Harry Potter Boy who Lives

H P Boy who Lives 7th year

Chapter Six

First Day Blues

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The first day of term continues read on to see what is in store for all...

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Harry was the last to arrive in the training area. He was so furious with Hermione that he let his temper slip and the heavy doors slammed shut with a thunderous boom behind him.

"You're in a mood this morning." Stephen was not expecting a moody brooding grandson, "James said you enjoyed your session with Chen." He waited for him to take his seat beside Hermione.

Harry pointed at the desk, with a flick of his wrist moved it, so he would be sitting beside Draco instead. "I did enjoy my session with Master Chen. It was my hour and a half of free time that went badly, let's leave it at that." Harry opened his bag and took out his Auror training book, some parchment, ink, and a quick quotes quill.

"I see. No matter we shall work with your mood. If everyone will please follow Harry's lead and take out your book, some parchment, ink, and a quill we will get started." Stephen noticed that everyone, but Hermione did as instructed. "Hermione, is there a problem?"

"I was in such a rush this morning, that I forgot my satchel with my books, and things in it." Hermione, who never did such things, was mortified, and near tears.

"That's quite understandable, Kitten. Having a fight with your other half right before class, over a completely innocent situation, or a hidden fear can leave one flustered." Stephen was understanding with her.

Draco and Ginny looked at each of them, then at each other, but said nothing.

"So, unless he has a better idea, you will have to share a book with Harry." Stephen noticed the extra book bag beside Harry's desk.

Harry moved his desk back beside hers. "I hate it when you cry or get upset. I was late, because I had to lug two heavy bags of school stuff down to the dungeons." He set her bag on her desk. "I don't get all peeved about the Healer training or complain about you practicing on me. So, don't get peeved about my Auror training and we'll be fine." Harry turned his attention back to his grandfather.

"I saw him up on those poles this morning and panicked. I just won't sneak out to watch you anymore." Hermione got out what she needed for class.

That's not all she saw. Harry thought. "The bath, potions, and rub down were very loving of you angel, it really helped me be able to function today." Harry smiled at her.

Hermione blushed crimson.

"She didn't!" Draco and Ginny gaped at him.

"No comment." Harry opened his book.

Master Chen arrived soundlessly in the massive training area. "The two princesses will come with me. The two of you will continue your practical lesson."

Hermione and Ginny packed up their things and walked over to him.

"Leave those with the boys. We are going to study ancient Herbology, those will not be needed." Chen sent the bags floating over to the empty desks and then the three of them vanished.

"It seems that Master Chen wants Ginny to be a Healer as well." Stephen mused.

"Okay boys, today we work on getting out of a binding spell without the use of a wand."

Harry and Draco spent two hours perfecting getting out of chains, vines, thick binding, and ropes of various consistencies.

Sirius stood next to Stephen. "They're both naturals at this; it'll make training them easier."

"That's as it should be. Lancelot was Arthur's equal in almost every way. Except he never had the patience or drive to rule nor did he wish to." Merlin was standing beside them dressed, as he had when training Arthur. He wore his shocking violet robes and matching hat with moving stars and constellations on them.

"My, my, aren't we dressed fancy." Stephen smirked.

"It's just for show; thought the young ones might enjoy it." Merlin grinned. "Although, it does goes with that circlet our boy is wearing. I wore this when I taught Arthur."

"Anna made him wear it, thought you'd be pleased."

Sirius had the two boys bound and hanging from the ceiling. "Last one boys, see if you can get out of that."

"Now after seeing this I am beyond pleased. He just freed himself by turning into a squirrel and then back." Merlin watched as Draco reverted to being a ferret then back. "Oh, good form! Well done both of you!" He applauded.

"Class dismissed. I want a yard on what you just perfected on the do's and don'ts of getting out of magical binds. Due on my desk tomorrow." Stephen gave them their homework assignment.

--

Harry and Draco wrote that down, before gathering their bags and the girl's bags as well.

"Morning First- Gramps, I thought class was in the west tower."

"That it is my boys. Shall we be off or do you need me to take us there?" He knew the flights of stairs would be murder on the two of them. So, he ported them up to the tower. "Now have a seat, the girls should be arriving shortly." Merlin sat down in a big overstuffed shocking purple chintz chair.

The Tower had no desks, just towers of books, a large round table, enormous floor to ceiling windows that bathed the room in sunshine, and every magical gadget old and new spread out around them.

"Chen thinks he can keep them over does he, well, I'm not having that." Merlin snapped his fingers and the girls appeared in their seats. "Yes, that's much better."

"We took a portkey to the orient, it was fascinating." Hermione was back in a good mood.

"We gathered all the herbs, flowers, roots, and tea leaves that he needed for his stay here. Healing is a challenge and I wish to pursue becoming a Healer." Ginny was excited as well.

"In that case..." Merlin called Mab and Celestra to the tower. "Healing is more Mab's forte. Where as mine is mostly practical magic and basic healing."

"Not even ten minutes of teaching and you send for help." Mab arched a brow at her husband.

"Not because of the boys, mother," Celestra was very pleased with this turn of events. "The girls wish to be Healers more than practical magic users."

"All you will need is a clear mind and an eagerness to learn. Leave the books to the men." Mab was very eager to begin their training, so she ported the four of them to Avalon.

"Before we can advance your training you must first master basic spells, jinxes, and hexes without the use of a wand. Wands are what you need to use occasionally, but not as a crutch." Merlin lectured them.

"Can every wizard master magic without a wand?" Draco asked.

"Complex or powerful spells still need the wand to perform them, but rudimentary spells like Accio, Incendio, Wingardium Leviosa, and so on do not. Now as for your question young Draco, the answer is no, not every wizard has the power in them to master magic without a wand." Merlin went about teaching as he spoke.

"So if we can't do this then you can't teach us." Draco frowned.

"No, dear boy, I can still teach you. Arthur was unable to do it and I taught him. Godric was more apt at magic and could use magic without a wand. You either can or cannot, but it does not make you less of a wizard." Merlin reassured him.

"So this ability isn't common?" Draco knew that Harry could already perform rudimentary spells minus his wand, as could their older sisters.

"A dozen a generation if one is lucky." Merlin nodded.

"Fine then let's do this." Draco was ready to try. He had been secretly trying to attempt it for days with no results.

"We'll warm you two up first. Focus on the candles in front of you and light them." Merlin taught.

They lit the candles by waving a hand across them and put them out the same way.

"Fire is a wizards most rudimentary skill anyone can produce it without a wand. Now the same goes for levitating an object." Merlin lectured.

They moved stacks of books around the room with ease.

"Excellent, now call an object to you using Accio without your wand."

"Accio First-Gramps Wizarding hat," Harry grinned when the hat flew off Merlin's head and onto his own.

"Very cheeky of you, but excellent nonetheless," Merlin shook his head at him.

"Accio candle," Draco focused on a large candle, but nothing happened. "Accio candle," It didn't budge. "Nope still nothing." He sighed in defeat.

"I will have none of that defeatist attitude, lad. You will still be able to excel with my guidance." Merlin walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Trust me when I say, being dubbed the next Merlin, is not what you could deem as fun." Harry also put a hand on his shoulder. "It puts unbelievable pressure you."

"That may be true, but one cannot hide from ones destiny. Now let us get on with your lesson. Magic can corrupt as easily as it can enrich a wizard. Power is a wizard's greatest asset, but can also be their greatest downfall, if one does not respect that power, or turns to dark magic. There is white magic used for the good of all Wizarding kind and Dark Magic used by those seeking power and not knowledge." Merlin lectured. "Dark Magic ultimately leads to the destruction of the wizard or witch. Loss of ones self and premature aging are also side effects. Cho Chang chose unwisely, if she does come out of this alive, she will be barren, will have lost her beauty, and will live a desolate life."

"I can assure you that I'm on the side of White Magic for life." Draco vowed. "Harry and I are brothers now and part of a team that can't be beaten."

"I am well aware of where your loyalties lie, grandson. You could not have touched Excalibur if you had any darkness left in you." Merlin sat down beside him. "What shall it be boys? Blending into shadows, becoming invisible without the aid of a cloak, creating weather that boggles the Muggle minds, or vanishing and reappearing without the use of a wand or the Apparation spell?"

Draco looked at Harry. "I'd like to learn all of that, but 'Wonder Boy' here already knows it."

"Do you really?" Merlin arched a silver brow at his grandson.

"Uh, well, actually, yeah, I can perform all of those." Harry didn't like to brag and felt uncomfortable answering the question.

"Well then while I teach Draco you can read this." Merlin reached into his bag and took out his journal on conversing, becoming, and understanding all creatures.

"You expect me to be able to talk to all the animals? Every last one, become them, and understand them to boot?" Harry had been reading that journal.

"Will that be a trial for you?" Merlin frowned.

"No First-Grandfather, I am here to learn." Harry sighed in defeat.

"You can already converse with reptiles, dragons, birds, dogs, cats, and spiders. This should not be a chore for you, my lad. Think of it as an adventure." Merlin pointed out another way of seeing this lesson. "I will want an essay on each group and how to converse, interact, and become them as you progress. Not very long just a yard per essay."

Harry wrote that down in his assignment planner. "As you wish First-Grandfather."

"There's a good lad. Now go and read by the nook near the fire, while Draco takes his practical lesson with me." Merlin conjured a cozy chair and then lit the fire.

--

The Great Hall

Draco was extremely enthusiastic about his lesson with Merlin. "I did it, Harry! I can use Accio without a wand, as well as basic spells and charms!"

"I reckon you were just too keyed up to achieve it straight off." Harry sat down for lunch.

"He said the key is to not try so bloody hard. I relaxed my mind and it worked." Draco sat across from him.

Harry flagged down Colin, who had just walked into the Hall. "Colin, can you come over here for a minute?"

Colin, who worshipped Harry, didn't waste anytime running over to him. "You need something Harry?" He asked with his usual eager to please smile plastered on his face.

"I need you to take pictures of me and Draco, it's for an essay that's due tomorrow. Can you help us out?" Harry had a plan about his Auror essay.

"Sure Harry, I can help." Colin was never without his camera.

"Brilliant." Merlin had let them go early, so they had a little less than two hours free. "Let's go little brother; this will take only a half hour at the most." Harry got up from the table.

"It had better, I'm starved. What are you up to anyway?" Draco grabbed an apple to munch on.

"The snaps will take up a good deal of parchment for our Auror essay." Harry explained the plan.

"The snaps with an explanation underneath each one, that's brilliant!" Draco and Harry led Colin into the training area.

"This is where Draco and I are getting trained as Aurors." Harry explained to Colin.

"Wicked training area," Colin was impressed. "I wish to work as a photographer on The Quibbler."

"Help us with us with our essay and we can grant that dream of yours." Harry grinned.

"Isn't it lunch time for you guys?" Tonks walked out of the shadows.

"Yeah, it is, we're just getting a head start on our homework essays." Draco casually replied.

"That wouldn't be one yard on getting out of magic binding spells without the use of a wand would it?" Tonks had seen Stephen's lesson plan.

The boys nodded.

"In that case I'll bind you two up and Colin here can take snaps of you escaping those binds." Tonks took out her wand. "That's your plan isn't it?"

They nodded again.

"Then let's get to it, so you'll still have time for lunch." Tonks went about helping them.

It took thirty minutes, but they had the snaps, and were once again sitting down for lunch.

Hermione and Ginny arrived and sat down beside their men.

"Can you believe two classes and no homework, unless you count reading books?" Hermione kissed him hello.

"I've never been so enthused or excited about class in my life. I definitely wish to become a Healer." Ginny kissed Draco hello. "So how were your morning classes?"

Draco returned her kiss before answering. "Practical Auror training with grandfather was on binding spells and us freeing ourselves without our wands."

Harry kissed Hermione back as well. "We have one yard of parchment due on the in's and outs of escaping binding spells due tomorrow."

"What about First-Grandfather Merlin's class?" Hermione reached into his bag and took out his assignment planner. "An essay on each animal group and how to converse, interact, and become them. One yard per group of animals as you progress...Harry, I'll help you with it and the practical Auror one as well."

"Thanks sweetness. If the Quick Quotes quill fails..." Harry dug into his Chow mien and rice dish. "I may just take you up on that offer."

"I'll proofread it," Hermione took a bite of her sandwich and added chips to her plate. "I don't mind."

"We have Transfiguration next; Aunt Minerva always gives out homework." Draco bit into an egg roll. "This food isn't half bad."

Ron and Neville walked into the Hall, they also were all smiles about their first morning of classes.

"Your Mum is the best teacher! We went Muggle watching, shopping, and had lunch at a Muggle restaurant!" Neville was in a very good mood.

"Aunt Lily is the best Muggle Studies Professor." Ron agreed.

Harry nearly choked on his Chow mien noodles. "Sounds like everyone is having a smashing first day," He coughed.

"The best part is no homework." Ron sat down grinning from ear to ear.

"Must be nice," Luna sat down next to him. "I have loads of homework to do."

"We hear you there baby sister." Draco and Harry groaned.

--

They sat down for Transfiguration and found books on Animagus sitting on their desks.

"That answers what we're gonna be studying this year." Ron flipped through some pages.

"That is correct, Mr. Weasley. You are going to learn how to master your Animagi form or forms." Minerva walked into the classroom.

"Ron needs all the practice he can get." Draco muttered under his breath.

"That might be true Mr. Black, but the commentary wasn't necessary." She frowned down at him.

"Sorry Aunt...I mean Professor." Draco turned to glance over at Ron. "Sorry Ron."

"No worries mate. After my first attempt, I agree that I'm in desperate need of practice." Ron was still on a high from his morning class.

"Becoming an animagus is not the accomplishment, but controlling your animal form and remaining ones self is. Peter Pettigrew was able to become a rat; however that is also what he ultimately became." Minerva lectured the six of them.

"Miss Weasley is in class with the four of you, because she also became an Animagus. That and she scored highest in her class for O.W.L'S last term." Minerva paused at Ginny and Draco's desk. "Even higher than Percy, Bill, or Charlie."

Ginny blushed when Draco kissed her cheek. "I just wanted to keep up with all of you that's all."

"Miss Lovegood scored high marks as well, second under Miss Weasley. Therefore, she also earned the chance to learn about becoming animagus with the four of you." Minerva smiled at Luna.

"Mr. Pendragon and Mrs. ... Oh, I can't say it..." Minerva still saw them as her kids not a nearly grown up newly married couple. "So let us dispense with the formalities, as it is only you six are in this class. Harry, Draco, and Hermione can change into several animal forms, as was seen just recently by most of the family. Ronald can achieve one form that he can't yet control. Ginny has the ability to change into one form, and Luna has yet to try becoming an Animagus." Minerva had arranged the desks in a half-circle. The rest of the desks were pushed to the side to make room for them to become Animagi.

"I didn't wish to upset Ronnie, so I chose to wait until class." Luna was serene as can be.

"Well, Luna now is your chance to try." Minerva walked over to the center of the classroom, where six circular rugs were placed on the floor. "Sit on the carpet and focus on your inner animal spirit, become one with that animal, and you will transfigure your body into that form." Minerva taught her.

Luna did as she as directed, she sat down on one of the carpets, closed her eyes, and concentrated on her animal spirit within.

"Now while Luna is doing that, each of you will choose a form, and transfigure yourself into that animal shape, while trying to keep your inner selves inside the animal form." Minerva pointed to the five other rugs on the floor.

Harry chose Prince in wolf form and sat proudly on the carpet. His eyes very much alert and in complete control.

Hermione chose Princess in her Kneazle form and acted the same as Harry.

Draco chose Dragon in wolf form and sat proud as he could be.

Ginny was now Cleo her Kneazle form and had no problems staying calm and in control.

"Ronald, we are waiting." Minerva pointed to the last empty carpet on the floor.

Ron reluctantly did as he was told. "Last time I went ape, are you sure about this?"

"Positive, Ronald. Now just focus on remaining yourself inside your Animagi form." Minerva told him.

Harry changed back and went over to sit next to him. "Just focus on being you. Checkmate your instinct to act like an ape."

"Yes, think of this like a chess game. Keep your animal form in check or checkmate." Harry's insight impressed Minerva.

Ron closed his eyes and became the Orangutan, who continued to go ape for the span of five minutes, before Minerva changed him back. "Sorry Aunt Minerva." He surveyed the overturned cages in the classroom.

Harry was rounding up the animals back into the cages.

"You lack confidence, Ronald. You've already achieved a monumental step by becoming an animagus, now you must learn to control it." Minerva shook her head at him.

Hermione held a docile ring-tailed lemur in her arms. "This would have been a much easier to control form."

"It's your fault, Hermione! You called me a primate and now my mind thinks it's true!" Ron buried his face in his hands. "I can't help it if your words echo in my mind and that takes over!"

"You did what?!" Minerva narrowed her eyes at Hermione.

"He was stuffing his face, as usual, and I was in a mood." Hermione folded her arms in front of her. "He was behaving like a primate, so I called him one."

"Now this makes perfect sense, you just need that piece of your memory removed." Harry thought of the Pensive, where Severus and Albus stored their thoughts.

"That's very decisive of you, but I don't have a Pensive in this classroom." Minerva frowned.

Harry unconsciously bent the rules and a large Pensive appeared on a table. "I have to learn to control that. I promised Dad no more making objects appear on a whim."

"This wasn't for personal gain, nephew, so it's not breaking any promises, or rules. You have Merlin's bloodline running through your veins, magic like this; even spontaneous magic is to be expected." Minerva walked over to him. "You know how to use this do you not."

"Yes, Aunt Minerva, I know how to use it. Ron's gonna have to trust me enough to do this though." Harry took out his wand placed it to his own forehead, and a slivery strand came out of his head. He then placed it in the Pensive's shimmering pool of liquid. The silver strand now looked like mercury floating on the surface of the shimmering liquid pool.

"Harry, was that a stand of one of your memories?" Hermione was fascinated by the Pensive.

Harry nodded, "It's my memory of the final battle against Voldemort, where you and Ron..." He couldn't say the words. "Lets just say it's a memory that I don't want right now, besides I'm showing Ron that it doesn't hurt." He took an even longer strand of memory and added it to the Pensive. "That's my time with the Dursley's till when I first got the letter to attend Hogwarts."

Ron looked down into the Pensive. "You know that I trust you mate and it looks painless. Now what do I have to do."

"It's quite simple really, all you have to do is relax your mind, and focus on that day when Hermione called you a primate." Harry used Legilimens to enter Ron's mind. "That's it Ron, now stay relaxed." Harry placed the tip of his wand to Ron's temple, removing a silvery strand of memory, which he then placed in the Pensive.

"Very good, now Ronald try becoming an animagus again." Minerva told him.

She turned to glower at Draco, who had his face in the Pensive. "Draco, get your face out of there this instant!" She heard something behind her and turned to look. "Oh my stars, so that's his true form, a ginger furred raccoon."

Ron was now a raccoon sitting calmly on the carpet.

Luna was a majestic Phoenix of magenta red with purple gold tips of color on her wings.

"Luna's makes sense, she loves mystical creatures. Though, I was expecting a unicorn or dragon." Hermione looked at Luna. "Ron's is perfect for him cunning, curious, intelligent, and with an unlimited appetite."

Draco stuck his head up and stared at the three of them.

"It's your fault for being curious, so don't growl at Harry, because of what you just saw." Ginny gave him a look.

"How's he standing there still sane? After enduring that he should be out of his mind. Anyone else would have been. You really are the next Merlin. It's like you changed into someone twice your age. Your voice, attitude, and power were off the scales. Were you wearing the ring...I've only seen you like that, when you had the ring on your finger." Draco was now very aware of why Harry was so far ahead in class.

"The ring was upstairs in my trunk." Harry stared at him in surprise. "So you aren't toasted at me after see all that?"

"You did all of that with no ring?" Draco was floored by his answer, not the least bit peeved about seeing his father die. "That man was never my father. I know that now that I have a real family who loves me. He deserved what he got."

"Glad to know you don't harbor any hard feelings about it. I didn't put, no, Hermione didn't force me to put the ring on, until we were on the way to the airport in her parent's limo. That was after, well, you need to see this to really understand who Lucius really was." Harry put another memory into the Pensive. "That is how I got the scar."

Hermione, Draco, Ron, Ginny, and Luna all stuck their heads into the Pensive.

"Sorry Aunt Minerva for disrupting class." Harry apologized.

"That's quite all right Harry, would you like me to keep that in...Wait a minute this is Albus' Pensive. I didn't hear you say Accio or see you use your wand." Minerva was puzzled.

"Uh, yeah about that, well I, uh, don't really use my wand for basic spells and stuff. Now as for the Pensive appearing, I have no idea how that works it just does." Harry took out other memories the basilisk, Voldemort's rising, Department of Mysteries, and lastly the Dementors when they rescued Sirius. "That should give them a show."

"While they're all occupied, would you like to talk about what it is that is bothering you?" Minerva could see that he wasn't having a good day.

"Sure Aunt Minerva just one second." Harry decided to add first year getting the stone, and Aragog from second year to the Pensive. "It's nothing big; Hermione is upset about my Auror training being too dangerous. Let's see what else; I was too beat to notice her reading on my bed, so she saw me naked. If that isn't frustrating enough top that with grandfather's one yard essay due tomorrow and add to that First-Grandfather's assignments understanding, interacting and becoming all creatures. There's also a one-yard essay per animal group, due as I progress, which means about six yards due tomorrow." Harry paced in front of her. "Hermione and Ginny have no homework, unless reading counts. Ron got to go to a Muggle shopping area to watch muggles, shop, and then ate at a Muggle restaurant. Hermione and Ginny went to the orient with Master Chen and then got to go with First-Grams to learn healer stuff in Avalon. I know that I'm being childish about this, but it's not fair!"

"Oh, I see and I would imagine that your broken arm makes it difficult for you to write, as you are right-handed." Minerva had rarely seen him this unglued.

"I can write with my left hand, but it isn't really legible. Is it cheating to use a quick quotes quill?" Harry continued to pace.

"First calm down, it's not cheating, and lastly you are used to heavy homework loads from fifth and sixth years so relax. I am not giving you an essay, so is that making you feel better."

He hugged Minerva.

"I guess it does." She hugged him back.

"Excuse the interruption Minerva, but..." Albus appeared in the classroom, not expecting to see the five of them looking in his Pensive, or Harry hugging his wife.

"Harry borrowed your Pensive and the children are viewing his memories or should I say nightmares of real life adventures." Minerva kissed him on the cheek.

"You needed the Pensive because?" Albus raised his brows at Harry.

"It seems that Hermione called Ronald a primate on Monday, which is why he could not control his Animagus form. The Pensive holds that memory, so now Ronald can control his true form, that being a raccoon." Minerva explained to him before Harry could.

"I see..." Albus glanced over at the others. "Harry, when class is over you and I will return to my study, to discuss why you chose to share those memories, you have never wished even Hermione to see."

"After class? Uh, I've got two hours of DADA aiding Dad. Can we do it after?" Harry asked hopefully, but by the look that Albus was giving him he was going to be late for DADA with his dad. "Or not..." He sighed in defeat.

"Excellent, my study after class, the password is Love Bangs." Albus kissed Minerva then vanished.

"He misses your talks with him, after all you had one every day sixth year." Minerva put a hand on his shoulder.

"I miss them too." Harry just couldn't win. He wished that he was more than one person sometimes, because then his life would be a hell of a lot easier.

--

Chapter Seven

The Boggart

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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.

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Cindra 2004-2008