A/n: In Harry's perspective.
I was enjoying myself. Watching the Weasleys move all their trunks down at almost the same time was so much fun. I liked that my trunk fit into my pocket.
No one realized that I hadn't brought my trunk down yet. So for the most part I sat petting Padfoot and watching the madness. After everyone was ready and the ministry cars arrived we were off to the train.
I knew that the Dementors were going to board the train, I had my wand ready for their arrival. I went to the car with Remus in it. Padfoot recognized Remus and held back.
"It's ok Padfoot, he won't hurt you. He's a good person, you'll see." I knew I would have to convince Remus that it wasn't Sirius, but for now I left him to sleep. Ron came in, looked around and said, "couldn't you find an empty one Harry?"
Yep, just felt like sitting with someone that's all. Here's your sign." Ron looked at me funny and I shrugged my shoulders. It just came out. Hermione joined Ron and I a little later. For a mass majority of the trip, we laughed and joked; Hermione discovered the name of our fellow traveler and seemed put out when I was unimpressed.
The train started slowing down, as I knew it would. The lights went out, and people started pouring into the car. I realized that for me to produce a full Patronus wouldn't be easily explained.
I felt a slight chill and raised my mental shields. The chill vanished and I sat waiting for the Dementor to show up. My main concern was how Padfoot would react. When the hideous creature finally came, I notice that I was unaffected. Remus stood up and cast a Patronus to drive the creature away.
I relaxed my shields slightly. This was interesting; I wasn't affected by the Dementor's presence. I smiled slightly.
"What is it Harry, Hermione asked. Shoot, now I was going to have to explain.
"Nothing. Just remembered something."
Hermione had that 'I don't know what it is, but I figure it out' look in her eye. Just what I didn't need, Hermione trying to figure me out. The train soon arrived at the station.
Once inside, I heard Professor McGonagall call out, "Ms. Granger, a moment."
After the sorting ceremony, Hermione turned up. The common announcements were made and we were dismissed. Before I got ten feet, "Mr. Potter, may I speak with you?"
Nodding to Prof. McGonagall, I followed her to her office. As she sat down, she got right to business. "Mr. Potter, I am informed that you wish to quit the Quidditch team, I would like to know why."
In the best attempt to sound upset I could, "It's just that I feel I'm diverting to much time to Quidditch and not enough to my studies."
"Well Mr. Potter, many students have balanced the workload in the past."
"I know Prof.. It's that I feel I could do much better if I focused more on my studies, don't you agree?" At no point was I actually lying, just the knowledge I had forced me to view things differently.
After McGonagall's repeated attempts to coerce me to take it back up, I agreed to play Quidditch, if Prof. McGonagall would help me in the classes that my grades suffered, basically potions.
The next day when we got our schedules, I noticed that I had 'individual studies' listed for an hour three times a week. McGonagall said, "come by my office for your assignments," before she continued down. Ron had seen Hermione's schedule and began asking how was she suppose to make it to all her classes. Most of the classes were uneventful, mostly review from last year and course outlines. I had to keep from laughing at how easy it was going to be for the year, maybe I could get McGonagall to push me father ahead, and it was worth a shot.
Remus' class was enjoyable, but this time I didn't answer the question so as to try and get a chance at the boggart. I actually moved close to the front of the line to get my shot. What happened was interesting, when it started to scan me; I raised my shields without thinking. The result was that it sat there as a vapor. Quickly calling up something lame, I preformed the charm and went to the back of the line. Both Remus and Hermione were looking at me intrigued. I was starting to realize that I needed to keep my head down before someone started asking questions.
McGonagall was impressed that I was as good as I was at potions. A couple extra years practice was just what I needed to be at the level I was suppose to be. We worked on potions during the week, and three hours on Saturday on the other topics. Apparently word was spreading about my 'skill' at charms and transfiguration. Prof. Flitwick was gladly alternating with McGonagall to push my limits.
Meeting Buckbeak was fun, as I volunteered quickly to bow before him, knowing that Malfoy would cause trouble, I had my wand ready to stop Buckbeak when it happened. Malfoy was right on time, I paralyzed Buckbeak long enough to knock Malfoy aside.
"Don't worry about him Buckbeak, he's jealous that you're smarter than him."
That seemed to calm him down. Malfoy mouthed off; "who do you think you are Potter!"
I smirked at him, "would you prefer me to let him have at you? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind." The flash of fear I saw made my smile broaden. After the class Hagrid call me over.
(I cant do the accent, sorry.)
"I'm impressed Harry, that was petty strong magic you used."
"I read it in a book this summer, that's the first time I used it," now I'm straight lying. Deciding to keep things brief ended the conversation quickly. Ron and Hermione were watching me, and it was annoying. Ron was blunt as usual, but Hermione was extra sneaky. She was dropping subtle hints about what she knew, which I responded with hints of what I knew. When she realized I knew about the time turner, she decided to take a chance.
"Harry, we need to talk."
As the library wasn't the best place for this conversation, I agreed and moved the conversation to a more secluded area. Finding a relatively unused hall, I quietly raised a privacy area.
"What is it Hermione?"
In response she pulled out the time turner and leveled a glare, "do you know what this is?"
For some reason I couldn't bring myself to lie to her, "yes."
"How?"
"I read about it somewhere." I realized that Hermione was actually forcing me to give truthful answers. She was impressive I give her that.
"Harry, recently you have been disappearing, where are you going?"
I tried to direct my answer away from the truth, but I couldn't, "I have studies with Prof. McGonagall." It was her eyes; I couldn't look away from them. She was pinning me against the wall and I couldn't think of a way out.
She looked upset, "why didn't you just tell me-us?"
"I didn't want to admit I was getting extra help. I'm sorry."
She broke eye contact and I quickly raised my shields to the max. "I was considering quitting Quidditch if that tells you anything."
"You love Quidditch, why would you willingly give it up?"
I shrugged my shoulders; "it's not what I want to do with my life. I figured I should buckle down, too many jobs need a good potion grade to get them." I hate lying to her but it was necessary.
Hermione looked sad. "Was my help not enough?"
I placed a hand on her shoulder, "I didn't want you to be put under extra strain because of me."
Her face softened, "your not a burden."
Knowing that this was getting sentimental, I distracted her, "you realize that I'll keep your secret, don't you?"
She nodded, "thanks Harry. I still think you should tell Ron."
"I will later."
The meeting with Hermione went better than I thought it would. Learning that she could force me to tell the truth was an eye opener. Everything stayed status quo for months until our first game.
I had found that Quidditch was the one thing I couldn't predict, I was random and changing. I quickly found myself enthralled in catching the snitch.
I saw Padfoot watching the game, and I hear Wood say something about the snitch, I turned and saw Cedric going after it. I started to chase it, but suddenly I felt so cold that I wouldn't be warm, the last thing I remember before I passed out was seeing the ground rushing at me.
I woke up to the voices around me. How could I have been so stupid, my shields were lowered and I forgot the Dementors would show up to this game! I kept my eyes closed for a while, opening them slowly, I saw the team plus Hermione stand near by.
"So, how did it go?"
Everyone jumped when I spoke. I had a felling I already knew the outcome. Sure enough, we still lost and my broom was still smashed. They misinterpreted my glum look as being about the game. If I could mess this up, something I remembered quiet clearly, then what did that say about the rest? The only major change was Sirius not attacking during Halloween, but then Wormtail had run off earlier in the year.
Time flew by. Wood was on me to get a new broom, but I procrastinated hoping Sirius would buy me the Firebolt.
Soon Christmas came; Ron and Hermione were off to a Hogsmeade visit, Fred and George gave me the map, which I intended to put to good use. Padfoot was standing near me while I activated the map.
Before he could move, I rapped my arm around Sirius' head. "I know who you are. I've known since I first saw you. I intend for Wormtail to pay, will you stay clam long enough for me to do that?" Sirius' head nodded. I released him and smiled, "my friends are going to learn something interesting, don't respond."
A while later, Hermione found me in the common room, petting Sirius and reading a book. As no one had returned yet she said, Harry, you're not going to believe what I heard."
"Something about Sirius Black being my godfather? I knew that."
Hermione looked shocked, "how did you know I heard that?"
"A little bird told me."
Hermione looked offended. So in an attempt to appease her, "I heard it from McGonagall, and as to how I knew that's what you heard, it's the only thing I can think of that Ron wouldn't come with you about."
"And you're ok with this?"
"I have information you don't. Information I'm not allowed to reveal."
Hermione nodded, content with my answer. We discussed various topics of no importance till Ron got back. A couple days later, I sent a letter to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore,
We need to talk ASAP.
Harry Potter
Not an hour later, McGonagall arrived at Gryffindor Tower to escort me to the head master's office.
Thanks to: Tanya J Potter, TGB, shadowfirethedemonchild, popppincorn
Should I make this nice or angry? Remember, Dumbledore can't be told how Harry got his information.