A/N: This Chapter is really something dumb that I thought I needed to add in at some point. I'm not sure quite why, but since so little happens, I'll give you two chapters to chew on. (Yes, I did find out after writing this that Neville already knew about Grawp, but I needed to introduce him somehow. I'll make it up to you all with a great battle scene.)

Disclaimer: I know you are but what am I.

Chapter Thirteen -

An Embarassing Subject

The first class Tuesday morning was Wizarding Home.

Harry was a bit curious to see what the class entailed. As someone who had been raised by muggles, Harry assumed he might be at a slight disadvantage. He had spent some time at the Weasley's house, and a bit of time at Grimmauld place, but he hadn't really experienced a lot of the everyday things that normal Wizards needed to keep up a house. In Hogwarts, the house-elves did most of the work, so Harry hadn't really needed to learn yet.

They all trooped in to the transfiguration room after breakfast, and professor McGonagall smiled at them as they took their seats. She looked a little nervous today. Harry could see her hands twitching, and her smile faltered when she realized they were all accounted for.

"I'd like to warn you all that the subject matter in this class is not to be taken lightly. Our first subject may start you all tittering with laughter, but I fear it must be addressed immediately, and I would like you to listen with some sense of maturity." She made an attempt to stare the class down, but the glare was somehow lacking its usual intensity.

She took a deep breath. "Our first term will be dedicated to First-aid and related subjects. A part of this topic is in regards to... sexual education."

As McGonagall had predicted, many nervous giggles erupted from the students. Harry blushed, but more because he felt a little sorry for McGonagall. She was a notoriously strict professor, and the topic seemed to make her a little jumpy.

"Many of the changes you experience in the next few years are common to both Muggles and to Witches and Wizards and I hope you will excuse me from leaping ahead of those to address the one change that Muggles do not experience. It is known as 'agoramorphism', and I must make it clear that this change, while not harmful to the witch or wizard, can be quite dangerous.

"During this phase is when our powers expand to their full capacity. Some obvious signs of agoramorphism are a sudden multiplication of accidental magic incidents, a slightly weightless feeling, an extreme excess of energy, and the last -which can often hit the hardest for Gryffindor students- a tendency to be rather more rash, and to disregard your own jeopardy.

"Witches generally agoramorph between the ages of sixteen and seventeen, and Wizards usually slightly later, between the ages of Seventeen and eighteen. I understand that some of you may have already experienced this phenomena, and I apologize if you did not know of it sooner."

She took a deep shuddering breath, as though she were still about to hear childish giggling.

"Madam Pomfrey has asked that the heads of houses try something new this year with our sixth-years. Normally this subject has quite a taboo outside of the classroom, and many witches and wizards do not like to discuss it, but in this class I am going to instigate an open mouth policy regarding the agoramorphosis.

"If you have already gone through your agoramorphosis, and wouldn't mind talking about it with everyone, please raise your hands."

Only Parvati Patil raised her hand.

McGonagall smiled, as if glad that the worst was over.

"Miss Patil, What of those symptoms did you experience?"

Parvati blushed a little. "Well, I did feel kind of weightless now that you mention it. At one point I got angry, and accidentally broke all the glass in the pictures in the hallway. I decided to clean them all up without using a dustpan, and just picked them up in my fists. I cut my fingers and didn't even notice until hours later. I also lit a whole stack of my homework parchments on fire. I burnt my desk, and had to do them all over again the next week."

"And how long did this last?"

Parvati thought for a moment. "It was about three days, I think. It was back at the beginning of the summer."

"That is quite short for an agoramorphosis, but not unexpected. Everyone experiences them at different lengths. Were you able to talk to your parents about it?"

Parvati blushed again. "I tried to talk to my mum about it, but she just got all horrified that I was mentioning it to her. She went out the next day to St. Mungo's and brought me a little pamphlet to read. It helped, and I was able to control it a little better after that. I only once sent my cat flying across the room. She's all right though. She landed on her feet."

"Thank you Parvati for your honesty. I understand how personal this information can be."

Parvati blushed, and nodded. "My sister and I were able to discuss it, and I've pretty much come to terms with all of the things I did then. She hasn't gone through hers yet, so she was really more curious than horrified, like my mom was."

"Have you noticed any changes in your magical abilities now that you've experienced this?"

"I'm finding it easier and faster to learn things now. The magic feels like it just flows a bit smoother... if that makes any sense. I've also noticed that I...well, my mum tells me that I can See now, but I'm not entirely sure it's true."

McGonagall smirked. "Really. Well, that certainly is interesting."

Parvati looked eager, as though she wanted professor McGonagall to ask her something about her new divination abilities.

Harry cringed at the thought that they would have a Seer in Gryffindor tower. The thought was not pleasant, and he only hoped Parvati would select different prophetic material than professor Trelawney.

McGonagall walked back over to her desk, and pulled out a pile of parchments and began handing them out to the students. It showed just how nervous she was feeling that she did not hand the whole pile to one student to pass them out to the rest as was her custom. She seemed to need to do something with her hands.

"Anyone else who feels themselves going through this phase, please feel free to talk about your experiences in class. If you don't feel comfortable with that, please talk to either myself or madam Pomfrey. The Agoramorphosis is much easier to control if one has support, and understands what is going on. It is sometimes necessary to even stay in the hospital wing for a short time, and you will find Madam Pomfrey most agreeable to helping those who need potions to control it."

She finished passing out the parchments. "These are Agoramorphosis guides and journals provided for you by madam Pomfrey. If you wish, you may fill in the answers to these questions once you feel the beginnings of your agoramorphosis, and give an account of your experiences. If you wish to ask a question, there is a space in the bottom where madam Pomfrey has charmed it to respond to certain written queries."

McGonagall switched topics as quickly as she had started. She was suddenly talking about how to splint a broken arm or leg. They were then separated into groups and spent the remainder of the lesson practicing splinting each other's limbs.

When the class was dismissed, Harry Ron and Hermione shuffled off to the great hall for lunch.

"Could you believe McGonagall?" Ron spluttered. "I didn't know she had it in her to talk about all that personal stuff!"

"I didn't know about all of that. I thought it was useful." Hermione sniffed disdainfully. "I wouldn't have known you weren't supposed to mention those things if she hadn't been so obviously nervous."

"I'd have been a little nervous too!" Ron answered hotly.

Harry rolled his eyes. "It all just sounds like people who can't say Voldemort's name. It's just a silly superstition perpetuated by Witches and Wizards because they're afraid."

"That's exactly it, Harry." Hermione announced. "I for one, am not going to keep all this stuff about Agoramorphism quiet."

Ron blushed and winced.

"What, you mean you aren't going to worry about actually saying the word Agoramorphism?" Harry asked her, his eyes flitting over to observe Ron's reaction.

Ron was squirming.

"Yes," agreed Hermione. "I'm going to tell everyone about my Agoramorphism when it happens."

Ron began to whimper.

"I think I agree with you regarding the subject of Agoramorphism." Harry said smiling. "I'll talk about my Agoramorphism when it happens too."

"Stop it you guys." Ron whined, his eyes darting about the corridor to make certain no one was listening.

Harry and Hermione laughed. It was fun to get one over on Ron every once in awhile.

000000

The rest of the afternoon was taken up by Care of Magical creatures with the Slytherins.

It was uncharacteristically quiet without Malfoy in the class, and when they were dismissed by a very confident looking Hagrid, they went to compliment him on the lesson.

"Good job on that one, Hagrid!" Harry said enthusiastically.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville decided to help Hagrid gather up the the small flock of aqua coloured wind-devils, and push them towards the small plastic pool Hagrid had set up next to his hut.

Hermione petted the scaly skin of the wind-devil she cradled, and it crooned affectionately. "Are you sure these are supposed to be dangerous Hagrid?" She asked skeptically.

"Oh, fer sure... But yeh see, any animal's goin' to be a little dangerous in some way. These ones are right fierce about their nesting areas."

"Yeah, you've said that. But I just don't see it. They look so cute!"

"Just trust me Hermione... They'll bite hard enough to take a good chunk outta yer leg." Hagrid winced at the thought.

Harry and Ron snickered. It was certainly something to see Hagrid getting worked up about the ferocity of these animals. Normally Hagrid could make friends with anything from an acromantula and the rest of this spider's massive family, to the biggest Chimaera. None of those animals fazed Hagrid, but the tiny crooning wind-devil seemed to make him flinch in fear.

Once they had all been rounded up, and were contentedly whirring around the surface of the water, Hagrid invited them in for a spot of tea.

"I'm sorry, Hagrid. I've got to go to Arithmancy now. It's the first lesson, and I can't be late!" Hermione apologized. She gathered up her things, and went off up to the castle. As she walked, she held an arithmancy text open before her, only occasionally looking up to make sure she didn't walk into something.

"Don't the rest of yeh have some class or another too?" Hagrid asked.

"Study period." Ron said, grinning.

It was the first time they had been given a study period ever, and after experiencing the classes that he had today, Harry had he feeling his Tuesdays were going to be dead-simple. It was more than a relief after his horrid Monday schedule.

"Right then, tea? Then yeh'll have to go and study like yer supposed."

"All right." Neville answered, and they all went inside Hagrid's hut.

"So Hagrid. How's Grawp?" Harry started.

"Who's Grawp?" Neville asked.

"Hagrid's little brother." Ron answered, and they left it at that.

"I didn't know you had a brother Hagrid." Neville said surprised.

"Yeah, well most don't you see." Hagrid looked a little nervous. "He's not exactly all tha' acceptable in the Wizarding world."

"Is he a squib or something?"

"Well, not exactly... He's really me half-brother see? And he's a full giant."

Neville gasped. "Really?"

"Just don' tell anyone about him all right?" Hagrid said honestly. "It's just that not so many people know he's there."

"Where is he, exactly?" Neville asked, looking a little concerned.

"He's been living in the forbidden forest fer the last year." Hagrid pulled the whistling kettle off the fire, and began to pour the tea. "He's calmed down some from last year. If I were a full giant, I might call him a little soft. He's especially bin' wondering 'bout Hermione. I think he's got a bit of a crush." He chuckled.

Harry, Ron, and Neville stayed for about half an hour. When Ron and Neville stood up to leave, Harry told them he would meet them back in gryffindor tower to go over the Wizarding Home things that McGonagall had assigned them. He really needed to discuss something with Hagrid.

As soon as they left, Harry put up a silencing charm around the cabin and turned to Hagrid.

"So, what's been happening?"

"Don't get yer hopes up now. There really hasn't been any news."

"Oh." Said Harry dispiritedly.

"But what's this I hear about you reading professor Snape's mind?"

Harry scowled. "He told you?"

"Well, not so much told me... I was chattin' with professor Dumbledore in his office just after dinner yesterday, an he came storming in all angry and yelling about you not respectin' privacy an all."

"It was an accident." Harry started, and he blurted out the whole story to Hagrid.

Hagrid chuckled. "Are yeh findin' it hard to practice those things?"

"Well, I can practice occlumency all I want and I won't really know that it's working until someone tries to break into my thoughts."

"I can't really help you there, but what about that legilimency stuff?"

"I hate invading people's privacy." Harry said, looking disgusted.

Hagrid guffawed loudly. "Just like Snape to get it all backward isn't it?!" He slapped Harry heavily on the back. "So you need someone to practice on?" He asked lightly.

"You mean... I would practice on you?" Harry asked surprised.

"Sure, why not!" Hagrid said enthusiastically.

"Well..." Harry thought about it for a moment. "I can't really control it all yet." He tried to make Hagrid see reason. "I might come across something you don't like me seeing."

Hagrid waved a hand at him. "Never mind all that. I don't care if you see everything about me. I trust you enough not to go babbling to everyone about it."

"All right." Harry was still hesitant. "So far, I've only been able to see what people are thinking about at that exact moment. I've only once gone back into someone's past memories, and that was a bit... unintended, so you shouldn't have much to worry about... yet."

"All right, should we give it a go then?" Hagrid asked.

"Now?"

"Sure! Why not?"

"Er... Okay." Harry began to relax in his chair. He dug around in his mind and evicted all thoughts of fear, nervousness, and affection for this giant man sitting before him.

They made eye contact, and Hagrid settled the kettle on the table. "How long do you usually have to wait before it all happens?"

"Not long, as far as I know. Just give me as much time as I need for now. I might get a little faster as I practice, but just try and be as patient as possible."

"All right." Hagrid nodded.

Harry stared at him, and searched for that familiar feeling of duality that would tell him he had succeeded.

He found it, and pushed his own emotions away, looking close at those that were Hagrid's.

Hagrid was nervous, and a little confused. Was this supposed to take so long? He was staring back into Harry's eyes, and suddenly Harry was the one in charge.

He could lift up his -Hagrid's- hand and run it over his bushy beard. The texture of it was familiar, but not really what he was expecting. His large hands felt it in a way that his own never had.

He was so huge now that everything else was made ant-sized. He was looking back at himself all limp and glassy eyed in the chair opposite, and saw that with these giant eyes, he saw everything as miniscule.

He was nearly afraid of breaking the teapot as he examined it. He felt a bit like he was living in a doll house.

He looked back at himself, and knew immediately all of the things Hagrid had ever felt regarding him. He was honoured to call him a friend, but he was also a little concerned for him. The way a brother might feel for a reckless younger sibling.

The strangest thing was the fear.

Hagrid was a little afraid of him. He thought there was still a danger that Harry would go over to the dark side, and be lost forever.

'That's enough,' he thought to himself.

He searched for his own emotions, and allowed them to flood back in. He would have to ask someone later how to look into past experiences. When he had used the shield charm last year against Snape during occlumency training, that was what had happened. For some reason, it wasn't happening now.

He began to stir, and looked back up at Hagrid.

"Something happen?" asked Hagrid gruffly.

Hagrid didn't remember.

Harry had been in his mind for the last minute, and Hagrid didn't even recall that he had been there.

Harry had possessed Hagrid for a whole minute. It made him feel incredibly guilty. Taking a whole minute out of someone's life and making it your own was a horrible feeling.

The fear rushed back, and Harry leapt from his chair. The desperation to lash out at something nearly overrode his guilty conscience. He ran outside, with a very confused-looking Hagrid lumbering close behind.

"Do you have any spot you don't mind getting blown up?" Harry asked quickly, trying to repress the boiling emotions for as long as possible.

Hagrid looked a little concerned and even more confused. He must have seen Harry's desperation, however, because he pointed to a grassy spot a few metres away from his pumpkin patch.

Harry conjured another blue ball of flame, and hurled it at the spot, glorying in the release.

When he turned back to Hagrid after the satisfying explosion, he had to apologize. "I'm sorry. I should have told you that might happen."

Hagrid looked dumbfounded.

Harry pulled him back inside, and explained the whole thing.

"Sometimes I just get overwhelmed by the emotions that come back, and I can't hold them in. I've discovered that it helps to vent a little of the excess magic."

"Right, well I guess that'll be all then for today?"

Harry nodded, accepted a rock cake, (which he knew he wouldn't eat) then made his way back up to the castle.

He didn't tell Hagrid that he had seen that the giant was afraid of him. He didn't like the idea. It made him feel more and more as if he were truly only one misplaced step away from becoming an evil lord himself.