Disclaimer simple: Its mostly not mine

PART 2

A grey Tuesday dawned over the grounds of Hogwarts castle. The wind murmured with a little dampness in its chill. Rain was coming. Harry awoke and smiled when he peered out the window of his dormitory. This was his idea of perfect weather.

Harry's smile grew as he realized that he did not remember one dream from the night before. His face almost split when it dawned on him that his scar hadn't hurt him since his first Occlumency lesson with Dumbledore. This was a vast improvement from the previous year. Not believing he could start the day in a better way his thoughts drifted to the night before.

"So what are you up to?" Harry looked up from the library table to find the girl he assumed was his girlfriend. Harry didn't really have any experience with that sort of thing. His one previous date was a disaster, and his parent's perfect relationship that he built in his mind had crumbled with his discovery in Snape's memory last year.

"I just finished my homework, now I'm reading ahead for classes tomorrow," Harry answered her.

A small frown tugged her lips downward, but her voice remained cheerful, "Oh, ok then, I guess I'll leave you to it."

Harry, not sure as to how to handle this turn of events closed his book. Rising from the table he whispered into her ear, "Let's go talk."

She smiled as they left the library.

Harry was glad he was up early enough that he didn't have to fight for the shower. The hot water hit him flattening out his hair. He knew once it was dry it would be out of control once again. Being that he inherited this trait from his father, he really didn't mind.

Since no one was awake, and breakfast wouldn't be ready for a little while Harry took advantage of the moment of peace and just relaxed under the pressure of the water. He closed his eyes, then remembering the reason his scar wasn't hurting he quickly went to the serene calmness within his own mind. He checked his mental shield over and realized a few cracks were present. Focusing on the emerald green they slowly receded and his shields were up once again.

That finished Harry stretched his muscles enjoying the feeling of the heat relaxing him to his fullest. He turned his neck from side to side, all tension leaving his body. Feeling good he picked back up where he left his memory off.

"Where are we?" she asked him, her eyes scanning the room.

"As best I can tell it used to be a study. I don't know why its entrance is in a hidden passage though." Harry too took in the room.

Even if it hadn't been used in quite some time the study held no evidence of being forgotten in time. The walls were a simple cream bordered in midnight blue, the floors carpeted in a vibrant red. The tables all looked like they were polished just that morning. There was a big green couch, along with a small yellow recliner. All these colors clashed violently, but at the same time seemed to fit together in only a way magic could handle. There was no set palette for the hardware either. Gold, silver, bronze, and black all lined any drawers or cabinets present. The passageway to get here was just outside the Great Hall, and as best as Harry could tell this study was basically the very center of the castle. He found it on the marauder's map. The entrance was a mirror you had to step through. Unlike the entrance at Kings Cross, instead of just walking through, the glass seemed to ripple and pool as you stepped through.

"So, this is where you take girls to talk?" she asked mischievously.

Harry blushed before answering, "You're the only person I've ever shown this place to."

"Well, I feel honored then," she smiled.

"As well you should," Harry retorted, he didn't know why, but she made him feel so comfortable.

She half sat half laid down on the couch, "So, what did you want to talk about?"

His answer was simple, he didn't feel awkward with her, and he knew they could talk about this or anything they wanted to, "Us…"

Leaving the shower Harry felt invigorated. He dressed in casual clothes that were comfortable knowing his Hogwarts robes would just cover them anyway. The dress code only limited the robe you could wear, Harry was thankful for this.

Dressed he looked around to his dorm mates and smiled. They were all still asleep. He put his amp on his hand, tugged each strap gently and they wrapped themselves around his hand.

In such a chipper mood he almost skipped down the stairs leading to the common room. If he was shocked to see Hermione pouring over her Charms book his face didn't show it.

"Good morning Hermione," Harry said, his voice resonating in cheerfulness.

Hermione, a little taken back by Harry's attitude spoke a soft shocked, "Good morning."

"So, what's on the plate for today then?"

"Charms…" Hermione started in on what would be coming up as the first lesson of the day.

Harry, as much as he liked and admired his friend, tuned out.

Their conversation over, the two who finally found each other were gently making out. Trailing small kisses up and down her jawbone, Harry was in bliss with everything that was so new to him. He knew that many would think they had moved too fast, he knew that some wouldn't understand, and he knew that he didn't care.

They slowly broke apart; Harry reluctantly opened his emerald eyes to find light blue staring back into them. Her blonde hair gently cascaded around her head on the green couch. Happiness crept into his skull as he gently smiled.

"Luna, I think we should get back to our rooms."

"Sorry Hermione, my mind was somewhere else," Harry said knowing if Hermione knew where his mind was she would have a conniption.

She smiled at him, Harry wasn't often in this good a mood so she wasn't going to ruin it by snapping at her friend, "Did you learn the masking charm in chapter one?"

"No, I didn't have time last night to get to that one," he replied, still in a dreamy state.

She sighed at her friend when Ron came bouncing down the stairway. His bounce was for the breakfast that was being served.

"You two ready?" he beckoned them from the portrait hole.

Much to the surprise of Ron and Hermione Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw, was sitting at the Gryffindor table. Adding to their shock Harry sped up leaving them to sit by her. Then stopping them fully in their tracks he grabbed her hand, after a kiss on the cheek the two friend's jaws hung loose. After a minute to regain some composure, they sat across from Harry and Luna.

"Good morning Luna," Hermione said, questions dancing in her eyes.

"Good morning," the girl in question responded, either not noticing, or not caring about the confusion evident in her two other friends.

Ron, being Ron, asked, "What in the bloody hell got into you two?"

Harry, still in a daze, asked airily, "What do you mean?"

"Holy hell there are two of 'em," Ron managed while filling his plate.

Hermione gaze him a scolding glance, "When this happen then? It just seems kind of sudden."

"Yeah," Ron continued, "are you two a couple now or something?"

"Yes Ronald Harry and I are dating, and it started at Headquarters Hermione," Luna answered sounding bored doing so.

"Headquarters…" Hermione started in a far off voice as if trying to recall just when she missed them getting together, "when?

"Right after my dueling accident," Luna answered.

"Oh," was all Hermione said, the four continued their breakfast.

Ginny turned up about halfway through breakfast. A sad sort of smile appeared on her lips when she saw Harry and Luna. She already knew what had happened from Luna, she didn't say anything to the rest of their group because it wasn't her place. She sat on the other side of Luna and the four ate in a comfortable silence.

Neville rounded out the group sitting on the other side of Hermione. He reached for a slice of toast and began to eat when it slipped from his hand and landed in his plate.

"Luna, what are you doing here?" He asked in a shaken voice.

The other five filled him in, he seemed happy for the new couple. Finally breakfast was over, Luna and Ginny headed to Care of Magical Creatures after Luna gave Harry a kiss goodbye. The quarto of sixth year Gryffindors made their way to Charms. Before making it, someone tried to spoil Harry's day.

"God Potter, you're actually dating the retard of your group? I didn't think you could sink any lower. Well, actually I did, everyone thought you were with the mudblood. Or are you banging the trash on the side?" Draco Malfoy asked looking to get a rise out of Harry.

Ron, face turning red in anger, was held back by Hermione. Harry surprisingly was forced to hold Neville away from his blonde nemesis.

"Death Eater piece of shit," Neville spat at the boy, "one day you'll get yours."

Crabbe and Goyle flanked Draco from behind in case anything needed to be done.

"Oh, and is a squib like you going to put me in my place? Honestly Longbottom, you put the name of a pure-blood wizard to shame. Then again even you appear to be better than the weasel here. Being held back by the mudblood, honestly, just give him a sickle and a knut and he'll be too fascinated by them to cause any trouble."

Hermione finally got Ron to leave, muttering to him how it wasn't worth it. Neville reluctantly turned to go to class only after Harry whispered, "Watch when we leave."

The four were walking away when Draco called out, "Running from a fight? Just like your parents Potter, you'll join them soon you know!"

Draco didn't see Harry's eyes turn into the toxic green, nor would he have known what that meant. Neville did, and smiled as Harry reached out with his magic. He turned to see a gash open on Malfoy's cheek, ear to mouth. Neville laughed as the trio of Slytherins let shock sparkle in their eyes and run off at top speed. He abruptly quit laughing when he turned to Harry though.

Harry had fallen to his knees. His skin drained of color and he looked deathly pale. Something felt wrong, his stomach, he clutched it with his hand. The world in front of his eyes began to swirl and meld into something different. The color shifted, everything looked sharper, brighter. He heard an echo of Hermione saying something about getting help. It was all too blurry to make out, he turned to his friend, and he could see her, but also a blue haze encompassing her. Before he passed out he barely whispered,

"Your color is kind."

Harry weakly opened his eyes to see a white ceiling. The bed he was on was slightly uncomfortable, the sheets so straight they didn't seem to want to give and flex. He almost laughed when he realized where he was. He didn't laugh though because what sounded like a thousand voices at once filled his brain. Louder and louder the thoughts rang out, he almost let out a cry when they all died out.

"Ah, Mr. Potter I see you're awake. I thought you might have waited till at least the third day of school to be admitted into the hospital wing." Madam Pomfrey said, only slightly scolding him with her voice.

He gave the healer a slight smile before asking, "What happened?"

"Magical sickness I'm afraid. I ran a test to see if you had Shanker's Disease, and you'll be happy to know that you do not. It just seems that something happened and you got too much magic into your system. I advise you to be more cautious in the future. Here," she said while handing him a cigarette, "you'll have to smoke this before you can leave."

Harry mildly registered how weird it was to be given a cigarette in school or for that fact by the nurse. He took it, and held it in his mouth as the healer lit it for him with her wand.

The smoke was harsh as it hit the back of his throat making him gag. The smoke from the cigarette itself was a putrid green that stung his nose. He heard that some people smoked these voluntarily, even paying for them. He just didn't know why. The second drag was better. He could feel the light green smoke enter his lungs, when he exhaled the smoke was now purple. He felt like something was expelled from him, he felt calmer now not being on the verge of losing his breakfast.

"May I ask what this thing does?" Harry asked, making a face not liking the cigarette at all.

"The smoke expels any excess magic in your system," she replied simply.

Harry nodded and proceeded to finish the vile concoction that was healing him. When he was finished she banished it for him, ran her wand over him and cleared him to leave. Under the strict orders to return if he felt at all funny of course.

Having completely missed Charms, Harry sprinted to Transfiguration. He appeared in class only five minutes late.

"Sorry Professor," he said from the doorway.

"That's quite all right Mr. Potter; I knew you'd be late. Now, will you please find a seat." she replied, the sternness in her voice receding a little from normality.

Harry took one of the only seats left available which was in-between Jenks, and a Ravenclaw girl he didn't know. He absentmindedly marked his friends in the room. Ron was sitting on the other side of Sira, with Hermione and Neville a row ahead.

"Today we will start on human transfiguration. To begin with you'll be transfiguring yourself, later we will move into partners."

Harry smiled at the lesson plan. He always did like the idea of changing his appearance so he didn't have to deal with his unwanted fame all the time. It would also help with stealth and disguises he supposed.

"First I want you to begin with your hair, this being the easiest to do. Either try to grow it or shorten it in length. Try a new color or style." Professor McGonagall set them to their task, almost smiling at her words. She then turned to the blackboard to write some of the theory behind this magic as well as hints to help the students along.

Harry found that he could get only an inch worth of length to work with either growing or shortening his hair. He could also change the color to brown with much problem. As for style, even with magic, his hair was hopeless. The class around him was laughing at each other and enjoying the lesson. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil were in some sort of competition to make the most outrageous style. Hermione, with a disgusted look on her face, tried to perfect the magic, but only managed about the same luck as Harry.

When lunch finally arrived Harry had to meet up with Professor Flitwick to see what he had to do to make up for the missed class. Then he had to rush to the Great Hall to get some lunch. When he entered he noticed Luna at her own table now. Feeling like turnabout was fair play Harry joined her.

"Hey babe," she greeted him with a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey," he smiled in return.

Padma was sitting across from them, "So the rumors of the happy couple are true?"

"Rumors are already spreading?" Harry asked amazed at how quick these things spread.

"With people like my sister," Padma replied, "are you really all that shocked?"

"Not really, but one can hope can't they?" he replied.

Her only response was a sly smile.

After eating a bit Harry reached for the pumpkin juice. He noticed Cho Chang casting a dirty look their way. When he caught her eye she quickly looked away. He gave an exasperated sigh hoping all this wouldn't cause much trouble for Luna.

Luna turned to him, smiled, and said, "So, day two and you've already been to the hospital wing?"

Harry too smiled, "Yeah, I think Madam Pomfrey reserves me a bed throughout the year."

After lunch Harry quickly caught up to Hermione. They made their way to the dungeons for potions. Harry was not looking forward to this. This class too seemed to be made up of all the houses as everyone waited in the corridor to be let in. Harry and Hermione were the only two Gryffindors waiting. Harry also recognized Padma who had followed to lunch, Susan Bones, and a few others from the DA. The Slytherins still dominated the class population, Zambini, Malfoy, Parkinson, Bulstrode, and Nott were all present much to Harry's distaste. He did allow a smile when he noticed Crabbe and Goyle absent though.

He was ripped from his thoughts as a volatile Professor Snape beckoned everyone into the class. After everyone was seated and no one dared to make a sound the lesson began.

"This is NEWT level potions. As hopeless as some of you are and managed to con your way into this illustrious class," he stopped to glare at Harry while Malfoy snickered, "I will not tolerate anything below perfection. The level you will be working at for the next two years demands this, as the more complicated potions taught can be deadly if not treated properly. I will not risk the lives of the more capable students if you can not manage this class. From here out I have the authority to make you leave if you are not up to par."

"Potter," Snape's silky voice dripped with venom, "what is the main ingredient in the antidote for The Draught of Living Death?"

Harry, coming prepared for class this time asked, "Which antidote sir? There are two."

"Five points from Gryffindor for trying to make a teacher look bad. The antidote I am talking about is Waker's Calm."

"Unicorn horn," Harry said between clenched teeth.

"And why wouldn't I ask about Sleeper's Bane?"

"Because the main ingredient is Phoenix's tears, which are hard to come by." Harry said, anger still lacing his voice.

"Good, one point to Gryffindor," Snape said, his face contorting in displeasure. He then tapped the blackboard with his wand and the ingredients for Waker's Calm appeared. "You have the rest of the class to make this potion. If you deserve to be in this class, it will be finished by the time the bell rings. Begin!"

Harry pulled out his cauldron to start on the complicated potion. It was so time consuming that Malfoy didn't even have time to smart off some remark during class. By the time he was finished, Harry was happy with the results. The potion was supposed to be blood red when finished. He was happy to note his was red, only a few shades from what it was supposed to be. He looked over at the Slytherins, Zambini and Malfoy both had pink instead of the deep red. Nott was trying to hurry and finish to be able to stay in class. He smiled at seeing Hermione's blood red potion. For potions, today wasn't half bad.

The class started to trickle away when Snape called for Harry to stay after class. Malfoy smirked as he left the room. Harry sat in silence for five minutes when Luna and Neville showed up. Snape looked up; the mini class finally gathered he poured himself into another speech.

"The Dark Arts are not to be toyed with or taken lightly. You must respect them for what they are, and not be sucked into the power trip that may come with them. You hold someone's pain and misery at your fingertips. You can hold their life in your hands."

Harry shuddered involuntarily at that last sentence. Maybe this was going to far after all.

"To know what you are defending yourself against, you need to know this. That is the only reason I have to try and teach you any of it. Also, you may need some of these spells to attack. You can not win a battle when all you have is defense."

Harry nodded; again it felt against his will. Snape was actually taking this seriously, the least he could do was the same. Then, without warning Harry felt something in his mind, clouding itself so he couldn't think completely straight. He quickly divided the two without closing his eyes, with a little effort he through out the alien presence.

"Very good Potter, now I can teach you to the fullest knowing that you will not become the unwilling spy of the Dark Lord," Snape said, which was the closest thing to a compliment that he had ever directed to Harry.

"The first spell you will learn is abstergo, the movement is a wave left, to right, to left. This spell will fade away the part of the person you are focusing on. Most commonly the mouth for it is the easiest to vanish. Practice the movements, and then we will try the spell."

After dinner and trying to catch up on homework Harry headed to bed. He didn't really like doing that spell on his friend, nor on his girlfriend, but he did see how it could be useful. Lying in his four poster bed he thought about the day. Aside from getting sick this might have been the best day he had had at Hogwarts. He and Luna were happy; Snape was being tolerable, almost the impossible was happening. He wondered if it could last all year, and if it couldn't, how long would it last. Pushing those thoughts out of his mind he brought himself to his calming scene and color guard. Reinforcing it, and repairing where Snape had try to get in, Harry fell into a deep calming sleep.

I have to admit, I'm getting better at updating: ) As for Part on of chapter 8 I forgot to mention I tried to write in Hagrid talk but it ended up being very horrible. So use your imagination.

Fanastygirl721: Ok, the girl is revealed because the plot has changed once again. As for ships, I don't sail any one of them. I'll read and write pairings of just about anyone, though I'm no fan of slash so that's pretty much my limitation. The Wandless/Amp magic came into play a little more here, there is definetly going to come in more often though. Thanks for the Occlumency compliment. Snape does seem to be a horrid teacher doesn't he? Stealth and Intrusion will come into play more later, when Hermione joins in. Tonks and Moody in the same room is just too good to pass on : ) The new students also have some very big roles to grow in to. I'm trying to be patient about throwing them in the mix, but oh well. Thanks again for reading and reviewing! P.S. I don't mind bad spelling, for I would be lost without Word.