Chapter 10

Serious Discussions

Harry had left the Gryffindor Tower extremely early the following morning. He had gone straight to bed last night, claiming exhaustion. Whether Ron and Hermione actually believed him, Harry didn't know. They didn't question him. They just let him go. Harry had been extremely grateful. He didn't think he could stand to relay what happened in Professor Dumbledore's office. He didn't think he could handle someone else laughing at him.

Out of desperation, Harry hurried towards the Marauder Quarters. Sirius would still be sleeping for some time yet which would give Harry plenty of time to talk to the one person who had always been serious with him no matter how embarrassing the topic had been. He needed to talk to Remus. Remus would explain everything, he always did.

In no time, Harry had reached the Marauder Quarters, whispered the password and quietly entered. The place was completely dark as Harry maneuvered his way to Remus' bedroom. The door was partially opened allowing Harry to poke his head in and see Remus sleeping peacefully. There was a slight amount of sunlight that was coming through the window on the far end of the room allowing Harry to see without difficulty. As quietly as possible, Harry entered the room, pulled up a chair and sat down at Remus' bedside. He knew he had some time to think of something to say that wouldn't make him sound like an idiot. Chances were Sirius and already mentioned the situation so Remus had an idea what was going on.

Leaning forward in his chair, Harry held his head in his hands as he tried to think. How do you tell someone that you have no idea what you're feeling from others without sounding like an idiot? The more he thought about it, Harry didn't really care that he was severely lacking in the relationship department. What bothered him were these uncomfortable emotions he was sensing that were directed at him. He didn't like being thought of that way.

At the rustling of bedcovers, Harry quickly looked up to see Remus slowly opening his eyes before inhaling deeply and turning his head to see Harry. "Good morning, cub," Remus said, his voice still rather thick with sleep. "You could have woken me, you know."

Harry shook his head. "You need your sleep," he said quietly. "Madam Pomfrey—"

"—is extremely overprotective when it comes to us," Remus said with a smile as he slowly sat up and ran a hand through his hair. "You know that more than anyone." He cast a long look at Harry before moving over slightly and patting on the bed. "Come on, Harry. I think this talk is long overdue." Harry sat down on the edge of bed still fidgeting slightly. "I spoke with Sirius last night and believe me, did he get an earful," Remus said with a smirk. "This is new territory for us as well as you. It's one thing to feel your own emotions but to put them into words, especially when some of them are emotions you would rather not discuss…well, let's just say I understand why you were so uncomfortable."

Harry's gaze fell as he let out a sigh. Remus had a point. How do you put actual emotions into words? "So I'm not hopeless?" Harry asked softly.

"No, Harry," Remus said sincerely. "You are anything but hopeless. I have a feeling those girls last night were feeling some sort of attraction towards you." Harry covered his face with his hand to hide his embarrassment. "There are a number of emotions that coincide with attraction: adoration, infatuation, love…lust…"

Harry quickly looked up at Remus with wide eyes. He did not just hear that. "Remus, these girls were fourteen-years-old!" he protested. "There's no way—"

"—different people mature at different times, cub," Remus said patiently, "You said what you felt made you feel uncomfortable?" Harry nodded. "Well, it was most likely an infatuation or even a strong crush. I highly doubt fourteen-year-olds would know what lust is but you never know. I believe Hermione warned you about what you would possibly be facing this year." Harry nodded again. "Those girls find you appealing, Harry. That is what you are sensing. You have always been a private person so I can understand why you would feel uncomfortable with that."

Harry couldn't help groaning in frustration. This was exactly what he didn't want. "They don't find me appealing," he protested. "They find the-boy-who-lived, 'The Chosen One' appealing!"

Remus looked at Harry sympathetically as he rested a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I know, cub," he said softly as he squeezed Harry's shoulder gently. "I know this must be hard for you. Finding someone is hard enough on its own without adding in your status and your empathy into the mix. This is where you are so different from your father. James knew girls found him attractive. He liked the attention. I think that is what Sirius found funny. You are attracting the same sort of attention your father did."

"How could he like this?" Harry asked in disgust.

"James wasn't empathic, Harry," Remus said with a smile. "He wasn't raised like you were or had to face all that you have when he was your age. James also wasn't forced to live in seclusion for his own safety. James was raised to be a proper pureblood wizard that was faithful to the light. You wouldn't believe all of the functions he had to attend with his parents. He was raised to be polite in the public eye, which is probably why he became such a prankster here. You, Harry, don't have that luxury. Your façade has to remain in place wherever you go."

That was certainly the truth. Harry really didn't know how to respond to that or even if there was a response. The more he heard about his father the more he realized how different he was from the man. "So what do I do?" asked Harry. "It's not like I can shut this off. How do I act normal when everything is telling me to run as far away as I possibly can?"

Remus looked thoughtful for a long moment before he let out a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. "I wish I could give you an answer," he said truthfully. "I'll talk to Poppy and see if there is some way to research empaths. Merlin knows I need something to do other than Order research. I guess the only advice I can give you is that if these emotions really do make you uncomfortable, than trust yourself. Have you ever felt uncomfortable around Hermione and Ginny?"

Harry thought for a long moment before shaking his head. "But they're my friends," he said with a shrug. "They've never thought of me that way. Ginny is like a sister and Hermione's one of my best friends."

"You trust them," Remus said with a smile.

Harry didn't have to think about it. "Yes, I trust them," he said. It was hard to hide his confusion. Why would that matter? "What are you getting at?"

Remus bit his lower lip, trying to keep a smile from escaping. "You told me that you have to actually 'reach out' in order to feel the emotions around you unless they're too overwhelming to ignore, right?" he asked. Harry nodded. "You use your empathy for reassurance, Harry. It's another line of defense for you but you don't need that when you are around those you trust. Last night you were asked to dig deeper into the emotions of others than you usually do. I'm not surprised you felt what you did. I just wish we would have prepared you for the possibility."

In some strange way, that actually made sense. "So if I don't rely on it as much—"

"—I'm not saying that, Harry," Remus said quickly. "You shouldn't ignore this ability just because you don't like some of the results. All I'm saying is that you should experiment a little bit. Try to tone it down bit by bit until you have more control. This is why Poppy wanted you to be around people. You need to learn how to adapt and the only way of figuring out how is from trial and error. Maybe you can use a section in your journal for this to keep a record of everything you try. Think of it as your own little research project."

Harry scowled at Remus. "You couldn't help yourself," he said in disappointment. "You had to give me homework."

Remus let out a laugh as he squeezed Harry's shoulder again. "What can I say?" he asked helplessly. "Once a teacher, always a teacher. Just be careful and pace yourself. We don't want a repeat of what happened yesterday morning."

"That was completely different," Harry protested. "Hogwarts was just a little overexcited. She apologized for that." Remus looked at Harry incredulously. "Well she did," Harry said with a shrug. "She helped me calm down last night too. I don't know what's going on but it's nice to be able to sense her. It's almost like she's an actual person looking out for me."

Remus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Once again I really don't know what to say," he said dumbfounded. "I don't recall Hogwarts actually communicating to someone before like she does with you. I'll speak to Sirius and Dumbledore about this but I don't think we should tell anyone else until we know more." Remus glanced at the window and noticed the amount of sunlight. "You should probably get moving, cub. You need to get you class list this morning and I believe you have training with Sirius right after breakfast."

Harry nodded and rose to his feet. "Thanks, Moony," he said sincerely. "I'll stop by after classes, okay?"

"If you have time, Harry," Remus said with a smile. "I remember my sixth year. Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration and Charms focus heavily on nonverbal spells. It's going to be a lot of hard work in addition to Quidditch, training, sessions with Poppy, lessons with Dumbledore and the D.A. if you want to continue that. If you're too busy, I understand."

Harry shook his head. No matter what he was involved in, nothing was going to stop him from spending time with his guardians. "I'll see you after class," he said firmly then bid farewell and left for the Great Hall. The hallways echoed with chatter from students strolling almost lethargically to breakfast. Harry kept his pace brisk, and his focus on his destination. He didn't want to notice the people that were whispering about him and he certainly didn't want to sense what they were feeling.

He reached the Great Hall in no time and saw that the tables were becoming rather crowded. It didn't take him long to find Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table surrounded by the rest of the sixth years and Ginny. The ceiling of the Great Hall portrayed the nearly clear sky outside with only a few wispy clouds. Well, at least it's optimal training weather. As Harry made his way towards the Gryffindor Table, Ron and Hermione looked instantly relieved at the sight of him and moved to make room. Harry sat between them and quickly noticed that all conversation around them had come to a halt.

"Where were you, Harry?" asked Ron with a hint of nervousness in his voice. "We thought something happened."

Harry looked at Ron for a moment before he realized why Ron was acting this way. The last time he hadn't been in his bed in the morning he had run away from the wizarding world. "I was talking to Remus," Harry said simply. "With everything last night I didn't get to check up on him." It was a partial lie and he could see that Ron and Hermione knew it.

"Professor—er—Mr. Lupin's here?" Lavender Brown asked in surprise.

Harry nodded. "Madam Pomfrey has been overseeing his recovery so it's easier for everyone if he recovers here rather than at home," he said frankly but didn't say any more. Revealing more would mean revealing Remus' actual injury and how the injury happened.

"So when Mr. Lupin recovers what'll happen to Mr. Black?' asked Dean.

Harry shrugged. That was a very good question. What would Sirius do when Remus was well enough to 'advise' students? Harry doubted that Sirius would willingly leave Hogwarts with the history Harry had but he couldn't see Sirius sitting around here either, not with a war going on. What would that mean? Would Sirius be asked to go out on missions, facing life and death situations alone? Harry couldn't bring himself to think of the possibility of Sirius injured or dying somewhere. So this is what Sirius felt when I ran away. How did he survive?

"Well, I still can't believe Snape's the Defense teacher," Ron said changing the subject. "So are we going to continue with the D.A., Harry?"

Everyone looked at Harry eagerly. "Truthfully, I'm not sure," Harry said as he started to pile food on his plate. "I have to talk to the Council to see if they want to continue—"

"—we do, Harry," Ginny interrupted. "We talked about it yesterday on the train."

Well that answers that. "Then I have to talk to Professor Dumbledore about finding a new supervisor since Remus isn't available," Harry said thoughtfully. His first thought was to ask Sirius who would be a perfect replacement. "I also need to speak to Professor Snape."

"Why?" Ron asked completely bewildered.

"Because whether we like it or not, Professor Snape's the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Hermione said matter-of-factly. "This isn't like last year with Professor Umbridge. Professor Dumbledore trusts Professor Snape. There's also the fact that operating without Professor Snape's permission would make it look like we didn't trust his abilities as a teacher."

"That could be because we don't trust him," Ron muttered bitterly as he started stabbing his bacon with his fork. "I don't care what you say, Hermione. I don't trust the greasy git. He doesn't like any of us. He's probably going to forbid the D.A. just in spite of us."

Harry bit his lip to refrain from saying anything. He really didn't know what to think. Personally, he was afraid that Professor Snape would do exactly what Ron said. Snape had never hid his dislike of the D.A., especially considering the fact that there were no Slytherins in the group. Even now, Harry didn't know if there were any Slytherins he could trust. He really didn't know any Slytherins other than Malfoy's followers. Gryffindors and Slytherins usually refrained from associating with each other on principle.

It wasn't long before Professor McGonagall descended from the Head Table and made her way directly for the sixth year Gryffindors. Remus had warned Harry about how scheduling worked for sixth year students. O.W.L results needed to be confirmed before any student could be enrolled in N.E.W.T. classes. Hermione was quickly cleared to continue with Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, Arithmancy, Herbology, Ancient Runes, and Potions. Once she took her schedule, Hermione was gone, hurring to Ancient Runes. Neville's schedule wasn't as easy since he had wanted to take Transfiguration bur failed to score an 'Exceeds Expectations' on his O.W.L. Professor McGonagall ended up convincing Neville that Charms was a better option.

One by one, the Gryffindors discussed their schedules until Professor McGonagall approached Harry. "Well, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said with a smile as she consulted her notes. "I must say I was most pleased with your results. One of the highest scores in History of Magic…impressive scores in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms… Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures…understandable but why haven't you applied to continue with Potions?"

"I needed an 'Outstanding' on my O.W.L., Professor," Harry said simply.

Professor McGonagall nodded in understanding. "That was Professor Snape's requirement, Mr. Potter," she said with a slight smile. "Professor Slughorn, on the other hand, accepts 'Exceeds Expectations' scores and higher. With that in mind, should I sign you up for Potions?" Harry nodded, unable to keep the smile off of his face. "Very well, here is your schedule. Your godfather and Madam Pomfrey have already talked with me so your sessions with them have already been allocated." She handed over the piece of parchment. "Oh, one more thing, so far twenty hopefuls have already put down their names for Quidditch tryouts. I suggest you schedule trials soon. You have quite a few positions to fill."

Harry nodded and looked over his schedule. He had training with Sirius three times a week and lessons with Madam Pomfrey twice a week in addition to all of his classes. Today was certainly going to be busy. Once Ron had his schedule, they left the table for the Gryffindor Tower. Harry needed to grab his materials for the day before hurrying to the Entrance Hall to meet Sirius. After training, Harry had Defense Against the Dark Arts, followed by lunch, Care of Magical Creatures and finally Potions.

"Why are we walking so fast?" Ron asked as they reached the moving staircases. "We have a free period now—"

"I don't," Harry said as he handed over his schedule to Ron and hurried up the stairs with Ron following him. It was fairly difficult to maneuver around everyone who wasn't moving at Harry's pace or those who stopped to stare and whisper about him.

Ron quickly caught up and handed Harry back his schedule. "Why are you taking Care of Magical Creatures?" he asked. You can't tell me you actually enjoy that class!"

Harry rubbed his forehead as they reached the Fat Lady portrait and said the password. "Not now, Ron," he said as he entered and hurried up to his dorm, knowing that Ron was following him. Entering the room, Harry was relieved that no one else was there as he opened his trunk and started grabbing his supplies. Defense book, Care of Magical Creatures book, quill, ink, parchment, Potions supplies…

"What it is, Harry?" Ron asked as he closed the door. "Did something happen?"

Harry looked over his shoulder at Ron as he grabbed for his Potions book and put it in his school bag. "Ron, my empathy started in Care of Magical Creatures class last year," he said as he closed his trunk and turned around. "Remember the Bowtruckle and the Unicorn?" Ron nodded slowly. "I could sense their fear without even realizing what I was doing. If I can use this class to test this so I don't have any problems around people, who am I to pass it up? It also wouldn't hurt to know more about creatures since I want to be a Healer…"

Ron raised his hands in defeat. "All right, I get the point," Ron said as he opened the door. "So, I'll see you in Defense class?"

Harry nodded as he picked up his heavy schoolbag. "Just don't be late," he said as he glanced around while double checking that all of his weapons, portkeys and invisibility cloak were in place. "We wouldn't want to give Professor Snape a chance to take points away the first day here."

"Like he's ever needed a reason to take points from us," Ron said as he rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Harry just shook his head and waved goodbye as he hurried out of the room. The journey to the Entrance Hall seemed to take longer than normal with Harry trying to avoid the large clusters of students from the younger years who were hurrying to their own classes. There had been a few times Harry had to jump out of the way to avoid being run over by a group of second and third years who were running as fast as they could to avoid being late.

By the time he ran into the Entrance Hall, Harry noticed that Sirius was waiting for him with a slightly nervous look on his face. He hated seeing that look. The last time he had seen Sirius act uncomfortable around him was when they had still practically been strangers just after Sirius was declared innocent. All Harry had really known was that Sirius had been willing to risk his soul in order to keep him safe and wanted to give him something he had never had: a family. Thinking back, Harry realized this was really the first fight he really had with Sirius. There had been an occasional disagreement but nothing like this. Remus had always been there to ease the tension or Sirius had banished the problem with a joke.

Harry pushed away his thoughts as he approached his godfather. "Quidditch pitch?" he asked evenly. At Sirius' affirmative nod, Harry walked out of the castle, knowing that Sirius would be at his side in a moment once Sirius snapped out of his stupor.

He was right.

"Harry, wait!" Sirius said as he hurried to Harry's side and grabbed Harry's arm to make him stop. Intense green met blue. Sirius let out a long breath as he ran a hand over his face. "Look, I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "I was a prat last night. I should have known it was a touchy topic. I tend to forget just how sheltered your life has been at times."

Harry pulled his arm free and stared at Sirius, his eyes begging for Sirius to understand. "Do you know how hard it was for me to talk about that?" he asked desperately. "I took a chance confiding in you about something I didn't understand and you laughed at me. You laughed at me! How am I supposed to know about these things? When did I have the time to fancy a girl here or anywhere else? The only girls I really know are either close friends or family. You may think it's funny for me to be clueless but I can't afford to be. I have to rely on this as a matter of defense. I can't do that if I don't know what I'm sensing!"

Sirius raised his hands in surrender. "You're right, Harry," he said calmly. "You're absolutely right. I'm sorry, okay? I wasn't thinking last night. I know it's hard for you to talk to people about this—er—stuff and I know I don't help when I open my mouth without thinking. It's a flaw in my character that Moony's been trying to correct for years."

Harry let out a sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I know you're sorry, Sirius, and I also know this is strange for everyone," he said as he looked out onto the grounds in the direction of the Quidditch pitch. "When I was working in the hospital, it took me a long time to figure out what was going on and to sort out what I was sensing. I was a mess, I'll admit it. It didn't take much to send me into a depression. Grief, guilt, loneliness…you name it. They're extremely common emotions in a hospital and they always seemed to bring by own feelings of what happened to Remus to the surface." Harry closed his eyes as he felt them stinging with tears. Not now. Please not now. "There were so many times when I believed I had killed him; that I deserved whatever punishment Voldemort would throw at me." He let out a long breath before he softly said, "I believed that I deserved to be alone in the world."

Before Harry knew Sirius had moved he found himself pulled into a fierce embrace. "That's not true, Harry," he said firmly. "Please tell me you don't believe that!"

Harry pulled away and once again met Sirius' pleading eyes. "No, I know Voldemort was to blame but I don't want to be in that state again," he said as he regained his composure. "I need to know what I'm sensing so I don't make the mistake of confusing my emotions with those of others again."

Sirius nodded in understanding. "All right, I'll do what I can and if I ever act like a prat again I give you permission to hex me," he said then smiled. "Come on, we should get some training on before you're first class." Together they started walking to the Quidditch pitch, a comfortable silence now between them. There wasn't much else to say. Sirius had been forgiven but the matter wouldn't be forgotten anytime soon. If the misunderstanding had taught Sirius anything, it was how difficult being an empath actually was for Harry.

For nearly an hour, Sirius walked Harry through the process of actually casting nonverbal spells since that was what they would be covering for the next month at least. They would slowly be working towards a full-fledged nonverbal duel once Harry had enough control of his spells. Both of them were aware of Professor Dumbledore's warning about Harry draining his reserves and would also be using this as a way to find Harry's limit. At first, Harry had been reluctant to actually try any nonverbal spells out of fear of tapping into his magical reserves. It took quite a bit of reassurance from Sirius before Harry was able to cast a few simple spells nonverbally. It really hadn't been anything different than how he had practiced before except this time, Harry didn't force as much as he possibly could through his wand.

To Harry, it seemed that the training session was over too soon and he was running back to the school for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Through hallways and up flights of stairs, Harry ran the route he knew so well by now. He had spent so much time in the Defense classroom when Remus had been a teacher and it had always been a safe haven when Sirius had taught last term. He really didn't know what to expect with Professor Snape occupying the room but he was certain he wouldn't be willingly spending his free time there anymore.

Entering the hallway, Harry saw the sixth years waiting outside the Gryffindor classroom and skidded to a halt to avoid crashing into Ron and Hermione. Ron nearly jumped back in surprise while Hermione was restricted from much movement by the armful of heavy books she was carrying. Harry waved, unable to form words until his breathing returned to more of a normal pace.

"What'd you do?" Ron asked with a grin. "Run around the lake before coming here?"

Harry shook his head and winced as he felt a pain in his left side. "Lost…track…of…time," he said between breaths as he leaned against the wall and grabbed his left side. Slowly, the pain diminished and his breathing evened out slightly. "How was Runes?" he asked Hermione.

"We already have so much homework," Hermione said nodded to the books in her hands. "I have to read these by Wednesday!"

The classroom door opened, ending all conversations. Professor Snape stepped out into the corridor and glanced over everyone before sneering slightly. "Inside," he said as he moved out of the way and watched as everyone obeyed. Not a word was said by anyone as they entered the room and sat down. No one wanted to be the first that Professor Snape singled out.

Looking around the room, Harry noticed that the once cheerful room Sirius had occupied was now extremely gloomy. The curtains were drawn, blocking any sunlight. Candlelight filled the room causing everyone's shadows to dance against the curtains. Strange pictures of people in pain, with horrific injuries or oddly placed body parts were attached to the walls. Quite a few of them made Harry feel downright ill. Pulling his attention away, Harry quickly sat down beside Ron and tried to focus on anything put the pictures.

As soon as everyone was seated, Professor Snape closed the door and moved to the face from behind his desk. His gaze suddenly shifted to Hermione. "Did I ask you to take out your books?" he asked snidely causing Hermione to pale and drop her copy of 'Confronting the Faceless'. "I think not. What I have to say requires your complete attention, if you all can manage that." No one moved as Snape glanced over the class. "You all have had six teachers in this subject so far and only two have been what most would consider nearly competent. With such a dismal representation, I am quite surprised that so many of you have managed to actually earn an O.W.L. in this subject but stranger things have happened…seeing all of you managing to keep up with this advanced coursework would be one of them."

Harry bit his lip to keep himself from saying anything in defense of Sirius and Remus. He has a role to play. Don't take it personal. Harry watched as Professor Snape slowly walked around the room. He's always hated Sirius and Remus. He would never praise anything they've done. You know that.

"The Dark Arts," Professor Snape continued, "are a never-ending sea of possibilities. Your defenses must be as adaptable as the Dark Arts if you wish to survive. These pictures around the room give you a just representation of what happens to those suffering from the Cruciatus Curse—" he gestured towards a picture of a witch who appeared to be screaming in agony "—feel the Dementor's Kiss—" he motioned towards a picture pf a wizard who was lying hunched and empty-eyed, slumped against a wall "—or goad the hostility of the Inferius—" he waved at a picture of a bloody mass on the ground.

"Inferius have been seen?" Parvati Patil asked fearfully. "He's really using them?"

Professor Snape looked at her for a long moment before he answered. "The Dark Lord has used them in the past so it would be wise to assume he might you them again," he said coolly then started walking towards his desk, his robes billowing behind him. "Now, I believe it is safe to assume you all are complete novices in using nonverbal spells. Tell me, what is the advantage of using nonverbal spells?" Hermione instantly raised her hand although Snape took his time, looking at everyone except her until it seemed like he had no other choice. "Miss Granger?"

"Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you're about to perform," Hermione said instantly, "which gives you a split-second advantage."

Professor Snape clearly didn't look impressed. "Not surprising," he said dismissively. "An answer copied form The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six but correct nonetheless. Those who progress to this stage gain the element of surprise. However, not all wizards can accomplish this. It is a question of focus—concentration and mind power which some one you tend to lack." Snape glanced at Harry for a split second before he looked at Neville. "Divide into pairs. One partner attempt to jinx the other, who will attempt to repel the jinx…no speaking. Move."

Everyone rose to their feet and moved to find an open space to practice. Harry paired up with Ron who was having trouble trying to cast a jinx. Recalling his lesson with Sirius only moments ago, Harry concentrated on nothing around him, focusing on Ron and the jinx that was supposed to be fired at him any moment. He didn't even notice Professor Snape approaching until Snape stepped into his line of sight.

"Pitiful, Weasley," Professor Snape sneered. "Just as I expected. It seems like I'll have to show you how it's done."

Harry instantly snapped to the ready as Snape turned his wand on Harry. Before Harry actually realized what he was doing, he flicked his wand while thinking 'Protego', sending the spell back at Snape who flicked his wand, sending it back. Harry flicked his wand more forcefully, still thinking 'Protego, Protego, Protego', causing the spell to return to it's caster at a faster speed. They continued this, back and forth like to Beaters hitting a Bludger between them. The spell kept picking up speed until Harry's mind screamed at him to move. Turning his body, Harry could feel the spell flying past him and into the wall, causing a small explosion.

Not a word was said. Harry was staring at the hole in the wall in shock. What had he done? How had he pulled it off? Focus and determination. Slowly, Harry turned at looked nervously at Professor Snape who was glaring at him coldly. "Er—sorry, sir," he said at last.

Snape sneered at him. "It seems that you're not completely hopeless, Potter," he said then turned to see the entire class watching. "Get back to work!"

For Harry, class couldn't end soon enough. Professor Snape refused to even look at him for the remainder of the class. Harry didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. Realistically, he hadn't done anything wrong. He had defended himself nonverbally, just like Professor Snape wanted. Why then did he feel like he needed to apologize? Why did he feel like he screwed up?

When class was finally over, Harry reluctantly told Ron and Hermione to go ahead. Better get this over with. Tentatively, Harry approached Professor Snape who was standing in front of his desk with his back facing Harry. "Um—excuse me, sir?" Harry asked nervously. Professor Snape quickly turned around at glared. Closing his eyes for a brief moment, Harry desperately tried to calm himself but his body just wouldn't listen. This was the first time he was alone with Professor Snape since his escape and his mind seemed to be trapped back in the cell, remembering how helpless he had been. He let out a shaky breath as he opened his eyes and noticed Snape's glare had lessened somewhat. "Sir, I—um—I just wanted to apologize for—er—what happened," he said uncomfortably. "I didn't mean—"

"—yes, Potter, I'm aware it was not your intention to blow a hole in the wall," Snape interrupted impatiently. "What do you want?"

Harry rubbed the back of his neck nervously and noticed Snape's gaze shifting to the scar on his neck for a brief moment before impatient black met anxious green. "Well, sir, the Council for the D.A. would like to keep the group going this year and I was hoping we could do so," he said quickly, "with your permission, sir."

Snape stared at Harry, his face showing nothing except the impatient glare that seemed to be fixed on his face. "And why would 'my permission' matter?" he asked coolly. "You'll continue to have your little group whether I give 'my permission' or not."

"I don't want to work against you, sir," Harry said sincerely. "I won't deny that the D.A. will probably exist no matter what you say since it was a recognized group by the staff last term. They just want to be prepared for what awaits them, sir. We're not going to be doing anything to undermine you or what you teach—"

"—yet you are doing exactly that, Potter," Professor Snape spat as he enfolded his arms across his chest. "I will not give you permission to teach your followers material that I am perfectly capable of teaching myself. However, if you feel it's absolutely necessary to give the dunderheads in your year a shred of hope that they can pass this class, I can't very well do anything about it since the Headmaster is bound to allow your little group to proceed anyways."

Harry bit back the frustration that was rising in him. Why did Snape have to turn everything into an insult? "Er—thank you sir," he said then turned to leave. The sooner he could get away from Professor Snape the better.

"Potter," Professor Snape spat, causing Harry to stop in his tracks. "You've cast a nonverbal spell before, haven't you?"

Suppressing a groan, Harry nodded. He knew it was pointless to lie because no one should have managed to accomplish what he had done in class. "I really didn't have a choice, sir," he said truthfully. "You really can't speak underwater when you're being attacked by Grindylows. It was either put everything I had into the spells or drown."

Snape let out a snort, causing Harry to look over his shoulder and see the partially disgusted, partially thoughtful look on Snape's face. "I suppose your anomaly helped too," Professor Snape said with a sneer.

Harry inhaled deeply as his fists clenched in anger. I know I'm not normal. You don't need to rub it in. "I wouldn't know, sir," Harry said through his teeth before he started walking towards the door. He could feel Professor Snape's eyes on his back and waited for the inevitable snap but it never came. Reaching the doorway, Harry let out a long sigh as he forced himself to calm down. Why should he expect anything other than hatred from Professor Snape? "Um—sir," Harry said softly as he glanced over his shoulder. "Thanks for what you did…in there."

Professor Snape's eyes narrowed as he scowled. "I don't know what you're talking about, Potter," he said icily.

Harry nodded in acceptance. He wasn't surprised that Snape was going to deny everything rather than accept the gratitude. "Of course not, sir," he said evenly. "My mistake." Without waiting for a retort, Harry walked out of the classroom. He closed his eyes and reached out to the gentle waves that were slowly diminishing. Regret and pain filled him causing Harry to open his eyes in surprise. That had been the last thing he was expecting to sense.

Pushing the revelation out of his mind, Harry hurried to the Great Hall to see Ron and Hermione fidgeting in their seats. He hurried over to them and sat down in the vacant spot between them causing them both to jump in surprise. Harry instantly started piling food on his plate knowing that he didn't have a lot of time before he needed to leave for Care of Magical Creatures. He had just started to eat when he noticed that everyone was staring at him. "What?" Harry asked innocently.

"Don't be coy, Harry," Hermione scolded. "What did Professor Snape say?"

Harry glanced around once again at everyone's eager faces before setting his fork down and letting out a frustrated breath. First days were not supposed to be this stressful. "He wasn't too happy about it but he said he wouldn't do anything to keep the D.A. from existing since Dumbledore encourages the group," Harry answered. "We knew he wouldn't be as encouraging as Sirius was last term. All we can do now is to try to avoid any sort of confrontation that would—er—aggravate him."

"Well, I suppose it could be worse but Professor Snape does have a point," Hermione said matter-of-factly. "Professor Dumbledore has the final say in everything." She looked thoughtful for a moment then shrugged. "It's a good thing you spoke to him, Harry. At least it shows that you aren't trying to cause problems."

Harry looked at Hermione in disbelief. "Since when do I try to cause problems?" he asked causing Ron to let out a snort. Harry glared at Ron before returning his attention to Hermione. "Think about it! When have I ever intentionally tried to cause trouble? It's not my fault that life and death situations tend to find me."

Hermione let out a frustrated sight and buried her face in her hands. "I'm trying to give you a compliment, Harry!" she said in aggravation then handed over a roll of parchment. "A fourth year gave me that to give to you and started asking us about Quidditch tryouts."

"Sorry, Hermione," Harry said sincerely as he took the roll of parchment and placed it in his school bag. Whatever it was, he would read it later when he wasn't the center of attention. "I guess listening to Professor Snape ridiculing Sirius, Remus and me has left me a little defensive."

The tension was relieved and Harry was able to grab a few more bites before he had to hurry to Care of Magical Creatures near Hagrid's hut. All of the sixth year Gryffindors were surprised that Harry was actually taking the class and had guilty looks on their faces when they realized that Harry would most likely be the only student in the class. Harry really didn't mind. If anything, it was better this way since he didn't have to worry about anyone noticing anything.

Walking across the grounds, Harry couldn't help feeling slightly awkward. There was silence instead of chatter. There were no sneering Slytherins and no joking Gryffindors. The absence of the Slytherins was a welcomed change. He could certainly do without Malfoy's group making fun of Hagrid whenever they had a chance. Hagrid may not be the best teacher but he certainly had a passion for his area of expertise and that was what Harry needed to learn. He needed to know how to defend himself against any sort of creature Voldemort may use.

Reaching Hagrid's hut, Harry was slightly surprised that Hagrid wasn't waiting for him. He tentatively reached out and could feel subtle waves of despair and remorse from the forest. His first instinct was to run to Hagrid's hut when he heard a rustling sound from the forest. With a flick of his wrist, Harry had his wand at the ready only to lower it a moment later when he saw hagrid stumble out of the forest.

The half-giant looked completely distraught. It was amazing what a difference a day could make. Last night, Hagrid looked his normal excited self but now, Hagrid looked like he had just lost his best friend. Harry instantly put his wand away before hurrying to Hagrid's side. He didn't know what he could do to help. All he knew was the pain he was sensing from Hagrid was excruciating and it was completely emotional.

Hagrid was so caught up in his own pain that he didn't realize he wasn't alone until Harry rested a hand on Hagrid's large arm. Startled, Hagrid jumped back, only to realize who was there and instantly pull Harry into a fierce embrace. "I missed yeh, Harry," Hagrid said shakily before loosening his hold and setting Harry back on the ground. "I'm sorry fer bein' late. I was checkin' on Aragog. I think he's dyin'. He's been ill fer so long an' he's not gettin' any better…I…I just don' know what ter do if he…we've jus' bin tergether fer so long. "

Harry's bit his lower lip uncertainly as Hagrid burst into tears. What was he supposed to say to that? His experience with Aragog had been anything but pleasant but it was obvious how much Hagrid loved the Acromantula. Unable to think of anything else to do, Harry slowly pulled Hagrid towards the nearby hut. He didn't know how he managed to usher Hagrid to sit down and make a pot of tea with Fang (Hagrid's large hound) making a ruckus but he was glad he did when Hagrid finally calmed down. For the remainder of the class time, Harry listened to Hagrid talk about Aragog, occasionally asking questions about Acromantula. Hagrid eventually moved past his sorrow and started explaining everything he knew about the dangerous creatures he loved so dearly.

Running had become a pattern for the day. Once again, Harry was running late as he ran to the dungeons for Potions. He had stayed with Hagrid through his break talking about the possible creatures they could discuss and meet this term. Hagrid had admitted that he was disappointed no one else was continuing with the course but was glad for the time he could spend alone with Harry since it was such a rare occurrence nowadays.

Harry had reached the Potions classroom jut as the final students were entering. The shocked look on Professor Slughorn's face was nearly comical as the newly appointed teacher quickly tried to move his large belly out of the way so Harry could skid into the room. He ignored the shocked looks from the eleven members of the class. There were four Slytherins, including Malfoy, along with four Ravenclaws and one Hufflepuff. Harry quickly moved towards the table Ron and Hermione were at with Ernie Macmillan. The four Slytherins had taken one table and the four Ravenclaws had taken another.

Letting out a sigh of relief and ignoring everyone around him, Harry forced himself to relax as he noticed the vapors and odd smells that filled the dungeon. There were several large cauldrons with different bubbling substances inside. Harry was standing nearest to a gold-colored cauldron that was emitting some of the most intoxicating scents Harry had ever smelled. One moment he thought he could smell treacle tart while another he could have sworn he smelt the woody smell of a broomstick handle only to change a moment later to something that reminded him of Black Manor. He thought he could smell something else too but he couldn't make out what it was.

"Welcome to N.E.W.T. Potions everyone!" Professor Slughorn said joyfully as he walked towards the cauldrons. "Now, scales and potions kits out as well as your copies of Advanced Potion-Making!"

Harry instantly reached in his bag to pull out his supplies while Ron looked extremely nervous. It was then that Harry realized that Ron didn't have any supplies since he believed he wouldn't be able to take Potions. Harry was about to say something when he noticed that he was missing something as well. His Potions textbook wasn't in his bag. In its place was a book on antidotes he had asked Tonks to pick up. Groaning in annoyance, Harry raised hand and waited.

"Harry!" Professor Slughorn said eagerly. "What seems to be the problem?"

"Sir, I'm sorry but I don't have my book with me," Harry said softly as he held up the book on antidotes. "I grabbed the wrong one this morning—"

"—oh that's no problem, no problem at all," Professor Slughorn said with a large smile. "I'm sure we have a few spares that could be used. Don't worry, my dear boy, I'll retrieve one for you right away."

"Sir," Harry said quickly before Slughorn could leave. "Er—well, Ron doesn't have anything since he didn't think he would be able to take the class."

Professor Slughorn looked at Ron for a moment before smiling. "Not to worry," he said in the same excited tone. "You can use ingredients from the store cupboard today. I believe Professor McGonagall mentioned something about a few students. I believe we can also lend you some scales. I'll grab a few books for you boys." Slughorn went directly to a corner cupboard and pulled out two worn copies of Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage. He handed the books over before grabbing a set of tarnished scales for Ron. "Now that everyone's ready," Professor Slughorn continued at last as he walked towards the front of the class. "As you can see I've prepared a few potions for you to look at. These are potions you should be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T.s and should already know about them. Can anyone tell me what this one is?"

Slughorn gestured towards the caldron nearest to the Slytherin table. Everyone moved slightly in order to see what looked like nothing other than plain water boiling in a cauldron like it would on a stove. It wasn't surprising that Hermione's hand was instantly in the air before anyone really got a chance to look or smell the substance. Slughorn also noticed and pointed at her.

"It's Veritaserum, sir," Hermione said quickly. "A colorless and odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth."

Slughorn clapped his hands together happily. "Very good!" he said then moved towards the cauldron nearest to the Ravenclaw table. The substance in that cauldron was the exact opposite of the previous potion. The slow-bubbling, mudlike substance looked absolutely disgusting. "Now, this one has received quite a bit of attention lately. Who can—"

Hermione quickly raised her hand once again. "It's the Polyjuice Potion, sir," she said.

Slughorn smiled at her before moving to the next cauldron, clearly in his element. It was odd for Harry to see someone actually enjoying Potions. The dreary dungeons had always mirrored Professor Snape's mood and attitude towards class. "Outstanding!" Professor Slughorn exclaimed happily. "And this one—" Hermione's hand was once again in the air "—yes, my dear?"

"Amortentia, sir," Hermione said with a smile. "It's the most powerful love potion in the world. The steam rises in characteristic spirals and supposedly smells differently to everyone according to what attracts them."

"Correct!" Slughorn exclaimed with a large smile. "It is also recognizable by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen. My, my, you do know your potions. What is your name, my dear?"

Hermione smiled shyly. "Hermione Granger, sir," she said softly.

Professor Slughorn appeared to be contemplating something for a moment before he moved on. "Well, take a well deserved twenty points for Gryffindor, Miss Granger," he said warmly. "Now, Amortentia doesn't create love, nothing can. This potion merely causes a powerful infatuation or obsession. It is most likely the most powerful and dangerous potion in this room. Human emotions are dangerous to mess around with. Obsession can push people to do terrible things…but now, it's time for us to get to work."

Ernie Macmillian, however, raised his hand in protest. "But, sir, you haven't told us about the potion by your desk," he said gesturing towards the small black cauldron that contained a gold substance that was splashing happily, like frogs leaping from one invisible rock to another.

Professor Slughorn clapped happily as he turned and gestured towards the cauldron as if it were an item up for auction. "Indeed," he said eagerly. "This one, ladies and gentlemen is called Felix Felicis. I trust that you know what this potion does, Miss Granger?"

"It's basically liquid luck," Hermione said instantly. "It makes you lucky for as long as the potion lasts in your system."

Harry's eyes widened at the revelation. That was something he hadn't been expecting. Everyone else's complete attention was on Professor Slughorn. Harry made a mental note to research the potion when he had a chance. He would hate to see what would happen if Voldemort got his hands on the potion.

"Another ten points for Gryffindor, my dear," Professor Slughorn said excitedly. "Yes, Felix Felicis is extremely tricky to make and catastrophic if incorrectly brewed. When it's brewed correctly you will find that all of your actions tend to create positive results. However, if taken in excess, the side affects are giddiness, recklessness and extreme overconfidence. It's highly toxic in large quantities, which is why it is so rarely used. It can become rather addicting to have the opportunity to fix all your problems in the palm of your hand." Slughorn then looked at the class with a generous smile. "This is what I am offering as a prize in this lesson. One tiny bottle of Felix Felicis, enough for approximately twelve hours of luck although I must warn you that this substance is banned in organized competitions such as sporting events, examination or elections. It must be used on an ordinary day…but you will quickly see how that day becomes extraordinary."

Silence rang through the classroom as everyone eagerly awaited instructions. Slughorn seemed to enjoy the dramatic affect he was having on everyone. "To win this prize, turn to page ten of Advanced Potion Making," Professor Slughorn continued quickly. "There is just over an hour left, which is plenty of time for you to attempt the Draught of Living Death. I won't lie. This is a dreadfully complicated potion and I don not expect perfection. The best attempt, however will win the bottle of Felix Felicis. Off you go!"

Everyone instantly hurried to gather their materials and begin. Loud clunks of scales and scraping of cauldrons echoed loudly were the only sounds made. No one dared to speak and break their concentration on the task. Everyone was working feverishly causing Harry to shake his head and focus on his own task. He remembered one of his discussions with Remus about Potions. "Staying calm and collected is key, cub. Sometimes acting hastily can cause the simplest of mistakes, especially in Potions." Harry was going to follow the advice as he flipped through the tattered book he had received from Slughorn. He was not going to hurry through this and mess it up.

Harry quickly noticed that the pages in his books were covered with messy notes. He had to look extremely close to decipher the ingredients he would need since the previous owner had made plenty of comments and even crossed a few things out. Ron quickly took off for the store cupboard, desperate to keep up with the rest of the class. Focus on your own task. Pulling out some Valerian roots, Harry started chopping at a steady pace, determined to cut them evenly. He quickly fell into his own world as he slowly added ingredient after ingredient after trying to decipher the messy annotations. After ten minutes, the entire dungeon was full of bluish steam. Harry forced his eyes to remain on his own potion that resembled the 'smooth, black currant-colored liquid' that was supposedly the ideal halfway stage.

When it had become time to cut the sopophorous bean to extract the juice, Harry checked and doubled checked the instructions before noticing the alternative instruction from the previous owner: Crush with flat side of silver dagger, releases juices better than cutting. Realizing that the comment actually made sense, Harry pulled out his silver knife and crushed the bean with the flat side. Juice started rapidly to flow out of the little shriveled bean. Harry quickly poured it all into the cauldron and watched as the potion immediately turned to the shade of lilac that was described in the textbook. His attention instantly returned to the book where it said he had to stir counterclockwise until the potion turned completely clear as water, however, the previous owner clamed that a clockwise stir should be added after every seventh counterclockwise stir.

Harry was torn. Following the instructions for the bean had been one thing but following a different stirring pattern was completely going against the instructions that everyone else had. Also, what if the previous owner was right again? Wouldn't it look suspicious if his potion came out perfect? Wouldn't people wonder how someone who had to work so hard under Professor Snape's tutelage suddenly became a remarkable brewer? No. It was too risky. Harry made a mental note to try the potion again while following the instructions of the previous owner but not he would follow the instructions everyone else had.

Malfoy's voice broke through the silence, pulling Harry out of his thoughts. "Sir, I believe you knew Abraxas Malfoy, my grandfather," he said as Slughorn passed the Slytherin table.

"Why yes I did," Professor Slughorn said indifferently. "It was rather sad to hear he died of dragon pox." He walked away before Malfoy could say anything more.

Slowly, Harry stirred his potion counterclockwise. His potion remained the same lilac color, not the pale pink it should have turned. Harry forced himself to remain calm. He finally took the opportunity to glance at the cauldrons at his table. Hermione's was a darker shade of purple while Ron's looked absolutely nothing like it should. Ron looked beyond frustrated as he cursed repeatedly under his breath. Hermione also appeared to be frustrated; her hair now bushier from the fumes from her cauldron. Ernie's potion was navy blue which caused Harry to raise his eyebrows in surprise. How had Ernie managed that one?

"Time's up everyone!" Professor Slughorn announced. "Stop stirring and move away from your cauldrons."

Everyone did as they were told and waited as Professor Slughorn moved slowly from table to table, glancing into cauldrons. He didn't say a word, only sniffing potions that remotely resembled what the book claimed to be an accurate potion. Slughorn finally reached Harry's table and smiled sympathetically at the mess in Ron's cauldron. He spared a quick glance at Ernie's before looking at Hermione's. He gave her an approving nod then looked at Harry's. Surprise flashed on his face as he shifted his gaze from Harry's cauldron to Hermione's and back to Harry's. Finally, a smile broke on his face as he turned to face the rest of the class.

"Well now!" Slughorn said excitedly. "This is the closest competition I have seen in years. Gather around everyone!" He waited until the other two tables obeyed. "Now! Everyone take a look at Miss Granger's cauldron. See how smooth it is. The texture is perfect." He waited a moment as everyone looked at Hermione's concoction even if the Slytherins did so reluctantly. "Now, look at Harry's," he continued happily. "See the difference. It is significantly lighter, the perfect shade of lilac. Can anyone tell me why?"

Everyone took their turn looking at Harry's potion before turning to Slughorn, awaiting an answer. Hermione was surprisingly silent.

Slughorn clapped his hands once again, clearly enjoying himself. "You see, sometimes it is the simplest details that make all the difference," he said knowingly. "By extracting more juice from his sopophorous bean, Harry not only has the correct color but the shelf life on the finished product would increase noticeably. Understand that brewing is not only following instructions in books. It also requires instinct and the ability to adapt. The instructions are more like guidelines, remember that."

Slughorn shifted his gaze to Harry and smiled widely. "Excellent work, Harry!" he said excitedly. "You've clearly inherited some of your mother's talent. She was rather gifted in Potions if I do say so myself!" Slughorn reached in his pocket and pulled out the tiny bottle of golden liquid. "Here you are! One bottle of Felix Felicis as promised!"

Harry was about to protest when he felt a hand on his left arm. Hermione was giving him an encouraging nod. Harry reluctantly accepted the bottle and slipped it into his inner pocket. It didn't feel right. Why should he receive the potion when Hermione had done nothing wrong in her own? Turning back to his own potion to start cleaning up, Harry was grateful he didn't follow the second instruction from the previous user. He didn't know if he would be able to look at Hermione if his potion had been any more correct than what it already was.

When everyone was finally dismissed, Harry hurried out of the dungeon as fast as he could. He had seen the looks Professor Slughorn was giving him and didn't like it at all. He hadn't missed the fact that Slughorn was calling him by his first name even though they really didn't know each other. For Harry, it was the first sign that Slughorn wanted something from him and, whatever it was, Harry was certain he wasn't going to like it.

Ron and Hermione finally caught up with him as he reached the Entrance Hall. Hermione quickly pulled Harry off to the side. "Harry, it's all right," she said sincerely. "Professor Slughorn made an excellent point. It's the little things that matter. I was so eager to finish the potion. I saw how careful you were with your ingredients. I'm really not surprised yours turned out better than mine."

"But it's still not fair," Harry said stubbornly then realized there was only one way to relieve his guilt. "How about we split it?"

Hermione smiled while Ron stared at Harry as if he had gone mad. "It's all right, Harry," she said with a pat on the arm. "We all know that you could use the luck more than I could. Who knows? Maybe it could help you if something were to happen…"

Harry nodded, understanding the point she was trying to make. If he were to be in danger, the potion could most likely end up saving his life. Rubbing the back of his neck, Harry glanced at the Great Hall before returning his gaze to his friends. "Look, I'll meet up with you two later," he said. "I think I'm going to have dinner with Remus and then I have to work on my homework with them. I'll be back before curfew."

"Say no more, Harry," Hermione said and grabbed Ron by the arm. "We'll see you in the Common Room. Good luck with Professor Snape's homework. It's really complicated."

Harry waved goodbye and hurried towards the Marauder Quarters. He needed Remus' help. He needed to take a closer look at his borrowed Potion's book. He wasn't about to blindly trust anything written in a book without showing it to someone first. Remus wasn't an expert on Potions but he did have the patience to check something out if Harry had a question. There was also the fact that Harry trusted Remus not to run to Snape or Dumbledore unless it was absolutely necessary.

After a quick look around to make sure no one was watching, Harry entered the quarters quietly, just in case Remus was sleeping. He quickly noticed that he shouldn't have worried. Remus was currently sitting on the sofa couch in front of the fireplace watching Sirius pace back and forth. From Remus' posture, Harry could tell he was desperately trying not to laugh at whatever dilemma Sirius currently had.

"You don't understand, Moony," Sirius said desperately. "They're like vultures! They want to know everything! Why can't they let him have some peace? It wasn't this bad when we went to school here, was it?"

"Well, we didn't have Harry's notoriety or the air of mystery that surrounds him," Remus answered seriously. "He's a good kid, Sirius, and everyone knows that. He has morals that you certainly didn't have at his age." Sirius moved to object but Remus held up a hand to silence him. "You know I'm telling the truth. Harry also has worries that we certainly didn't have at his age. In many ways he's an adult in a teenager's body while in other ways he's still a child. I'm actually glad Harry's finally standing up to you. It's about time he defends himself."

Sirius let out a frustrated groan. "You're never going to let that go, are you?" he asked with a scowl at Remus. "I make one mistake with Harry—"

"—and what do you call kidnapping Harry when he was a baby and when he was thirteen?" interrupted Remus. "A misunderstanding? James nearly contacted the entire Auror department because he couldn't find his son that was being hunted by Voldemort. Then, when you decided to take him from the Dursleys…let's just be grateful Harry's condition hadn't been any worse or we would have lost him." Remus rubbed his tired eyes before running his hand down his face. "Look, I'm not trying to make you out to be a bad parent. You just have a tendency to act rashly at times. We can't afford to do that with Harry anymore. If something like last night happens again, Harry may turn away from confiding in us. Do you want that to happen?"

Sirius seemed to lose his desire to argue as he collapsed in a nearby armchair. "I'll try, Moony," he said softly.

Harry could feel the sincerity in Sirius' words and decided to make his presence known. He knew Remus was just looking out for him but the guilt coming off of Sirius was enough for Harry to put a stop to the discussion. "That's all I can ask for," Harry said causing Sirius and Remus to jump in surprise. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"How long have you been standing there?" Sirius asked nervously.

Harry shrugged as he sat down on the sofa couch next to Remus. "Not long but long enough to know you two are still talking about what happened last night," he said honestly. "It's over with. We don't need to keep bringing it up. Actually, I sort of hope it's never brought up again."

Remus wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders. "All right, cub," he said reassuringly. "We won't talk about it anymore." He looked around and frowned at Harry. "Where are Ron and Hermione? I thought Dumbledore said you should refrain from walking around alone."

"They're at dinner in the Great Hall," Harry said with a shrug. "I wanted to eat dinner with you so I told them I'd meet them later." At the glance Remus and Sirius shared, Harry tried to clarify himself. "It's not like I can ask them to follow me around all the time. I have training, Care of Magical Creatures, lessons with Madam Pomfrey and Council meetings that they aren't involved in. I'm not wondering around the castle. I barely made it to the majority of my classes on time today."

Sirius shook his head stubbornly. "It's for your own safety, kiddo," he said firmly. "I'll speak with Hagrid to meet you in the Entrance Hall for class and as far as training goes, I'll do a better job of keeping an eye on the time so we can walk back together. I can also meet you in front of the Great Hall after dinner on the nights you're supposed to spend with us." Harry moved to protest. "Harry, just trust me on this, all right?"

Harry reluctantly nodded, knowing it was pointless to argue. Sirius was only enforcing Dumbledore's request and Harry knew that Dumbledore never suggested anything unless it was necessary. Harry would just have to live with it for now and work something out with Ron and Hermione so Sirius didn't have to walk with him everywhere. After all, Sirius did have a job to do regardless of how much he wanted to do it or not.

"Now that we're all on the same page, why don't you tell us what's on your mind, cub," Remus said encouragingly. "Or was it just an extremely long first day?"

Snapping out of his thoughts, Harry reached into his schoolbag and pulled the battered Potions book. "Well, I was hoping you could help me with this," he said as he handed the book over. He watched as Remus flipped through the book quickly glancing over some of the scribbles written on some of the pages. Sirius curiously moved so he could get a better look at the contents of the book but reading upside down made the task extremely difficult.

Remus finally reached the back cover and stared at the bottom of it before he glanced at Harry. "Well, this is interesting," he said with a smile. "It looks like we have a mystery on our hands." Remus handed over the book for Harry to read what was scribbled from the previous owner.

This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince.