Author's Note: And here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Paul looked up from his notes when h someone knocked on his door. He had at least fifteen minutes before Harry would be out of class. "Come in." The door opened to reveal Sensei Leonard.

"What can I do for you, Leonard?" Paul motioned him to a seat.

"I want Evan James with me for a few hours every Saturday." Paul looked at Leonard in surprise.

"For what?" Sensei folded his arms and looked at the floor.

"You are aware that his life is in danger." It was not a question. Had Harry told him?

"He told you?" Sensei shook his head and turned to the window.

"He looks it." Sensei said quietly. "It lurks in his eyes, shows through his movements, and almost radiates off him as he thinks." Sensei shook his head as though to ward off the same feelings. "Someone has threatened him, Paul, and he does not expect to survive that threat." Sensei turned around to face Paul again. "I want him with me for a few hours every Saturday." He went to the door. "Arrange it." Sensei left the office and Paul stared after him for a few seconds before turning back to his desk. He pulled out Harry's schedule and wrote in three hours for Sensei on Saturdays. That would free up some hours in case the lessons took longer than Sensei expected. He only hoped that Sensei would give Harry some skills that would help him against fully trained wizards.

Harry walked out of the door of the classroom, trying to force his science notebook into his schoolbag. Science was one of his weak points, along with math and history, that Skye tutored him I everyday. Every other subject was only two days a week. He looked up to see a huge crowd of students around a bulletin board.

"Hi, Evan. Done with classes today?" Harry nodded.

"Yeah. What's going on here?" Harry gestured towards the crowd.

"Oh, they posted the sign-up sheet for this fall's play. You missed the last play by a week. They do one every term." Bug explained. A play? "It's really popular, because there are so many things you can do. I already signed up for set design and construction. You should sign up too. You're good at art."

Harry shrugged and settled his school bag over his shoulder. "I'll think about it." He said good-bye to Bug and started for Paul's office. He had an appointment.

"Hey, buddy. Come on in." Harry went into Paul's office, the most comfortable room in the school in his opinion, and crashed onto the couch. He settled again the pillows and closed his eyes. He loved this couch. "How are you today?" Harry gave a small smile and sighed.

"I love this couch." Paul laughed and moved his chair closer to Harry. "I feel good today." Paul nodded. "No dreams from Voldemort. No aches. No visions." He reached into his schoolbag and pulled out his science book. "Know anything about plate tectonics? Sky told me all about it today and it's got me wondering about something." Harry flipped open his book to the appropriate page.

"Such as?" Paul asked.

"How in the world does the wizarding community explain natural disasters?" Paul made a note in his notebook and shook his head.

"I don't know. You do not cover things like that in school?"

"Not really. This is interesting and I don't understand why wizards wouldn't want to know about this." Paul sat back in his chair and shook his head.

"I don't understand a lot when it comes to the wizarding world, Harry." Paul told him. "It doesn't seem logical."

"You can't explain making something fly or disappear logically." Harry shrugged and put his book away. "Bug told me about the school play coming up." Harry picked up one of the throw pillows and toyed with it. "He thinks I should sign up." Harry looked up at Paul.

"Is it something you want to do?" He asked. Harry shrugged and put the pillow back in its place.

"I've never done it before." He told Paul. "I don't get much of a chance to do play-acting. Harry stopped and paused at Paul's face. "What?" Paul smiled.

"I think you'd be better at it than you realize." Harry looked up. "Think about it. How many times have you found in necessary to act like someone else? To project artificial feelings?" Harry messed with the pillow again.

"Too many times." Harry answered, hugging the pillow.

"So put those skills to good use. Have some fun with them." Paul counseled.

"I'll think about it." Harry promised.

"How's your meditation coming?" Harry sighed. "What's wrong?"

"I'm distracted by bright shiny objects." Harry told him. Paul blinked and tried to work out exactly what that was supposed to mean. "Bug told me that. I'm easily distracted. I can't focus on my breathing for a long time. I get bored, or lose focus or something like that." Harry shrugged.

"Bright shiny objects? Okay. Well, let's try something else. Get comfortable." Paul stood and dimmed the lights. He sat back down near Harry and took Harry's hand. Harry tensed. "Relax and close your eyes. There's nothing here to hurt you." Harry nodded and took a deep breath. "Focus on your breathing for now."

"Why are you holding my hand?" Harry asked.

"Breathing." Harry frowned and did as he was told. He could trust Paul. Deep breath in, deep breath out. In, out. Harry wasn't sure how long he managed to focus on his breathing, but he soon started thinking about something else. He jumped as Paul started moving his thumb. "Focus on this, Harry. Just this movement." Harry took a deep breath and nodded. That was…soothing. Really relaxing. "Focus on this." Harry did as he was told and found that a lot of his thoughts were quieting down. He smiled to himself and sighed. That was really relaxing. He blinked as Paul moved away. "Easier?" Paul asked.

"Yeah, thanks." Paul reached over to his desk.

"No problem. That's what I'm here for." Paul pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to Harry. "Sensei has requested that you spend more time with him on Saturdays. Is that alright with you?" Harry tossed the pillow into the air.

"Sure. Sensei's brilliant." Paul handed Harry his new schedule. "Three hours?" Paul nodded and shrugged.

"I don't think that he'll take that long. I just thought it prudent to schedule that much, just in case." Paul looked at Harry. "Are you okay with that?"

"I can always stop if I don't like it?" he asked.

"Of course you can." Paul told him. "I will never force you to do anything you really don't want to do that isn't necessary. Remember that." Harry nodded and pulled his legs up.

"Um, Paul?" Paul looked at him. "Could we go outside for a while?" Harry asked. This was new. Harry didn't like being outside.

"Are you really Harry?" Paul demanded. "Voldemort didn't possess?" Harry threw a pillow into the air and shook his head. "Alright, I'll take you outside, but only if you tell me what movie we watched." Harry rolled his eyes and smiled.

"Star Wars. Thanks for asking, though." Harry stood and beat Paul to the door. "Coming, Paul?" Harry asked.

"Yes, I'm coming." Paul muttered, getting to his feet. Once outside, Harry sat down under a tree and leaned back against it. He closed his eyes and let out a contented sigh as Paul settled next to him. "So, is there a reason that you wanted to come out here?" Harry nodded and stayed quiet. Paul didn't push him. Harry would talk in a minute.

"Dumbledore made me think that if I set foot outside my aunt's house, Voldemort would swoop down and kill me." Harry took a deep breath and ran his hand over the grass at his feet. "Dumbledore made me a prisoner in that house." Paul watched as Harry traced patterns in the grass, back and forth, as though practicing waving his wand. "I have been here for a few weeks and Voldemort has yet to find me, much less attack me. It's nice." Harry smiled to himself, forgetting Paul's presence as he played with the grass.

Paul watched as Harry played with the grass. How can a grown man make a child afraid of being outdoors? Why would he, more importantly? He looks so old most of the time. Tired. Afraid. I like this look on him more. Paul smiled as Harry's face lost some of the cynical tint and gained a more childlike air. Why couldn't Harry look like this all the time? He was snapped out of his musings when Harry spoke. "Paul?"

"Yes, Harry?" Harry opened his eyes and looked at Paul.

"You said I don't have to do anything I don't want to do, right?" Paul nodded.

"That's right." Harry smiled.

"So, if Dumbledore were to show up, and I didn't want to go with him, you wouldn't make me go, would you?" Paul shook his head.

"No. I wouldn't make you go." Paul promised. "Are you thinking about it?" he asked softly, afraid that Harry would stop talking.

"A little. No decision yet." Harry said, a little hesitant as to what Paul might say. "I don't really know what I want yet." Paul nodded. "Remember how I said that I hated it here?" Harry paused. "I don't hate it here. Not really."

"I understand." They sat for another ten minutes before Paul nudged Harry. "You have martial arts class." Harry took off for the building, muttering about getting a watch with an alarm on it. Paul smiled after him. What a typically teenager thing to say.

One week later…..

Dear Hermione,

I have a break so I'd thought that I'd write to you. This summer studies thing is the best. I'm learning an awful lot, almost too much. We're all tired. The professors and other instructors are pretty hard on us. We have five to six hours of studying a night and we're up before dawn everyday. We're learning a lot of defensive spells and teamwork. Every one of us has at least one other wizard in their family. The headmaster told us that we are going to be the protectors of the school. That and we get to protect Harry. The headmaster told us that he sometimes needs protection from himself, and thinking back, I kind of have to agree.

Dumbledore mentioned that Harry is still at home with the Dursleys and that Voldemort has tried to attack the house a few times. Harry doesn't want to leave them alone without a wizard in the house. Typical Harry. He's always saving someone, isn't he? That means he won't be able to join us here just yet, but he will join us sooner or later. The Protectors all share one dormitory now, and Harry will be moved out of Gryffindor and in with us this coming year.

The oddest person here is Draco Malfoy. He told us that he watched a Death Eater meeting and decided that he couldn't join them. After all, "Malfoys grovel to no one". He's okay, so long as he doesn't insult you, which he has promised to stop doing.

I wish I could make this longer, but I'm due for a training session soon. Please tell Harry that I'll see him when he comes to Hogwarts.

Sincerely,

Ron

Hermione sighed and put down Ron's letter. It was exactly as she feared. A bunch of her classmates were being trained to protect Harry. It was not fair to anyone involved, Harry most of all. How dare Dumbledore decide that Harry did not need training? That Harry would want to leave Gryffindor and move into another dorm? She had to tell Harry, but he wouldn't be too happy. She rolled off her bed and went back to her desk.

Dear Harry, (Skywalker)

How are you? I do hope that you're fine. I'm sure that you're having a great time. I promised you that I would pass on information about Ron, so here it is. All of the people chosen each had at least one other wizard in their family. Dumbledore is calling the group "Protectors". They are to protect Hogwarts and you. Dumbledore said that Voldemort has tried to attack the Dursley's house a few times this summer, which I know for a fact is not true. Also, he plans to move you out of Gryffindor and into the Protectors' dormitory.

As for Draco Malfoy, I guess he got to see what Death Eaters really do. He told Ron that "Malfoys grovel to no one". Strange, isn't it?

I'll be by for a visit soon. Until then, may the Force be with you.

Love,

Hermione

Harry refolded Hermione's letter and put it back in his bag. Dumbledore was trying to order his life again and he didn't like it. He should be getting trained. He should be at Hogwarts.

Harry felt the need to be outside. He needed to be outside. He picked up his bag and went downstairs. He paused to sign out at the desk and told the attendant that he would be back in an hour. He wandered around the grounds, thinking to himself about everything he had learned about himself in the last few weeks. It was a matter of mental health and control over his life. He didn't want to give either of them up. He needed them to survive this war and without them, Voldemort would have no trouble coercing Harry to his side. He knew how close he had come to accepting Voldemort's offer of a place by his side just to make it all stop. It had been too close for his comfort. He couldn't go back to Hogwarts now. He wasn't ready. He hadn't mastered Occlumency. He couldn't do it. Not yet.

Author's Note: To all of the wonderful people who take time out to review: THANK YOU SO MUCH! You guys keep me going and spur me on to massive amounts of frantic scribbling known as the creative process. Thank you again.