Author's note: I have changed the order of their fifth year schedule mostly out of laziness and convenience. Also, in my haste to post chapter two, I made Snape the worst teacher ever. I hope to clear up any information about Jusenkyo in this chapter, let's just pretend that the info was told to the class, but they weren't paying attention. Whenever there are four zeros (0000) that means there is a scene change, which shouldn't be a surprise to you seasoned FF readers. I figured since this chapter has more than one scene, I should put something in to denote the shift. If it bothers you, let me know and, I will think of something else.

One more thing: A great big "Thank you" to My sister (Amourdugreenlef) and Fallenoccultist for all their support and help with this story. You guys rock!

On with the story! eNJOY!

Harry Potter and the Legendary Accursed Grounds

Chapter Three: The Girl Who Lived.

Still too stunned to speak, the class gathered their bags and filed out the classroom. As soon as they exited the dungeons, conversations broke out, each student explaining his or her theory as to what they had just seen."I think it must've been a kinda instant polyjuice or something," Harry suggested as he followed Ron and Hermione out of the dungeons.

"Whatever it is," Hermione whispered worriedly. "It looks complicated, in fact I know it's complicated."

"Come off it, Hermione," Ron said at her side. "Of course you'll be able to brew it. I'll bet you're the only one who can without it blowing up."

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "What have you heard about it, Hermione? What is the Legend of Jusenkyo?"

Hermione turned a faint pink and tried not to look too happy with herself. "Well from what we just saw, your guess is probably the most accurate, Harry. The way the bird became a fish, it's not quite transfiguration. While it does change form, it also changed species; whereas in Transfiguration an animated object is changed to an inanimate object. Furthermore, the transformation seems to be triggered by water. But there's a lot that I don't understand, I think I'll head over to the library after lunch and do a bit of research. I mean, not to be rude or anything, but Professor Snape seemed more concerned with the effects of the potion than the theory."

"In other words he was showing-off." Ron said suddenly. "I am not complaining, he didn't assign us any homework did he? We don't have to worry about the story of a whatchamacallit until next week."

"The Legend of Jusenkyo, Ronald," she corrected him. He stuck his tongue out at her over his shoulder.

Harry laughed while Hermione scowled. He was amazed by Hermione's observation. He had been too stunned to understand what was going on. He was glad, not for the first time, that Hermione was able to note the details. She was right of course, it did look like a difficult potion to brew. I'd bet my firebolt that was the point, Harry thought bitterly. He wouldn't put it pass Snape to give a near impossible assignment to practice on before the O.W.L's. It seemed to fit in Snape's ways to make Harry's life at Hogwarts miserable .So no matter how hard he worked something told him that not only would he get a failing grade for the assignment, but Harry also would not know how to properly brew a potion more likely to appear on an exam, then the Chinese magic, he was having them brew.

He sighed heavily and adjusted his book-bag on his shoulders. He thought about dumping his Potions book in his room before his next class in order to lighten the bag's load. When he explained this to he friends, Hermione warned him that Peeves had been spotted hovering over the staircases between the sixth and seventh floors, blocking entrance to Gryffindor Tower.

"He seemed rather pleased about something," she added."I bet he's set up a right nasty trap for unsuspecting students. I've already told Professor McGongal about it at breakfast. She assured me that whatever he's done will be taken care of by lunch time. Until then, Harry, I'd avoid the Tower if I were you."

Harry shifted the bag to his other shoulder. He gave her a small nod of understanding as they ascended the staircase to the third corridor. He decided to take Hermione's advice, after all he didn't want to take the chance of being late to another class in the same day.

They walked into the Charms classroom still discussing the Jusenkyo potion as they took their seats. Tiny Professor Flickwick stood on his desk waiting for class to begin.

"Please take out your essays on the importance of wrist movements in spell casting and set them on the top of your desks," he addressed the class.

There was a moment of concentrated noise as students dug into their bags and placed their scrolls at the top of their desks. The essays zoomed through the air and landed in a pile neatly on Flickwick's desk as if pulled by invisible strings.

The bell rang and class started. Conversations of Potions were held off as the rest of their classes demanded their attention.

0000

True to her word, Hermione dashed off to the library half way through lunch, leaving Ron and Harry to grumble over their food about their homework load.

"Honestly, at this rate, we'll have to adopt Hermione's study obsession just to keep up."

Harry nodded weakly in silent agreement as he stabbed a carrot with his fork. He wasn't looking forward to the growing pile of homework that awaited him up in Gryffindor Tower. They had been assigned an essay in Charms making it a total of four essays to be completed by the beginning of next week. That didn't include a new weekly horoscope for Trelawney or whatever homework assignments they were sure to get in their next two classes.

Only two more classes before this day is over, he told himself. If he could just get through Herbology and Astronomy.

He never had fuzzy feelings for Thursdays and this particular Thursday wasn't going to change his opinion about them anytime soon. He hoped his Professors would give him easy assignments this week, Harry didn't know how much learning his brain could take today.

Harry's hope was in vain when Professor Sprout told them they were to take a particularly vicious looking plant and care for it over the next month, marking its progress every night. Only Neville seemed eager for the assignment.

The Astronomy homework was just what Harry thought it would be, another star chart emphasizing the position of the planet Jupiter and its moons.

Walking into the Great Hall, Harry was grateful that the day was over, that is until he thought of his homework. It seemed as if every teacher had gone on a homework spree with the amount of work they were expecting their students to complete before the next class session. He felt Ron slump in the seat next to him and began to spoon potato and ham onto his plate. Taking his cue from Ron, Harry lazily pulled the platter of fried chicken towards him.

It wasn't long before they spotted Hermione trotting into the Hall quite enthused about something. When she reached them, she rested her massive school bag on the empty seat next to Harry.

"What's with you, Hermione?" Ron managed through a mouthful of scalloped potatoes and ham.

"That's disgusting Ron." Hermione hissed as she sat between her bag and Harry. Ron shrugged his shoulders, which meant he knew but really didn't care about his manners at the moment. "I've found something in the library, Harry." Hermione continued trying not to look at Ron's horrid eating habits. She turned her attention to Harry and saw a half-eaten chicken leg stuck in his mouth.

"Oh, yeah?" He asked, the chicken leg moved to the corner of his mouth, bobbing up and down every time he spoke.

"You're just as bad as he is," she gasped irritated.

Mimicking Ron, Harry shrugged his shoulders, which meant he knew, but really didn't care about his manners at the moment. Ron laughed, a few flecks of food landing on the table.

Ignoring their lack of manners, Hermione continued to tell them about her findings. "It turns out the Legend of Jusenkyo is a valley of springs in the Qinghai Province in China."

Ron swallowed the rest of the food in his mouth without chewing. "China?" He choked out. "Why is Snape teaching Chinese magic? When will we ever need to do Chinese magic?"

"It's really quite interesting." Hermione said ignoring Ron's out burst."From what little I have been able to read, (you know 'little' in Hermione-speech means one-fourth of the library) Jusenkyo was the site of a great battle. It happened when You-Know-Who was trying to gather strength. He went all over the globe to find dark wizards and witches and creatures that he could add to his followers. He even traveled to China to recruit dragon tamers and their brood."

"How do you know that?" Ron interrupted. "And don't you dare say 'I read it somewhere'. I can't believe that there are that many books detailing He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's activities."

"Oh, but there are," Hermione interjected. "There are loads of them, and nearly all of them mention Harry."

"Nearly all?" Harry asked in mock disappointment. He twirled the piece of chicken he had just picked up for added effect.

"Well, I haven't read them all." Hermione answered going pink.

Ron snorted over his pumpkin juice. "Naturally."

"Anyway, Voldemort didn't get the dragons. There was a terrible battle, many died on both sides. Even a lot of the land had been destroyed. But with time and a little magic, the landscape returned to normal. Well, almost normal. Because of all the magic that was flying around everything couldn't be pieced back together exactly the way it was. There grew magical springs." Hermione paused. "It must've been a way to relax all the magical pressure that had built up during all that time." She said to herself.

Harry ate in silence as Hermione continued to explain her findings. He never knew that Voldemort's power had reached so far across the world.

Of course Voldemort wouldn't have been satisfied with controlling only Britain, it almost seemed natural that he would want to expand his control. The more he thought about it the more it made sense to him. The best way to conquer would be to gather stronger allies to make the resisting forces as weak as possible. He thought of the Horntail and shivered slightly. Gathering Dragons and other powerful dark creatures would be the best way to conquer.

At least that's what I would do, he thought.

"Harry?" Hermione's voice broke though his thoughts.

"Uh, what?" His chicken leg fell from his mouth and now lay on his lap.

"Are you okay?"

"What? Yeah, I'm fine." He picked up the chicken leg and put it on his plate.

"Okay you kind of went still and had this odd expression on your face. Like you weren't with us. And then you said 'At least that was what I would do'." She bowed her head close to his and lowered her voice. "Is your scar hurting or prickling at all?"

Harry paused before answering her. Instead he grabbed a napkin began to wipe up the chicken grease off his school robe. He was remembering what professor Dumbledore had told him in his second year. The night Voldemort killed his parents he had unwillingly transferred some of his power to Harry. Does that mean he'll have similar thoughts and reactions as the Dark Lord? He remembered Ron telling him how he was sitting up and talking to him even though he, Harry, hadn't remembered it. Is there a connection? Am I being possessed by him?

"No, I told you, I'm fine. I was just thinking out loud about Quidditch." He answered and reached for another leg. Hermione looked as though she was going to pry him to explain himself when Ron asked her a question about their Transfiguration homework, distracting her from bothering Harry. He made a note to thank Ron later.

The rest of the conversation was discussing school assignments and Quidditch maneuvers. Hermione did not ask about Harry's scar the rest of the night.

0000

Fridays are either the worst day or the best day of the school week for Fifth and Seventh years. It really depended on your perspective. In order to better prepare their students for O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s the teachers have declared Fridays as the day where Fifths and Sevenths years had to attend all of their classes for an hour to recap on the week's lessons, and aid any of the students who are having difficulties with their studies or had any further questions.

Fridays were hands down the worst day of the week for Harry Potter.

They were painfully dull. Having to sit through every class relearning the lessons that had been taught earlier in the week felt like a serious case of deja vu. Especially in History of Magic. Harry spent the majority of the time writing notes to Ron and playing games like tick-tack-toe and hangman. When Ron would hand him back a note as Professor Bins droned on, Harry would look over it with a dark expression making it appear as though he was taking dubios notes, even though half the time his was thinking of what letter to think of next before the poor guy hung himself.

There were some classes, such as Potions, that Harry couldn't pass the time by playing games. Professor Snape spent every second preparing the class for their preparation for brewing the Jusenkyo potion; they were going to begin their attempts on Monday. Just before the bell rang Snape gave them the largest homework assignment that they have received all term, much to Ron's displeasure.

As the day wore on it was obvious that the fifths years weren't the only ones struggling with their homework load. Even meal times held the tension of a classroom. There were stacks of textbooks in front of each student, a book propped up around plates; no one talked as the textbooks sectioned the students off from each other. Hermione would often walk up to the staff table to ask questions about lessons, it got so bad the McGongal had placed a ban on her from disturbing teachers during meals for the rest of the year.

Harry and Ron slept heavily that night. After a five-hour study session they left Hermione in the Common Room. She insisted on one more hour of studying before she went to bed. The last they saw of her she was still hunched over an astronomy chart, eyes watery from unblinking concentration.

0000

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, one of the last for the year. Clear skies and an unseasonably warm sun tempted many students to the day outside. Harry had a good Quidditch practice earlier that morning and enjoyed the weather so much he wanted to spend as much time outside before curfew. He had no problem asking Ron and he had even managed to drag Hermione out with them though she refused until Harry threatened to cast a jelly leg jinx on her.

They wanted to see Hagrid, but the dark hut had no signs of life, though they often looked over at the game keeper's house as if expecting the half giant to burst through the door to ask them in for tea. Harry and Ron sat against a tree munching on roast beef sandwiches, potato chips and fresh oranges and pears while Hermione read the Daily Prophet.

"What are you reading that for?" Ron asked almost angrily.

"To see how the investigation against Sirius is going. It's been a while since we last heard from him." Hermione answered wearily. She scanned the paper again, satisfied that there wasn't anything worth reading, she folded the paper and placed it into her bag."Let's take a walk around the lake. I'm feeling a bit restless."

"What do you mean 'restless'? You can sit for days in the library, but you can't spend a few minutes under a tree with your friends?" Ron joked.

"It's just that I felt like walking. You don't have to walk with me. I can go by myself!"

"That's not what I meant. I was only joking. Why do you take everything I say so personally?"

"Could you please not fight today? It gets boring very easily," Harry asked irritated.

Ron and Hermione looked at him confused. He had never snapped at them like that before.

"I'm going to see Hedwig. Come find me when you've stopped arguing." Harry stood up and walked in the direction of the Owlery.

He felt slightly guilty for getting so easily upset at his friends, but hearing them argue is boring. It wasn't only that, but for as long as he could remember Harry had felt uncomfortable when he heard people arguing.

Walking up the stone steps of the Owlery Harry wanted nothing more than to spend some time alone. Hedwig was sleeping when he arrived and instead of risking waking her up only to have her claw at him for disturbing her precious sleep he gently stroked the feathers at the top of her head and left a rat-shaped owl treat at her feet.

000000000

On Sunday, Harry spent most of his time alone in the Common Room completing homework assignments. Ron and Hermione seemed to have come to an agreement to not let their tempers get the better of them when Harry was around and studied with him.

(A/N: A cop out I know, but I want to get to the good stuff.)

00000

It was the beginning of a new week, the ceiling in the Great Hall was bright and sunny, reflecting the glorious sky outside. But none of the students were bothering to look up at the ceiling. There was a tired tension in the air that clearly declared that it was a Monday morning. That same tension was in the air, but in a much higher degree around the Fifth Years than around the other students. Those fifth years, who had Potions first thing in the morning, were all dreading the walk down to the dungeons. Each one knew that they were going to attempt the first steps of making the Legendary Spring water.

Everyone payed close attention to Professor Snape's instructions and wrote down full notes for the first half hour. No one talked, even Malfoy managed to kept his snide comments to himself as the class prepared their caldrons and pull ingredients from the classroom store.

Even with the notes the Legendary Spring potion was still a difficult potion to make. Every ingredient needed to be added at specific times, if an ingredient was put in too earlier or, if an ingredient was put in too late, the entire potion was rendered useless. Many of the students, Harry, Ron and Neville amongst them, groaned as they had to restart their attempts more than once due to a miscalculation in timing.

It didn't help the fact that Snape stalked around the classroom correcting the mistakes made by the students. That is how it looked at first glance, like he was helping those students who needed it, but that was only a half truth. Actually Snape was only helping the Slytherin side of the room, but when he forced himself to head over the other House tables, Harry could see that Snape seemed to find enjoyment as the other students struggled to follow the instructions. Often telling them how incompetent, they are even after four and a half years of Potions lessons.

Snape avoided Harry's table completely. But that may have been because Snape didn't want to answer all the questions Hermione had wanted to ask at the beginning of class, but couldn't when he demanded silence for the note-taking portion of the class.

Near the end of the class only Hermione and Malfoy had progressed the furthest in the class, actually completing all the steps that were assigned on the board. Harry and Ron had given up after their third attempts ended upbeing complete disasters. They decided to watch Hermione as she finished stirring what looked like semi-boiling water. She was whispering a cleaning spell on her cutting board when Professor Snape's voice broke the room's silence.

"Time's up. Your potion should now be clear and watery. Carefully, pour a sample of your potion into a vial. Make sure it is properly corked before placing your sample on my desk."

When no one moved Snape gave then what Harry thought to be his reassuring smile, but really looked like Malfoy's smirk."There is no need to worry, even if you have managed to follow the steps up to this point, it is pure and needs a catalyst to be added in order to make it a magical spring. Even if you have brewed it correctly." Snape continued. "If you are so worriedyou should wear protective gloves, goggles and apron to be on the safe side, you wouldn't want any accidents." Snape looked hard at Neville who shivered slightly. "Do not take them off until you have given me a sample and have cleared away you work station. After which you may leave. I will look over the samples and see how well you have done, then we will finish the process next week."

There were only a few people left in the classroom waiting to place their sample on Snape's desk as Harry sadly scooped his unfinished potion into a labeled vial and made his way to the large wooden desk.

"Eww, what is that smell?" Pansy's voice suddenly filled the room.

"Look at Neville's cauldron. What's wrong with it?" A Hufflepuff, whose name Harry couldn't remember, said.

Harry looked over to his right and sure enough Neville's cauldron was issuing giant puffs of smoke. Just then he spotted movement in the corner of his eye and saw that Malfoy was making gagging noises and grasping his throat as if he couldn't breathe, while Crabbe and Goyle pinched their ugly noses with their huge hands.

"Professor! Professor! Longbottom is trying to kill us with his poor potion making skills." Malfoy said in a choked voice. This earned him a few laughs from the other Slytherins who then begin to cover body parts they claimed were being affected by the smell.

"My eyes! Oh my poor eyes are burning!"

"Help me! My stomach feels like it's going to explode!"

"My brains are melting, ahhh!"

"Enough!" Snape said irritated. "Everyone, clear the room. You can leave your sample on your desk. I'll pick them up myself. Make sure it is labeled correctly." The students picked up their bags and filed out of the room covering their nose and mouths with their hands as their passed Neville's cauldron.

"Longbottom!" Snape snapped, seeming to appear unaffected by the smell wafting throughout his dungeon. "What are you trying to put all of us in the Hospital Wing? Clear that disaster away and get out of my classroom."

"Ah, no sir, I mean yes sir." Neville squeaked. He raised his arm and just as he said the incantation to the clearing charm. Instead of the contents of Neville's cauldron clearing, his cauldron cleared the room. Knocking into Hermione's cauldron next to him. His cauldron sat on the stand where Hermione's once rested. It was now Hermione's cauldron that floated over the table. Neville gave a squeak at the sudden switch of objects.

"Longbottom!"Snape shouted "What do you think you are doing?" Snape had taken out his wand and had it aimed at the cauldron. "Let go, Longbottom. I knew better then to tell you to clean you own mess."

"I. . . I don't know how."

"Just do it!" hissed Snape.

This of course didn't help Neville's concentration and the cauldron wobbled dangerously as Snape and Neville's wands were both controlling the cauldron.

Hermione gave a horrible screamed as she ducked out of the runaway cauldron, her glass phial falling out of her hands in the progress.

Harry turned at the sound and saw the vial smash onto the floor. He had already placed his sample on the desk and had taken off his gloves, he was in the midst of pulling off his apron when Hermione's cauldron hit him in the chest. Knocking him into Snape's cabinet the stood against the wall slightly behind his desk. Harry closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands as jars of unknown contents fell and broke around Harry. He looked up to see if any more jars were going to fall and saw that Hermione's cauldron was hovering over him as Snape and Neville tried to control it, each pulling it into a different direction. It hit the cabinet again and some of the contents fell on Harry. With a violent jerk Snape was able to fully control the cauldron and placed on top of his desk. There was a swishing sound as the potion moved inside.

Satisfied that Hermione's cauldron was secured for the moment. Snape went over to Neville's cauldron and casted a simple clearing spell. "There, it's done. Now go."

Neville stood motionless his wand arm fallen to his side, his wand pointing harmlessly at the floor.

"I said GO!" Snape barked thrusting his bag at his chest. Neville gave a small whimper and hurriedly left the room. The dungeon's door slamming shut. "That goes for you two as well. Granger. Potter." Snape said his back turned to them as he started to collect vials of potions left by the students.

Hermione got to her feet shakingly and looked around the room. When her eyes landed on Harry she gasped covering her mouth with her hands. "Oh my God, Harry!"

A few bits of glass were embedded in his hands and arms as he placed them on the floor for leverage as he stood up. He began to take the bits of glass out and drop them into the bin at the side of Snape's desk. "I'm okay Hermione," he said. Immediately he noticed there was something wrong. His voice was higher then it was before. He cleared his throat and tried to speak to again. "Ah, what just happened?"

Harry could see Snape's eyes widen briefly in surprise before returning to their usual beady slits. Snape approached his desk. He cocked his head to the side and smirked at Hermione. "Hm. It seems Miss Granger has been able to brew a working Jusenkyo potion." He looked at Harry."Yes, from the looks of it, I'd say it's a Nyanniichuan."

"A what?" Harry asked confused.

Snape's smirk darkened. "A Nyanniichuan. A Spring of Drowned Girl."

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I posted this just in time for my birthday (the 17th), Yay go me!

I know, I know six months and another cliffhanger . . . but don't worry chapter four is all ready to load. But I am going to wait a few days before I load it, I wanna comb over it one last time before a post it. The hangman bit isn't my idea. I don't remember if it was in a fanfiction or from Canon, but it was something that I really liked so I borrowed it. Sometimes the fiction and the canon get a bit a blurred especially if I read more the former and haven't reread the latter.

I posted this at 1am, if you spot any mistakes,please let me know andI'll fix them. Thanks a ton.

Bramblerose4