Chapter Thirteen - A Performance In

Albus smiled benignly. "Of course, Harry, my boy. I was only wondering if we might have a word?"

"Certainly." Harry swallowed a sigh and moved to the side, gesturing towards the sitting room with a grand flourish of his arm, his grin as bright as ever.

With another smile, Albus walked in, followed by Snape, who, as usual, levelled a scowl at Harry as he passed. Both older wizards stopped in front of the couch, waiting until Harry indicated they should sit. Albus quickly settled in, and after he turned to his Potions Professor and nodded pointedly towards the seat next to him, Snape sat with a sneer.

Harry went over to a large armchair and dropped carelessly into it, inwardly wincing when it aggravated his sore muscles. He noticed both men watching him with seemingly uncaring expressions, but Harry was careful not to let anything untoward show on his face. He quickly called for the kitchen to send up a set of tea and biscuits, waving his wand in a lackadaisical arch, smirking inwardly when Snape narrowed his eyes and breathed in as though nervous at his brandishing it in such a way.

After a moment, Snape turned his dark stare from him and scanned the room, his lip curling at the outrageous furnishings. Harry fully agreed with the man's obvious disdain when he followed the gaze to his blindingly coloured paintings he'd had the house-elves hang on every wall of the room. The scheme of neon shades covered the rest of the items around them, including the carpet and furniture, and by the time the Potions master looked back at him, a trace of horror showed past Snape's mask.

"I see you noticed my decor, Professor," Harry stated conversationally. "The paintings I purchased as a set on the island of Key Largo in the States. Fascinating place, really. Anyway, if you like the pictures, I could give you the name of the artist. He excepts overseas orders, you know."

The look he was granted by the Potions master almost broke Harry's act, as he concealed his laughter. Brushing his hair away from his face, Harry gave a glittering smile and raised an eyebrow as though waiting for an answer. The absolute revulsion he saw cross Snape's face he hadn't even gained back when he was a student and had created the worst slop of a potion as possible.

"No?" Harry confirmed, giving an almost disheartened look. "Well, if you're sure."

Albus chuckled from behind his raised teacup. "Perhaps you should, Severus. Those dungeons could use some brightening up."

Snape seemed to shudder as he glared toward Dumbledore. "Headmaster. Wasn't there a reason for our . . . visit?"

"Oh, yes, of course. Harry, we just wanted to ask you a quick question or two," explained Albus. "About your travels. You wouldn't mind, would you?"

"Not at all, Albus," Harry responded without hesitation.

"Excellent." Albus took a sip of his tea, then gazed at Harry. "Now, you mentioned seeing much of the world. Did you happen to visit Beijing, oh, around six years ago? In December, maybe?"

Harry instantly sensed the direction the man was heading. Snape's increased scrutiny confirmed the others' plans. Dumbledore's words could well have been asking if Harry knew that the Praesidium made its first appearance then. A group of dark wizards trying to overthrow the government, if Harry remembered right. The Praesidium, then much fewer in number than now, had foiled their plans and left before any big hype could start. The Defence symbol they had left meant little at the time.

"I do believe I was in China around then, yes," Harry answered thoughtfully. "Can't honestly remember if I was in Beijing or not, though. There was that festival in Mongolia, I went there in, no, that was January. December? I could have been, I suppose. Why do you ask?" His tone was a lesson in disinterest, and by Snape's disgusted snort, was working on him, at least.

"No real reason, Harry." Albus took another draw of tea. Both Harry and Snape had yet to touch theirs. "I had a friend there, just wondered if you may have seen him. What's funny is that I had another friend, this one in Mendoza, you know, around the Andes? Ever been there? Nice climate, from what I've heard. My friend sent me an owl perhaps a year and a half ago."

"Did he now?" Harry asked politely. His mind supplied him with the memory of a hoard of evil Vampyrs in the mountains. "Poor bird must have been quite tired. That's quite a distance."

Albus chuckled lightly. "Yes, indeed. I've always wanted to visit the Andes. The views are supposed to be spectacular."

"I'm sure," said Harry, thinking back to when his men had removed the Vamps charms that allowed them to be in the daylight.

Though rather difficult, the Praesidium's combined force had managed the magic, and the sight of the burnt ash of the creatures flying off the cliffs over the small villages was quite impressive. Harry's Vampyric warriors didn't concern themselves with the loss of their evil brethren, instead enjoying the scene with the others. The night after had found them in the midst of a very nice celebration.

Forcing his thoughts back to the present, Harry gazed into Dumbledore's eyes. He felt the presence of the older man's mind touching his and allowed it to search, never showing that he noticed anything. With a couple projected memories, he let the headmaster see nothing more than he wanted, but maintaining his careful hold, Albus could never detect that he was hiding something.

Both the headmaster and Snape had continued teaching Harry Occlumency after his fifth year, much to the latter's outrage. Unbeknownst to them, though, years with Vampyrs had perfected Harry's mental abilities beyond either of the other wizards'. Harry was a quick study when he had his own warriors able to delve into his thoughts at will, whether he wanted them to or not. The Night Creatures had no qualms about such things, even with allies, figuring that if they could, why shouldn't they?

When he found nothing except flippant memories, Albus cut short his Legilimency. "Well, I don't suppose there is much more to talk about, Harry," he stated. "Though, it is nice just to have a relaxing conversation after such a day as I have had. Severus, as well. Don't you agree, Severus?"

When Snape didn't respond beyond a curt nod, Harry asked, "Goodness, Albus, whatever happened? Did something occur when you were so rudely pulled out of lunch by that rather dramatic individual this afternoon?"

"What," Snape bit out, "did you think was to happen, Potter? Azkaban was attacked, for Merlin's sake. Do you believe we had no trouble when we went there?"

Harry brushed at the sleeve of his robe. "Well, I honestly don't know, Professor. I do hope it wasn't too difficult." He sighed. "By gods, I'm glad I've forsworn such business."

Albus placed a calming hand on the angry Potions master's arm. "Now, now, Severus. My apologies, Harry. Emotions are running high at the moment." At Harry's accepting nod, Albus smiled. "You see, there is a mystery surrounding the trouble occurring. We are having a time trying to establish the identities of those in the fight."

"Truly?" Harry questioned, stifling a yawn with an elegant hand. "I can't imagine."

"Yes, neither Vivnecis and his men nor those in the Praesidium will reveal anything." Albus shook his head in annoyance, though his eyes were locked on the younger man.

Harry blinked. "Who?"

"Oh, haven't I mentioned?" Albus asked. "The new Dark Lord is called Vivnecis, it seems."

"Why in the world would someone chose so . . . crude sounding a name?" questioned Harry, affecting slight distaste.

Albus wondered that Harry didn't notice his mention of the other group. "I couldn't say. And the Praesidium? What would you say of that?"

"Praesidium? Isn't that Latin for defence?" Harry tilted his head to the side. "What evil organization would call themselves that?"

"They aren't the dark wizards," Albus told him, ignoring Snape's soft snort from beside him. "If anything, they seem to be–" he cleared his throat, "– assisting– our side."

"Well, that's nice of them," said Harry, smirking inwardly at the headmaster's hesitating speech and affronted expression.

Smiling, Harry purposely took their conversation to be at an end and stood, preparing to herd his visitors out of his chambers. Albus remained seated, and Snape took cue from him. Fighting the urge to sigh, Harry smiled nicely and leaned back against the arm of his chair.

"Actually, the Minister has just declared them outlaws," Albus said. "They may have helped us, but their methods leave something to be desired. It appears they are rather violent and prefer to kill first, ask questions later."

Harry widened his eyes. "Are they a danger? Do you think they could come to Hogwarts? Or Hogsmeade? Goodness, well, I don't think I'll be able to accompany the students there this year, Albus. I do apologize."

"I'm certain we are in no danger." Albus glanced toward a steaming Potions master. "Well, we should be going, I suppose."

"If you must." Harry swept the men out of his quarters, secretly applying a temporary charm in their wake as they walked away down the hall.

Closing his door, he activated the localized part of the spell, and was granted a clear sound of the older professors' conversation as they travelled down the hall. Leaning back up to the wall, Harry listened with a smug smile.

"Albus, what was the point of that, may I ask?" Snape ground out after a moment, most likely having just scanned the hall for eavesdroppers.

"I wished to know if he knew anything, Severus. I do believe I explained that before we went." The headmaster sounded exasperated.

"That imbecile wouldn't know something if it hit him in the face," declared Snape sharply. "Why are you so certain he may?"

"I'm not." Albus sighed. "I've tried to follow Harry's travels these years, which, let me tell you, was most challenging, and he seems to have surfaced when the Praesidium has. I do not have enough evidence to know whether that be coincidence or not."

"And if not, do you really wish to know, Albus?" Snape asked. "It would make everything most difficult, even if Potter is merely being unwittingly used by this group."

"That is true, Severus," Albus conceded. "Well, I would now ask you to question Mr Malfoy. Being his godfather, I assume you know him better than I would. Then you go rest, my boy. I will deal with all of the others on staff not in the Order. If they do know anything, I would rather I knew it as well."

A pause, then Snape questioned, "Why did it require two of us to interrogate Potter?"

"I'm not even going to attempt to make you call him Professor Potter," Albus muttered, causing Harry to strain, then laugh where he stood. "Because, Severus, if he was hiding something, I would expect we would have a better chance of seeing it with more than one set of eyes."

"You sound as if you wish Potter was putting on a charade," Snape quietly observed.

Albus sighed, but didn't respond, and the listening charm ended, signifying that they had gone their separate ways. Against his front wall, Harry, too, sighed. Running a hand over his face, he realized that he had a sudden feeling that he was disappointing Albus, and he was surprised to find it troubled him. Snorting, Harry pushed away from the hard stone behind him. Forcing his thoughts to the back of his mind, he made his way into his bedchamber.

Reaching his locked trunk, he made short work of the security charm and pulled out a small, nondescript mirror. Murmuring a quick name, he watched as it worked as the old Marauder's one would have, back before he'd broken it after Sirius' death. Muttering under his breath about damn headmasters and things that brought back too many memories, he waited for Carnifex to appear.

"Ateraes," the Vampyr greeted. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing of much concern," Harry responded. "Only that Snape and Dumbledore were here to question me shortly after I returned. They suspect I might be hiding something, though it seems that neither have much idea. Snape even suggested to the headmaster that the Praesidium was using me without my knowledge."

Carnifex snickered. "Oh, yes, that's possible. At any rate, they don't really know anything?"

"No." Harry glanced at the clock on the wall. "I better be going. I contacted you to have you send a notice to Suralc. The headmaster is having everyone not affiliated with the Order questioned. I don't want to risk communicating with him myself right now, even with Fawkes' help. Give him a head's up, Amice, if you would. I haven't had a chance to charm one of these mirrors for him at present."

"Certainly," Carnifex drawled, a sneer sliding across his lips. "Aren't you afraid he won't be able to handle the pressure?" At Harry's murderous glare, Carnifex nodded. "Fine. I will send a message."

With a thank you and a farewell, Harry disengaged the two-way, and placed the mirror back in the truck. Shedding his overwhelming robes, he made his way to his shower as quickly as he could. Disregarding dinner, as soon as he finished, he collapsed into bed, not bothering with night clothes. He was asleep within moments.

Several days later, at the start of term, found Harry back to his usual self, and enthusiastic about the arrival of the students. He fairly sauntered into the Great Hall shortly before the Sorting Feast would commence, smiling brightly as he walked between the empty house tables to the back of the room. Like he'd planned, he was one of the last into the Hall. Nearing the Head Table, he noticed the varying looks he received as the other professors took in his current attire.

In honour of the Feast, Harry had gone all out, with intricately detailed robes in the brightest chartreuse he could find and a matching wizard's cap perched jauntily on his head. His hair was styled and secured back with a contrasting colour of ribbon, and the heels of his boots sounded loudly as he made his way around the table to his seat. His half-cape billowed out at the side as he turned.

Before he could reach his position, he caught sight of two others coming in to the hall, and his smile gained a semblance of sincerity. Changing direction, he moved a slight bit away from the table to greet the newcomer walking alongside Albus. As Rubeus Hagrid scanned the group, his dark eyes lit up as he saw Harry.

"'Arry!" Hagrid said brightly, striding over to the newest professor and enveloping him in a bone-crushing hug. "How ar' you!"

When the half-giant finally released him, it took a moment for Harry to get the breath to answer. "I'm well, quite well. I knew Albus would never replace you," Harry said smartly, tipping his hat to the headmaster with a flourish as the man walked past them. "Where have you been hiding, Hagrid?"

Hagrid blinked, but then shook his head. "'Ad a coupl'a things to do outta th' country. 'M just glad ta be back fer th' start a th' year. Matter a fact, some Aurors are bringin th' firs' years 'cross th' lake."

"Wonderful!" Harry exclaimed, giving a brilliant smile and straightening the front of his robes. "This year shall be excellent, don't you think? We must have lunch, Hagrid, soon. Catch up on old times!"

"Er, yea', sure, 'Arry," Hagrid said, eyeing Harry up and down. "Whate'er you say. Er, nice robes."

Harry preened slightly. "Thanks! Had them specially made in France. I can tell you all about it when you have a chance."

"All righ', 'Arry," replied Hagrid, smiling and shrugging his large shoulders. Though he looked piercingly into Harry's eyes, he seemed content, otherwise, not to notice Harry's affectations.

At Albus' gesture from behind the Head Table, both wizards made their way to their seats, Hagrid on one end, and Harry to the left of the headmaster. Besides Harry sat a rather disgusted Potions master, and looking toward the headmaster, Harry could understand his reaction.

Albus and Harry made quite the pair, the latter in his interesting clothes, and the headmaster in a fairly vile outfit of sickly green robes dotted with pink-purple stars that moved in dizzying patterns every time the man moved. Harry changed his snort of laughter to a cough as he looked at the black-clothed Snape, who was pointedly staring straight ahead or towards his godson next to his other side rather than look at Harry and Albus.

After a moment, sounds began coming from beyond the front hall; Minerva left her chair and went through the hall to greet the students and collect the first years. The staff fell silent as they waited, and a few seconds later, the Hall doors swung wide. Madly chattering students made their way in, looking around them with their usual bright, happy expressions as they took in the Great Hall once again. The dark times they were all suffering fell to the wayside as unimportant for at least a little while.

As several of the teenagers looked across the Head Table, they spotted Harry easily, and the noise level increased dramatically as they pointed him out to their peers. Wryly, he wondered if they'd ever been told that it was rude to do that.

It didn't take long for them to get to their House tables and take their seats, but it was enough time to see why Snape scowled at the lot of students. Between the noise and the staring, Harry found he much preferred being in a complete meeting of the Praesidium, who knew better than to annoy him, than in the large, echoing Great Hall as it filled.

Finally, the tall figure of McGonagall appeared in the doorway, and she started up the middle of the room, followed by the rather tiny forms of the first years. The looks on their faces were priceless, and a wave of nostalgia washed over Harry, for once bringing good memories instead of bad. Shaking aside his flight of fancy, Harry kept his smile inane and observed the newest students with a careful eye.

It wasn't difficult to pick out the Muggle-born children, not with their almost scared expressions, but Harry was more interested in seeing whether any of the students would turn out to be trouble makers. When he caught sight of a small band of swaggering, clean-cut boys, he knew he'd found them. Looking over the rest, he realized that the group was smaller than the amount he'd expected.

That was fixed when, just as McGonagall reached the front stage, a dripping wet, teal haired woman jogged in through the doors, followed by about eight equally sopping children. Slowing to a more sedate pace, Tonks gave a slightly abashed smile and led the students to their other year-mates.

"Sorry about that, Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall," Tonks apologized. "Took a little longer than I thought to get everyone out of the lake."

"And why were they in the water?" asked McGonagall, her stern expression masking the laughter in her eyes.

"Boat capsized," Tonks explained, flushing. "I don't know why."

Minerva shook her head as several people snickered. "Of course. Well, thank you, Auror Tonks. Students, gather around."

As the young witches and wizards did so, Tonks walked back to the front of the Hall, standing to the side of the doors. A beat later, several other adults stepped in beside her and stood still. Harry glanced toward Dumbledore, who merely smiled toward the newcomers, then focussed back on the first years.

McGonagall had gone over to the corner to retrieve what was needed as the students waited with nervous anticipation. Suddenly, the staff heard her gasp, and everyone leant over to look down the table. As she turned to them, they saw her holding a stool, with her empty hand held out away from her body. Setting the stool down with a clank, she strode swiftly behind the table and bent down next to the headmaster.

"Minerva, what ever is wrong?" Albus asked in concern.

Looking down toward the children, then at Albus, she kept her voice low. "The Hat is gone."

"What do you mean?" questioned Albus, his expression changing to confusion. The staff members glanced at one another.

"The Sorting Hat has disappeared, Albus," Minerva explained quietly.

Albus sat back in his chair. "I placed it on the stool before the Feast myself. Surely if it's not there, it must be close by. Perhaps it fell."

"No, you misunderstand," Minerva sighed. "It disappeared, while I was picking it up. Just vanished."

"Could this be some type of prank?" Snape questioned irritably, leaning past Harry to address the older professors.

Albus raised an eyebrow, then turned back to Minerva. "Did it say anything?" he asked. At her confused look, he added, "The Sorting Hat, did it say anything?"

McGonagall blinked, then nodded. "I distinctly heard it say 'I won't do it', then it vanished."

"I was worried about this," Albus murmured thoughtfully, ignoring the confounded expressions of his staff and the increasing agitation of the students below.

"Worried about what, Headmaster?" Snape asked, still leaning around Harry.

"The Hat has been complaining about its job of late," answered Dumbledore, stroking his beard. "It said it had no wish to do it any more."

Down the table a short way, Ron snorted. "Are you saying the Sorting Hat went on strike?"

Albus chuckled and looked over the puzzled expressions on most of the staff. "You are a good Muggle Studies professor, Ronald, you've successfully confused most of the others. But no, I believe the Hat just has no wish to take part in separating the students."

"How can a Hat refuse, Albus? Are you saying it disappeared of its own accord?" Minerva was flustered.

"We can talk about it later," Albus responded. "The students are getting anxious."

"What are we to do about the students?" asked Minerva in a clipped tone.

"I have made a plan for this–"

"You knew?"

"I had an idea," Albus corrected, then stood. "Students, it appears that the sorting shall have to wait until tomorrow." There was a startled outcry, but the students quieted when Dumbledore raised his hands. "Now, now, for tonight, first years please sit where you wish. I ask the older students to welcome them. A separate dormitory has been arranged for all first years, just for tonight. Please sit."

There was a slight commotion as the youngest found seats at the various tables. It was interesting to Harry to see where they sat, as it indicated where they assumed they'd be. He wondered how many were right. Turning to look at the other teachers, he saw McGonagall take her seat with a perplexed expression. Most of the others had the same look, except for the ones who knew how to cover their emotions. Snape had sat back in his seat and was conversing in low tones with Malfoy, his face a mask.

Harry straightened the front of his robes and lounged back as though unconcerned with any of what had transpired. As it was, he was trying to figure out how he could get any information from Dumbledore without the older wizard knowing it.

Albus had remained standing, and addressed the now seated students. "Thank you. Now, as for start of term announcements, the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden. Even to seventh years. Let's remember this, shall we? Mr Filch wished me to mention that a list of everything prohibited in the halls has grown to twelve feet, and is available to be perused at your leisure. No knowledge is no excuse for breaking the rules.

"As to nicer subjects, we have two new professors joining us this year! May I have a warm welcome to Professor Malfoy, who will be teaching Arithmancy?" Polite applause broke out as Malfoy stood and inclined his head, as well as whispers as to who he was. "And our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is Professor Potter."

For a moment the hall fell silent, and Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes as he stood. Smiling brightly, he swept his hat off his head and bowed with a flourish of his hand. Snape had to jerk away to avoid being hit. Rising, Harry replaced his cap and seemed to bask in the cheers that rose from the students.

Harry sat back down as Albus finally lifted his hands once more for quiet. "Also, we will be host to a small group of Aurors, as you can see. The Minister feels that this would help increase safety. Please show them your respect." Another wave of whispering, but it died quickly. "Well, that should be all. The Sorting will take place tomorrow at dinner. First years have the day off from classes." Cheers sounded from those students, as well as grumbles from the older years. "If you would, then, tuck in!"

The tables swiftly filled with food. It seemed that the house-elves had quite outdone themselves, and Harry grinned as he took a deep swallow of pumpkin juice. The noise level rose and fell as the students ate, but was generally quieter than earlier.

"So, Potter," Malfoy said, bending down to look past Snape. "Bet you loved that."

Harry waved a careless hand as he swallowed a bite of food. "It was a nice greeting, don't you agree?"

Malfoy gaped for a moment, then leaned back. Harry smirked to himself, his humour increasing when he sighted the repulsed expression on the Potions master's face. Turning to Dumbledore, Harry began a conversation about fabrics and prints that lasted most of the meal.

The first day of classes dawned bright and clear. Harry was up with the sun, running through a couple of exercises in his rooms. He couldn't have Carnifex able to beat him in duelling because he got complacent. Smiling, Harry finished and dressed, deliberately missing breakfast, and made his way to his classroom.

Stepping in, he walked to the desk at the front of the room and looked around. Taking out his wand, he levelled it at the old-fashioned furniture. Muttering a charm, he swept his arm in a circle and encompassed the entire room. As the items surrounding him changed, he nodded, then walked up to his office to wait until the beginning of class.

It wasn't very long before the NEWT level students arrived. As it was an advanced class, it was compiled of all Houses, and they came in groups according to them. Harry stayed back in the doorway of his office to see their reactions.

Walking in, the first bunch of students, Ravenclaws by their robes, stopped in the doorway and looked around before walking slowly in. They gaped as they saw that instead of desks, there was a large, round table in the middle of the room, surrounded by a circular bench. The teacher's desk was nowhere to be found, and the bookshelves that normally stood against the walls were equally absent. In fact, other than the table and bench, the room was completely bare.

By the time the other students had arrived, everyone was looking at each other in confusion. Some of the teenagers questioned whether they should sit down, but no one did.

After a few tense minutes, Harry strode out of his office, quite startling the students.

"Well, hello there, everyone!" Harry exclaimed, laughing inwardly at the blinking he received for his current clothes. "I will ask you now to remove your outer robes and ties, and place them near the door. Then sit down at the table. Well, what are you waiting for? Get to it."

A/N: Hope everyone is enjoying the story. Let me know what you think. Feel free to suggest things you might want to see, it helps feed my muse, and I may just use it.

Thank you to all of my readers and reviewers!

Now, just as a little guide, here are the names of aliases and/or OCs thus far:

(Aliases - True name if known - Type)

Artemis - Witch
Ateraes - Harry - Wizard (unnecessary, I know)
Bruti - Wizard
Carnifex - Raphael - Vamp
Gloriae - Veela
Laminae - Warrior-elf
Suralc - Wizard

Note- Some are no more than extras, whereas some are/will be more important.

Best Regards and Pleasure Reading,

Zenn