he killed my parents, and why he wants me dead." "What does it say mate." Ron said, while Hermione remained silent, her eyes showing signs of tears. Harry sighed and said, "It says: THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES, BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIDE HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES, AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT, AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER, FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES. THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES." Then Harry heard the loudest silences ever. No one spoke for ten minutes, and then it was Hermione is a very small voice, "Harry, that's you isn't it. You have to fight him; you have to kill him. OH HARRY." She said as she got up and hugged him. "Hermione, that's only the beginning." She looked into his strikingly green eyes, eyes that seemed to speak whatever he was feeling, even if his face didn't. She slowly sat back into her chair. Harry continued, "Weird things began to happen, at least, weirder than usual. For one, I got my homework done very quickly. Another is the fact that I was spending more time reading than I ever had before. Then today in Potions, I made the potion with no problem whatsoever. I don't know why I knew what to add to your potion, Ron, it just felt like what it needed. Then in Transfiguration I was able to conjure that toothpick in 2 tries, and you know that half my mind was on Snape being such a git. Then in Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Grey gave me a harder written test. I didn't know why, but I do think that if I didn't get perfect score on that test, then I did get a higher grade than most people at this school would have. Then for the Practical Exam we dueled. I used a spell I've never done before and I beat her . SHE'S A PROFESSOR OF DEFENSE AND I WON A DUEL! I don't know how I did it, it was just instinct. Then tonight Dumbledore called me into his office and explained a few things. One is that he seems to think, or Professor Grey seems to "see", that I have all this power that is just know coming to light. Two is that he says that I'm supposed to be the "Heir of Gryffindor" that was supposedly promised after Slytherin told of his heir. Gryffindor's Heir was to come and..." Hermione interrupted Harry, "...finish the fight that was started." She said in a quiet voice. "You've heard about it Hermione? How, I mean are all the founder's supposed to have ' heir's ' or something. All Dumbledore said was that I'm supposed to be his heir because I pulled that sword out of the hat in second year." Harry said looking at Hermione questioningly, tilting his head slightly. "Well, I haven't heard of the other founder's having any heir, but the fact that it's you does make sence. I mean, you're the embodiment of a Gryffindor, brave, loyal, and you'd give you life for those you care about." As Hermione said this, Harry felt that had it been any other circumstances he would have been blushing like mad to have Hermione praise him like that, though he didn't know why. Hermione continued, "And from what The Prophesy says, they go hand in hand. No one else but the Heir of Gryffindor could defeat someone like Voldemort, the Heir of Slytherin. But Harry, you know that people are going to notice if you suddenly start beating everyone at every class. How are you supposed to hide something like this so that Voldemort, "Ron, who had been silence for a period, shuddered at the name, "Oh really Ron, just say the name, it won't kill you, anyway, so that Voldemort doesn't find out that you could kill him." "But Hermione, he already knows that I'm the one that is supposed to kill him, that's why he killed my parents. The only reason that he failed is because he only heard part of the Prophesy. So, when he got his body back, he wanted to hear it and that's why he tricked me into going to the Department of Mysteries. That's why Sirius was killed." Harry finished with his head in his hands, fighting back his tears.
Harry made his way to the common room through the empty halls. He reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Password" "Whomping Willow" Harry said. The portrait swung forward to reveal the Gryffindor common room. It was a welcoming sight, the soft chairs, the warm fire, it was very relaxing. Ron and Hermione had been waiting up for him. "What took you so long?" Ron asked. "I had to go meet with Dumbledore because someone " Harry glared at Hermione, "sent him an owl about what happened on the train." "Harry, you know very well that you wouldn't have told him, and he needed to know. So I took matters into my own hands." Hermione said. "Well, now I have Occlumency lessons because of it. The only good thing about it is that it isn't with Snape, it's with the new Dark Arts professor, Professor Grey." Harry said. "Really Harry, well maybe you'll do better with her than with Professor Snape." Hermione replied. "Well, I'm going to bed. I'll see both of you in the morning." "Night Hermione," both boys said as she made her way up the steps to the girls' dormitory. Harry and Ron followed not long afterwards. The next morning, Harry woke up early, for a reason he didn't know. He looked around the bedroom from his four post bed and realized he was the first one awake. He got out of bed and went downstairs and sat down in one of his favorite chairs by the fire. He sat there thinking in the stillness of the morning for a little while when he heard someone coming down the steps from the bedrooms. Hermione came and sat in the chair across from Harry's. "What are you doing up so early this morning?" Hermione asked. "I don't know, I just sort of woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. So I decided to come down here, since it's quieter than the dorm, especially the way Ron snores." Harry said. Hermione smiled. They sat there, not needing to talk, until Ron came down twenty minutes later. "Mmm...mor...morning," Ron said, failing to stifle a yawn, "Let's go down for breakfast, I'm starving."
The trio walked down to the Great Hall. They sat down and began to eat. The Hall began to fill up around them as they ate. The morning post came; Harry instinctively looked up, but knew that Hedwig wouldn't have any mail for him; it had only been one day. Professor McGonagall handed out their timetables and Ron looked in disgust. "Double Potions and Double Transfiguration first thing, this is going to be harder than last year." "Ron, this is N.E.W.T. level classes, of course it's going to be difficult. If you would study once in a while then you should do fine." Hermione said. "I do study, that's all I did last year!" Ron retorted. "And you did well on your O.W.L.'s didn't you." Hermione said. "Come on guys, let's go. We don't want Snape taking points for us being late, we get enough off as it is." Harry said, stopping the argument before it could progress any further. They made their way down into the dark dungeons. When they arrived, they took a seat towards the back. The class, which was quite a bit smaller than last year, though full of Slytherins, filed in later and as Professor Snape entered, the entire room fell silent. "Welcome to NEWT Level Potions. I thought at the end of last year, I would not be seeing some of you, but it appears that the level of expectations in OWL's is not very high." He was looking straight at Harry. "Today we will be working on a Weakening Solution. Ingredients are there." He pointed to his wand to a table, "Procedure is there." He pointed his wand to the board on which magically the steps appeared. Harry looked at the potion and was immediately glad he did his summer homework. He was partnering with Hermione and Ron was with Neville, who had somehow gotten an "O" on his OWL. This was probably because Snape was not at the exam hanging over him like an overgrown bat. The potion was quite a bit more difficult than the Strengthening Solution they had made the previous year, but Harry found that it seemed almost easy. His and Hermione's potion looked almost exactly like the deep green that it was supposed to. Neville and Ron's was a lime green and giving off a little steam. "Add a little bit Armadillo bile Ron" Harry said under is breath while Snape came over towards his cauldron. Snape looked down and said, "I need to see you after class Potter." "Why?" Harry said, glaring into Snape's eyes. "I will tell you after class, and 10 points from Gryffindor for you lip." Snape said as he went over to Ron and Neville's cauldron. Their potion was now, though not as green as Harry and Hermione's, still better than Malfoy's. Snape looked down in disgust and went back to his desk,
The bell rang and much of the class exited. Harry went up to Snape's desk while Ron and Hermione waited outside the classroom. "Yes Professor?" Harry said, trying to keep his voice calm. "Two things Mr. Potter, one is that you are in my class because I am doing a favor for the Headmaster, if you mess up one time I will ask you to leave. Secondly, I am not going to let Ms. Granger tell you what to do to stop you from failing. Tomorrow you will not be partnering with her. Goodbye" Snape said as he turned to go into his office. Harry left in a foul mood. "What was that about, mate?" Ron asked as he, Hermione, and Harry hustled down to Transfiguration. "Snape is trying everything he can to fail me. He banned me from partnering with Hermione." Harry said as they entered Transfiguration with the bell ringing. "Why would he ban you from partnering with me, you did half the potion today." Hermione said. Harry didn't have time to answer as Professor McGonagall came in.
"Good morning class, and welcome to your N.E.W.T. level of Transfiguration. You will find that this level requires much concentration in order to perform spells of this difficulty. Today we will be working on the Conjuration spell. Take down these notes," she waved her wand at the board, "and only after you have done this will you been to conjure anything. I trust you know the incantation from your homework, but for those of you who didn't due their homework, the incantation is aperacta. Today you will be conjuring toothpicks. Over the next few weeks we will be progressing to larger objects. You may begin." The class began with a flurry of quills. It took about half of the class period to take the notes. The notes were very helpful, stating things like: one must be concentrating fully on the object to be conjured. Until the witch or wizard is well practiced, the mind must have a clear picture of the object. The spell did appear to be quite difficult for much of the class. Harry was able to conjure a toothpick on the second attempt, even though much of his mind was still angry at Snape. Hermione was able to get it on the fifth attempt and together they earned Gryffindor 25 points. They were the only two to do it however and so much of the class was assigned homework. They made their way to lunch after class. "That was probably one of the hardest Transfiguration classes I've ever had. I STILL can't conjure anything. How did you do it so quickly?" Ron asked as they went into the Great Hall. "You just need to visualize the toothpick in front of you and concentrate. That's how I did it." Hermione replied. She then turned to Harry, "I would like to know how you were able to conjure it before I was, not that it's a bad thing, it's just that usually I'm the one who is top in the class." Harry didn't know what to say, in truth the spell hadn't been that difficult for him, but from the sound of it, many of the others were having a very tough time. "I guess I just sort of thought 'toothpick, made of wood, small' and said the incantation. To tell you the truth, I was still rather mad at Snape for the whole trying to fail me thing." He said as they sat down. "That reminds me Harry, why is Snape stopping you from working with me when you did most of today's potion?" Hermione asked. "Yeah mate, you even helped me with that armadillo bile, saved my neck." Ron said as he began to eat. "I think he is going at any length to make my life a living hell, of course most of it already has been, but that's beside the point. Ron, I'll probably work with you tomorrow." Harry said taking some steamed carrots and putting them on his plate. "Anyway, what do we have this afternoon?" Harry asked. "Care of Magical Creatures followed by Double Defense Against the Dark Arts. Well, at least we'll see how the new professor is."
Care of Magical Creatures went well, mainly because many of the Slytherins had dropped it after their O.W.L., so much of the class was made up Gryffindors. Hagrid had shown them panklors, they seemed to be a mix between an Iguana and a badger. After the lesson the trio went back towards the castle for their next class. They arrived about 5 minutes before the bell and took seats in the very front of the classroom. The class filed in soon afterwards. As the bell rang Professor Grey walked in. The class fell silent, Professor Grey was still an unknown to them, so they did their best to evaluate her reactions before they broke the rules. "Good Afternoon class, welcome to N.E.W.T. level Defense Against the Dark Arts. It is my understanding that your teachers over the past 5 years have been of different caliber, only 1 seemed to teach with thought of the class. And, as I look at your O.W.L. results, it appears that many of you were able to score well on the test despite the lack of qualified teachers." Many of the DA members smiled broadly. "I still, however, must find out the level of aptitude all of you have for this class. And so, books away, quills and wands out. This is just a miniature OWL type of test, a written exam for the first hour, then a practical the next. When I hand out the test, there will be absolutely no talking. When you are finished, raise your hand and I will come by a take it up." She then went around and handed out the test. When she got to Harry, she took one off of the bottom of the pile she had been passing from. He, however, did not catch this. "You may begin." She said as she turned over a small hourglass on her desk. The test was as difficult, if not more so, than the owls. Harry thought that most of the questions were on topics they had never studied, yet he seemed to know the answers anyway. After the written test was taken up, the class was put in alphabetical order and one by one called into Professor Grey's office. Those waiting talked adamantly about the test. "That was just like the O.W.L. exam, most of the exact same questions." Hermione said to Harry as they stood and waited for the practical exam. "Yeah, but what about the question on the dome shield, we didn't have that O.W.L.'s. I'm just wondering how I got the answer I got when I don't remember learning it, it's like it was just there" Harry said. Hermione looked puzzled, "Harry, we didn't have that question. Why would she when we've never studied it, it isn't until 7th year N.E.W.T. level. The only reason I know what it is, is because I read about it when I went and got your birthday present." "But why would I have a different test than you?" Harry asked. Just then, Hermione was called in for her practical exam. "I'll talk to you about it after class, I have an idea." She said as she walked towards the office. Harry just sat there and talked to Ron, who didn't like reliving tests, until his name was called. He went into the office. He had seen the office under every teacher since his second year. With Lockhart it was full of photographs of himself, with Lupin it was full of creatures the class would study. When the fake Moody was teaching, it was full of Dark Detectors such as Foe Glass and sneakscopes. Then, under Umbridge last year, it looked like a dentist office, except more pink than necessary. Now, however, the office looked welcoming. A couch against one wall, pillows on the floor, which, Harry thought, were probably for the exam, and behind a desk, Professor Grey sat in a comfy looking chintz chair. "Hello Harry, I was really looking forward to this part of the exam with you. During this portion, we are going to duel. Don't worry, I will do my best to bring no harm to you. You may use any and all curses and jinxes that are legal. The point is to disarm me, or knock me out. If the latter occurs, I would appreciate being revived." She smiled. Harry wasn't sure what to think, he had never dueled a teacher before. Oh, he had wanted to duel Snape quite a few times, but not a teacher he didn't hate. "Wand at the ready, now bow." A memory was stirred up in Harry, Bow down to death Harry . He felt something well up inside him. "Now walk back, turn, on the count of three. 1...2..." Harry remembered his first duel, against Malfoy, who had gone on 2 instead of 3. A fire came behind Harry's eyes. "...3!" Professor Grey yelled "Expelliarmus!" "Protego!" Harry said and a the spell reflected the hex back to the Professor, who cast a spell and the red light vanished. The duel went back and forth, Harry casting every spell and shield he knew. Finally Harry made like a whip with his wand and a red flame came and rapt around the Professor, who yelled out in pain. Harry then stopped the spell. "Good job Mr. Potter, where did you learn that spell?" Professor Grey said panting. Harry thought for a little while, "Honestly Professor, I don't know. I just remember seeing Dumbledore do something like that last year and it just sort of came to me." He said as he walked up to help the professor get some burn cream from her desk. "I see, well, I must say, you are the first student to ever beat me in a duel. Oh, and with Occlumency lessons, how about Wednesday after classes in my office. You did well today, you may go now." Harry left the room and went to the common room, thinking about what just happened. How did I cast a spell I've never been taught, or for that matter, beat a teacher in a duel? What is going on? Before he knew it he was at the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Whomping Willow" he said and the portrait swung forward. He went inside to see Hermione sitting near the fire, reading. He walked up quietly towards here and put his hand on her shoulder. She jumped, "AHH, oh. I'm sorry; I didn't see you come in. How was it? How'd you do?" Hermione asked closing her book after marking the page. "Well, first off, what did she have you do for the practical exam." Harry asked. "Well, it was similar to the O.W.L. but she asked for a few more hexes. Why?' Hermione looked at him questioningly. "Because that's not at all what she did with me." Harry replied looking into the fire. "What? What did she have you do?" Hermione said, looking strait at Harry. "We dueled." He said quietly. "You DUELED! BUT, WHY, SHE COULD HAVE HURT YOU. WHAT HAPPENED?" Hermione said standing up. "I won." Harry said very quietly. "What?" Hermione asked going nearer to him. "I won, and I don't know how. I cast this spell that I've only seen done once, and that was by Dumbledore. We've never even learned about it in class, at least I've never learned about it in class. I still don't know how it came; I don't even know what happened, like it was all just an instinct." Harry said as he started to pace. "Hmmm, that's interesting." Hermione said, to herself more than anyone. "What's interesting?" Harry asked. "I'll be right back, I need to go look at something really quick." Hermione said and left the dorm. Ron came in shortly afterwards. "Where's Hermione off to?" Ron asked as he walked into the common room. "Probably the library, to 'go look at something'," Harry said as he sat down into one of the chairs. "What's you think about it mate? Just like O.W.L." Ron said smiling. "Maybe for you, I think my test was different." Harry said as he took his Transfiguration book out of his bag and began to read. "Why would yours be different? If she was trying to find how good everyone was, why wouldn't she use the same test? And, why are you reading?" Ron asked looking at the book in Harry's hand. Harry looked up and shrugged, "nothing better to do I guess." The bell then rang, signaling the end of most classes. Ron met up with Seamus Finnegan, and they were playing a game of chess before dinner when Hermione came into the common room. Harry looked up from his book, "Yes Hermione?" "We should discuss this in private, so that means not right now. Tonight, ok?" Hermione said as she put a few of the books she got in the library up into her dorm. "Check Mate!" Ron said as he beat Seamus in yet another game of chess. "Ron, let's go to dinner." Harry said as he got up and put away his Transfiguration book into his bag. "Yeah, let's go, I'm so hungry I good eat a Hippogriff." "You're always hungry Ron" Hermione said as she came back from her dorm. As the three went down to the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall came out of a class room. "Ah, Mr. Potter, the Headmaster needs to see you. You two may go to dinner." With that, Hermione and Ron went into the Great Hall and Harry turned and went to Dumbledore's office. "Cotton Candy," he said as he came in front of the gargoyle, which jumped aside to allow him entrance. He went up the rotating staircase for the second time in two days, knocked on the door, which opened on its own accord. He walked in to an empty office, only Fawkes, who was sitting on his normal perch. The phoenix flew over and rested on Harry's shoulder. "Hey Fawkes, is Dumbledore here?" Harry said, stoking the phoenix. The bird let out a note as if to say "of course." Harry smiled and looked towards Dumbledore's empty desk. He closed his eyes, and waited. He then felt a presence behind him. He opened his eyes, "Hello sir, you wanted to see me." Dumbledore chuckled and walked in front of Harry smiling. "Yes Harry, but first things first, hungry?" With a wave of his wand a plate of food appeared in front of Harry, along with a goblet of pumpkin juice. "Thank you, sir." Harry said, still wondering why Dumbledore had asked him into his office. "Now then, I understand you had Defense Against the Dark Arts today, correct?" Dumbledore asked. "Yes sir." Harry replied looking up into those sparkling blue eyes of the Headmaster. "Well, I'm sure you were wondering why Professor Grey gave you a more difficult test, or for that matter, decided to duel you for your practical." "Yes sir, I was. But that isn't my only question." Harry said, "I was wondering how I beat here with a spell I've never performed before." Dumbledore just smiled and sat down at his desk. "Well Harry that is something that I can only guess right now, but I would need to perform some Occlumency before I can be sure. Do you mind?" "No sir, but I won't be able to block you out." Harry said. "Oh, I don't expect you to right now, I need to look at some of your memories, if I see you in pain, I will stop. Ready?" "Yes sir" Harry said. "1...2...3...Legilems" Harry's vision went black, then memories flashed in front of him...Dementors flocking towards three bodies...A graveyard, with a voice "Bow down to death Harry"... a room with a squat witch behind a desk, blood running down his hand...The room with the vale, "Come on, you can do better than that!" Sirius said laughing. The curse hitting him, his graceful fall into the vale... "NOOO!!!" Harry screamed as Dumbledore lifted the curse. "I am sorry Harry, if it was not necessary." He said as he reached to pick Harry off of the floor. Sweat was mixed with tears on his face, his eyes were closed. "Harry, I did this because of something Professor Grey told me after your Dark Arts class today. She said that before your duel the room felt that it was 'charged with electricity.' Now, Professor Grey knows that this was from you because of two things. The most obvious is because there were only two people in the room at the time, but the second and most important is an observation she made the moment she saw you in the Great Hall. She has a unique gift in that she can see the amount of magical energy a person contains, it's like a magical signature. She cannot be fooled by things such as Polyjuice Potions and Invisibility Cloaks. When she saw you she was amazed that you have..." "He has more magical energy than I have ever seen in a person at his age." Professor Grey said as she walked into the room. "It is quite amazing." She said as she stood next to Dumbledore's desk. "I have what? How can I have all this magical energy when Hermione has always been able to have better grades than I. I couldn't even transfigure a plate last year." Harry said looking at them both. "That is something that I must explain Harry." Dumbledore said. "You know that Voldemort is the Heir of Slytherin, well it is also said that Gryffindor, in response to Salazar Slytherin's vow to have his heir return, said that one from his lineage would return to finish the fight that they started. I believe, Harry, that that person is you. The blood of Godric Gryffindor flows through your veins. I told you in your second year that only a true Gryffindor could pull the sword out of the hat. I wasn't talking about your house; I was speaking of your blood. I believe that this instinct as you call it is part of the power Voldemort knows not of. I also believe that this power should be practiced. I know that you have quite a bit on your plate right now, but this is important. I think Thursday, 9 o'clock, at the Room of Requirement will be good. For now Harry, eat your dinner and then you may go back to your common room, and I don't think any owls will need to be sent. I will inform anyone that you would like me to." Harry hadn't been thinking about food and was not in the least bit hungry. He said thank you and left, leaving his food untouched. He arrived to see Ron and Hermione sitting in their usual chairs, waiting for him. He walked in and sat down in silence. Hermione was the first one to speak. "Are you ok Harry?" she said, seeing the look on Harry's face. He didn't say anything. He just sat and thought about what Dumbledore had said. I'm supposed to be this "Heir of Gryffindor." I can't be, I mean, how? I speak Parsletongue, that certainly isn't a Gryffindor trait. His thoughts were interrupted by Ron's voice this time. "Mate, what did Dumbledore talk to you about? What's wrong?" He said, quietly though, a little scared that Harry might get angry. Harry thought for a while, contemplating how much he should say. Then he realized that they had been with him through many of his problems, they had a right to know... everything. "Do you really want to know?" Harry said, looking straight into their eyes. "Of course Harry, we're your friends." Hermione said sympathetically. "Ok, you might want to get comfortable, it's pretty long" He said, more to give him time to think than anything. After a few seconds of silence he spoke again. "Remember last year with the Prophesy?" Harry asked. "Of course, it got smashed and no one knew what it said." Ron said; Hermione remained silent. "Well, yes, but that was only a record. The original prophesy was told to Dumbledore, who told me that morning. It involves why Voldemort," Ron shuddered, but Harry continued," wanted to kill me as a baby. It's why he killed my parents, and why he wants me dead." "What does it say mate." Ron said, while Hermione remained silent, her eyes showing signs of tears. Harry sighed and said, "It says: THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES, BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIDE HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES, AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT, AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER, FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES. THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES." Then Harry heard the loudest silences ever. No one spoke for ten minutes, and then it was Hermione is a very small voice, "Harry, that's you isn't it. You have to fight him; you have to kill him. OH HARRY." She said as she got up and hugged him. "Hermione, that's only the beginning." She looked into his strikingly green eyes, eyes that seemed to speak whatever he was feeling, even if his face didn't. She slowly sat back into her chair. Harry continued, "Weird things began to happen, at least, weirder than usual. For one, I got my homework done very quickly. Another is the fact that I was spending more time reading than I ever had before. Then today in Potions, I made the potion with no problem whatsoever. I don't know why I knew what to add to your potion, Ron, it just felt like what it needed. Then in Transfiguration I was able to conjure that toothpick in 2 tries, and you know that half my mind was on Snape being such a git. Then in Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Grey gave me a harder written test. I didn't know why, but I do think that if I didn't get perfect score on that test, then I did get a higher grade than most people at this school would have. Then for the Practical Exam we dueled. I used a spell I've never done before and I beat her . SHE'S A PROFESSOR OF DEFENSE AND I WON A DUEL! I don't know how I did it, it was just instinct. Then tonight Dumbledore called me into his office and explained a few things. One is that he seems to think, or Professor Grey seems to "see", that I have all this power that is just know coming to light. Two is that he says that I'm supposed to be the "Heir of Gryffindor" that was supposedly promised after Slytherin told of his heir. Gryffindor's Heir was to come and..." Hermione interrupted Harry, "...finish the fight that was started." She said in a quiet voice. "You've heard about it Hermione? How, I mean are all the founder's supposed to have ' heir's ' or something. All Dumbledore said was that I'm supposed to be his heir because I pulled that sword out of the hat in second year." Harry said looking at Hermione questioningly, tilting his head slightly. "Well, I haven't heard of the other founder's having any heir, but the fact that it's you does make sence. I mean, you're the embodiment of a Gryffindor, brave, loyal, and you'd give you life for those you care about." As Hermione said this, Harry felt that had it been any other circumstances he would have been blushing like mad to have Hermione praise him like that, though he didn't know why. Hermione continued, "And from what The Prophesy says, they go hand in hand. No one else but the Heir of Gryffindor could defeat someone like Voldemort, the Heir of Slytherin. But Harry, you know that people are going to notice if you suddenly start beating everyone at every class. How are you supposed to hide something like this so that Voldemort, "Ron, who had been silence for a period, shuddered at the name, "Oh really Ron, just say the name, it won't kill you, anyway, so that Voldemort doesn't find out that you could kill him." "But Hermione, he already knows that I'm the one that is supposed to kill him, that's why he killed my parents. The only reason that he failed is because he only heard part of the Prophesy. So, when he got his body back, he wanted to hear it and that's why he tricked me into going to the Department of Mysteries. That's why Sirius was killed." Harry finished with his head in his hands, fighting back his tears.