Chapter 4

"Ten-points from Gryffindor and a detention with Filch," Daphne said as a flustered Gryffindor couple left for their dorm rooms.

Harry watched as the embarrassed couple ran towards the Gryffindor tower, but he felt far removed from what was happening. He couldn't help but rehearse the conversation in which Dumbledore named him the successor for the Order of the Phoenix. Logically, he should have expected it, but it hadn't crossed his mind that Dumbledore was going to die; it still felt surreal to him.

"Are you okay?" Daphne asked.

Harry looked over at his partner who was staring at him with an annoyed look. He couldn't help but realize how unaware he had been; he didn't even notice that they were almost finished with their patrol.

Harry nodded, "Yeah."

"You have poor way of showing it,"

"What does that mean," Harry said defensively

"In the past five years, I have never seen you even remotely happy. You spend every second of your life looking like you're miserable and act like there is nothing to be at least somewhat excited about. " Daphne said.

"You know nothing about me," Harry icily retorted.

"It doesn't- I know enough to know that you ar-," Daphne stopped herself and took a breath, "I- uh... look you should try not look so miserable."

Harry didn't reply until they had gotten back to the dorms, partly because he didn't trust what he would say but also because what she said was somewhat true. He couldn't think of the last time he had been truly happy. Even looking at Daphne, only reminded him of the mistakes he had made.

As Daphne turned to enter the dorm, he whispered low enough for her to hear, "I'm sorry if you feel that way, but I am miserable being here."

AS Harry made his way back to the chamber, both Draco and Blaise were sitting in the common room. They had just came back from exercising made evident by Draco's training outfit, containing dust and holes in them.

"I bet you heard about Bones, didn't you?" Draco asked as he stretched out in his chair.

Harry nodded. Even though it had gotten lost in the events of the day, he couldn't help but realize how important that information was...there was something wrong about it.

"Her body was...eaten." Draco said, almost astonished to hear it come out of his own mouth.

"It's too sloppy," Blaise said, communicating Harry's feelings.

"For who?" Draco bemused. "You-Know-Who is a pretty violent guy; I'm sure his followers aren't above sloppy destruction."

"Draco, he means Voldemort is careful... he plans things out...it's unlike him to be so open about his plans," Harry replied.

"Well, we know it's only to put someone who supports him in power. Blaise, when is our Herbology assignment due again?" Draco asked.

"At the end of the week." Blaise replied as he pulled out a book. "It still doesn't explain why he would do it so early unless he's immediately planning to take over the ministry, but that's not the case, is it Harry?"

"No, it isn't or at least it isn't according to Dumbledore's sources, " Harry replied. "He's been pretty quiet."

"I haven't started it...maybe I can get Crabbe or Goyle to steal Longbottom's work?" Draco mumbled as he got up to go to his room.

"The only other explanation is...a diversion?" Harry mused.

"What could he need a diversion for?" Blaise asked.

"I-I don't know." Harry said.

"Guess it worked."

Harry sighed. There was a lot of moving parts to the Dark Lord's war tactics. It's the same strategy that won him the last war...and with Tom Riddle running another section. It was hard not to feel like they were drowining in things they didn't know, especially since Snape was not getting information on Riddle.

"Is something the matter? I noticed you seemed...a lot more pensive than you usually are," Blaise asked.

Had his emotions really been on display during the day? Harry pondered.

"Dumbledore is forcing me to stay uninvolved with war, at least while I'm here; I hate being uninvolved especially in a war that I'm supposed to be in," Harry said, "We need all hands on deck, right now"

No one could find out Dumbledore was dying, not even Draco or Blaise. If it someone how got out that Dumbledore was dying, even by accident, Voldemort would accelerate all of his plans. As it stood, Voldemort only seemed to be staying cautious because of his fear of Dumbledore.

"It's your war, why would he do that?" Blaise asked.

"He wants me to enjoy being a normal student. Like I was ever that."

"Speaking of normal, I would be careful. There seems to be rumors of students wanting to bring you down...for Dark Lord credit. I believe it's just rumors, but it's better to know."

Harry had been aware of this one little truth since they had become friends, there was no absolute way to trust Blaise. Blaise knew how to manipulate, and he was damn good at it. Besides his obvious skills at potion making, he was a master of information. He was discreet and he could find the information he needed while making no enemies. He had been friends with Blaise long enough to trust him, although a trace of paranoia hung in the back of his mind.

Harry nodded, "thank you."

Blaise shrugged, "You're no good to anyone, dead."

Harry turned and left for his room. With a ten minute shower, Harry stepped out and looked at himself in the mirror. Harry's thoughts trailed back to the conversation with his mentor. Harry wasn't sure he was ready for the additional weight on his shoulders, but he knew he had too. He knew it was his destiny and his destiny alone, and that's what made him anxious. Even after training his entire life, he wasn't sure he would be ready for Voldemort. Harry looked away from the mirror, got dressed, and got into bed.

After staring idly at the dark stone ceiling above his head for about twenty minutes, he realized he wouldn't be able to sleep; it had been like this since the death of Ginny Weasley. Some nights he could sleep, but others, he wouldn't be able to get a wink of it. Harry quickly got up and went to his desk in the corner of his room, blue bottles were queued along the top of it. Harry grabbed one and quickly drunk half of it. During his free time, Blaise would make potions for Harry's sleeplessness, and they were fast-acting. Harry quickly got back into bed and within five minutes, his eyes had closed.

Soon enough, Harry felt himself awaken inside the white room, or the control room, as he had come to understand it. Harry watched as the memories of the day displayed in front him, and with a flick of his hand the memories that were in front of him flew into a little ball that swirled around in his palm.

Harry, turned his body around to where the vault now stood opened, waiting for him to approach. He stepped inside where the memories inside of each cell began to swirl around, almost pleading for him to pay attention to that specific memory. Harry took the ball of swirling memories and threw them in the air, watching as they flew to an empty cell to be stored. Once that was done, Harry knew what memory he wanted to see, and visualized the memory he had thought of earlier, allowing him to be transported to the cell that contained them. Harry opened it allowing himself to be overcome by the events and emotions of that moment.

A young Harry laid in his bed. He felt anxious, bored, and a little nervous. In fact, he wasn't even exactly sure where he was, but he assumed he was in his bed at Godric's Hollow. Even after living here for so long, he still couldn't help but feel uncomfortable that his parents had died here, even if the house had been entirely redesigned. Harry took his hands and laid them on the bandages of his eyes, they had been itching since he had woken up. Before Harry could attempt to destroy the itching sensation, he heard the steps of someone as they entered the room and sat in a chair next to his bed.

"How are you feeling, Harry?"

It was Dumbledore.

"I'm pretty bored, but I'm glad I won't have to use glasses again," Harry said.

"That's correct, my boy. Although, I think you'll be a tad bit more boring because of it." Dumbledore smirked.

"I wouldn't call being an old man exciting. When do I get a wand? " Harry asked as he squirmed in bed. Only a few more hours left.

"A few months preceding your eleventh birthday," Dumbledore said.

"I can't wait! I'm ready to- to actually do magic- like real magic. Like the cool spells you do!" Harry rambunctiously remarked..

Dumbledore chuckled, "It'll be here before you know it."

There was a little pause before Harry calmly spoke again, "Why didn't you do the same spell?"

"It reminds me that faults exist in everyone."

"Why is that important?" Harry asked.

"When you begin to accomplish significant feats, it's easy to forget that you're only human... Harry, never forget that you are indeed mortal human, cursed to failure and mistakes." Dumbledore said.

"I will try not too. I- I just don't want to let everyone down. I'm afraid...when the time comes I won't be ready...What if...what if I can't do it? I know what he did to my parents but what if I can't kill him, people will hate me... Aberforth told me he was the strongest dark wizard of all time."

Dumbledore grabbed Harry's hand, "there will be many years before Voldemort returns; your only task is to prepare yourself for when he does come and I promise you...you won't go through that battle alone. Many people will help, guide, and support you along the way, and when the time comes, you will be ready."

"Promise?" Harry questioned.

"I swear it, I will not you let you fail," Dumbledore said while staring into Harry's eyes.

The room felt quiet and Harry didn't know how long the silence would go on, but he felt consoled by it. Finally, Dumbledore's tender voice broke the air, "The future is far off. I'll be back soon, Harry, let your spirit rest."

Harry heard the chair squeak again and he felt his hand being gently placed back at his side.

"I will," Harry said.

Harry yawned as the door creaked open and the footsteps got fainter and fainter. He couldn't help but feel more tired and tired even though he had recently woken up. Before long, he drifted off to sleep.

Harry felt the waves of emotion hit him from the memory. A calmness washed over as well as a bit of sadness. Harry locked the cell and floated back down. Harry could feel as he was about to wake up soon, and before you know it, his eyes opened to start another day.

"You're my girlfriend and I've seen you- maybe, like, a handful of times in the past month- look, I know how important your work is. I just- I feel like," Neville took a breath, "I just want to know If I'm important to you."

Hermione could not believe a month had passed, every day brought more and more assignments and studying to be preoccupied with. She and Neville had been having these conflict so often; she felt bad for neglecting him.

Hermione took his hand and looked into his eyes, "I've been a terrible girlfriend and I'm sorry. I like you a lot, you know. I promise I'll try to make more time. I have to go to class now since Ron is waiting for me. I'll see you in herbology?"

Neville smiled slightly, "Yeah, I understand, you know. It's just...I don't want us to grow apart."

Hermione smiled and kissed him quickly before getting up with her bag and leaving the common room. She had been dating Neville since fourth year and she liked him. He was supportive, maybe a little more malleable than she would like, but he was kind and had an amazing, almost scary, passion for Herbology. She wished she could get ahold of another time-turner, and make more time for him because he deserved it; she didn't want to ruin a good thing.

"What took you so long?" Ron asked impatiently pacing in the hall.

"It's been a month; I don't think he's going to bite." Hermione drawled.

At the start of class, Professor Alric always had them get into groups, and Ron didn't like being alone with Harry.

"I don't care. I don't understand how he could be so bloody good, he breezes by this stuff!" Ron irately said.

"He practices out of class and actually does his work. Did you finish the assignment due today by the way?" Hermione asked.

She knew that Harry was really skilled at magic, and it went far beyond practicing and doing work. She studied harder than anyone she knew, and yet she felt miniscule compared to him.

Ron blushed red, "Oh hell, there was an assignment due? You think you could let me copy yours?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and started walking. She and Ron weren't exactly the closest people, and they hadn't become friends until the death of his sister, who she had become close to. As they walked into D.A.D.A, they were the first two, as usual, while Harry was always almost or extremely late.

"As you come in, turn in your assignment. If you have failed to do it, every day it's late, will be a reduction of a grade." Professor Alric said to the class as they got in groups.

Harry walked in alongside Malfoy, both of them arriving a minute before class started. Harry turned in his paper and walked over to the group.

"Hello, Harry," Hermione said.

Harry gave a half-hearted smile before turning around to face the professor.

"Today, you will be applying what you've learned about nonverbal spells by doing a team obstacle against other teams in the Forbidden Forest. Don't worry, there are Aurors heavily guarding the course so you will be safe, and they will also be acting as judges for your grade." Professor Alric said as he held up two fingers, "There will be two rules to the obstacles. First, all of your spells must be nonverbal, and the only way to win is to capture more flags than the other team. Second, teams will be graded on how well they work as a team and whether they actually capture a flag. "

Hermione was distracted by Ron mumbling something about spiders.

"Thanks to the ministry there will be some captured inferius in the course along with some other creatures. It should be easy to defend against one if you have been practicing and actually doing your assignments. I will answer all questions once we get to the field, follow me."

"Well, if Weasley is going to the forest, then that's all the creatures one would need." Malfoy sneered as everyone got up to follow him.

Ron grumbled, "I swear I'm going to break his nose before the day ends."

Hermione couldn't say she wasn't suspicious of Alric or the ministry. Their lessons had been far more practical than any professor since Lupin. She knew that this was just the subtle way for the ministry to convince the public that Hogwarts students were capable of fighting. She was disgusted by the W.A.A, and she had a feeling that it would be used only to target those of lesser blood status such as herself.

Once they got to the forest, four Aurors stood at the path of one of the entrance's holding a large flag.

"Each team will be escorted to their spot by an auror and will be given approximately five minutes to come up with a strategy; your auror will alert you when it is time to go. The game will last only twenty minutes and no dark spells are allowed. The spells must be nonverbal as well. Failure to abide by the rules will result in a disqualification of your team and an automatic T grade. Any questions?"

Like a speeding train, Hermione's shot her hand up, "when will know our grade?"

"You will get an OWL during dinner with your grade. Is that all? " Professor Alric said.

Hermione was anxious, she just didn't know what to expect from her group. She looked at both Ron and Harry, one was joking with Seamus and the other stood quietly in the back. It could go really well or really poorly.

No one else had any questions. "Once I call your group, go to an auror and they will guide you. Good luck!" Professor Alric said.

Her group followed a female auror through the forest until they got to a little opening. Even with the opening, it was creepy and even though it was sunny outside, the light seemed unable to penetrate into the forest.

"Creepy," Ron whispered.

The auror threw her golden flag in the air where it stayed, mindlessly waving with the wind.

"You're five minutes begin now," the auror said.

Hermione started, "It goes without saying that we need someone to guard the flag; I think Harry would be the strongest candidate for defense."

"Weasley is stronger using defensive nonverbal spells than he is offensive. A stronger defense than offense would be better here, so I can go alone while you two guard." Harry replied.

"We get it. You're more powerful than Merlin himself." Ron said.

Harry shot Ron a cold look to which Ron reciprocated. Hermione punched both of them on their shoulders; Ron looked at her innocently and Harry looked annoyed.

"Enough! We don't have time for this." Hermione said as she began pointing at both the boys, "Ron, defense. Harry, you and I can go on the offense."

"Fine by me," Harry replied as he began walking towards the end of the opening, "Good luck, Weasley. Hermione, stick close to me."

Ron sat down on the ground, "For once, same to you. My grade depends on you."

"Time is up. You may begin," the auror said.

Harry looked over to Hermione to see if she was ready, Hermione gave a slight nod as they both started running in the forest. Hermione listened closely for any other noises, but the only noise that could be heard was the crunching of leaves as they ran. She watched as Harry ran, he was still completely vigilant.

After about two minutes of running, Hermione stopped and pointed at the two big plants protruding out of the group. "Wood sprites," Harry whispered before pointing his wand at one. With just a flick of his wand, both wood sprites came up from the ground; the wood sprites had a very humanly appearance but roots, worms, and dirt covered their small body. Hermione took her wand out and sent a blazing fire towards it, which it gave an unearthly scream before turning into dust while Harry took care of the other one.

After that was done, Harry and Hermione continued to move through the forest, a little slower this time. After about another five minutes, in which Harry obliterated a Dugbog, they had finally wandered into an opening. A blue flag sat in the air of the opening to which Hermione waved her wand and it flew down toward her. Before she could grab it, Harry pushed her down as a spell flew past her head.

"Granger, get your dirty mudblood hands off of our flag." Draco sneered.

Hermione looked up to see Malfoy walk into the opening.

"If I'm going to do all the dirty work, then I'm walking away with a flag," Malfoy said as he pointed his wand toward Harry.

Hermione took notice of this and took aim at Malfoy, but as soon she brought her wand up, her wand flew from her hands and landed close to a branch nearby. Hermione felt herself fall to the ground as ropes wrapped around her arms and legs. She squirmed to her side to watch as Daphne walked into the opening and grabbed the wand and stood in front of her. Hermione felt angry because she was angry at Harry for doing nothing, and now it looked like they were cornered.

Before she could think any further, Malfoy began to send a succession of spells toward Harry; Harry flicked each away before moving slowly toward Malfoy. Hermione felt the ropes around her loosen up as Malfoy took time to send more spells toward Harry; he dodged each one as he moved more menacingly toward Malfoy.

"Potter, how 'bout we make an alliance? Greengrass and I, we're all about teamwork. Hell, you and I are used to making a great team. " Malfoy said, sheepishly holding his wand in the air.

Hermione looked over towards Daphne, who was paying attention to Harry and Malfoy, and quickly pulled her legs back and shot them against Daphne's legs. Daphne gave a quick shriek of pain and fell to the ground. Malfoy looked over, and before he could look back, he had been slammed and wrapped around a tree. Harry flicked his wand causing the ground to wrap around Daphne. Hermione brushed herself and grabbed her wand from Daphne who seemed a little daze.

"Where's your flag located?" Harry asked

"What makes you think I'm going to tell yo- Malfoy was interrupted by Hermione punching him squarely in the face. Malfoy's head smashed into the tree and he let out of howl of pain, "fuck".

"That's for calling me a mudblood, you impotent worm," Hermione yelled. "You better tell Harry what he wants or I'll gladly do it again."

"It's west of here," Daphne yelled from the ground.

Hermione moved toward the location given and grabbed the the flag as Harry said something to Malfoy before turning to follow her.

"Impressive," Harry said as he caught up to her.

"If we would have lost because you let me get tied down I would have punched you instead." Hermione replied. "I, along with anyone else with a little bit of critical thinking skills, know how powerful you are. No need to hide it, use it especially now."

"Up ahead," Harry whispered as they both huddled behind a tree.

Susan Bones and Dean were both fighting against an inferius, and failing; the spells they were using weren't strong enough to make it run away so it continued to move forward with surprising speed. Hermione noticed a distant auror peering from the tree, most likely waiting to swoop in if things got dire.

"It's never wise to let people know the extent of your abilities," Harry said as he stepped from behind the tree.

Hermione watched as the inferius turned to look at the new approaching target. Harry flicked his wand causing a huge stream of fire to emit from his wand and toward the inferius. The inferius, fearful of the fire, turned and ran past Susan and Dean. Harry didn't let the opportunity slip and with another flick of his wand, Susan and Dean's shoes became wrapped in roots and their wands flew into Harry's unoccupied hands.

Hermione came from behind the tree as Harry grabbed a flag from Susan.

"I guess this makes us even," Harry said as he gave Hermione the flag.

The Auror behind the tree came out from behind the tree causing Harry to point his wand toward him. Upon noticing that it wasn't a student, Harry put his wand down.

"Hurry back to your starting places!"

Harry let Susan and Dean free and turned to go back to their opening.

"I guess that means we've won," Harry said.

As they hustled through the forest and back to their spot, she couldn't help but wonder why exactly he was so powerful. Whoever trained him couldn't expect a sixteen-year-old boy to defeat the most dangerous wizard of all time...Harry couldn't be that powerful..could he?

As they got back to their opening, Ron was standing holding two flags. Although he had blood on his shirt and what looked to be a swollen eye, he had a proud smile. The female Auror who had led them here gestured for them to follow her.

"Oi! I guess my offense is good," Ron said triumphantly as he began moving out of the forest.

"Let me fix your eye," Hermione said as she took her wand out and with a swift flick, Ron's eye began to turn back to its normal color.

"Thanks, Hermione, and it's good to get some bloody recognition once in a while," Ron said.

Once they were out of the forest, Professor Alric called out the next group and they were led into the forest. Once they were in, he gave permission for their groups to leave. As they were leaving, Harry stopped both her and Ron.

"You both- I- good job...is all," Harry said painfully, as he walked past them not bothering to wait for a response.

"Blimey, that kid is weird," Ron said as he continued back toward Hogwarts.

Hermione had to agree. Harry Potter was not an ordinary individual, and she was going to find out why.

A/N: If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to let me know! By the way, this is not a Ron/Dumbledore bashing fic.