Title: Harry Potter and the Star of Babylon

Author: P.L.S.

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Rating: PG.

Full Summery: Refer to the first chapter. It's all there in black and white.

Author's Notes: They say confession is good for the soul . . . but I think Rocky Road Ice Cream is better. I just finished the first three chapters, at once. I have a feeling I am going to be writing this whole thing in blocks like that. Snape was OOC in the last chapter, but I'm working on it. Everything is so changed and no one is like their canon counterpart. I'm trying to stay historical as well, I even made calendars and Draco and Harry's timetables for the school year. I'm working on Ron, Hermione, and the twins' timetables as well as sketches of the school and students.

Disclaimer: If I changed the names this could be an original work that seems to be inspired by Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. But as it stands it is a fan fiction and thus I am stealing a great deal to create my plot and to just write this. It is not a work that I am making money from, I do not own anyone I use here unless you cannot find mention of it in the canon. Don't sue, I must give credit to where credit is due. J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, Warner Brothers, and whoever else owns Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I don't own it. I wish I did.

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Chapter Four - Peace? Who Needs Peace When They Go Shooting?

Summery: Thanksgiving at Elmwood is such a wonderful time. Harry gets a chance at joining the school's Archery and Shooting team, Draco learns all about the trials and tribulations of being Harry's friend, Hermione is trying to drag them all to the library during their spare time, the twins are making life a bit easier for Harry and trying to get him to lift his restrictions, and Ron can't understand how this is normal for Harry.

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Harry awoke around seven forty to the blissful sounds of silence. No arguments, no laughter, no talking. It was just him, his very warm and soft bed, and the silence. He longed for this to last forever. He was just going to skip his morning classes until he recalled he had a test in math first thing and couldn't skip it due to the fact he had missed the last one that he had caught wind of. He had claimed illness but that wouldn't work now, Vector was too astute. Jumping out of bed like he was on fire he pulled on his last pair of clean trousers, a dark colored button up shirt and his holster and gun. After getting his shoes, socks, and a sweater on he grabbed his books and made a mad dash across the yard and into the science building. Just as the bell rang he collapsed onto his seat next to Draco who silently gave him two slices of toast and jam with a rosy red apple. He ate as he worked through the sheet of problems. They were simple but they were time consuming and left too much room for Harry to make a stupid error and screw up all his work. Soon enough he finished (he was done first, as usual) and handed in the test papers then sat in the hall out side Vector's room to wait for Draco. They both had free time today until Flitwick's class and Draco had finally gotten permission from Ms. Hooch to use the gymnasium to practice the things they were covering in Combat Training. As Hermione exited shortly after him, she smiled.

How do you think you did on the test? she asked, Harry shot her a small grimace.

Awful, I think I messed up all the means and the percent questions. I swear nothing in the world would make me happier than just skipping more of my classes. Hermione shook her head.

Harry, you do have talent in math. Remember when I was doing those puzzles last week, the ones I told you my mother sent me? Harry nodded, what was she playing at? Hermione grinned, They were extra credit from Vector. She said no one lower than her geometry class has ever solved them. You solved them almost as soon as you looked at them. Harry shook his head.

That was logic and finding the bits I knew couldn't fit. It was balancing a scale, nothing special. I used one or two of those things to observe targets before I broke in. Trust me, it isn't math. Hermione smiled and muttered something about idiot boys' then went to go study at the library. The only reason she didn't drag him along was thanks to Draco, he had made it clear that they were not available today.

Soon Draco came out and was smirking. Harry was confused but soon enough the reason for that smirk was reveled. She started marking the tests already, I saw yours. he said. Harry started walking with him to the gymnasium and the changing rooms. Harry was a little curious now as to what Draco saw on his paper, but it seemed like he was going to have to ask, again.

Harry held off for a little while, until they were changing into their workout clothes. Okay, fine. I give up, you pompous jerk. What was my grade? Harry glared at Draco who was smiling serenely.

Ah, music to my ears. You missed one, the last question. answered Draco. Harry nodded, he knew that he would miss that one. It included a little bit of material that hadn't been taught yet. Then again Vector always did that, she said it was a bit of a teaser for the next section. So far only Hermione ever got the teaser correct every time. Harry had gotten it once or twice, but never as often as that genius girl. All the more reason he thought that Hermione was wrong about him being good at math. Draco wasn't that great either, he and Harry were about equal in that class. Draco excelled at English and history and was better than Harry at science. The only non-Elmwood-only subject Harry actually bested anyone in was Latin. Why that was, was anyone's guess. After all, he disliked the teacher, disliked the material, and disliked almost everything else about the subject. Trelawney was easily the most idiotic teacher that was employed at the school, she was flighty, ignorant, and had no grasp of reality from what Harry could see. The things they covered in class were child's play and poorly taught. The location of the classroom was far away from the rest of the classes, Harry had to run from the Library and History building to the top most section of the main building and from there he had to wind his way through a maze of rooms to get to her little alcove of a classroom.

There were other languages offered, as well as music and visual arts. Harry would have chosen to learn Spanish or German except for the fact he already knew a bit of Latin from his days going to that Catholic school with Dudley, and he did like the language. It wasn't hard for him to understand the rules and it just flowed for him. He had been waiting for two years to restart his learning of the language, but now he was sleeping through class and still getting the top grades. If Hermione took the class maybe he would have a challenge, but she studied French. If Ron took the class at least it would be funny but he took visual arts class. Draco took Latin with him but Draco had no gift for Latin and fell asleep before Harry did everyday. Draco already told him that next year he was taking visual arts instead. Draco loved to leave him stranded like that.

Which brought Harry's thoughts back to the present. Ms. Hooch was waiting for them in the center of the gymnasium. Draco jogged over and Harry followed, Hooch was holding a leather bag and smiling at them in a rather scary manner.

Ah, Draco, Harry. You both are early, good thing. she said at the boys who came to a stop before her. Harry was very confused, and it must have shown, because Hooch frowned at Draco, You didn't tell him, did you? she accused. Draco smiled.

I'm sorry, I just thought it would be best if you, the more experienced teacher, told him. I was sure to botch it up. Draco lied smoothly. It was rather irritating to watch him just lie blatantly to everyone when you weren't half as good at it as he was. Hooch smiled.

Liar, but who am I to preach? Okay. Harry, Draco asked me to teach you two some additional lessons in combat. Seeing as how you can't part with your gun unless it's required of you, I decided I need to start you guys on Daggars and Knives. She dropped the bag and it opened to a pile of sharp silver steel and darker iron, Pick two that you feel most at ease with boys.

Draco automatically stooped down and plucked two identical daggars with the handles wrapped in black aligator skin straps. Harry looked at the pile of sharp objects and shrugged, he was going to let his instincts pick. After all, he had no clue what to look for. As soon as he made that choice a sparkle at the bottom of the bag caught his eye. Digging down with careful manuvers he found what had caught his eye. There were two large hunting knives with solid looking handles and no shortage of scratches on the blades. He pulled them out and noted that the edges were sharp and very deadly in the right hands. He twirled the one in his right hand and smiled, they felt right.

Goodness, you boys sure know how to pick them. Well, they are yours now. I want you to wear them at all times and take care of them. We'll get you boy's a couple of different sheaths and figure out what is best. Draco and I have been looking at our schedules for times when we can get together. I desided that on Sunday at seven to nine you boys will come and practice here, you may come in here during any study hour, free time, or independent study you wish and practice so long as you keep out of the way of any class that may be here. I'll also give you permission to use the lawns as well.

Hooch smiled brightly and lead the boys to the storage room on the end of the gymnasium. There she made them try on holster after holster until they found the styles they liked. Draco opted for a belt while Harry ran back to the changing room got his shoulder holster and with Ms. Hooch's help made enough modifications to it so that he could carry his knives there with his gun. Just as they finished a thirteen year old girl ran into the gymnasium.

Ms. Hooch, I need Harry to come with me. Mr. Qurrill wants him. she said. Hooch looked at her questioningly.

Why? What is so important that he needs to be pulled from his additional lessons? she asked. The girl blushed.

Well, he is going to be offered a spot on the school shooting team. We couldn't find an older handgun and rifle user in time for the competion on Monday. We need him to come to Dean Dumbledore's office now and get signed up and then we have to have a meeting. said the girl. Hooch smiled.

Congradulations, Harry. I'm sure you'll do great, even if you are the youngest member of the team in the school's history. Go get changed and then meet Miss Johnson outside. Draco and I will just cover therory today and he'll teach you what he learned before our practice on Sunday. Harry smiled and thanked her and Draco for going to all this trouble for him then ran to the changing rooms with his holster, knives, and gun. As soon as he pulled on his shoes he was out the door and following Johnson to the main building.