A/N: No time for a long ramble, for it's 11:54 pm and I'm supposed to still be doing homework, but...here you go.

DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Harry Potter. Okay then.

Chapter 12

Harry awoke the next morning thinking about his kiss with Ginny. He groaned. Man how he loved that kiss, how he liked Ginny. But it scared Harry. He had been so wrapped up in his feelings, floating on clouds, last night that he hadn't thought anything through properly. Harry was afraid to fall in love with her. If he were to die, he couldn't hurt Ginny in that way.

Harry sighed. He knew he'd have to talk to Ginny. Or for Harry knew, he might even have to talk to Ron. Maybe Ron could help him…once he got over the fact that his best mate was falling in love with his sister.

He yawned, rolled out of bed, and quickly dressed. He wanted a few minutes alone in front of the mirror, so he could try to tame his hair. He wanted to look nice for Ginny this morning, and not like he just rolled out of bed. Before he got much of a chance though, Dean woke up.

"Hey Harry," he yawned. "Didn't get to see that much of you yesterday. So, how was your summer?"

"How do you think it was?" Harry grouched, then mentally kicked himself. Duh. Nobody else knows that Sirius was your godfather.

"I mean," said Harry, trying to ignore the surprised look on Dean's face.

"Summers with the muggles are never that great."

"Yeah…sure Harry," Dean responded.

Luckily Ron woke up next, which allowed Harry to avoid any more awkwardness.

"Hey, mate. Let me get dressed real quick so we can go to the Great Hall. Remember, we get our timetables today."

"I remembered."

About ten minutes later, they headed down to the Great Hall, meeting Hermione and Ginny along the way.

"Morning," Ginny greeted them, smiling at Harry.

"Morning."

When they got to the Great Hall, Profesor McGonagal rushed up to them, busily handing out their timetables.

"Here you Miss Granger…Mr. Weasley…Miss Weasley…let's see…here we go Mr. Potter…be sure to read the whole thing…"

As they sat down, Hermione looked curiously at Harry. "What did she mean, 'read the whole thing'?"

"Oh," said Harry, quickly scanning his schedule, "probably this little note at the bottom."

Report to Profesor Dumbleodre's office every Monday night (starting next week) at eight O'clock for Occlumency lessons until further notice. The password is currently CHOCOLATE FROG.

"Oh good, Harry," Hermione said. "I really feel like those lessons are very important."

"Yeah, and they'll be a lot more enjoyable now that Snape's not teaching them."

Ginny giggled. "What clases do you have today, Harry?"

"Double potions," said Harry dejectedly. Then looking at his timetable, he perked up a little. "Then Defense Against the Dark Arts with Tonks."

"Snape is sure to be nicer to you after all you went through this summer," Ron said.

Harry didn't count on it.

Later that morning Harry caught up with Neville on their way to Potions. Hary noticed that Neville didn't look nearly as miserable as he usually did at the thought of facing Snape. He mentioned that to him.

"Yeah, well…I've done harder things than get bullied."

Harry encouraged him, although he noticed that Neville didn't look nearly as confident as they neared the classroom.

Harry and Neville were the last ones there. Harry noticed, to his disappointment, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were also taking this class. He wondered how Crabbe and Goyle managed to get into Snape's O.W.L. class. They were both mindless idiots in Harry's opinion.

"Welcome back class," Snape said, his voice not containing a trace of welcome in it. "I hope everyone's summer was joyful." He chuckled to himself, his cold eyes drifting over toward Harry.

Harry felt a surge of hate coming on. He started to stand up but Neville held him back. "He's just trying to get to you," Neville whispered, sounding an awful lot like Hermione. "Don't give him that satisfaction."

Harry sat irritably back down again, his emerald eyes flashing, as Snape began to speak again.

"I am going to warn you right now that you are in my O.W.L. class. You must be prepared to carry out any task or assignment that I give you, however hard it may be. I accept no late work. You are now held to a higher standard. If you do not feel that you are up to that standard then leave. Right now." He waited for a moment, as nobody moved, though some, including Neville, looked like they might like to. "Nobody? Ah…well then I suppose you all feel that you are up to my standards. We shall see.

"Your first assignment of this term will be to create the potion that can dry up blood immediately if poured on it. We will be testing them on someone at the end of class." His eyes flickered on Neville, who gulped. "You will find the ingredients for that particular potion in Potions for Cuts, Burns, Creature bites, and more. I trust you all have thoroughly read that whole book over the summer. For those of you underachievers, quickly scan pages 255-269. This is due at the end if class. Go."

Harry sat there for a moment. Snape has got to be kidding, he thought. He doubted that anyone had read the book.

"Your is due at the end of class as well Mr. Potter," Snape said coldly. "I suggest you start."

Harry somehow finished his potion in time. Luckily for Neville, they didn't have time to test it.

After potions, Harry and Neville met up with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny at lunch. They ate quickly and, with the exception of Ginny, all headed excitedly off for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

They were the first ones there.

"Hi Tonks," Hermione said brightly. "Nice hair." (Tonks' hair was currently long and magenta.) "Are you ready for you first class?"

"Ready as ever!" Tonks smiled. "We are starting an introduction to the Patronus."

"Really, great!" This news really excited Harry.

The four of them were just taking their seats, when they noticed that they had the class with Ravenclaw. The students took their seats, and Tonks had just begun talking.

"Okay class, my name is Tonks, but you all will refer to me as Professor Tonks. I hope to explore the great depths of Defense Against the Dark Arts that will involve-. Oh skip the lectures! Let's just get started now, shall we?"

The students nodded. They had never had a professor quite like Tonks before and were eager to begin.

"Okay. Today we will have a basic introduction to the Patronus."

There was a murmur of "oohs" from the class.

"I am sure that by now most of you are familiar with this defense, but for those of you who aren't, this is used as a shield for dementors. We will work on conjuring it later, but for today, we are just have a few students show us how to quickly summon it up. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville…would you all please come to the front?"

They all nodded, and walked up to the front. Neville looked quite pleased, for he had never been called up to the front to demonstrate anything before.

"These students are very skilled in producing this form of magic. Yesterday, on the train during the attack, all five of these students successfully conjured up this Patronus. As they conjure it, their patronus's will turn into wispy white fog. Observe."

Harry thought of the happiest thought he could think of: when the war with Voldemort was over, and the magic world could return back to normal.

The thought was a happy one, and, as usual, it took the form of a stag.

The rest conjured up their patronus very successfully. Tonks smiled proudly at them, and applauded. The rest of the class followed suit.

"Twenty points for Gryffindor and Ravenclaw each of you!"

The class applauded appreciatively again.

"Okay class, it's about time to go. I believe that it's about time to go, so pack up your things please. Your only homework is to read the first section in chapter three over the patronus. I think that you guys will be coming back here tomorrow, am I correct?"

The class looked at their timetables and nodded.

"Okay, great then. Tomorrow Harry will be conjuring up a Patronus against a demontor."

"I will?" Harry asked. He wasn't sure how he felt about this. He wished that Tonks had at least asked him first.

"I mean, I will," Harry corrected himself, seeing Tonks' pleading look.

"Not to worry though," Tonks continued you, after noticing some students' worried looks. "We will be using a boggart, not a dementor. Okay then. Class dismissed."

As everyone left, Harry, Hermione, and Ron hung back.

"Thanks for covering for me there Harry," Tonks said apologeticly. "I meant to ask you earlier, but it just slipped my mind."

Harry chuckled. How typical for something like that to just "slip her mind."

They turned to go, but Tonks called them back. "Harry I forgot, your biggest fear is still dementors, right?"

"Uh…yeah, I guess," said Harry. "See you tomorrow."

The next day, Defense Against the Dark Arts came first, and everybody eagerly rushed to class, anxious to see Harry battle a dementor.

"Okay everyone," Tonks began, her hair now short and green. "Are you ready for today's lesson? I know that Harry is. Please come to the front Harry."

Harry walked up to the front of the room, taking his wand out of his pocket.

Tonks pulled out a chest. "The boggart is in here," she announced excitedly. "Are you ready Harry?'

Harry tried to think about something happy. Then he thought of something: In his second year, in the Chamber of Secrets, when he had just found out that Ginny was still alive. He held on to this memory as Tonks opened the chest and…

Lord Voldemort appeared in full form in the room; just Harry had remembered him from their last meeting.

"Kill me now, Dumbledore."

"If death is nothing Dumbledore, kill the boy."

"You have irked me too often…AVADA KEDARVA!"

Harry dropped to the floor.

"Harry!" Hermione screamed running to the front, followed by Ron. "Harry!"

The class was screaming. Lavender Brown was hiding under her desk sobbing, and Sean had run to the back of the room, with many at his heels. Tonks, who had been frozen until now rushed in front of Harry and put the boggart away.

"He's alive!" Hermione sobbed in relief.

"What is going on in here?" a voice asked sternly.

Professor Dumbledore had just entered the room.

"P-Profesor Dumbledore sir. I- I was just asking Harry to demonstrate his Patronus with a boggart, only it didn't turn into a boggart. It turned into-"

"I am well aware if what it turned into Nymphadora. But, surely, surely you couldn't have honestly believed that the Bogart would turn into a dementor after what Harry went through last June?"

Tonks opened her mouth and closed it again.

"Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said quietly.

"Yes, Hemione?" Dumbledore answered, in a slightly kinder voice.

"Well…he-he's not dead or hurt or anything. I mean he has a steady pulse and-"

"Thank you, Hermione," Professor Dumbledore said. "You are quite right. A Bogart's effects are no where near as powerful as the real thing. It was the shock of Lord Voldemort appearing here in this very classroom about four months after he and Harry last met that caused poor Harry here to pass out, out of fear. Imagine. Expecting to see a dementor and having Lord Voldemort pop out at you."

He gazed at Harry for a moment, almost sadly. He then turned his attention to Ron and Hermoine.

"Ron and Hermione, please accompany Harry to the hospital wing, and kindly inform Madame Promfrey what has happened. Take him on this." Dumbledore mumbled a few words and a floating stretcher appeared next to Harry. Ron and Hermione lifted him up into it.

"Please wait with him so he doesn't wake up alone. Also, please let him know that I will come and talk to him later. Thank you."

As they left the room, Dumbledore walked to the front of the room, and addressed the students.

"Take your seats. I know that most of you have never seen Lord Voldemort in person before, and even the few who have, I know that was a shock for you. Please try not to feel fearful, because that was only, and I repeat only, a Bogart. Lord Voldemort was not in Hogwarts today, nor will he ever set a foot in Hogwarts while I am the Headmaster. So please do not feel as if your safety if threatened.

"Now, it is obvious that few of you are in condition to go to class, so all of your afternoon classes have been canceled. I advise you to go straight to your dormitories, and not to talk about what has happened for Harry's sake, and for your own. Class dismissed."

As they left, Dumbledore turned to Tonks, who was nearly in tears. "I realize that this was an honest mistake and that you that you thought that a dementor would appear as it has in the past. I do caution you though in the future, though, to think your lessons out a little better in the future. Why don't you visit Harry in the hospital wing later? I expect that Madame Promfry will want to keep him over night."

"Yes I will. Thank you," Tonks whispered, holding back tears.

He smiled at her, then turned and walked toward the hospital wing.

Harry's eyes flickered open, as he looked about, absorbing his surroundings. He was in the hospital wing—again. He yawned and racked his brain for a reason that he was here. Lord Voldemort had come out of a trunk during his Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. But, no, that couldn't be right. Harry continued to think, as he suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be fighting off a dementor…that was actually a boggart. At the last phrase, occurrence dawned on Harry. It seemed as though dementors actually were no longer his worst fear—he had been wrong.

Moments later he heard a clearing of a throat near his bed. He turned his head slightly and noticed Professor Dumbledore standing by him. The headmaster took a seat next to his bed, and looked intently at Harry, a slight sadness flashing in his eyes, no sparkle present.

Harry sighed exasperatedly, "How is that we always end up here, Professor? Me lying in this very bed, and you sitting right there in that very chair?"

Dumbledore chuckled lightly, "Yes, it does seem that we tend to end up in this position periodically."

There was a momentary silence, and then Harry spoke hurriedly.

"Professor, I'm really sorry about that whole thing, I mean—I didn't know—I didn't mean to…I-I didn't realize that my worst fear had changed."

"It's quite alright, Harry. No one blames you. It's only natural that it would now be Lord Voldemort, seeing your—er—certain circumstances."

Harry nodded, sighing. How did he always end up in these positions? He supposed it was just one of the many, many disadvantages of living the life of Harry James Potter.

A/N: Enjoy. Now I've got to go. I hate this chapter, by the way. I hate the whole Voldmort now being his worst fear thing. It's stupid in my opinion. It was all my co-author's idea, so blame her. But ha, I have finally gotten rid of her! Though there are still a couple chapters to come by her. She's only written like 3 out of 20 chapters as it is, so I just pretend she doesn't exist anyways. Lol. No, I don't like her writing very much. Well, not her fanfiction anyway. We have too different of styles and it's bugging me like crazy. Okay crap, I've started to ramble again. MUST GO! R&R please.