Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. All I own is my original characters and settings that will come up later is the story.

I am rewriting/adding parts of this story to improve it and get rid of inconsistencies. If you see any let me know. Tell me if it's improved if you've read it before. And if you're a 'virgin', so to speak, just drop a line and tell me how it's going.

I'm going to make a calendar and post it on my website to explain the time duration of all this. There are days in between some of the chapters that explain Harry's changing behavior. As time goes by he's adjusting to his environment. I'll post a note when it's up. It might take some time.

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Harry choked on his toast. Hermione smacked him on the back. He drank half his glass of water to get the toast down. "Ron that is not something you say when someone is eating."

"Why?" Ron was stuffing his face with scrambled eggs this morning.

"You don't just say, 'so I heard you aren't a death eater'. Especially not at breakfast."

"It's not like I said 'Harry Potter took the dark mark over the summer'."

Everyone around them froze and turned toward them. The other tables quieted as they tried to see what had happened. Ron's face flushed.

Harry laughed. "Sorry guys, just seeing who could come up with the most unbelievable announcement."

The Gryffindors didn't look convinced but they went back to eating and the rest of the hall followed their example, apparently deciding nothing of interest had occurred.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Let's all be glad that Harry's lying skills have improved or this could have turned into a very bad situation. Come on, let's get to Defense Against the Dark Arts since Harry hasn't managed to make it to that class yet." They picked up their bags and headed out of the hall.

Harry shrugged. "Who's the professor anyway? I wasn't paying much attention at the feast."

"Mr. Sartoris. He's really nice and he knows what's he's talking about." They walked into the classroom and sat in the front row. No one else was in the classroom.

"Well aren't you kids early. I love the get up and go attitude. And is this the student who has yet to make it to a class?" He walked to his desk and set his papers down.

"Yes Mr. Sartoris. This is Harry." Hermione had a big smile on her face.

Harry tilted his head to the side. Crew cut blond hair, brown eyes. Take away the accent and the glasses and you get--Ichy! Holy crap. Mr. Self Defense himself was teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. He doesn't look like he recognizes me. I suppose I don't have my hair spiked anymore and he sure looks different wearing robes than he does wearing jeans. Perhaps a nickname joke is in order? "I just felt as if my head were going to fall off, so to speak, so I had spent quality time with the hospital wing."

Mr. Sartoris raised his eyebrow. "Indeed?"

And we have recognition of too many hours spent in front of the television. "Very Teal'c of you sir. Your accent is kind of creepy though."

He laughed. "As is yours Mr. Potter. I do trust you can keep your non pierced tongue quiet?"

This is going to be a great class. "I'm quite sure."

Other students filed into the room. Ichy walked to his desk and leaned back against it.

Hermione leaned over. "What was that about?"

Oops. "I--" Let them freak out about something else or keep my mouth shut? "I met him in Dumbledore's office and we had a very odd conversation. I just didn't know he was the new defense professor." Are you actually going to buy that? That's the worst excuse I've ever made up.

"Oh." Hermione pulled her parchment and ink out of her bag.

Ichy started class, obviously continuing the topic of last class. "Now we've spent the last few classes reviewing what you've learned through your varied defense career. I got some interesting reports back from you of what you learned last year. All the essays seemed to agree that you learned nothing last year. Would you like to add anything Mr. Potter? Did you happen to learn anything?"

"I learned that if you tell the truth you bleed." Why can't I ever keep my mouth shut?

"Ye--What?" He froze in the middle of turning and looked back.

He never did believe me when I told him about my professors. If I say it now and no one disagrees with me then he'll have to believe that I'm telling the truth. Perhaps not. "Not important. Let's see, let's see, what did I learn? I learned that bad people who make you miserable get there's in the end." He laughed. "Maybe they'll even put her in St. Mungos with Lockhart."

Ichy blinked. "Lockhart?"

"Second year defense professor. Obliviated. Totally not my fault."

"You obliviated your defense professor?"

Believe me now? "Yes, but you'd think you'd be more worried about the one that's dead and the one lacking a soul."

Ichy lowered himself into his chair. "Lacking a soul?"

"Dementor's kiss." Harry shivered. "Nasty way to go."

Ichy squinted. "That's four. What about the other one? Or don't I want to know?"

Harry sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I killed his best friend."

Ichy picked a folder off his desk and stood. "This term we are going to be studying defense techniques. We will continue to learn various spells and charms to confront attackers and to run away. Anything you should have learned before will be filled in. I have also gotten permission from the headmaster to start up a little club to teach those who wish to learn wand less defense."

"Why would we want to lean that?" Malfoy sneered.

"Expelliaramus!" Malfoy's wand flew into Ichy's hand. "What are you going to do now Mr. Malfoy? How are you going to defend yourself? Well Mr. Potter, what would you do? How would you get the wand back?"

You can't ignore the truth forever. "I'd kick you in the stomach, when you bent over I'd elbow you in the kidney's, grab the wand and run."

Ichy tossed the wand back to Malfoy. "And now we see why Mr. Potter is still alive and his defense professors seem to have paid the price. Any muggleborn students in the class are greatly encouraged to pray for me and light a candle in my name. Last class we learned how to repel your opponent. After learning that you have to learn to attack them. Sometimes running isn't an option."

Harry copied down the spells as fast as Ichy could spit them out. By the time class ended Harry had filled his parchment.

Ichy dropped his notes onto his desk. "Mr. Potter, if I could have a word with you?"

"I'll meet up with you guys at lunch." Harry packed his bag as the class cleared out.

Ichy slammed his fists on the desk. "Pull another stunt like that Harry and you'll regret it."

He flinched and moved back. "I'm sorry, but I told them I'd met you in the headmaster's office. They don't know you're from--"

He grabbed Harry's robes and pulled him within an inch of his face. "You did not kill anyone."

Harry slammed his knee into Ichy's groin then knocked his feet out from under him. Ichy hit the floor. He knelt down next to the man trying to pull air into his lungs. "Just because no one wants to believe I'm capable of that doesn't mean that I'm not. It's not my fault that no one can see the truth. More than one person is dead or permanently harmed because of me. Get used to it." He grabbed his bag and walked out.

"Are you okay Harry?"

He sat and patted Hermione's hand. "I'm fine. He just wanted to make sure I asked someone about what I'd missed."

"Oh. Okay. I'll give you my notes later. We talked mostly about what we learned in the last five years."

"Thanks." He bit into his sandwich.

"Mr. Potter." Dumbledore stood behind him.

How does he find out about these things so quickly? And anyway, why has he brought an Academy defense teacher and a six-year-old to Hogwarts? "Yes?"

"We need to speak in my office."

I don't want to. I did nothing wrong. And if he can't defend himself against me, what choice does he have against someone that wants him dead. I just showed him he always has to watch his back here. I should get points or a medal or something. He sighed. "I have Herbology. Since I haven't made it to a class yet it would be nice if I went today."

Dumbledore nodded. "We shall speak after class then. The password in gummi bears." He walked up to the head table and sat down calmly, laughing at something McGonagall told him as he spooned mashed potatoes onto his plate.

"What was that all about?" Ron actually swallowed before asking.

I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't--I just did what he always taught me to get out of a situation you aren't comfortable with. "No idea. We'd better get to class."

Ron and Hermione looked toward each other.

Are they going to partner with each other and leave me on my own? "What?"

Hermione shrugged. "Well I'm in a higher level Herbology class."

Ron nodded. "And I'm in a lower one."

Hermione shrugged. "There are different levels based on your O.W.L scores and Professor Sprout's recommendations."

Even an outstanding O.W.L. didn't keep me together with my friends? "So I'm on my own?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry Harry."

Harry shook his head. He had to go to class alone. That had never happened before. "I can deal with one class without you guys, right?"

Hermione smiled. "Right."

I can do this. It's fine. I'll probably know someone in the class and I can get the notes from them. "I'd better go. Bye guys."

"Bye Harry."

He headed out to the green houses. Neville wasn't there. He was probably in the higher level with Hermione. "Well well, if it isn't perfect Potter. Doesn't even get in trouble for knocking a professor to the ground." Malfoy strode up to the door where Harry stood.

Was he even in the Defense class with me? I didn't even bother looking at who else was in the room. I'm going soft. Wait, duh. Ichy took his wand. Maybe that temporary memory loss side effect is still happening. Damn. "You squealed on me to Dumbledore? That's pathetic."

Malfoy snorted. "You can't get out of this one. I saw the whole thing."

He didn't come after me to confront me with it and try to blackmail me. He went to Dumbledore. Maybe he's getting less horrible. Maybe not. Harry rubbed his forehead. I'm just so tired of fighting with everyone. I can't even keep track of the lies anymore. "Well then you saw him grab me. After four out of five years when the defense professor was after me I can't be blamed for overreacting. Overreaction is preferable to death." He can't push me around. I want to stop fighting, not getting stepped on because I just refuse to fight. "You can't touch me Draco, so give up trying. I can get out of anything." He smirked as Professor Sprout walked up, preventing Draco's reply.

"Well Mr. Potter, I trust you are feeling better? Did you do the reading about the plant we will be working with?"

"Much better. Thank you. And yes. I finished the reading." Thank goodness I did all reading. I haven't seen anyone I know yet. I guess I'll be going without the notes from what we did last week.

She smiled. "We will be working in pairs this term. You will be paired up with Mr. Malfoy."

Harry sighed. "I would expect nothing less." It's the game of how long before we kill each other.

Professor Sprout coughed covering a smile. "Yes. Well." The last members of the class had gathered outside of the greenhouse. "Now class. Today we will be working with the rare specimen of Hemlock that we learned about last class. We are trying to harvest the berries for Professor Snape's use, so be careful. They are poisonous, but only the thorns at the base contain the poison. Find your partner and get to work." The class fragmented, entered the greenhouse, and went to stand in front of the plants. "I'll be staying with you two for a while since Mr. Potter wasn't here last class." She gestured them over to the plant on a table against the wall.

Harry pulled on his dragon hide gloves. "Where did this species come from?"

"Mr. Malfoy, be careful of those thorns. They are very close to you wrist right now. " Draco dropped a berry in the dish next to the plant. "I'm not sure where this particular species came from. Professor Snape gave me the cutting, but he refused to say where it came from."

I'm sure he did. I wonder if it's even legal? And you're not telling me the truth. You have to know everything about the plant or you wouldn't even thinking of teaching it in class, but I'll play along. "Well it has to be English at least." He pulled off a few berries and set them in the dish without denting any of them.

"Why is that Harry?"

"The American species of Hemlock isn't poisonous. Though I guess it wouldn't have to be English. It had to be poisonous in Greece as well, unless they mixed something with it."

"What are you going on about Potter?" Draco pushed his hair out of his eyes.

What am I doing? Why can't I keep my mouth shut today? Maybe I'll just explain it. People that don't hate each other explain things. "Socrates. He was executed by drinking Hemlock."

Draco stared at him. "Who?"

See? I explain things and then he asks questions. No cutting comebacks. This isn't so bad. "Socrates. He was a philosopher in Ancient Greece. He was searching for the right way to live and was a mentor to Plato who wrote dialogues in which Socrates was always the main character. He wrote the transcript for Socrates' trial called the Apology and one about Socrates while he was in prison called the Crito, and Socrates' death scene called the Phaedo." Draco's eyes were staring at him unblinking. "And you have no idea what I'm talking about. I guess it's not something they bother to teach wizards. It's too bad, its kind of boring but nowhere near as bad as Aristotle." He pulled off another four berries.

Professor Sprout smiled and patted Harry on the back. "Well you seem to be getting along well Harry, so I'll go make my rounds of the class." She walked toward Seamus and Dean who seemed to be arguing over who was going to touch the plant. Did Dumbledore put her up to pairing Draco and I?

"Why exactly do you know all this pointless information?" Draco dropped a second berry into the bowl.

"One, knowing that a plant is not poisonous in a different country could help when or if you go to that country. Two, I had insomnia. Someone suggested reading philosophy to help put me to sleep. Unfortunately it didn't work so I just know a lot about philosophy."

Draco pulled off a few berries. "Why didn't you just take a sleeping potion?"

Harry smiled. "Why Draco is that concern I sense? I'm touched."

Draco snarled. "Kiss my arse Potter."

Harry smirked and went back to the berries. "Much better. Reality is reasserting itself."

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Harry knocked on Hagrid's door.

The door swung open and Hagrid smiled. "Hello 'arry. Come to see the little fellar?"

"Yes." Harry walked inside. Mishel was hopping around in a circle by the fire. "What's he doing?"

Hagrid tilted his head and frowned at the Peradu. "I'm not sure."

"Hagrid?" Dumbledore stood in the doorway.

Hagrid turned "Hello professor. What can I do for you?"

"Professor Sprout believes that there are snakes terrorizing greenhouse five. I wondered if you could lend a hand with removing them." Dumbledore's eyes were sparkling again.

"Of course. I'll be back soon, all right 'arry?" He clapped Harry on the shoulder.

I'll be on my own and free to talk with Mishel. Score! "Yes. I'll be fine."

Hagrid and Dumbledore set off across the grounds toward the greenhouses.

Harry sat on the floor and spread his robes across his lap.

Mishel hopped over and curled in his lap. 'Good. Warm.'

'It's too cold for you?'

'It soon will be. When I am returned to the forest it will end.'

'I won't let that happen.'

'There is nothing you can do. It is how things are.'

'What if I take you to live with me?'

'Can you do that?'

Harry bit his lip. I can't lie to him. He may not be human but it's not my place to lie about his future. 'I'm not sure. They would probably find you and send you back into the forest.'

'Then I would rather simply go into the forest.' Mishel hopped down and ran toward the open door.

'Wait! I could--I could send you somewhere safe where you can live.'

Mishel turned and sat on his back feet. 'Where?'

Hagrid stomped up the stairs and picked him up. "Little fellar trying to get away? Don't worry little one. You'll be home soon."

Damn. "I'd better go. I have to finish my work before dinner." Mishel squirmed in Hagrid's arms. Harry closed his eyes as he turned and walked back toward the castle. I will save him. I have to.

The Great Hall was noisy. Harry walked past the tables and stood in front of Dumbledore. He held out the envelope.

"Done already?" His smile rivaled the twinkle in his eyes.

"Multiple choice and two essays about Etruscan religious rites and Incan human sacrifices. It was simple."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrow. "Really?"

At least its more interesting learning on my own then listening to Binns drone on forever. "I am now well versed in mainstream and obscure history."

"And what have you learned from all this?"

Harry tilted his head. What was the overall truth you could take from history? "People are odd, sometimes cruel, and the bad guys ultimately lose."

"That is heartening."

Heartening? It's proof that there have been evil men before that have been overcome. That Voldemort, like them, can be defeated. "Yeah. It kind of is. You'll send it back?"

Dumbledore inclined his head. "I will."

"Thanks." He ignored the clattering of bowls colliding and forks scraping against plates. He slipped back into his spot at the Gryffindor table.

Ron squinted at him.

"What?" Harry filled his plate with lumpy potatoes and pork chops.

"You're smiling."

Am I? "I'm happy. Is there a problem with that?"

"No! No, it's just--nice to see."

Harry smiled wider and stuck a forkful of potatoes in his mouth.

Hermione laughed and messed up Harry's hair. Harry pushed her back. "Back woman or thou shalt be tickled."

Hermione giggled. "So, what about these muscles of yours?"

"What muscles?" Ron mumbled past a mouthful of potatoes.

Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry laughed. "I did some weight training, self defense classes, and gymnastics."

Ron swallowed. "What's gymnastics?"

Harry sighed. "It's kind of hard to explain. I was going to head to the Room of Requirement after classes tomorrow to stretch and work out. My muscles are all tense and weak from spending so much time sitting in bed in the hospital wing. Why don't we go after dinner and I'll show off? I have all this excess energy to burn off since I'm eating normally again."

Hermione frowned. "Don't you have homework to do?"

"I've been doing nothing but homework since I left the hospital wing." He grimaced at Hermione's glare. "All right. How about half an hour and then homework?"

Hermione smiled. "Oh Harry, I'm so proud of you. You're delegating your time."

Ron snorted and Hermione glared at him. Ron rolled his eyes. "Well the let's go so we can hurry back to our work."

They stood and walked out. When they turned the corner they ran, pushing each other to make it first up the stairs.

"Ten points from Gryffindor." Snape stood at the top of the stairs, arms crossed across his chest. "Running in the halls? Shameful behavior for the Gryffindor perfects."

Harry smiled. "Sorry professor. We were going to have half and hour of fun before finishing our homework."

Snape glared at him. "We had a meeting Potter."

Harry squinted. "We did?" He smacked his forehead. "Oh! I was so spaced out when I agreed. Is there any way we can reschedule? I don't really feel like doing it right now. Too many emotions swirling in my head."

"Harry!" Hermione smacked his arm. "If you had a meeting you should go."

Snape crossed his arms over his chest. "Is not the entire point to clear your mind of emotions?"

Harry sighed. There goes talking Hermione into letting me spend a few hours practicing. "All right, but I'll need to get rid of some of my energy first or it will be a waste of time for both of us. I was headed to the Room of Requirement to do gymnastics."

Snape raised his eyebrow. "Well that is something I must see. Go on."

And now Snape is watching me to see if I cheat before we do occlumency. That is if he knows that I know that a calming potion would increase my success exponentially. Ron choked and Harry laughed and pulled him and Hermione forward. The hallway in front of the nonexistent door was empty. Harry walked back and forth and pulled the door open. On one side of the room were a vault, high bar, and parallel bars. On the other side was a floor mat. He smiled. "Perfect." He undid his robes and tossed them in the corner. He sat down and started stretching.

Hermione wandered around the room. "You're sure you're not going to get hurt?"

He stood and walked to the high bar. She really has no faith in me. Then again, it's easy to get hurt doing this stuff. "I know what I'm doing." He coated his hands in chalk and jumped to the bar three or four feet taller than he was. He adjusted his hands and started swinging.

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The boy was flipping around the bar, twisting and flying over it before spinning in the air and landing on his feet.

"Wow." Miss Granger's mouth was hanging open. Potter ignored her, flipping over and walking forward on his hands. He dropped his feet to the floor and pulled himself upright. He ran halfway across the mat and flipped end over end across the blue carpet. He stood up and stretched his arms over his head.

"Bloody hell." Granger elbowed Weasley in the stomach.

Potter grinned. "I love that." He wiped sweat out of his eyes. He grabbed his robe off the floor and pulled it back on. "I'm ready now. I managed to dissipate most of my extra energy."

Severus nodded and turned to leave the room.

"I'll see you guys in the dorm."

"Okay Harry." Granger grabbed Weasley and pulled him from the room.

Potter followed them out and headed to the dungeon.

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The stone floor scraped against his palms. Harry shook his head.

"Mr. Potter, positive emotions will leave your mind open in the same way negative emotions will. You must clear your head of ALL emotions."

It doesn't make any sense. "But that's what I don't understand. Wouldn't emotions fill my head and keep you from getting to my memories? I see an empty mind like an empty room. It's easier to search an empty room than one filled with people."

Snape dropped his wand on his desk. It rolled forward and stopped against an inkbottle. "When you recall a memory what do you remember?"

Harry squinted. "I--uh--I remember what happened."

"What an astounding insight Mr. Potter. Think of a memory outside Hogwarts." Snape's fingers were curling into fists.

He closed his eyes and concentrated on his first day of primary school.

"What were you wearing?"

He chewed on his lip. No doubt clothes to big for him.

"What did you eat that day?"

He scrunched his forehead. Had he eaten that day?

"What were you feeling?"

Terrified. Harry opened his eyes. "It's our emotions we remember, so our emotions are our memories."

"Yes. Mr. Potter."

"So when I'm mad I connect my mind to all my memories where I'm mad?"

"Are you ever just mad, or are there other emotions connected with it?"

Oh. "You can be guilty for being mad at someone, betrayed by whoever you're mad at, happy that you don't have to hold your emotions in any more. So all emotions are connected and any emotion can link them all together and make them easy to access."

"Yes Potter."

Harry rubbed his head. "I think I need to absorb that before I can try to get this."

Snape raised his eyebrows. "You don't want to plunge forward until you end up in the hospital wing?"

Harry pushed himself off the floor and wiped his hands on his robes. "Huh. Maybe I did learn something important this summer."

Snape clenched and unclenched his jaw. "How are you doing?"

Snape just asked me how I was. "I'm all right. Everything is working itself out. My classes aren't as hard anymore, I think my claustrophobia is gone, and I'm not freaking out at random moments." He played with his stud. "Sir, um, not that it's bad, but why are you being so, um--"

"Nice?"

"I was thinking of unbastardly, but I was trying to find something that was actually a word."

Snape glared. "Biara."

Harry let out his breath. "Good. That's much less disturbing then thinking you were just being nice for no reason." He hid a smile. "I'd better go do my homework."

Snape gestured him toward the door. "Shall we meet again tomorrow after dinner?"

"Yes sir. I'll try not to forget tomorrow." He shut the door and ran toward the tower.

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