"Get up! You'll be late!" Ron shouted, throwing a pillow at Harry. He groaned and rolled over, misjudged the distance to the edge of the bed and landed hard on the floor. He swore softly and tried to disentangle himself from the blankets he managed to get completely wrapped up in overnight. After a few attempts he gave in, and Ron collapsed on his bed in a fit of giggles.

"Shut up," Harry grumbled, still half asleep. Ron choked on his laughter and helped his new housemate up. "I want a shower, so I'll see you at breakfast," Harry said, yawning hugely.

"You sure you know the way down by yourself?" Ron asked.

"I'll be fine. I'll ask a portrait if I get lost,"

Ron chuckled and left him to it.

As he sat down at breakfast the first thing he noticed was that Snape wasn't there.

"Does Snape not eat with the other teachers?" he asked, feigning innocence yet again as he reached for a crumpet.

"No, not usually. He hardly ever does." He cast Harry a suspicious look . "You're a bit obsessive over him you know,"

"It's just that he's so different out of school," Harry replied, taking a bite out of his crumpet. He poured himself some pumpkin juice and dug his timetable out of his bag. "Defence first," he said and swallowed the mouthful of crumpet. "You do Defence, don't you?" he looked over at Ron's timetable.

"I do," Hermione said from Ron's other side where she was spreading jam on her toast. "I think I have most f the same lessons as you, but I'm taking others as well,"

"Post," Ron said into his porridge, confusing Harry for a moment before he realised he meant the owl post had arrived. He looked up expectantly, searching for Cicatrix. However by the time the last owl had dropped its package, he hadn't appeared. Harry reached for his pumpkin juice and almost yelped when a burst of flames erupted in the middle of the Hall. Cicatrix soared over to him and dropped a letter on his lap, then settled on his shoulder and stuck his beak into the goblet Harry was holding.

"You just love to make an entrance, don't you?" Harry grumbled, and Cicatrix nipped his ear gently. Sighing, he opened his letter with his knife and read the letter.

James,

I would be delighted should you grace me with your presence this evening at six o'clock for us to review the first day. I trust you know the way.

Albus Dumbledore

He managed to get through Defence without any major mishaps, and when he collapsed in the common room at lunch he was immediately accosted by Parvati and Lavender, who sat down either side of him, staring in awe. Harry shifted uncomfortably

"Hi…" he began.

"You know, you're really interesting," Parvati said earnestly.

"Um… thanks…"

"Professor Trelawney said that you're special," Lavender said matter-of-factly.

"Her exact words were 'the one who is late will be revealed before long'. We think she was talking about your special powers,"

"Yeah, well, Trelawney's an old bat, isn't she?" Harry mumbled, dread rising in his stomach. They were going to find out, and then the whole plan would be ruined.

"Don't listen to them," Ron said, following the two girls into the common room. "They hero-worship old Trelawney, but she's just a quack. Don't believe anything she says," Lavender and Parvati scowled at the redhead before scampering away to scheme in the corner, every now and then sneaking conspiratorial glances over at them.

"Do you want to go play Quidditch?" Harry asked Ron.

"I don't know… I have the trials to sort out, you know, being captain and all," he thrust his chest out importantly, the badge glinting in the light. A badge that had not long ago belonged to Harry, for just a few weeks, "but yeah, I don't see why not. I'll go get the balls, and meet you down there."

Harry nodded and leaped up the dormitory steps three at a time to fetch his new broom. He tugged it out of his trunk, and reminded himself to ask Dumbledore about his Firebolt when he saw him that afternoon. He carried his broom over his shoulder down across the Entrance Hall.

"Is that a Firebolt 42?" asked a drawling voice behind him. Steeling himself, he turned to face Malfoy and his crones.

"Yes, it is. What about it?" he bit back. Malfoy sneered.

"Just wondering." And with that he turned his back and sauntered off. Frowning, Harry continued his path down to the pitch. He had a few minutes before Ron would be out to meet him, and wanted to get at least one go with the broom in before Ron arrived.

He let it go in the air and it hovered perfectly still. He straddled it, utterly, perfectly still. No sooner than he leaned forward he shot off. His stomach dropped several feet behind him and she was sure that if he let go he would fly a hundred miles on his own. An invisible field protected him from dust and inertia. Wind whistled past, yanking his T-shirt and pushing his hair out of his eyes. Seconds later he stopped on a Sickle. Crisp sunset ocean was visible on the horizon. He looked back. The castle was a small, lop-sided speck.

Stroking the handle, he found a small compass embedded in the wood. He'd gone south-east. He turned a hundred and eighty degrees and returned at half speed. Otherwise he might overshoot the pitch. It was still at least as fast as his old Firebolt's cruising speed. He'd suspected that one responded to thought rather than touch; he was certain this one did.

On a whim he paused and tested a vertical rise and drop. It worked. No broom in history had ever managed a perfect degree-less shift. Even the original Firebolt needed a few inches of give. He wanted to sleep with this broom. He wanted to marry it. He definitely didn't want to come down.

He looked down and saw a speck on red on the pitch, and swept down to meet him.

"That's bloody amazing!" his friend gasped in awe. Harry laughed, and pointed to the box of balls.

"You ready?"

He knew he should be offering the Firebolt 42 to Ron for a go, but he didn't want to act too much like Harry. Plus, he wanted to keep this broom to himself. Without waiting for Ron to answer, he pulled the handle up sharply and did a half back-roll, gliding up to the middle of the pitch.

"Let's see if you can save Quaffles coming from this thing!" he said cheerfully. Ron paused where he was rising to meet Harry, Quaffle clutched in his hands.

"How did you know I was Keeper?" he asked suspiciously. Harry cursed silently and blushed.

"Seamus said," he lied, praying Ron would believe him.

"Fair enough," Ron shrugged, and threw the Quaffle to Harry. "Try and score,"

So Harry did; and ended up playing badly on purpose just so Ron didn't feel left out.

"Hey, you're not bad!" he said enthusiastically. "Stay here, I'll be back in a minute,"

He shot off towards the castle. Harry looked around. He set down on the pitch and walked over to Hagrid's hut, shouldering his broom. Time to make introductions.

He knocked loudly on the door. It swung open after a few moments to reveal a slightly smaller Hagrid than Harry had remembered. He looked as though he'd been crying.

"Who're you?" he blurted. Fang knocked past him and slobbered all over Harry's jeans in greeting. Of course. He recognised Harry's smell. Harry smiled.

"I'm James Antares. I'm new, and I've made friends with Ron and Hermione. They said I had to meet you, because you're really nice," Harry offered. Hagrid looked abashed and fiddled with his beard.

"Well, I'm the Keeper of the Keys to Hogwarts, and I teach Care of Magical Creatures." He said. "This 'ere's Fang. He's a softy alright."

"Yes, Ron told me about him," Harry laughed, and bent to scratch his ears. He woofed softly.

"Here, they've been saying that you've got yourself a phoenix," Hagrid said excitedly. Harry nodded. "I don't suppose I could borrow 'im fer a few lessons, could I? Professor Dumbledore's phoenix don't like me, you see, but I'd love to teach the kids about 'em!"

"Yeah, sure." Harry smiled. He heard a shout behind and turned. Ron was standing at the top of the hill, waving to him. Harry turned back to Hagrid. "I'd better go. Ron's expecting me. See you later Hagrid!" he waved and started back up the hill.

"Bye James!" Hagrid called after him.

Ginny and Ron were waiting for him when he reached the pitch.

"Hi James," she said brightly. "Ron say you're good at Quidditch, so we thought you may as well try out for Seeker. I'm the reserve, but if you're better I'd be perfectly happy to let you,"

Harry blinked a few times and looked at Ron, who was grinning.

"Yeah, sure… you don't mind?" he asked Ginny.

"Oh not at all. Come on!" she leapt onto her broom, the Snitch clutched in one hand. "Let's see how good you are!"

Ginny released the Snitch and Harry hurtled after it, following it closely. He and Ginny began an intricate dance over the pitch in pursuit of the ball, dodging each other as they both sought the same goal. Ginny wasn't bad – she'd improved over the summer – but Harry's new broom had a massive advantage over hers, turning faster and moving more smoothly, and Harry was just better all round.

Ginny suddenly shot upwards, and Harry whipped his head around to find her. Ginny hurtled past him, brushing his side, nearly knocking him off course. Then they began again, weaving about each other; fingers grasping the air as the Snitch escaped their attempts. Elbows banged, hands collided, and more than once Ginny's head connected with Harry.

Finally Harry's fingers closed easily over the small ball, holding it gently as he set down. Ron was looking impressed, upset and suspicious all at once. Harry's insides turned to lead. He hadn't thought about his flying style… and no doubt he flew exactly how Ron remembered Harry flying. He froze at the look on Ron's face.

"I'll see you in later," he mumbled and ran off, leaving Ron and Ginny on the pitch.

"Right class, wands out!" Flitwick said cheerfully from the front of the class. "We're diving straight into the course, no messing around with theory. I've been told that there was a Duelling Club started in your second year, but it didn't go very well. Is that correct?"

There was a general murmur of assent from the class.

"In that case we'll be having a look at Duelling for the first few weeks. The Headmaster wants you to be as well-versed in the topic, what with the upcoming war and everything. He wants you prepared. But now, can those of you who have actually duelled before please raise your hands?"

Harry, Hermione, Malfoy, and various other students raised their hands. Flitwick quickly counted them and took a note of their names.

"Well I'd rather like to see what stage you're at, Mr. Antares, so if you'd come to the front of the class please," he said to Harry. He stood, wand clutched in his hand, and walked up to the front of the class. "If there anyone willing to duel with James?" Flitwick addressed the rest of the class.

"I'll do it," Malfoy said with a smirk that made Harry's blood run cold.

"Certainly Mr. Malfoy. If you'd both take your positions, we can get started,"

Malfoy stood a few feet from Harry, and they bowed stiffly, wands at their sides. In the few seconds it took, Harry had already decided on his first hex. He hit Malfoy with a Jellylegs Jinx the moment he was straightened, which Malfoy shielded. He was rewarded with Tarantellegra and quickly threw it off, casting Impedimenta, which Malfoy leapt to the side to avoid. Then Malfoy cast another spell, and Harry's insides performed the now familiar trick of turning to something very heavy.

"Serpensortia!"

His eyes immediately started watering as the snake advanced upon him. He couldn't say anything, because it might reveal his being a Parselmouth, and there were only two wizards in existence who could speak Parseltongue. So instead he simply stared at the snake as it came steadily closer, not noticing Flitwick moving to his left side. The noises of the class were oddly muffled, and although he registered Flitwick saying something, he had to concentrate to hear him properly.

"The incantation to get rid of it is Evanesco Serpens. Say it, Mr. Antares."

But Harry was still frozen.

"He's scared," Malfoy taunted, and something within Harry snapped. His normally long fuse went up in flames and in the split second after Malfoy spoke Harry's hand was raised and he was speaking.

"Go to him as fast as you can!" he hissed sharply. The snake immediately turned and practically threw itself at Malfoy. Screams erupted around him but as ordered the snake simply stopped right in front of Malfoy. Harry reverted to normal English.

"Don't tempt me, Malfoy" he snarled, and lowered his hand, speaking to the snake again. "Leave him be," he hissed softly, and the snake slinked back towards him. Harry whispered the incantation Flitwick had just told him and the snake disappeared in a puff of black smoke. Harry strode to the back of the classroom and gathered his belongings before stalking out of the room, wand still in his hand.

Does that count as a cliffhanger? Usually I don't have them... argh my fingers are numb because I have the window open and have been typing for five hours...

Please, R&R! Comments very much appreciated. They help me live.

smokey