Welcome back to The Founder's Circle! So, I think I'm about on time for this one, but if I'm off a bit one way or the other, feel free to sue me. You won't get much out of it anyways.

Alright, so a few announcements to start things off. First, I am back in school now, so the updates may be coming slower or faster, depending on how exactly things work out with my schedule, but expect slower because I tend to have very little time after getting home on the weekdays, except Friday. Second… actually I think that's all of my general statements. Huh.

Okay, so about the chapter, this one is mainly the fallout of last chapter. We get to see Harry and Susan have a conversation in the first part where they work out her whole pissed off moment and then have a bit of a cute bonding moment. Honestly, that part of the chapter annoyed the living hell out of me, since Susan isn't really meant to be an angry character, or at least not yet. Even later, she does more motherly rage where it's terrifying but you know you'll come out alive and mostly unharmed if you don't screw up too badly. Anyways, I even mentioned in the text that she really is not good at being angry, and as such her character really fought me in writing her. Even Harry straight up says it to her face, so you know it's pretty obvious. Also, it's really hard to write eleven year olds.

Alright, so for the second part of the chapter, I had a far easier time, though I have had better. Basically, Dumbledore be Dumbledore and tries to get Harry to switch to playing seeker so he can be all famous and loyal, not to mention isolated. He wants Harry to have a few good friends, but outside of that he needs Harry to be alone so that he can't get too out of control. Basically Dumbly being nasty, but not necessarily evil, since evil really is a strong word. Basically the guy is going to be a right conniving bastard, get in the circle's way, and eventually be at least some form of enemy, but he's not necessarily evil. His goals and the main character's goals just don't match up. Anyways, Harry catches onto what Dumbledore is doing and pretty much just says STFU while walking away like a boss. Or something along those lines.

Also, I just wanted to note that a lot of you do have a point about Harry and Susan being really close. However, I was doing that because I originally planned for them to be more of a brotherly sisterly pair, which is still sorta in the works, so if and when they continue to be all cutesy, don't think that it is a sure sign of them being a couple. At this point, it could go either way, especially when Hermione finally joins the party.

Alright, so that should pretty much do it for now, so I'll probably let you go. Next chapter I will definitely cover the challenge and first time meeting Fluffy the cerberus, and possibly if it turns out to be short enough or work well enough, I'll include the troll, where Hermione finally joins the group, and we lose the deadweight named Ron. So with that, I will leave you to it. Read, Review, and Relax. Enjoy!

XXX

"Susan."

"Harry." Susan watched coldly as the black haired boy jerked in response to the sheer animosity she had put into saying his name. She had not expected him to hunt her down in the library, that being the place she had sequestered herself to while she cooled off. Therefore,, she was still practically brimming with anger at the foolish actions Harry had taken earlier that day.

"I'm still mad at you." She hoped that would be enough to chase him away. Susan didn't really want to talk to Harry while she was angry, not trusting herself to avoid breaking their still young friendship. Harry, however, didn't seem to share that sentiment.

"I know. I was hoping we could talk." Susan nearly blanched at the thought as she struggled to keep herself from blurting all the things she wanted to yell at him about how stupid that stunt of his was, and how worried she had been, but managed to remain impassive, her face a stone sculpture as Harry continued. "Why were you so angry with me? What did I do?"

"You know what."

"Yes, but why was it such a big deal to you? Sure, I may have broken a rule, but it was just so that I could keep Nott from doing something mean with Neville's Rememberall." Susan sighed heavily at his explanation. She didn't care about the rules.

"Harry, that's not the problem. I'm mad because you didn't even stop to think of what you were doing. What if yu had been hurt?" Her mask finally broke, and the brunette sent her friend a pleading glance, begging silently for him to understand. It didn't seem to work.

"But It turned out fine. Not a scratch on me. Turns out I'm a pretty decent flyer."Susan shook her head.

"I know you didn't hurt yourself, but that didn't stop me from worrying. You're my friend, Harry, one of my only friends. If you had been hurt, expelled, or even killed, how do you think that would've made me feel? Two of those options would mean I wouldn't have you as a friend anymore." Susan studied Harry's reactions as he listened to her words. His face morphed through several emotions as she spoke, first surprise, then confusion, then it turned into one of apology.

"I guess you're right, but what about Ron, or Hannah? Aren't they your friends too?" Susan shook her head, smiling sadly.

"Ron, I suppose, is okay, even if he is a prat most of the time. Hannah… well I did grow up with her, but it was mostly political posturing since our family's are closely allied with each other. She is my friend, yes, but it's really more out of convenience than anything. No, Harry, you might actually be my best friend. Because of that, it really worried me when you jumped on a broom that you had no idea how to use and started to stupid stunts that could have very easily gotten you killed. You didn't even stop to think about what I would say! It really feelings." Harry seemed to think about that for a moment or two, before giving Susan a chagrined smile.

"Well, I am a Gryffindor. Running headlong into danger is what we do best, right?" Susan flushed bright red as the anger that had been slowly draining away as she put her thoughts into words returned. He couldn't use the house mottos like that, it just wasn't fair!

"That's not the point, Harry! You had no idea how to use a broom, and we were expressly told not to try until Madame Hooch came back! Is my friendship worth so little that you would risk it just to put Nott down?" At least Harry had the common decency to look ashamed. He glanced away, not daring to meet Susan's eyes.

"No, that's not it at all. I really do care about your friendship, Susan. You're probably my best friend too." Susan's flush suddenly turned from scarlet to a bright pink as her anger suddenly turned into embarrassment at that simple statement. She really wasn't designed for holding grudges. To be honest, she wouldn't have even still been so angry at Harry when he found her if she hadn't been so afraid that he might not think her friendship as important as she did his. Now, with him stating that she was his best friend… well, it was a surprise to say the least.

"W-what?"

"Yeah! You're right about Ron, he can be a right prat about a lot of things, and even though I technically met you after him, and we're in different houses and all, I prefer hanging out with you. You're a lot nicer and far more sensible than him. Plus," His voice suddenly turned low and he looked away in embarrassment. "I think he might only like hanging out with me so much because I'm The Boy Who Lived. We don't really have much in common if you think about it." Susan suddenly felt terrible for the boy sitting across from her, who was looking very pointedly at a blank spot on the library table. Without stopping to think about how he might react, she stood up from where she had been sitting and moved around to wrap him in a hug, surprising even herself. Susan had never exactly been a touching kind of person, at least not outside of her family. The only reason she even let Hannah hug her was because she had learned long ago there was no way to avoid those things. Now though, with this raven haired boy looking so lost at the thought of someone only being his friend because of his title, Susan felt there was a need to remind him that that wasn't the only reason someone would care for him.

At first Harry flinched from the contact, worrying Susan, but she didn't let him escape. She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him close, ignoring the awkward positioning caused by her being standing while he was still sitting. Eventually, the boy seemed to relax a bit, shifting more into the embrace while tentatively reaching his own arms up to encircle Susan. They held the pose for a few seconds more, before Susan finally drew away and smiled softly at him.

"Don't worry, Ron's just an idiot. If he can't realize how good of a person you are without attributing it to your title, then it's not worth worrying about. And you don't have to worry about me thinking the same thing either. You broke my preconceptions about The Boy Who Lived the first day I met you, even if I didn't realize it at the time." The look of shock on Harry's face that was still lingering from the hug quickly morphed into a smile of gratitude, and he flashed it at her.

"Thanks for that. I've gotta say, I wasn't expecting that to happen when I came looking for you. If anything, I thought I would be the one comforting you." Susan laughed lightly, her smile growing wider.

"Yeah, but isn't that what we Hufflepuff's do? Be friendly and helpful?" Harry looked mortified at first by the fact that she had turned his own usage of house values against him, but Susan suddenly grew fearful as a savage gleam entered his eyes.

"Yes, quite. You really didn't make a good angry person." Susan's eyes narrowed at the odd comment.

"What do you mean, I didn't make a good angry person?"

"Well, you kept trying to glare at me, but it really wasn't working."

"You looked away! You were afraid!"

"Actually, you were just so adorable that I had to look away so I didn't laugh out loud. You were trying so hard to be intimidating, I didn't want to ruin it for you." Susan gaped at Harry in horror. Had she really been so ineffective? Annoyance growing, she focused on him, doing her best to level a glare that would actually scare the young boy who now wore a cocky grin.

"You take that back!" Harry's grin just grew wider as he quickly got out of his chair and started to back away slowly.

"Nah, don't think I will. I can't deny the truth." Susan, noticing that his eyes were now flittting back and forth, looking for an escape route, slowly started to advance, her glare growing more pronounced.

"Take. It. Back." Harry's smile, which she had been hoping would start to look strained as the boy realized that she was getting angry again, instead widened, and the mischievous glint turned into a full blown sparkle.

"No thanks. I think I'll- Oh, look, a dragon wearing a tiara!" Susan tried to fight her instincts, she really did. It was so obviously a distraction, but she just couldn't help herself as her head snapped to look at the random bookshelf Harry had been pointing to in a knee-jerk reaction. By the time she looked back, he was already sprinting down one of the aisles, his school robes flapping behind him in the wind of his escape. Without hesitating, Susan was after him, her own robes flapping as she tried to keep up with the slightly speedier boy.

She would show him just how good she was at being mean!

XXX

Dumbledore smiled slightly as he watched his students eat their dinner. The school year had been progressing well so far, and his plans along with it. Young Harry was already well set, having both the Weasley boy and the two wItches with extraordinary powers near him at almost all times. It also helped that one of those girls was a Bones, who could be an important political ally eventually, especially with her magical potential. He had been slightly concerned earlier that day when he heard about their short spat in the middle of their flying lesson, childhood friendships are rather fragile after all, but it turned out to be nothing as they were even now sitting together for dinner, chatting away happily. However, the thought did bring up another concern that had arisen from the same lesson.

Dumbledore was not surprised that McGonagall had seen fit to claim Harry for her house's quidditch team. It was in the boy's blood, after all. What he did have a slight problem with was the boy being placed as a chaser rather than a seeker. Seekers were the ones who received all the glory and praise for their victory, and were the most important player on the team. Chasers, however, received little to no praise, except as a group. After all, more often than not a seeker would decide the match regardless of how well the chasers and keepers did amongst themselves. Their role was primarily to keep the audience's attention while the seekers hunted down the snitch. It would not do for Harry to fade into the group as unimportant. He needed that praise as incentive to stay at Hogwarts

Dumbledore had already arranged for a meeting with the boy. He was certain that he could convince him to switch to the post to seeker. After all, what child, especially one who had lacked recognition of almost any kind his whole life, would turn something like that down. Dumbledore doubted that McGonagall had fully explained just how important the position was. With that in mind, he rose from his table and traveled to his office, his great mind working on several of the various projects he had going on at the moment. It did not take long, however, for him to receive a warning from the wards that the boy was outside.

"Enter." Dumbledore called out, making sure to use his kindest grandfather voice from the very beginning. He would need Harry to trust him, both for this matter and various others. Dumbledore observed the boy closely as he entered, noting everywhere he looked. Harry's eyes drifted around the room as he slowly walked to its center, pausing for brief intervals on the many different magical contraptions the Headmaster kept around it. Most interestingly, however, was the way they lingered for even longer periods of time on seemingly blank patches of wall. Dumbledore wondered why that would be, but quickly attributed it to the thoughts and questions that must be running through the boy's head distracting him. It certainly didn't take long, less time than expected really, for the boy to finish his inspection and focus on the old wizard sitting behind his desk and exuding as kind an aura as he could manage.

"You summoned me, Headmaster?" Dumbledore smiled slightly as the boy sat down in the chair across from him, glad at hearing the strong curiosity from the boy. At least he wasn't unintelligent, although that may make it more difficult for him to be steered onto his needed path. Dumbledore would have to watch out for and limit that, to a point. It could cause great damage if the boy were to notice that his actions weren't entirely his own.

"Yes, Mr. Potter. I'm afraid I must speak with you about your recent posting to the Gryffindor quidditch team." As he had expected, Harry suddenly became nervous, shifting slightly and a telltale flickering of his eyes becoming apparent for a second. Still, the boy held up remarkably well, quickly returning his gaze to Dumbledore's with a sudden defiance in his eyes.

"If this is about me stopping Nott, Professor McGonagall already decided not to punish me."Dumbledore merely chuckled, and it wasn't even forced. The boy had spirit! To challenge him, the Headmaster, and a ruling of punishment certainly wasn't something a coward would do. Yes, Harry Potter was most definitely a Gryffindor, not that there'd been any doubt. In fact, the circumstance the boy was speaking of was already proof of that.

"No, no, my boy. You misunderstand. I do not mean to punish you, nor to even take away your posting. I was merely wondering if you could tell me why you chose to play as a chaser on the team." Dumbledore smiled gently, both to himself and for the effect of making his inquiry seem more innocent. Harry only looked mildly startled, but quickly shrugged, as if he could care less about what position he played anyways.

"It was what McGonagall suggested. I didn't know enough about the sport to think any other position would be better, although Wood seemed to think I would be a better seeker." Dumbledore's smile widened just a fraction, not nearly enough for anyone except those who were looking for such a change to notice. HArry had just given him the perfect in without even realizing it.

"Ah, yes, seeker. A fine position to play, very important. What do you know of it?" Harry shrugged again, but Dumbledore caught just the slightest glimpse of narrowing eyes.

"Not much, except that seekers are supposed to be fast and light, like me. I think Ron might have said something about them getting targeted a lot though. I guess that would make sense if they were important."

"Well, the seeker could most certainly be argued as an important, perhaps even the most important player on the team. They are the ones who catch the golden snitch, a small winged ball that flies around the quidditch pitch, ending the game and earning their team one hundred and fifty points. More often than not, this will win their team the match, making skilled fliers a priority for their position. They are also the most beloved of players, as their team's victory rests almost solely upon their shoulders, and highly successful seekers are almost always remembered, even long after they have died." Dumbledore watched Harry's face carefully for any sign of change, any sign that the boy was growing excited and desirous of the position, but strangely there was nothing. Instead, the raven haired boy merely shrugged, a disinterested look commanding his features.

"Sounds like the seeker is almost wholly separate from the team, especially in terms of glory. I think I'd prefer to just work with my team anyways. Otherwise, what's the point of it being a team sport? They should just call it snitch hunting with a sideshow instead. Besides, I could imagine that the whole team dislikes the seeker, just because they get all the credit." Dumbledore felt his heart sink as he listened to the boy speak. This was not good. He would have to do something fast before the boy threw away the advantages being a seeker would bring.

"Yes, but they earn it. To catch a snitch takes both incredible skill and quick reflexes. It is very difficult to see, and even harder to intercept. Not to mention the fact that without them, a game has no way to end. You cannot blame people for favoring the seeker's accomplishments, especially when they almost always change the course of a match. One good seeker can save a team with floundering chasers." Harry grinned then, but for some reason, Dumbledore doubted that it was because he had suddenly been convinced of the merits of seekers.

"Ah, but Headmaster, that saying works both ways, does it not? A good group of chasers could earn such an advantage that even if the enemy seeker were to catch the snitch, their team would still win. Not to mention, most of the other team would have an effect on that outcome as well, if I remember Ron explaining the rules right. The keeper, to prevent the opponents from catching up, and beaters to both clear the way and protect the chasers. Everybody works together, and if you're good enough, the enemy won't stand a chance either way. If you have an awesome seeker as well, then that just adds insult to injury. No, I think it would be quite a bit more interesting to stay as a chaser, so you can stop trying to convince me to change to seeker, Headmaster. I'll trust the judgement of the one who actually saw me fly." Dumbledore was taken aback. The boy had somehow figured out that he was hinting at Harry playing seeker. That in itself was quite surprising, although the wizened wizard did suppose he may have been pushing the merits of the seeker position a bit hard. What was more astounding though, was the boy's audacity to question him, as well as reason out a far better argument for his own chaser position. This must have been what Severus had been complaining about after his first class with the boy, the near deadly combination of razor wit and rebellious courage. It was far more than the sheer confidence that had resided within the boy's own father, or even the cleverness of his mother. It would have made both of them extremely proud if they could have seen it.

"You have caught me, it seems. I suppose there is nothing I can do to change your mind?" Dumbledore spoke in a jovial tone, playing the role of a man caught in a simple prank rather than the subtle manipulations that truly endorsed, but as he did so his mind was racing. Such intelligence could be a dangerous thing, especially when coupled with the courage to use it. The boy could eventually become rebellious, and that was something he would need to keep an eye on.

"No, Headmaster. I do have a favor to ask, though." Dumbledore raised a curious eyebrow as his troublesome student stood and started wandering back to the door.

"Oh?" He questioned, barely keeping his irritation at the way Harry seemed to be dismissing himself out of his voice. He was soon glad that Harry had not bothered to stay any longer, however, when he heard his parting words, spoken over Harry's shoulder in a flippant tone as he disappeared out the door.

"Keep me out of your manipulations, whatever they are." Yes, Dumbledore was very glad Harry was gone.

It would not do for the boy to see him angry.