Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Chapter 5: Schooling

Harry rubbed his eyes as he read the same sentence over again for the seventh time. Hedwig was perched on his shoulder as he read, Sensational Senses: How to taste better, hear easier, see farther, have more sensitive feeling, smell further, and feel magic, as he read outside Apparently, wizards had six senses, including magical feeling. Magical feeling, if trained right, would allow a wizard to use his magic to feel different types of magic around them. This was the only thing Harry could think of how Dumbledore found all those magical enchantments in Voldemort's lair. He only read about the important sense he needed, since he was strapped for time, but thought he would come back to the book at a later date and see if he could do something about his eyes to get rid of his glasses.

He was setting under one of the trees the kids sat under while studying for their spring exams. Since school wasn't in session and that he wasn't a student, he allowed himself to take any book outside, though he took great care of them. Madam Pince wouldn't be too happy with him if she found dirt and grass stains all over her prized possessions.

McGonagall seemed thoroughly pleased to see him wandering around the school. As far as he could tell, she was the only one in the castle, besides the vulture-like librarian. Harry assumed that he would have gotten mighty lonely in a big castle with nothing but pictures and ghosts to talk to, so it seemed pretty obvious why she would "bump" into him. She seemed like a totally different person while not looking at him like a student. Harry would notice that she now looked at him as something akin to a peer. Harry was glad she still liked him after the end of the last term. He was afraid she might have blamed Harry for Dumbledore's death for being so secretive about where they were that night.

Ginny had written three days ago saying that the news had died down at the Burrow and everyone was getting back to normal. Harry knew that was a lie. For one, the writing looked off, for some reason. Harry assumed he was becoming more skilled at Legilimency and that the passive form was transferring over into other aspects of communication besides having to look into people's eyes. Harry was certain all the Weasley's were hopping mad, save Fleur and Mrs. Weasley, who were most likely decorating a room for the baby already.

Ginny had also said that she was sorry to put him through so much trouble. She said she kept apologizing to Ron and Hermione and telling them not to be mad at Harry. Harry didn't know why Hermione and Ron reacted the way they did. He needed them. They were invaluable. Because of their rashness, they had set Harry back by at least a month, easily.

Harry shook himself out of those thoughts as he tried to refocus. He was just glad that he seemed to be finding the books he needed. The book on senses he found on his first day, and later the same day, he found a book on Protection Rituals. He figured he would need that book since it seemed like the wall thing that was protecting the faux-locket that Dumbledore had to wipe blood on had some sort of protection barrier, even though it seemed to be dark in nature.

Harry was almost finished with the Senses book. His 'aura' as the book called it, was getting stronger. He constantly had it flared out to about twenty feet. That was generally the norm for wizards so they wouldn't get confused once they got into more crowded places. No ghost, especially Peeves, had been able to get the jump on him for about two days now.

Today had been the fifth day since his flight from the Weasley abode. He usually ate with McGonagall down in the kitchens and chat with Dobby when he got bored. The little elf had a lot of energy. Harry was easily amused by the creatures jokes now that the elf seemed to get a little more comfortable chatting with wizards on an equal term basis.

If he wasn't out practicing his silent spell casting or looking for new books to master, Harry would go visit with Hedwig. She was starting to get old now. She still was strong and fast as ever, but Harry noticed that some of her white feathers were a little whiter than what they used to be. Harry didn't want to think about the day when he had to bury his best friend. Even worse though, was when she started aging like Errol did. Harry didn't think he would be able to handle that most of all though.

Hagrid had arrived on the seventh day he was at Hogwarts. Harry was able to tell Hargid about him and Ginny, which was the whole truth. Hagrid just patted him on the back and said, "Yer always seeming to dig yer self a bigger hole every year, Harry," and took him to the Three Broomsticks for a pint. Harry was a little uneasy around Madam Rosemerta, feeling some way that she was the one to cause so much harm. He stopped himself with that line of thinking when he saw her barely living and looking like a ghost of herself. He invited her to join him and Hagrid. They had to twist her arm, but after a few drinks, it looked like about twenty years shed from her face and she finally let a smile go every now and then.

Harry had to think that he enjoyed Hagrid's company most of all. Except when he wrangled Harry up to go feed some new 'pet.' Harry did visit Grawp, who was becoming more civilized. For some reason, Grawp seemed really down. Harry questioned Hagrid about it, who responded with, "Dumbledore would come every now and again and play games with Grawp. Trained Grawp up real nice in manners and all. Great man that Dumbledore." Harry and Hagrid were both a little sad after that, and decided to go to the Hog's Head and visit with Dumbledore's brother and have a firewhiskey or two.

After about a half month's stay at Hogwarts, Harry had mastered silent casting and had abused his liver significantly. Trying to keep up with Hagrid was tough. Many nights they would both stumble to Hagrid's hut, crying and toasting Dumbledore and anyone else they knew. Harry was just glad no Death Eaters were out during those times. He surely wouldn't have been around the living if there was.

Harry had mastered almost everything he think he needed to get to a Horcrux. The next part was identifying the Horcrux and it's location. Harry had been thinking about that, and his best guess right now was Albania. He didn't know which one was there or where exactly, but he figured at least there was a clue there, since there had to be a reason Voldemort fled so far after his destruction 16 years ago..

He mentally made the checklist of the status of the Horcruxes. The Diary and Ring had been destroyed. Hufflepuff's cup was still missing, as well as the locket. Nagini would have to go when he fought Voldemort, who himself was a Horcrux. He only needed to identify the last Horcrux to know what to look for. The only thing of Gryffindor he knew of was the sword in Dumbledore's old office. He didn't really know what to look for, he never heard of any special artifact of either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. The only thing he could come up with was studying each crest and symbol and any type of icon the two founders associated themselves with.

It took days for Harry to identify everything he thought there was to know about the two founders. During that time he also reviewed the memories through the Pensieve he inherited from Dumbledore, and training Hagrid in rudimentary magic skills. Hagrid had offered to come along with Harry to Albania, knowing of the dangers there. Harry didn't know if he could Side Along Apparate someone as big as Hagrid. Surprisingly, though, Hagrid had already known how to apparate. They just had to make a wand for him, which they used a feather from a wing of one of Hagrid's favorite Thestral. Ollivander still couldn't be found, and neither could the other wand makers of Great Britain.

Hagrid had learned quickly enough on how to Stun and what not. Hagrid was afraid that he would go back to Azkaban if the Ministry found out, but Harry had pointed out that his name had been cleared of all charges and that he was over seventeen. After that line of reasoning, Hagrid had no more doubts about casting spells. Hagrid swelled with pride when he first casted a spell from a crude wand Harry made him. Harry was going to practice making more wands so that for Christmas, he would be able to give Hagrid a wand he deserved.

During the end of his first month of staying at Hogwarts, he was making his preparations to leave for Albania. McGonagall had decided to come address him about the upcoming school year. "Mr. Potter, I have just been informed that Hogwarts will now officially open again in the fall," she stated in her matter of fact way.

"Congratulations Professor, kind of late notice, but better late than never," Harry responded.

"I was hoping I would be able to talk you into staying for your final year," she said, knowing of Harry's journey.

"I'm sorry Porfessor," Harry said, and he meant it. He should be able to finish his schooling and not journeying all over Great Britain and half of the European continent looking for some mad man's fragmented soul. "You know that I have to do this though."

"I know... Harry, but the school, the students would feel safer if you were accompanying them this year." She began to plead.

"How about this," Harry began, "if I finish my journey before Easter break, I'll come back to school for my NEWTs and classes."

"Not earlier?" She asked.

"We'll see, Professor," Harry said with a smile as he finished stuffing clothes into a knapsack so he could leave at first light tomorrow. McGonagall realized that she was fighting a losing battle and bowed out of the room to let him finish packing. He finally finished packing and turned in for the night with butterflies in his stomach for his first real adventure, at least in Harry's mind.

The sun was just breaking when Harry found himself knocking on Hagrid's door. "All right Hagrid?" Harry asked.

"As good as I'll ever get, I 'pose," he replied, still rubbing some sleep out of his eyes. Harry helped him carry his bag out of his house so the brisk air could wake Hagrid a little bit.

AN: Not my favorite chapter I've written, and not my longest, but it still had some necessary content. I would like to address a review, which I don't like to do, but the comment just won't go away. They said something about Ginny not being 'of age' (seventeen) in the wizarding world, so she couldn't have a baby. That's true, her not being of age, but any girl mature enough can bear a child. So, there.

Pet peeves: Shippers

Many my ask, 'Why don't you like shippers Mr. Coin?" Well, I'll tell you: they suck. These people won't read stories without their favorite ship and if they accidentally do, they plead and beg the author to change it for them (it's happened to me). Not only that, but hard shippers of the H-HR genre have lost some enthusaism in the canon Harry Potter books. That's just sad. These people still scan the books, over emphasising points that are plainly minisule and mean nothing. Sure, we may prefer one ship, but we shouldn't dilute our minds to think that's the only way to go. Also, along the same lines (kind of) are those stories where Harry says 'Ginny, I've loved you forever and never realized it...' Tha is bull. I'm done. Discuss!