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 so not happy with this chapter, but I'm posting it anyway. Grr. I've done little in the past few weeks. I need to go running. Sorry if this chapter really bites. I know where I'm going and I just have to get there. I know some parts of this chapter may seem stupid and pointless and cheesy, but try to hang with me because it's going somewhere. If I get to that point and you still think it's stupid, then you can complain all you want and I'll probably be whining right next to you.

I broke 100 reviews for the first time ever! Thank everyone so much for taking the time to respond. That's one of the only things keeping me going right now. Hugs and kisses to all.

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Harry and Ron sat on either side of Hermione. She was running her fingers over the page of notes hidden in her lap while taking a bite with the other hand every time she remembered she had food. "This is incredible. There is no reason why any of these things should combine to get what you want, but all the calculations and substitutions make sense. It looks like it will work. You weren't kidding when you said that it's hard to balance everything. It's going to take at least a month to make this all work, maybe even two."

Harry sighed and bit into his sandwich. "I know. It's too long. We can't wait that long, but there's nothing else that has as good of a chance at working. "

Hermione tapped her fork on her plate. "You can't speed it up by altering the heat or adding anything else because it would cause the whole thing to fail and no doubt blow up."

Harry yawned and shook his head. His eyes refocused. He dropped the sandwich to the plate. "I know. I've accepted that it's going to take time. We just have to order and write down everything, get all the ingredients, and make sure nothing's been left out. There can't be any errors, so everything has to be laid out and the instructions have to be perfectly clear."

"Well obviously." Hermione stabbed at her plate. "This is going to take master brewers. At least four of them."

Ron clapped her on the shoulder. "Well we've got you, so that's one."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I may be able to set a potion like this up, but I don't have anywhere near the skill to do it. I don't know where you're going to find enough people with the skill to brew this." She pulled her lip between her teeth.

Harry shrugged. "No big deal. We've got eleven advanced potion students, Chris, and Professor Snape."

Ron spit out his pumpkin juice. "Snape? What makes you think that Snape would help with this?"

Harry bit his lip. If I tell them the truth he'll have me eviscerated. "It's a psychotic spell. It's a challenge. Wouldn't you want to try something complicated if you spent every day showing children how to do things that you find simplistic?" Good excuse? Did that make any sense or was I just babbling?

Ron squinted his eyes. "I guess so." He shook his head. "Whatever. I still think you're insane and he would never help. Why would he want to help out anyone? He's just a bastard."

Harry shrugged. It's amazing how little we know about people before we go ahead and judge them. What did I really know about Malfoy before I started hating him? Okay, bad example. He said a number of things I hated him for. Oh well. Hope I don't have to defend the moral high ground to anyone soon. "I guess we'll see." He pushed the plate to the middle of the table. "Let's get to class." He pulled the page out of Hermione's hands, ignoring her protests, and shoved it back into his backpack.

They pulled their cloaks close as they headed toward Hagrid's hut. A huge bonfire burned with their early classmates gathered around it. They joined the group and let their cloaks fall open a bit.

Hagrid clapped his hands as he moved toward the fire. "All right class, today we will be learning about mankins. They'll be attracted by the fire and come out of the forest. Now these little creatures--"

"Mishel! Come back!" Two girls in Academy black skirts, white shirts, and their hair in pigtail braids ran across the courtyard chasing a dog.

Harry squinted. Did they say Mishel? The Peradu leapt onto a stone next to the fire. Harry leaned over and scratched him behind the ears.

The girls pulled up short. The blonde, Julie, flipped her braids over her shoulders. "Sorry, he got away from us." She pulled in big breaths. She moved over and bent to pick him up. Mishel hissed and she sighed. "I don't know what you're saying."

Harry smiled. "He said that he likes the fire and he won't let you braid his hair again."

Julie bit her lip. Her friend crossed her arms over her chest and stuck out her tongue at him. "Of course we wouldn't do that. He didn't look happy last time." A smile slipped onto her face. "He did look cute though. We have pictures."

Harry shook his head and picked up Mishel. So this is the girl with the camera. Let's hope she's not the true female version of Colin. One person taking my picture is quite enough. Mishel licked his nose and he laughed. Harry handed him over and with a quick goodbye they sprinted back toward the castle.

Harry looked at everyone staring at him. Whoops. Do not draw attention to self. That leads only to news articles and gossip. I do not spend any extra time with the Academy students. Nope. Not at all. "Sorry. What about the mankins?"

Hagrid blinked and cleared his throat. "Well, where was I? Uh, right. Well, these creatures thrive on heat. They can make their own heat in the winter, but they like to find hot places because they can store the heat so they don't' have to work as hard."

Leaves rustled in the wind. Harry blinked. Only the one tree moved. The others were still. There wasn't any wind. Leaves detached from the trees, soared through the air, and settled around the base of the fire.

Hagrid grinned. "Here they are. Now everyone move close and study them. They're such interesting creatures. Mind how close you get though. I don't want anyone gettin' set on fire."

Harry moved up a knelt by the nearest green blob. The light flashed over it and the edges snapped into focus. It looked like a folded leaf, so when it unfolded it would look like a butterfly. The mankin turned and spread out. It dropped the leaves it held and stepped closer to the fire. It shimmered as it absorbed the heat. It looked like a fairy covered in caterpillar fuzz. Harry leaned closer.

A hand latched onto his robe and lightly pulled him back. "Watch it there Harry. Don't want you to get hurt."

Harry stepped back. "Sorry Hagrid."

Hagrid watched Mishel and the girls running toward the castle. "Where did they get a Peradu?" He looked down at Harry and moved closer. "Didn't it look a lot like the Peradu I showed the class?"

Yikes. Harry shrugged. "I don't know. A little maybe."

Hagrid folded his arms over his chest. "How did you know what it said?"

Harry coughed. Hope he won't be mad that I didn't tell him before. "Parseltongue. It sounds a little different, but it's close enough for me to understand."

Hagrid blinked and dropped his arms. "Really?"

Harry nodded and turned toward the mankin. Now it's time to change the subject before he figures out to ask what Mishel said to me in class. "Yes. Where do the mankins live? And why is the heat important?"

Hagrid moved back to address the whole class. "Mankins live with the Peradu. The heat they create keep the Peradu warm through the winter. Also, since the mankins are attracted to heat sources, they can find warm areas for the Peradu to live."

The mankin hopped closer to the fire and held its arms out to its sides. Waves of red and orange swirled across its body. The glow expanded across its arms and legs. When it reached its fingers and toes it grabbed the leaves, wrapped it back in them, and flew toward the forest. The rest were doing the same.

"Once they have gotten all the heat they can hold they go back to the Peradu to warm their habitat. For next class I want an essay on how they get and control the heat. Class dismissed."

Harry picked up his bag and headed back to the castle. He covered his mouth as he yawned. Too bad he had charms. Sleep would be very nice right about now.

"Harry." Hermione yanked on his sleeve, pulling him to a stop. "That Peradu was the one we studied in class, isn't it? You sent it to the Academy."

Harry sighed. How does she come to the right conclusion with barely any evidence whatever? He blinked to clear the white from his eyes. "Yes." He pushed her fingers off his sleeve and walked forward again.

Hermione stomped up beside him. "How could you? He lived free with his own kind in the woods. How could you rip him out of there and--"

I can't believe she'd believe I'd do it for no reason. Oh look, fuzzy creature, let's send it to another continent. Why do they always think-- "If a Peradu is captured by a human they can never return to their group and they die when the cold weather hits."

"Why would you think that? Hagrid didn't say--"

He turned and she pulled up short in front of him. "Hagrid doesn't speak Parseltongue. I can understand them Hermione, and I wasn't going to let one die so that we could pass a class." He spun away.

Hermione grabbed him and turned him back. "I--I'm sorry. I shouldn't have just assumed." She rubbed her forehead. Her pupils were dilated. Harry glanced at the clouds. "We all just assume, don't we? I think you'll do foolhardy things, everyone thinks I do nothing but study, and Ron couldn't even imagine that Snape would be willing to help save someone's life. We don't bother to see the truth about people and--"

Kevin kept glanced around the people he stood behind. Harry spun Hermione around and pulled the sticker off her neck.

"Ow." She clapped her hand to the spot. "Why did you--What was that?"

A Power Rangers sticker. That manages to make it all the more pathetic. Harry crumpled it and stuck it in his bag. "A sticker with a potion on it. This particular potion causes epiphanies about the truth of the universe, or makes you remember every corny lesson anyone ever taught you." He shrugged. "They never did figure out what it actually did. It's a botched truth potion they tested for safety and interactions. They ended up concluding it was harmless and sometimes amusing so you don't have to worry about side effects or anything." He pressed his lips together. "You should probably pay closer attention to who's around you and what they're doing. If they'd wanted to hurt you they could have coated it in poison."

She rubbed her neck as she looked around. She edged closer to him.

He laughed. "Don't get over paranoid though. They, at least, wouldn't try to poison you, and I don't think the death eaters are going to run out and buy stickers, if they even know what a sticker is." He chewed on his lip. Do they know what stickers are? Maybe I'll ask Ron. "Plus, the last thing we need is a second Moody running around the place." He grabbed her arm and pulled her up the stairs. "Let's go to charms so I can go back to my room and catch a nap before potions lab tonight."

Hermione glanced behind her and sped up. "Can I see the paper again?"

I think I've created a monster. "Yeah. I'll give it to you once we get back to the dorm."

Hermione smiled. "Wonderful. Then I can have some uninterrupted time to look at it. I've never seen a potion try to do so many things at once. I think something is missing from the equation, but I couldn't figure out what at lunch."

They walked into Charms and found their seats just as class started.

Professor Flitwick climbed onto his stool. "Now today we are going to begin the topic that is always the hardest for students to cast. This is not an exceptionally difficult charm, but students are often not willing to cast it in front of others. For this reason we will be splitting the class into small groups depending on your willingness to cast it in front of certain classmates. Now I know you're all wondering what it is that we are going to be casting." He sat and picked a book off his desk. "Today we are beginning enhancement charms. They can make other charms more powerful. The challenging part of this particular charm is that it is controlled mostly by the mind. No specific incantation is used to power it. Does anyone know what the vocal component of it is?"

Harry raised his hand and Flitwick nodded to him. "Singing."

"Exactly Mr. Potter. The energy and emotions that are generated when we sing, when channeled correctly by the mind, can increase the power of a charm astoundingly. Now generally I personally give a demonstration to show the power that is possible, as that makes students a lot more open to it, but this year we have a stupendous opportunity. Our visitors have an advanced charms class that is working on the charm and have become quite proficient at it. They have agreed to give us a peek at their class, so why don't we all head to the classroom at the far end of the hall to see what this charm is capable of." He jumped off the stool, set the book on his desk, and led the class down the hall. They filed in and took the seats across the back wall.

Harry smirked as he settled in between Hermione and Ron. It was the twelve, well the eleven since neither he nor Cali was with the group. I guess that's what happens when you spend every summer getting ahead of your year mates. You end up in the advanced classes with your summer friends.

Garin, or Professor Mckay as she'd kill you if you dared call her, clapped her hands. The sound echoed off the twelve or fifteen foot ceiling. "Single levitation. Grab you items."

Everyone grabbed something off the table against the far wall and lined up across the room.

"Drop it."

Everyone dropped what they held, said the charm, and levitated it. They floated slowly in the air.

"Drop it."

Their wands went to their sides and koosh balls, stuffed animals, and random toys bounced off the floor. The rubber duck squeaked as it hit the stone and Jessica snorted.

"Who's got a song stuck in their head that I can stand?" She waved her hand to cut them off. "The first person to suggest toxic gets their head blown off. You've been singing nothing but that song for three days. I'd also appreciate something with clean lyrics."

Everyone sighed and Diana pouted.

Jessica shrugged. "How about the opening theme to Tarzan?"

Garin smiled and stepped out of the way. "Two worlds it is. Single levitation still please. If it's getting more difficult as we combine, try using a harmonizing key to separate out your magic from the group."

They raised their wands and stepped up. They started singing, a few harmonies blending in perfectly. In a few seconds the objects shot straight into the air and jerked to a stop barely missing the ceiling before dropping and hovering inches above the floor. They moved into a circle and starting moving up and down like a merry go round. The class broke into whispers. Ron's jaw hung open.

Garin clapped and the singing stopped and the things dropped. "Now together. Combine the power of the charm." She glanced around. "How about something harder to control? Maybe with magical energy of its own to disrupt the charm's field a little bit. Are you up for it?"

Diana giggled. "Let's go for it."

Garin rubbed her hands together. "What to float, what to float?" A grin spread across her face. "What about it Ja--Harry? Up for it?"

Harry smiled, stood, and dropped his robe to the chair. "I never back down from a challenge milady." He walked to the middle of the room.

Jason clapped his hands on Harry's shoulders. "I promise to try not to drop you, but I don't promise to succeed."

Harry rolled his eyes. "And I feel oh so comforted by that fact. Thanks."

They formed a half circle around him and lifted their wands.

Garin sat in Harry's seat. "How about the wicked spell? Please? I miss my song. You guys understand what I'm saying?"

"Yeah." They started singing and his feet left the ground. He hovered eight feet in the air and started to twist like the Beast as he transformed into his human self. He turned slowly, so it wasn't like the spinning ball at the amusement park, but his head still hurt a little. The words finally reached him. Geez. Everyone in the class was likely to freak out. They had to pick the song that sounds like a spell all on its own, didn't they?

Elecka Namen Namen atum atum Elecka Namen

Elecka Namen Namen atum atum Elecka Namen

Let his flesh not be torn, let his blood leave no stain,

If they beat him let him feel no pain.

Let his bones never break and however they try to destroy him

Let him never die. Let him never die.

His feet brushed the ground and the voices stopped.

The entire class looked terrified. Damn.

Garin jumped up and clasped her hands together. "Wow. Amazing control. I know you could do it once you had something in the air that you didn't want to drop. He didn't even explode like the watermelon." She flicked her wand and all the stuff on the floor flew back to the table. "Though I now want my soundtrack more than ever." She shooed Harry back to the class. "Thanks for not fighting back. That could have been messy."

Harry snorted. "Thanks for warning a guy that the people about to levitate him have been blowing stuff up."

Jason snapped his fingers. "It's all about trust. He trusted us not to drop him because he trusted that we knew that he knew that if we dropped him on his head we'd have a bunch of English wizards gunning for us."

Garin squinted and shook her head. "Forget it. I don't care what you just said. You guys did awesome today. Now just answer any questions that they've got and I'll bake cookies." She sighed. "I really want a cookie."

Harry sat and ignored Hermione and Ron staring at him.

Jason opened his arms. "Any questions?" No one moved. "How about what everyone always asks? What if you can't sing well? That's an easy one. This isn't about singing. This is about power. I understand that we're all in school and it's about looking cool and getting girls, but if you don't do it now you're going to go out into the world and not be able to protect yourself to your full potential. Looking stupid won't matter if you're dead." He sighed. "And for any muggleborns that might actually understand this, if you've ever been to karaoke, it's all about the people who can't sing. It's about having the courage to admit you aren't perfect at everything and yet still being willing to do it." He shrugged. "That's my spiel, so I'm done."

Flitwick cleared his throat. "If no one has any questions let's go back to the classroom. I want you to divide into groups where you are willing to sing in front of the others. If there's no one like that, it's all right. Just make the attempt to form the biggest groups possible."

Harry ignored the whispers as he walked into the classroom.

Hermione was speechless. She dropped into the chair and stared straight ahead.

"Hermione?" He poked her arm.

She barely twitched. "Did you see that? I mean, I guess you didn't see it. But you were--I mean--just levitating someone is complicated. To have that level of control is just astounding. They must have been working on that forever."

Harry patted her back. "Yeah. They've been working on it for a few months. Levitating small things individually is apparently not too hard, but Jason said that combining your magic with everyone else without a verbal incantation for a guide is complicated. But, um, Hermione, I think we're supposed to be forming groups right now."

Hermione blinked and jumped up. "Well of course. What are you waiting for?"

Harry shook his head and followed her across the room. Padma only glanced at him before saying she didn't think she could sing in their group. Four other girls had the same reaction. Hermione scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. "This is ridiculous. None of them even know if you can sing well." Frowning she glanced back at him. "Can you sing well?"

Harry shrugged. "Depends on who you ask. I think I'm bad, but Jason insists that an angel is trapped in my vocal cords." Harry smiled. Jason had started stumbled into his room drunk and collapsed on his bed. He'd made the proclamation about his voice, started humming the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and passed out.

Ron, Dean, Seamus, and Neville joined them by the high windows. "Well this is our group." Seamus snorted. "Couldn't find anyone else willing to sing in front of Harry Potter."

Harry glared at him and leaned against the wall pouting. The room was split into islands of people. They had the largest group, and five people stood around the room, alone, looking scared but set on their decision. He dropped his head back and closed his eyes. If I didn't have to pay attention, or at least stay awake to find out when I have to go to class, I'd go to sleep.

"Harry." Hermione shook his arm.

His eyes snapped open. Flitwick stood on his stool and the class fell silent. "Now that you're in our groups you're free to go. The schedule will be posted in each common room this evening."

They filed out the door and headed off.

"Are you awake yet Harry?" Hermione walked away from him.

Does that mean she's mad at me again? He sighed and pushed off the wall as she walked out the door. "No. I'm not." His knees buckled.

"Harry!" Arms wrapped around his chest and lowered him to a chair.

Professor Flitwick stood in front of him. "Are you all right Mr. Potter?"

Neville looked at him, worrying his lip between his teeth.

Well, at least now I know someone will catch me if I fall. "I'm all right. I just got a little dizzy."

"Are you sure you're all right?"

Harry stood and moved away from them. "Yes." He stumbled into a desk. Damn.

Neville pulled him back into the chair.

Professor Flitwick lifted Harry's head and looked into his eyes. "When's the last time you ate?"

"Ate? At lunch." What is this about?

"What did you eat?"

"A sandwich. Why?"

"Did you finish it?"

Did I? Oh crap. Low glucose levels leading to lack of energy and dizziness. I'm doing it again. "Oops?"

Professor Flitwick sighed. "How much did you eat?"

Harry shrugged. "A bite or two. I was a little distracted. I'd better go eat. I should have stuff in my room." He slipped past him and rushed out the door. The corridor was empty. He pushed back into an alcove around the corner. This hall didn't go anywhere important. It should be okay to just rest for a minute.

"Harry."

Damn. Neville stood in front of him. "Hi."

"If you were okay you wouldn't be hiding in an alcove."

That is a good point. Very good point. "I'll be fine. I just haven't eaten in--I'm okay."

"Harry why don't we go back to the tower the long way? No one should be in the back corridors."

Harry sighed and nodded. "Good. Yeah. That's good." He moved out of the alcove. Neville grabbed his arm as he stumbled. "Just fine. Just need a little food. Double chocolate chunk cookies with--I don't need food. What am I thinking? I just need a nap is all. Overtired. I've been eating too much. I should eat less. That's the answer." He smiled and looked around. "Neville did we just go down stairs?"

"Yes." Neville pulled him along.

"Isn't the tower up the stairs?"

"I'm taking you to the hospital wing."

"What?" Harry pulled back. "No. Why?"

Neville took a deep breath and grabbed his arm pulling him forward. "You aren't all right. You're acting weird."

"Harry? You okay there good buddy?" Kyle hopped in front of them.

"I'm fine. I don't need to go to the hospital wing."

Kyle narrowed his eyes. "Okay." He grabbed Harry's chin and tilted his head up. "You didn't eat. Come on in. Well have tea or something. Whatever it is you English people eat when you're psychotic." He shrugged. "Whatever. You're Neville, right? Come on it. Mom won't mind." He pressed his hand to the wall and whispered.

Harry smiled. "Kyle, when did you get here?"

Kyle sighed and pulled Harry and Neville through the wall. He led them past the lounge and through a door on the far side. They walked into another lounge. The eleven were spread around a table covered with Chinese food cartons.

Harry pulled away and hopped over before dropping to the floor. "Dumplings?"

Jason laughed and nodded toward the carton in front of him.

Harry grabbed the box and pulled a dumpling out. He finished it in three bites and pulled out another.

Diana grabbed the carton. "No hogging the dumplings English boy."

Kyle led a stiff Neville toward the table. "He hasn't eaten much today. He's probably going into glycemic shock or something."

Diana held the carton out of his reach and gestured toward the table. "Then you should eat something more substantial with vegetables because vegetables are good for you."

Harry made another grab for the dumplings.

Jessica waved a box in the air. "Curry chicken?"

Harry froze and shifted his eyes between the two cartons. "Damn." He reached over and took the curry chicken. Kevin tossed him a pair of chopsticks. Harry popped the carton open and dug in. It was the perfect Curry blend. His head shot up. "You guys went to Harin's."

Jason hummed and scratched his head. "Of course we didn't. That would be illegal leaving of the castle grounds. You know we're not allowed to leave. Especially not to go back to town. Especially not for Chinese food."

And I've never snuck out of the castle either. "Of course."

Jason winked. "We orphans gotta band together brother."

"Orphans?" Neville sat on the couch staring at the group.

Diana shrugged and slurped the last of her dumpling into her mouth. "We are the twelve orphans of the Academy. It was the fake twelve since there are eleven of us since Cali's not an orphan, but Harry here makes twelve and we end up with our own little fake coven going on. It's very cool."

Neville's eyes darted between them.

Harry sighed and pulled Neville off the couch and onto the floor next to him. "They live at the school all year round. That's why they're all in the same advanced classes."

Neville looked around again. "You're the ones we saw in Charms."

Kyle bowed his head. "That is us. Do you know how many people have asked us to levitate them after that? It's a disaster. The only reason we didn't blow up Harry is because we know his magical signature so it's easier to ignore and work with."

Harry patted Neville's shoulder. "I spent the summer with them. If you could keep that to yourself that would be great since I'm not supposed to tell anyone."

Kevin nodded. "Yeah. You suck at the whole secrets thing. Like when Cali told you not to tell anyone that--"

Harry chucked a carrot at him. "That is a totally different story. It was funny and I couldn't keep it a secret since every time I looked at her I'd start laughing." He shrugged. "Whatever. She forgave me and S--Uncle hasn't killed me yet, so it's all right. Anyway, I'm bringing another to lab tonight. Maybe two. She--" Oh crap. I didn't give her the page. "--is going to kill me. I said I'd give her the page of calculations after charms."

"Hermione?" Neville smiled. "Then I'd have to agree. No matter what you say to her, if you don't do it you're in trouble. I forgot to give her potions notes back when I said I would and I thought she was going to kill me."

Harry sighed. "And she was already mad at me for falling asleep in Charms. Neville, if I gave it to you could you get it to her?"

"Sure."

Harry pulled the page out of his bag. He found a blank sheet and scribbled out the time and place of potions lab. He chewed on his lip. Bring Ron along. He signed his name to the bottom and folded it in with the other page. He handed it to Neville. "Thanks so much."

Neville smiled. "It's no problem."

Kyle pushed off the floor. "I'll show you out. We don't want Mom to swoop down and attack. I'm going to wander through the castle. I'm not hungry and if I stay I know I'll eat all the lo mein on the table."

Neville and Kyle left the room, the door slamming shut.

Jessica waited for all of thirty seconds. "Snape hasn't done anything to you for telling everyone that he filled the kitchen with Jell-O when he tried to use Cali's special brand of wandless magic?"

Harry smirked and gestured to the side with his chopsticks. "Well I'm not too sure that he knows I told everyone, so don't mention it or anything, but he's not glaring at me anymore than usual. He's actually been nicer to me because Biara asked him to go easy on me in Occlumency lessons."

"How's that going anyway?" Diana handed over the dumplings.

"I'm good enough that I don't need to go to lessons anymore. I haven't had a Voldemort shaped nightmare in over a month. The last one I had was because I was exhausted and feel asleep without clearing my mind first. Let me tell you, it's nice to finally be able to sleep without worrying about him popping into my mind." He smiled. "Pass the fried noddley things please."

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I know that the end seems out of character, but I think my mind just supplied the reason, so it might work out after all. :) Review and make me a happy person that never leaves the house. sighs I really need to go to the park or something.