A/N Hi everyone sorry its been so long since I've updated, but there were a few problems like writers block, college work, work, and not having enough hours in the day I need a time turner if only they really existed oh well.
Thanks to Elvira you was the only person to review last chapter :-(
Now on with the story:
Harry, Hermione and Pansy had left Ron and Lavender and were making their way to the Slytherin common room; Pansy of course was leasing the way. As soon as she was sure no one had followed them, Pansy asked, "So care to tell me what that was about Pot…Harry? He was silent for a minute as the trio kept walking before answering, " I had a few reasons, one it was an excellent chance to annoy Malfoy, and two remember what the sorting hat said about house unity?" At this both girls nodded, " Well I agree with it and thought it might help. Also you deserve better that that." He finished his eyes briefly moved from Pansy face to her neck. "Oh…" Pansy said a slight blush creeping onto her face, "We're here, thanks for what you did." She smiled as turning to face a picture of a snake. "That's ok have a good day" Harry said, after which Hermione told her, "Yeah don't let Malfoy get you down." " I won't thanks Harry, Gran…Hermione." Pansy replied as she whispered the password and entered the common room.
Harry and Hermione made their way to Gryffindor; after a few minutes Hermione broke the comfortable silence saying, "That was a really mice thing you did Harry." "Err thanks 'Mione," he said thinking to himself, 'Why am I so nervous around her? She's my best friend for crying out loud' He was snapped out of his thoughts as Hermione asked, "Did you mean what you said about house unity?" Relaxing a bit reminding himself that he was just having a conversation with his friend he answered, "Yeah I did, I mean you heard the hat's song… And before you ask yes I do think she deserves better. Did you see the bruise on her neck? It looked like someone and grabbed her." Hermione gasped, "You don't think that Malfoy…" "I do" he sighed interrupting her, "but we've got no proof – House unity" he finished as they reached the portrait of the fat lady.
"What took you two so long?" Ron asked from his seat near the fire, "Oh we were just talking to Pansy before coming here" Hermione explained before muttering to Harry, "I don't think we should tell him about the bruise yet." Harry nodded slightly to show his agreement as they joined Ron and Lavender at the fireside. Soon the four where talking about the Halloween Party; " So anyone asked you yet Harry?" Lavender asked, " A few but I've turned them down. So far Emma Hawker from Hufflepuff and Claire Kempson from Ravenclaw – Both are first years, a fourth year I'm not sure who though and Miranda Durcan – a fifth year Hufflepuff she's really quiet I didn't even know she was here. What about you Lav?" he answered glaring at Ron as he tried to hide his laughter. "Oh I'm going with Seamus he asked me this morning, Ginny and Dean are going together of course, oh and you'll never guess you Neville asked…Luna" She said, she always knew who was going with who it was her duty as one of the gossips of Hogwarts. "Really, that's err…unexpected" Harry said, "Yeah I know mate and Luna accepted after I turned her down as I'm going with Hermione" Ron beamed clearly amused he had to turn someone down. "We've got about half an hour till potions so lets say twenty minutes after we walk to the dungeons, what about you Lavender?" Hermione asked noticing the time. After consulting her timetable she answered " Divination with Firenze for an hour then with Trellawney." "Anyone want a game of chess?" Ron asked summoning his board and set, "Sure" Harry answered before summoning his own set. After ten minutes he regretted his decision as he spectacularly lost to Ron.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were waiting outside the dungeon for class to begin when sniggers of laughter started behind them, Turning round Ron burst out laughing, Harry chuckled in to his hands and Hermione was trying to but failing to suppress a giggle. What they had seen as they turned was their potions master striding along the damp dark corridor in his pink tutu at such a pace that made his hair and the skirt flare out. If you looked closely enough you could see him muttering out of the side of his mouth to a big black dog. After noticing the dog Harry called, "Snuffles" causing the dog to bound forward to the trio barking madly. "Oh Potter's still got his mutt, I thought dogs weren't allowed in school but of course Potter's allowed to do anything." Came a drawling voice followed shortly by the appearance of Draco flanked by the huge hulking forms of Crabbe and Goyle both grunting in laughter. Draco stepped forward towards Harry, "I bet you're really pleased with that show you put on with Pansy in the hall. She's my girlfriend and I can treat her how I like." He finished smirking. Harry stepped away from Hermione and Ron and whispered so he thought that only Draco could hear, " Does that include abuse?" Snuffles must have heard this as he started growling and bearing his teeth at Draco. Snape approached the classroom and barked, "Everyone in now" Quickly everyone entered the room as a Draco stood still obviously in shock.
"Today we are going to continue with the polyjuice potion preparation. If I so much as hear one whispered phrase or hum of those ridiculous muggle songs I have sung, the person singing will be in detention faster than you can say Hogwarts. Instructions are in your books, cauldrons are in there," he waved his wand to the wall again and revealed the simmering cauldrons. "… Get to work." As Hermione went to get their potion, Harry began re-reading the instructions for the complicated potion. By doing so he realised that the information was coming back to him as though he had read this a hundred times before, ' hmm must be Salazar's gift, I better read it through though don't want Snape to realise anything – not that he could the greasy git'
About a third of the way through the class Harry took over the potion making from Hermione; the trio had decided to each do a third of lesson each that way Snape couldn't blame jus tone person if it went wrong or right for that matter. As he had inherited the skills of a potions master from Salazar, he did not look at the book once.
Snape had undoubtedly noticed this as he had been keeping an eye on the boy since his little show last lesson. Which bothered him immensely, as Snape had decided long ago that if he should have the displeasure of teaching Potter at NEWT level he would ignore him. He couldn't help but watch as Potter quickly tended to his potion in a manner any potions teacher would be proud of, any that is accept him, 'What is Potter doing, not looking at the book the imbecile, he is so arrogant he believes he does not need to bother with instructions. Well I may not be able to give him the truth serum but I can use legillmency'.
A few minutes later Harry felt someone trying to break in to his mind, luckily for him, he had been practising his Occlumency every night and now could block out an attacker. Slowly and carefully he looked up and saw exactly what he had expected, Snape was staring at him, gazing intently. 'Well if Snape wants to see my memories why not?' Harry thought fighting the grin threatening to spread across his face.
Letting his walls slip ever so slightly knowing that Snape would think he had broke them, Harry started to sift through his memories trying to sense what he was looking for. And then he heard it, 'How did he learn potions?' Snape was asking. Knowing that he could not let him know about Salazar just yet Harry directed hi thoughts to some off his memories of the Dursleys', as he knew this would throw Snape out.
Snape felt a crack appear in the walls of Harry's mind, smiling to himself, He started to search through Harry's memories for anything that had to do with potions. What he saw instead shocked him, he saw a five-year-old Harry, with cello taped glasses, doing house work as a large blond boy, a man and a woman lazed around watching TV, the memory swirled as a new one started to form, a nine year old Harry in clothes that looked big enough for a eighteen year old, was being chased by the blond boy who was considerably bigger and a group of boys when Harry suddenly disappeared. The memory changed to Blond boy's birthday as he counted his presents, "How many are there?" he demanded the boy's father answered, "Thirty-six, counted them myself." "Thirty six! But last year I had thirty seven!" The boy's mother then spoke, "You haven't counted Aunt Marge's one its here behind this one form Mummy and Daddy, and we'll buy you two more when we are out." "So I'll have…" " Thirty nine sweetums." The memory changed for the last time to Harry's eleventh birthday for which he received an old pair of faded knobbly socks. Snape let out a breath he did not know he had been holding, taking this as his cue Harry asked, "Like what you see Professor?" "What was that about Potter?" Snape demanded, "Oh just a few of my memories from the Dursley's. Funny isn't it how dreadful people can be. Professor I have one thing to say to you, STAY OUT OF MY HEAD!" Harry mentally bellowed has he mentally pushed the Professor out of his mind.
The rest of potions class passed with out incident at the end of the class Snape said, "Pack away, none of you leave this class until your desks are clear." As they packed away a few of the students were caught humming 'A spoonful of sugar' and received detention and lost 15 points each. As they were about to leave the class Snape spat, "Potter you have a meeting in the headmaster's office at 8pm to discuss extra curriculum activities. Do not be late." That could only mean one thing, Occlumency talks.
As Ron made his way to Herbology, Hermione and Harry started talking. "So," Harry asked, " What do you want to do?" 'I know what I want to do' Hermione thought, 'but it's out of the question.' "I really anted to make some notes on Animagi for Eniram's lessons. You should make some notes to." "In other words you want to go and search through the library and a ton of books." Harry groaned smiling to let her know he was just playing, "Oi" she said playfully slapping his arm, " Unless you have a better idea. Mr Potter." She challenged. "How about the room of requirement? That way we could get the necessary books automatically." Harry responded. "Of course why didn't I think of that, it would cut down on research time."
As they entered the room, they noticed it was split in two sections; the first half was an almost exact replica of the library except all the books had to do with Animagi, there was a floor to ceiling bookshelf against the wall, and a large table in the middle of the room. The other half was a replica of the Gryffindor common room, complete with fireplace and a plush sofa. " I guess we were thinking of different things." Hermione stated as she started searching for books, she pulled out a copy of books about her Animagus forms as well as a copy of "Animagi – the basics" by Meme Animus.
Noticing Harry wasn't getting any books Hermione, said, " I hope you are going to study to, what are your Animagus forms?" as she turned to the bookshelves. "Hermione, I don't need to study as I can turn in to a stag just like my dad." "Really Harry? Where did you learn? Can I see?" she gushed. "I learned it in Nevle Mlaer, Eniram taught me I'll transform to show you." Hermione nodded, "let me get my quill so I can take notes, would you mind going slowly so I can keep up?" "Sure just for you." He said sending her a lopsided grin. ' Does he have any idea how cute he is when he does that?' Hermione thought nodding to show she was ready.
Slowly Harry began changing form; first he changed his legs in to a stag's hindquarters before changing his arms and torso. Lastly he changed his head, and where Harry Potter once stood was a magnificent stag. Harry then began to reverse the process, slowly so Hermione could make more notes. "Wow Harry do you think, I could try? I mean I want to learn this as soon as possible." She asked excitedly. "I think so" Harry said, " Just focus on one part of your body, what form do you want to try?" " Oh I wanted to try the cat form," Hermione answered immediately. "Ok, now I want you to focus clearly on your right arm, imagine it changing smoothly in to soft fur and your hand curling into an elegant paw. Also it helps if you think of a characteristic of a cat lets say grace in this case." He explained. Hermione nodded, closed her eyes and began to think of all Harry had just said.
Several tries later, she groaned in frustration, "Arghh this is not working." "Your too tense 'Mione, try to relax," Harry said soothingly, "think of Crookshanks." Taking a few deep breaths and closing her eyes, she tried again. Harry smiled, "open your eyes." As she did so she looked at her right arm and noticed that it was shorter and chestnut in colour and more importantly a cats front leg and paw. " I did it," She cried, " Now try turning back, imagine it turning in to your arm again." She managed this quicker than the initial transformation. "Excellent now all you have to do is the same for all your body."
About half an hour later Hermione, had managed a complete transformation (she wasn't he cleverest witch in the year for nothing). "Congratulations 'Mione look in the mirror." Harry said watching the bushy furred chestnut cat prowl over to the mirror. Hermione turned back in to herself and caught Harry in a suffocating Hug, "Thank you" she gushed, "Thank you thank you." 'If this is the response I get, maybe I should help her more often.' Harry thought to himself. As his best friend placed a soft kiss on his left cheek; causing both witch and wizard to blush 'Definitely should help her more often' " Come on its song time." Harry said holding her hand leading her to the door.
A/N
Hi all hope you enjoyed the chapter, who should Harry go to the Halloween Party with? It won't be Hermione as she is going with Ron. Let me know in a review. Next chapter the last song :-(