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Beta: gallandro83
Part 2 Involvement
Chapter 7 the cackling professor
Pam, Bruce and Owen ran around the school giddily. After running into several students from class Owen finally said, "oie, I need to sit down for a sec, getting dizzy." He promptly sat on stairs leading towards the main hall. He cancelled his spell and closed his eyes.
"You alright?" Pam and Bruce promptly dropped the spell as well.
"Yeah, I think I just got a sensory overload. Looking at a group of friends hurts the eyes you know?"
Bruce nodded. "I was wondering how long we should hold this spell, but looks like thirty minutes is the max for you." Bruce and Pam sat next to Owen who still had his eyes closed.
"So what do you think of your own auras?" Asked Pam. She looked at both of them with the spell. Owen's aura was silver tinged with green, red waves. Bruce's aura was more yellow with flakes of green, blue and orange.
"He said we could determine what we are good at from our auras. What are you good at Pam?" asked Owen he still had his eyes closed and was rubbing his eyelids gently.
"Charms and Herbology actually." She ducted her head, slightly embarrassed.
Bruce chuckled, "What's wrong with that?"
She didn't look at him when she said, "Nothing just not interested in Herbology is all."
Owen shook his head and opened his eyes. "Well your dominantly teal and orange. Think those are for those two subjects?"
Pam just shrugged. "Well maybe." A thought just crossed her mind. "Hey, everyone has their aura flaring out around them right? So why doesn't Professor Dursley?"
"I am more curious why his aura is mostly one color." That stopped the other two in their tracks. The three sat in silence. "Maybe its an adult thing, lets look at the other professors during dinner." Decided Pam she stood up and led them to the great hall to eat.
-o-
Harry walked down to the hall to breakfast the next morning and saw that his students were already eating. He glanced up to the staff table and saw that Albus was absent. Harry turned around and began walking up the several flights of stairs to the headmasters' office still needing to speak to him about Alice.
Harry said the password and walked to the office. He politely knocked and Albus called, "come in."
Harry waved to the head master who was just finishing his own meal. He bade for his young professor to sit down and speak. "Hello Albus, I actually wanted to speak to you about Alice."
Albus's attention went strait to Harry. "That is good, I have been wondering what you have thought of the girl. We really haven't had much time to sit and talk." Harry agreed. Albus was a busy man even if he only managed Hogwarts now. And when he did have time Harry had been busy planning how he was going to teach many things he had only talked about with a few people.
"Well as you know I have had the class study meditation techniques and basic Occlumency. They have completed the Occlumency a few days ago and today they were practicing Sensation and Sight." Albus nodded pleased that Harry had such success.
"So what brought this visit about Alice then?"
"Well Saturday evening, after we had out testing session, I sensed something off within my class room. One of my students told me that it Alice was in a meditative state and couldn't come out." Harry sighed and looked at Albus feeling much older than his headmaster. "She was in a trance. Apparently she triggered a partition she had in her mind to open."
Albus looked startled. He had not expected for the girl to have something that would require her to break her own mind to protect herself.
"When I dived into her mind, I had Susan anchor me with Shan." Harry and Albus smiled at that. Susan had been scared of her friend when she first summoned it. And she did not summon him again for a week until she got over the fact he was a spider. "The partition was a few memories of her childhood before she arrived here at Hogwarts. Her aunt wanted to train her to be a proper pureblood and would cast imperio and crucio on her to make her listen." Albus looked down sadly and rubbed his eyes with his fingers.
"Unbelievable. How is she now? She is alright now at least or you would have come to me sooner."
"She is alright but for the time during Hogsmeade and all that night she relived those memories. I was with her in the hospital wing. I had nearly drained my own magic with the tests and the dive into her mind so I was locked up by Susan. I am grateful that she did though. She said that she remembers everything, but she would not allow the sudden memories to control her life." Albus nodded. He seemed deep in thought and Harry nodded before saying. "This is what we were sensing in her. Unfortunately its still there. When I look at her I can still see that smoldering anger. I think we need to find her a release. But this is only one of the things I came in here to talk about."
Albus sighed, "There is always more isn't there?" he said wearily.
"I wanted to see if there is a way to remove her form her aunts custody." He looked up at Albus.
His suspicions were confirmed when the headmaster just closed his eyes. "I am sorry Harry, Madame Nan Niete, is more influential than the Malfoys, well, Narcissa now. There is now way with out proof, and with the incident being a memory, its not very well contested in court." The old man pause thinking, "I'll look into finding a way out for Miss Niete by the end of the year." He finished.
Harry nodded thankfully. He paused before adding, "I found out why Alice is so skilled with her magic. You know already how I had to put conditions to my own magic." Albus smiled at the memory of Harry discovering such a skill. "When I did, I allowed my self to gain and learn spells and anything else very fast. I believe that is what happened to Alice."
"Happened? So when she unlocked the partition her condition broke?"
"I think the partition was locked by her anger. But she has slowly been becoming more carefree, and I guess happy. It could no longer keep itself secured."
"That is how she triggered to enter her partition. And when she had no way out…"
"I had to go in and find her." Finished Harry.
"So what was the 'condition' for her learn so much magic so fast?"
"I think it was hate of all purebloods. I looked at her circle of friends, not one of them is pure blooded, they all come from mix families, or completely muggle backgrounds. I don't think it's a conscious decision on her part." Harry looked down to his feet. He didn't like the conclusion but at least it was in the past tense. "I think we are going to be safe for a while with her if she broke the condition subconsciously. She will learn more at a normal pace. Much like the other second years. But she still has all the knowledge she gained from the previous five years under her magical condition."
Albus smiled. "Will this effect her in any way in her studies then?"
"It might just add a little stress to her work load, but she already had the knowledge to pass all her classes, OWLS, and NEWTS next year. She'll be fine. What happens after that, when she goes on her own, that I still worry."
"Yes, It was the same with you and Tom. There only needs to be one trigger." Harry thought back to Albus telling him of the prophecy. Albus thought back to the time Tom found out who he was a descendent off.
-o-
Harry finished his breakfast and was already in his class waiting for his students to trickle in. He smiled, at the memory of the previous night. Susan, Alice and himself talked over her memories and Alice was slowly able to come to terms with them.
"I am fine already! Let go of my hair!" Alice came walking in with Owen tugging on her hair. Harry snapped out of his trance when Alice was the first to arrive with Owen in tow.
Harry smiled to them and they paused their chatter to say hello before continuing. "If you say so, but you had us worried all yesterday and last night. You didn't even stop buy the Slytherin table like you usually do." Owen complained.
Pam and Bruce walked into the class room and stopped looking at the two kids. They looked at each other and chuckled. Pam promptly walked over to Alice and pinched her and Owen's cheeks. "See! What did I tell you! They are so cute together!" Own promptly let go of Alice's hair. The two youngest students in class turned crimson and would not look at each other.
"You can lek go ov my cheeksh now!" complained Alice.
Harry was relieved that she was able to talk to other people easily. He wondered if he should press a little harder on her to make sure she was ok but decided against it. He had hated it when people constantly asked if he was alright when he was in school. The whole class was present. Harry smiled to himself before he addressed the class.
"O.K. today we are going to play a game to make you all more proficient in the 'sight' skill you learned yesterday. This may take all day so I hope you all ate well this morning." Harry was grinning openly and saw the anticipation on some of his students faces. "The game is hide and seek. There are a few rules, one you can only use the 'sight' spell to find me. No other magic. If you feel sick from using the sight spell for so long while we do this, cancel it immediately and give yourself a five minute rest. Two, there are going to be obstacles and clues along the way. The only way you are going to find me is with that help. Three when you do find me you are to report back here. Do not giving help to students still looking for me after you have found me. And four is, this is also a practical test, you should be able to use the spell with as much normalcy as possible. The boundaries are the first three floors of the castle. Now that the rules are out of the way, lets try and have some fun." With that he disappeared.
There were several students that began swearing as others shouted sight. When they saw he wasn't in the room they all ran outside to start looking for their run away professor.
Harry ran through the halls and skidded to a halt around the front entrance. He saw three students come up towards him. He ran across the hall right in their line of sight. Two of them immediately took off after him while the third was trying to get the spell recast.
Harry snickered like a first year as he dodge several other students and ducted into another room. He looked around and was happy to see that this room had another entrance. He casted several spells and wards to confuse who ever walked in then left the room.
-o-
"Any luck?" Pam bent over breathing hard. They all have been running throughout the castle trying to find their professor.
"Nope, just his traps. Professor Dursley must be having a ball writing these notes all out for us. I mean how long did it take him? They weren't up last night. I swear the next time I run into a dead end and see another stupid message written on the wall with magic, I am not going to be held responsible for my actions." grumbled Bruce. Owen laughed weakly. He cast sight and the blank wall he was starring at suddenly glowed with a short poem written on it.
Behind the gates, above the crates
Train the class to imitate
Find me now, find me then
Sight is now your only friend.
"If these are clues I have no idea what they mean." Alice sat in front of them thinking. "Well where are there gates in the castle? I mean we can't go outside."
Owen perked up. "He says we have to imitate what he is doing too."
"There is a storage room that is behind Filches old gate office." The four ran out of the room and down stair towards the janitors office. When they got there Filch was thankfully absent. They quickly snuck in and looked around the room with sight.
"Nothing, O.k. what now?" Bruce was out of ideas and left the floor open for everyone else.
Alice thought back to the poem. It was written in several different rooms so it had to be important. "Wait, what did you say Owen about imitating?"
Owen looked up, "Um, I was wondering why we couldn't I don't know write on the walls too. Buts its not.. Like.. Um what are you doing Alice?"
She walked on some crates on the back wall and wrote now in a magic imprint that was left on the wall. She hopped down and sighed when nothing happened. "Well it was worth a shot."
"Alice look!" The 'now' that Alice wrote faded away and another message scribbled across the stone wall. Alice smiled when she saw that she was right.
Pam moaned. "What! Another riddle?"
One step ahead two steps behind,
Sight has more than one level in mind.
See and feel they are not the same,
Only with both can you end the game.
"So he have to learn another way of using sight with just feeling?" Asked Owen blankly.
Bruce sighed tiredly. "I hate this class."
-o-
Several students rushed into the infirmary hoping to catch their professor. They looked at the wall and scowled. "I told you he wouldn't be here. Its too obvious."
"Well he wrote another clue." A short Hufflepuff girl pointed at the wall with no windows.
Another clue we begin to drove
Open the doors to houses closed
Only when the faces told
Open them and see the world.
"Okay, Slytherin and Hufflpuff entrances are on first and third level. I guess we should talk to some of the paintings?" There was a mumble of agreement and the group headed out.
Susan peeked out her office window and smiled. She turned over to her boyfriend and wanted to laugh. "So do they know that you can hide your magical signature?"
Harry smiled while drinking his morning tea. "No, but the clues will help them figure it out. The fast ones should be able to find me with just feeling my wake in about an hour or so." Susan shook her head.
"I really wish you came up with better rhymes. Some of those are awful. And they weren't really fun when you had us do it." Susan made a face when she remembered her own experience.
Harry laughed. "Well, they are doing it as a class, you guys were just dumb enough to expect me to just teach you when I was so busy. While you were all running around the castle I was able to get quite a bit of work done in our seventh year." Susan laughed at that. Shut cut it off when she felt the hospital wing have another guest. She peeked out the window from her office around her closed curtains. "Its one of your students and it looks like she is going to ask if I have seen you." She grinned and waited to have the student knock. Harry promptly turned invisible and made sure his visual aura was nonexistent. When the girl knocked, Susan opened the door and looked at the girl. "May I help you?" The girl was the Ravenclaw girl Harry dubbed the next 'Hermione Granger'.
The girl asked, "Um can I come in for a second. I just want to ask a quick question." Susan looked surprised but let her in. She was feeling reluctant to say anything with Harry in the room, and hoped the girl wasn't going to say something too private. When the door closed the Ravenclaw girl Harry remembered as Angela Kee smiled at Susan before turning around to Harry and asked, "Do I pass?"
Harry saw her look right at him and he laughed canceling his spell. "I knew you were the bright one when I saw you studying in the library on your second day. Congratulations, ten points to Ravenclaw. Susan what was her time?"
Susan whistle while checking the time, "One hour thirteen minutes." Susan smiled disappointedly.
Angela looked confused at Susan's reaction. Harry just continued to laugh. "Don't worry about it Miss Kee, Susan is just disappointed that you broke her record. By ten minutes I might add."
The Ravenclaw sixth year was smiling brightly. "Ok go ahead and get back to class. I want you to test your new skill. Test the wards in the class room you will find some interesting things on how some wards are made. Its like looking at theory if you can understand that. When you are done you can get a head start on homework. Twelve inches on both sight and sensation. That is the name of the skill you used to find me." She nodded still too happy to say much.
"Thank you Professor."
Harry smiled, "When you get done and if there is time, you are welcome to use the rest of the time as study hall. We will wrap up today when all the students are sent to the class room."
"Alright thank you!" she said happily as she ran out of the office.
Harry grinned at Susan who just wanted to wipe that stupid look off his face. "Come on Susan, someone had to get a better time than you."
"I am sure you are right, I was just kinda hoping that it wouldn't be so soon." She said childishly. Harry laughed again and resumed his late morning tea.
-o-
"Alright I think I got it now." Said Alice. She looked around and was aware of her three friends as a form of pressure in her mind. "Ok, this just feels weird."
"That's good. I am not having any luck though." Owen sighed. He sat on the floor in the hall. Another group of students waved as they ran by looking for another clue. Bruce, Pam and Alice all shivered from the displaced magic the other group made.
"You'll get it. Just think of how you thought of sight. But instead of thinking of your eyes try to think of being aware of your surroundings." Said Pam helpfully.
Owen nodded and tried again. He was the last one in their group to not get how to use the skill. Bruce and Pam had done it immediately. Alice had a little trouble starting it but quickly picked it up. They all just sat waiting for Owen to figure it out so they could split up. "Whoa."
Pam and Alice laughed. "I guess you got it." Pam added cheerfully.
"Gah, this is weird. Its like…"
"Like you are touching everything around you at once? Yeah we get that too. O.k. should we split up?" suggested Bruce. He was already looking in one direction trying to feel his way through the halls. Owen tried to stand up a little to fast and stumbled. Alice tried to catch him and went down with him.
Bruce and Pam chuckled. "Don't try and make any sudden movements until you can get used to it. Or you will fall like that. Don't think just because you feel something holding you up means that something is there. Specially when there is another person next to you. You don't want to just tip over and fall on them. When I first got it I was kinda wanting to lean against the three of you though you were all at least a meter away from me. Now that I can just stand still, I feel like I am kinda drunk myself." Said Pam cheerfully.
"When did you get a chance to drink a lot of alcohol?" asked Bruce, obviously jealous.
"Family full of happy drinkers!" She grinned at the three staring back at her. "Whoever finds him last buys a round of butterbeers!" shouted Pam. Then she ran off ahead of the group who was still slightly unable to stand much less walk with the new 'sight' skill.
-o-
Harry had long ago abandoned his sanctuary his girlfriend who had kicked him out anyway since she and Fleur hadn't had any good best friend chats in a while. Harry wandered around the halls and ducted in class rooms laughing silently to himself when a few students came close to finding him. Two more people found him and he told them their assignment and to get back to class.
Harry was mildly curious how well Alice was doing but wasn't foolish enough to find her. Harry walked through several of his wards that told anyone who walked by to go away. Harry almost laughed aloud when he thought he should have let the wards effect everyone instead of just his class. That would have made it more interesting for the students in other classes.
He heard several foot steps and sat patiently waiting to be found. He saw Alice and Pam walk into the room he was sitting. The walked right up to him and said, "That was fun! What now?"
Harry didn't cancel his spell but said, "Go to class and ask the others what the homework is." The nodded and ran back out.
There were four students left and Harry decided to give them a break so he went to the main hall and just stood in the center of the path waiting. He didn't wait long. Three of them came immediately to him and he told them to head back. The last person was Liam Stone. A fourth year who was just walking around. He smiled at his professor before saying. "Sorry, I can't really find anything until I am in the room."
Harry smiled and cancelled his spell. "That's alright. Everyone has their strengths this just isn't one of yours. But you were still able to find me well enough. I dare say, if you ever come across something in the immediate area you would still be ok."
The boy nodded feeling a little better about being so slow. He walked ahead of professor.
-o-
When Harry walked into the class it was buzzing with talking about the new skills they had learned. Harry waved for the class to gain back their attention. When they were all quiet he said, "Nice job. We have about a half hour before lunch ends, run." They all stood up and were packing their bags when Harry said, "Don't forget homework for tomorrow! Class will start fifteen minutes till ten! You need to be there then!" Everyone looked at him. That was an odd time to start a class. A few shrugged and ran to eat a late lunch.
-o-
Harry walked down the stairs and saw a few girls wave shyly at him. He smiled and politely waved back. They blushed for a moment then ran. Harry rolled his eyes and cast his disillusionment spell. He walked down to the hospital wing and saw Susan talking to a student in her office. Harry walked closer and noticed it was Alice. Harry hmm'ed for a second debating if he should leave or wait. He didn't need to decide as Alice opened the door and said, "You can come in now. We are done talking."
Harry looked at her surprised but laughed and cancelled his spell. He walked in and took a seat. "I already forgot that all of you can do that now."
Alice smiled then teased. "I guess that means you can't spy on us anymore."
Susan laughed and walked over to Harry and kissed his cheek, then walked over and sat next to Alice on the couch. Harry grabbed a seat and asked, "And why are you not in class young lady?"
Alice smile faded slightly but said, "I have been having trouble concentrating in class. I don't know if its because of Saturday or today's class but-"
Harry nodded. He still had not explained to her what she did. "I can explain that to you." Alice looked up to him. "Susan did you give her anything for her concentration yet?" Susan shook her head. "Good. Alice," He pause for a second to try to figure out how he was going to explain what happened to her. "Have you ever wondered about the contract I wrote at the beginning of the term?" She merely nodded. In truth she was amazed that if some one broke it they would forget everything they learned in class. It was a high level selective memory wipe.
"I did not make the contract myself. Every single person who wrote their name on it helped give it so much power." Alice looked up at him, her face was crossed between confusion and awe. "I placed a spell of condition on the paper. Whatever I wrote on the paper would force all the magic in the parchment to focus on the goals assigned to it. When each person signed it, they lent some power to the parchment to carry out those directions. The paper nor myself did all the work that is involved in the contract. The condition on the parchment did."
Alice nodded still unsure what this had to do with her. Then suddenly it clicked. "I did the same thing didn't I? I placed a condition on myself." She looked down frustrated.
"Yes, I expect you can remember what your condition was now. Am I correct?" Harry's voice was gentle at the question, but to Alice it was as if he was screaming at her. She began to cry. Whatever barriers she had set up with meditation and Occlumency broke at the understanding of what she did, and what she gained from it.
"Does this make me bad?" She cried. Harry walked over and sat next to her on the couch. Susan sat on the other side of Alice, and they both hugged her.
"No it doesn't. How can it? You have seen many trials that most adults will never see. I don't think any one would condemn you for hating." Alice cried harder at the word but nodded. "Do you understand why the condition broke?"
Alice sniffled a little and looked up. "Because of you?"
Harry smiled at reasoning. "I was part of it, but you realized on your own that not all pureblooded wizards are evil. That's what broke it. Does that sound like you are bad?" Alice shook her head.
Susan just sat there and held Alice and looked up to Harry. Harry looked back and remembered his own rant at the end of his sixth year. They both looked back to Alice and held her. She fell asleep moments later. The two adults just held her and let her sleep.
It was not for another hour after Alice fell asleep and woke up again, that she was able to look at either of them in the face again. Harry smiled kindly. "How are you?"
"I am better. Thank you Professor Dursley and you too Miss Bones."
"Hey call me Susan, I hear Miss Bones and I look around for her." Alice smiled.
"And when it is just us you can call me at least James. Alright?"
Alice looked at him before she jump at him and gave him a hug. "Alright dad." She said in a small whisper only he could hear.
-o-
Harry was able to show Alice several concentration techniques that would help her with the sudden loss of her condition. That evening Harry walked outside and looked at the sky. He could see Mars, brighter than he remembered it several days ago. Frienze's warning came to mind then. He sat on the steps of Hogwarts and looked at the moon which was now a new moon. He could barely see the outline. "Hey James. No luck sleeping either?"
Susan walked down a few steps before sitting down next to him. She leaned against him. "Yeah, I just get this nagging feeling that something is going to happen in a few days. And its going to be important."
Susan looked at him. Susan could recognize the barely noticeable lines on his forehead and the twitch of his eyes. He was thinking hard. She looked at the sky and said. "You think something will happen to Alice?"
Harry nodded. He looked away from the sky and sighed. "I think I am going to have to come out of hiding when it happens too."
Susan didn't look at him, she just held his hand. "Well. I will still be here."
Harry kissed her gently then looked back to the sky. "Thanks."
-o-
"Class! Form up here!" There were two minutes before students would come pouring out of class rooms to head to another class. "We got a similar game to yesterday." There were some moans but Harry smiled. "I won't be hiding this time however. You all just have tag me. Again no magic other than what you have learned in class."
The bell rang.
"Oh before I forget. You only have fifteen minutes to find me!" As he finished the doors to three different classes opened and students poured out. Harry smiled at his class before he changed into a student no older than Alice and disappeared into the crowd. The class just gawked there for a few seconds before they all tried to find him.
Harry slipped around them. He was already a different looking student. "I wonder if they will notice that I am right behind them." He said quietly to himself. Two of the students turned around and saw him for a split second before he ran and was someone else again.
"There are too many for just sensation alone." Alice muttered to herself. She thought she caught a glimpse of her dad. It dawned on her, if she used both skills at the same time the professor could be narrowed down to a specific area. Sensation would focus on the kind of pressure a student was emitting and sight would allow to her to see the magical signature since his was pretty recognizable. And if he hid his signature she would find him anyway. He would be the only student who wouldn't have one. "Guys use sight and sensation! It's the only way we can tell from the other students!" Alice shouted over her shoulder to Owen and Pam who had just caught up. The three stopped looked at each other. And split. Pam weaved through students going to their classes and had no luck trying to sense or sight her professor with so many other people around. She stopped and sighed.
"Any luck Pam?" She didn't look to see who it was.
"Nope Owen, no clue how are we supposed to find him?"
"I guess we just have to look." He ran off quickly in a different direction. Pam looked around again and didn't see any way their professor could have gone.
"Hey Pam, any luck?" Owen came walking towards her.
"What do you mean.." She paused for a second. Then Pam shouted in frustration. Professor Potter was right next to her and she didn't even notice. She ran in the direction she thought he went. Owen called back to ask what happened.
Harry was laughing madly. He was surprised none of his students didn't notice that there seemed to be quite a few students laughing their heads off but he shrugged. The last laugh with Miss Johnson was especially rewarding. Just to see her scream in frustration when she didn't even look at him caused him to exert severe mental discipline not to laugh. He saw a few students run towards him and he changed when they were out of line of sight and walked towards them. They grabbed his shoulder and said, "I don't think so Professor."
Harry smiled. "Go back to where we started. We'll be done in seven more minutes." They nodded happily and left him. Harry walked around not so much playing tricks on his poor students than just changing shape and clothes to fit him as a student. Several other students found him before Alice and Owen found him. He had hoped to have played with the students longer, but he was on a severe time limit with the students going between classes. Finally Pam found him as the last person. She growled saying "That was not funny." Which made Harry laugh harder than before. There were two minutes left and Harry was pleased that they were able to find him so fast. When the class room doors all closed Harry changed back and smiled at his class. "That was great. Everyone found me with time to spare. Miss Kee and Mr. Jones ten points for finding me first. Now who can tell me why we did this?"
Bruce raised his hand first. Harry pointed at him. "So we can try and use these skills in situations where we would be in a populated area like Diagon Alley."
"Good that's one reason. Another?"
"So we can get used to using both sight and sensation at the same time?"
"Excellent, any other reasons?"
Alice raised her hand after some time thinking. Harry pointed at her. "If we are able master these skills we can see without using our eyes."
"Yes. That is what I am looking for. Think about that. Class is over for today. You are welcome to go back to the classes you have this hour or stay in study hall in the class room. But after lunch you need to go to your regular classes."
The class all went down to the class room to think about what their professor said.
-o-
Harry had a time discussing the events of his thirteen minute class to Susan, Fleur and Remus. They laughed along with him as he described Miss Johnson's temper tantrum. And he described excitedly other people he teased by impersonating their friend that were not in the class. His favorite by far was when he turned into Mr. Yellow and Owen had a conversation with himself before he even looked to see who he was talking to.
There was a chorus of laughter to the last story. Harry turned to his almost-god-father and his equally almost-a-close-call-girlfriend. They were sitting very close together and his eyes danced merrily. "So how have you two been doing? I haven't had much chance to talk to either of you." Remus stopped in mid laughter and looked away embarrassed. Fleur looked at Remus quite interested in his reaction. Harry was glad his question was not lost on either of them.
Susan gave him a light slap on the shoulder. "Don't do that, its rude."
Harry laughed and Fleur and Susan joined in. Remus just shook his head finally shaking his embarrassment. Harry sighed. Remus was still not over the age thing. He waved for Remus to follow him for a private conversation. Fleur and Susan didn't mind, they were already in deep conversation over some students who were in Fleur's potion class.
"Yes James?" Remus looked a little miffed with Harry.
Harry just smiled and asked, "So you and Fleur?"
Remus smiled awkwardly. "We have been talking. I don't know, there seems to be too many complications. Age is the least of them." He finally let out.
"Hey if this has to do with you being a werewolf don't' start. I am sure she doesn't have a problem with that." Said Harry Seriously. "Besides she is a quarter Veela, its not like either of you would be taking a great risk by at least trying. Come on, ask her to join you for a drink. The most harm that can happen is she refuses. And you both know where you stand." Remus just glared at him.
"You make it sound so simple." Harry smiled but did not say anything. "I have been thinking about it and we have had great conversations. But every time I think of a full moon I stop myself from doing anything about it." He slumped his shoulders.
"Remus. You need this as much as she does. Look, the girls are done talking. Lets go over there, I'll dismiss me and Susan and you talk to her about going out sometime. Its not like you two haven't done anything more intimate, like a dinner in her office, in front of a fire..."
"How did you know that?" He asked snappishly.
Harry smiled, "This is a school, rumors travel fast, especially when it involves the only two single teachers in the school. Now go over there and be good."
Remus chuckled. "Okay, okay. I'll talk to her."
Harry and Remus walked back to the table in Remus's office and they took their seats both sitting next to the lady whom they were both trying to court. Harry leaned over to Susan and said, "I am trying to make Remus make his move, think you can help?"
Susan smiled and leaned to Harry's ear. "Already ahead of you." Susan turned to the group and said, "I am going to walk with James for a bit, we'll see you two in tomorrow morning." She grabbed his arm and ran outside. She was cackling close to the way Harry laughed earlier that day. Harry just cackled along with her.
"You think they will be ok?" Asked Harry.
"Fleur was getting impatient. She wanted to know if she should just strait out and ask him."
Harry and Susan just looked at each other. Then they laughed again. "Well either way its going to happen. That's a relief." They were arm in arm when Susan was heading towards the Infirmary. Harry tugged her arm and said, "No you don't, I was promised a pleasant walk with a lovely lady tonight. And I plan on keeping it." He kissed Susan's cheek and they walked in the late evening around the castle.
-o-
Harry woke up and got dressed quickly. He wanted to walk Susan to breakfast and had made it moments before Susan stepped out of her office to head out. She smiled brilliantly at him and kissed him before they linked hands and walked to great hall together. They entered the hall and looked up to see Remus and Fleur. They were happy to see that the werewolf and veela kept looking at each other and smiling. "I guess they finally did it."
Susan snickered, "You make it sound dirty like that." She waved let go of his hand to find her seat and Harry sat next to Remus.
"So it went well?" Remus smiled. He was obviously not paying much attention to Harry and just ate and glanced at Fleur. Harry did not let himself laugh. He felt good that those two were getting together. Owl post came in as usual for breakfast. There was a white snowy owl that flew in and Harry felt a pang of sorrow for his old owl Hedwig. She died just after delivering a message to him. It was a warning about an impending attack on London by Voldemort five years ago. He was also surprised to see that the snow owl landed in front of Alice. She looked horrified. Alice quickly glanced up to Harry. Harry nodded and left to enter the class room next to the great hall. Alice joined him a few minutes later.
She looked visibly shaken. She handed the unopened letter to Harry. He looked at it. It was just addressed to her. She looked at him and said, "The hand writing is my Aunts. I don't think I want to open it."
Harry looked at her sympathetically. "Should I read it to you?" Alice nodded numbly. Harry opened the letter and read aloud.
Dear Niece,
I have received a letter from Gringotts. There seems to be some problems with your inheritance dealing with your damnable cousins. I want you to come back here tomorrow so we can sort this out as soon as possible. You can get back to your school as soon as we are done.
Nan.
Harry looked at the extra letter behind the one addressed to Alice. It was addressed to Albus and says in very sweet words that a problem arose and Alice needed to return home for a time the next morning.
"Lets go see the headmaster." Alice nodded and they walked up the hall. Both looked equally grim.
Harry led Alice up to Albus's office. He smiled and was slightly pleased and surprised that Harry was paying a visit with Alice Niete following closely behind. He was concerned for a moment until he saw a letter in Harrys hand. He waved for Harry to see the note, and Harry handed them both over. Albus looked like he was having an internal debate. He looked to Alice, "Miss Niete, would you like to go to see your Aunt?"
Alice looked over to Harry. He was looking strait forward. She sighed and said, "Not really, but if it will make my aunt more pleasant for the next summer I don't have a choice." Albus looked over to Harry. Harry almost grinned at the tone Alice took. It sounded like Harry heard himself.
"Very well then. As you are under aged, and traveling, you will need an escort. Professor Dursley?"
"Yes Professor Dumbledore?" Harry looked strait not daring to look at either of them.
"I want you to escort Miss Niete safely to her aunts household and back when her business is concluded." Harry smiled faintly and nodded. Alice looked relieved that he would be able to come.
"Alice Niete, we will leave shortly after breakfast tomorrow. I'll inform your teachers of it. You have one class before I see you again for Advanced Magics. Hurry or you will be late." Alice smiled brightly, happy that she would not have to face her Aunt alone. She said a bye to Professor Dumbledore then left.
"I don't like it Albus. Something about this is wrong. Gringotts would have owled both Alice and her aunt in such an event. Especially if it was about inheritance. They always charge for it."
Albus agreed heartily. "Which is why you are to go along with her and look after her as best as you can." Harry nodded and left to prepare for his class.
-o-
Harry told the class to show up for their last mid day session near the front doors to Hogwarts. He sat on a box waiting for his class to show up. Susan walked up to him and smiled. She sat on the box with him, "How long until the class starts showing up?"
"Right now." Three students walked around a corner and started heading towards the couple. Harry said hello to the students then turned to his girlfriend. "You got a replacement for today?"
Susan nodded. "Yeah she is already there I am all yours for the next few hours."
Two girls walked up and were suddenly crimson after hearing that last part. Harry simply smiled brightly are the two students. Harry could almost see their hearts melt. "So ladies you two ready for today's lesson?"
They nodded, dazed by Harry. Harry laughed which made them swoon a little. Susan pinched his arm discreetly and said so only he could hear. "Will you please not flirt with your students, you're a horrible tease."
Harry just grinned and whispered back, "I am just being myself. Its not my fault they think everything I do is endearing." Susan looked like she wanted to throttle him when the rest of the class walked up as a large group. Harry and Susan got up and welcome them to the final special class. There were a few cheers to this. A few did not like the running involved in the past two classes.
"Alright, you have all learned sight, sensation, and then how to use them both together. Now is the last step and its going to be hard." He opened the box and handed out a piece of cloth to each student. Some just looked at the fabric suspiciously. Two were terrified at what this meant and several were openly confused.
"What are we going to do with these?" asked Miss Kee.
Harry and Susan placed their pieces over their eyes. "You are going to put them over your eyes." Several students complied immediately. Some hesitantly and three reluctantly. "Now that your eyes are no longer an issue you will be able to focus sight and sensation enough that should be able to see."
Several were grunting trying to concentrate. Two people sucked in their breaths simultaneously. "Well done, Miss Johnson, Miss Kee." After several minutes Harry asked. "Whoever is able to see now, raise your hand." Several people raised their hands. "Good."
Harry and Susan went around to each person who did not raise their hand and he said something to each of them. Alice was embarrassed that she could not do this and felt her dads hand on her shoulder. "Alice, don't try to see. Just use the spells as they were meant for. You'll do it then." Alice nodded blindly and cast the spells at the same time. She sucked in a breath of air. She felt magic surrounding her. Alice looked at her hands. Blue hues and warmth made her realize anything warm was something living. It took her a moment to realize what a person looked like and what a wall looked like. She had to learn to see all over again but it was still fun. She noticed several other glowing lights disturbed the area around her and she turned around to see a glow that had a small pattern in it. She recognized Pams magical signature well enough from Monday when she chased after her. "Hello Pam."
"Hello yourself." Pam smiled. Alice could only make out the contours of her friend face. Magic reflected off the planes of everything. It was her new eyes light. "Isn't this wicked?"
Alice laughed. Her own laugh gave her goose bumps she could feel the change in the air. It was cut short by Harry who was waved his hand once. Everyone could feel its wake. A few shuddered from the sensation. "Alright. Today is another short class. Just like yesterday. But today all you have to do is follow me. And try not to hurt anyone by running them over." There were a few chuckles as friends looked at each other. Then the bell rang and everyone lost the smiles on their faces. Harry wanted to laugh when he heard a few 'bloody hell's. When students from other classes started walking across the corridors, Harry ran with his whole class trying to keep up.
Students who had just walked out of their class saw twenty-three blind folded students chase after a blindfolded cackling professor. Harry weaved through the traffic easily and was already running upstairs. Several 'Advanced Magics' students almost knocked over a few unidentified students while trying to keep up. Susan followed slowly behind the group to make sure no one was seriously injured.
"Don't fall down Miss Johnson they are only steps!" Susan wanted to laugh hard as she heard her boyfriends' echoing laughter ring through the hall.
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Yes! Another chapter up. Looks like I am just going to be able to put one chapter up a week. Expect the next one to be uploaded next Sunday at 10a.m. pst.
Reviews!
Stryder : hehe not saying a word.
Egyptian Flame: You will get an answer to one of your questions in chapter. Pst.. Look at the preview.
Heaven's Reaper: Thanks, hopefully by the end of the semester I will be able to put up more than just one chapter a week.
Snuffles : Thanks, I think Harry makes the most interesting kind of father since he only had a few examples to work off of. I am sure he will do a good just because of the kind of person he is.
Lap: Lap! You just got lucky, here is another chapter. I am glad you are enjoying the story. I am relieved the intermissions came out as well as they did too. I plan to do a few more in between part two and part three. And if worse comes to worse, I can at least put one up if I fall behind in my writing. They help me get the ideas going of how to write some of the characters that I am going to be working with. A few chars in the later chapters might seem out of character until I have to explain what they went through to get there, so I am nervous about that.-
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Preview Chapter 8: Confrontations
Harry quickly conjured a fake wand and stopped her with a petrifaction spell then slammed her against the wall on the far side of the room.
Harry was done being civil.
Professor Dursley walked over to Alice's aunt. Madame Niete could see him at the edge of her vision. The professor said quietly, "You would do well to remember Madame Niete, that while Alice is in my care, I am entrusted for her welfare and safety. That includes from people like you." Harry started walking towards Alice when he unfroze her. The woman got up quickly and drew her wand.
