Hmm. It's a tricky balance, you know? Trying to figure out how to craft a new story in the old story without doing a crappy job. I'm still mildly contemplating a re-tool of the last chapter, but I also like to push forward, so here is the next chapter.

There will be a lot more original dialogue here. It's a bit easier as there are several places that it just fits in nicely. Unfortunately, we're going to run fairly close to parallel for a lot of the fifth year. I've got some serious changes planned, though. Sadly, they all come in later on down the road.

Stick around and I'll make this interesting.

CYA: I own nothing.

o – o - o – o – o – o – o - o

"His grief he will not forget; but it will not darken his heart, it will teach him wisdom."

Aragorn

O – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o

For Jon, the carriage ride to Hogwarts was a somewhat illuminating affair. Harry was still very concerned about the absence of this teacher named Hagrid, and Ron and Ginny were nearly as concerned as he was.

"What is that Grubbly-Plank woman doing here?" Ginny asked. "Do you think Hagrid's left?"

"It won't be much of a loss if he has." Luna said. "I don't think he's a very good teacher."

Harry, Ron and Ginny all responded at the same time.

"Yes he is!"

"He's a great teacher!"

"He's the best!"

Hermione remained suspiciously quiet.

Luna seemed unfazed by the outburst. "Well, most of Ravenclaw thinks he's a bit of a joke."

Harry, Ron and Ginny glared at Luna, who simply looked out the window as if nothing was wrong. Hermione had a slightly guilty look on her face. Jon thought about asking some questions about Hagrid, but he decided against it and looked out the window of the carriage just as Hogwarts was coming into view.

It was old, that much Jon could tell. The styling was definitely medieval, a hodgepodge of English and Germanic roots. Jon didn't think it was a beautiful as Ilvermorny, but it was definitely more historic. The thought of the history the building contained excited him, and made him a little worried. This was new ground to him, and that put him at a disadvantage. He'd need to learn a lot about this school quickly.

The carriages rolled to a stop in front of stone stairs that led to massive oak doors. Jon got out of the carriage first, holding the door open for everyone else. Quiet "thank you's" came from Hermione and Ginny who made it out on their own power. Ron tumbled out at near breakneck speed, saying something about needing to eat. Luna was smaller than everyone else, so Jon held his hand out to help her. She took it and stepped out, giving Jon a look and a smile that he couldn't decipher, but set his heart into a quick tempo.

Harry got out last, looking up and down the line of carriages with a look of concentration on his face. "You alright, Harry?" Jon asked.

Harry turned and looked at him. "Oh, yes. Just… Thinking."

A sudden crack got the attention of both boys, and standing next to Jonathan was a small, thin, grey-skinned elf with enormous eyes. He was wearing what looked like a cut to his size burlap sack, and he seemed very happy to see Harry. "Harry Potter, sir!"

Harry saw him and smiled. "Dobby! Um, what are you doing out here?"

"Dobby's come to fetch Jonathan Lionheart. Dobby is to bring him to Dumbledore. Does Harry Potter know where Jonathan Lionheart is?"

Harry pointed at Jon. "You found him already."

Jon knelt down to Dobby's height, holding his right hand towards Dobby. "Howdy. I'm Jonathan. Pleased to meetcha."

Dobby looked at the hand warily. "Sir?"

Jon grinned. "It's a greeting. It's called a handshake. When two people meet, it's how they show mutual respect."

Dobby's eyes widened. "Mutual… respect sir?"

Jon nodded. "Yeah. One… Equal to another. You take my hand and we shake." Jon pushed his hand a little farther. "Go ahead."

Dobby took Jon' offered hand, grinning. "Dobby is pleased to meet Jonathan. Dobby likes Jonathan very much. Dobby will take you to see Headmaster Dumbledore now."

Jon nodded. "Alright." He looked up at Harry. "I'll catch you later."

Suddenly the world started spinning, and with a 'crack,' Jonathan disappeared.

o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o

Jon suddenly found himself standing, a bit unsteadily, in an empty hallway somewhere in the castle. He shook his head trying to steady himself when he noticed Dumbledore standing in front of him, a small smile on his face. "Are you alright, Jonathan?"

Jon nodded. "Yeah. Just wasn't prepared for that jump."

Dumbledore nodded, then looked at Dobby. "Thank you for bringing Jonathan to me so quickly, Dobby."

Dobby bowed. "Dobby is happy to be of service, sir." With a 'crack' Dobby was gone.

Dumbledore turned his attention to Jonathan. "I apologize for the slight change of plans, Jonathan. I trust you met with Harry?"

Jon nodded. "I did."

"And?"

"Seems to be going well so far. I think he likes me. Ron might be a bit intimidated by me."

Dumbledore stroked his beard. "Yes. I heard about your mild confrontation with young Draco."

Jon frowned. "Sorry, sir. He just… Well, he… He's a creep, sir."

"I understand. Mr. Malfoy is quite the opposite of yourself and Harry. But you must remember to keep yourself in check. We are under… Very close scrutiny from the Ministry this year. You must work in secret as much as possible."

Jon nodded. "So… No dueling Malfoy, then?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "No."

"Alright. I'll do what I can. Try to… Steer clear of Malfoy."

"Very good." Dumbledore looked back down the hallway towards the sound of a large crowd. "The feast is about to begin. You need to go to the great hall. You'll find the first years waiting to be sorted with Professor McGonagall. Down this hall and to the left, she's expecting you. Oh, and you may relax. There will only be a small speech about your historic enrollment to our school."

Jon blanched, mumbling. "I'd prefer no speech…"

Dumbledore laughed. "I'll keep it as short as I can." He turned and made for his entrance to the great hall.

Jon turned down the hallway and headed to where Dumbledore told him to go. He rounded a corner and saw a large crowd of younger children standing around a very strict looking witch. Her black robes and pointy hat made her look like the Wicked Witch of the West, but Jon wasn't about to make that observation out loud. He walked up to her as she was trying to get some order with the younger students.

"Professor McGonagall?" He asked, nearly standing at a salute, but stopping himself short, looking like he was giving a half-wave.

Professor McGonagall looked at him puzzled. "Can I help you, or are you just going to stand there giving me that goofy wave?"

Jon pinked, then put his hand back down. "Sorry. I'm Jonathan Lionheart. Headmaster Dumbledore told me to meet you here."

Realization crossed her face. "Of course, Mr. Lionheart. If you would, please stand at the front with me and we'll have you sorted first." She turned to the group. "Please stand in a line quietly. We'll be entering the great hall in moments." She stepped away towards a stool that had another pointed hat resting on it.

Jon stood at the front of the group feeling more than a little awkward. Standing easily two feet above most of the kids behind him, he was painfully aware of how much he stood out. He stopped worrying about himself though when he heard a small voice on the verge of hyperventilating.

He turned and saw a young boy looking around, breathing rapidly. He had long brown hair that was almost in a bowl cut, and green eyes that carried a sense of terror and uncertainty. Jon knelt down in front of him, and the boy froze, staring at Jon as if Jon was going to eat him alive. "Easy there. You're okay; you don't need to fear me. My name's Jonathan, what's yours?"

The boy swallowed. "E… Euan. Abercrombie."

Jon smiled. "Pleased to meetcha, Euan. You're eleven, right?" The boy nodded. "How long have you known you're a wizard?"

The word wizard made the boy jump, but he answered anyway. "A couple months."

Jon smiled. "Are you excited?"

The boy looked down, as if ashamed, but a small grin took hold. It vanished quickly though. "I guess. I'm just… I don't know anyone, and my family isn't here, and my friends all laughed at me, and…"

Between the boys' rapid breathing and his rapid explanation of how he was feeling, Jon was afraid he'd fall over faint. He placed both hands on the boy's shoulders. "Easy, Euan. Look at me." The boy looked at Jon. "It's alright. M'Kay? This is the start of something amazing for you. I remember when I found out I was a wizard. I had a lot of friends that didn't understand and… When I first went to school, I was a little afraid too. But you're going to be fine. I know it."

"H… How?"

Jon smiled. "Because what you're feeling, the nerves, the shakiness, all of it. It's excitement. There's some fear, yes. But fear is courage holding on a minute longer. And you're not the only one here that's new. I'm new."

The boy looked at him. "But you're older."

Jon laughed. "Yes, but I'm new to the school. I'm the first ever-American student here. So there's a lot of pressure on me to do well. I have to be re-sorted and I have to make new friends." Jon paused. "I tell you what. Let's be friends, you and me."

The boy looked shocked. "Really."

Jon nodded. "Really. Let's be friends."

The boy looked at Jon warily. "We don't know… What houses we'll be in."

"Does that really matter? I was with a group of people from two different houses and they got along just fine. Well, mostly. So let's be friends, Euan." Jon stuck his hand out for the boy to shake. "Deal?"

Euan stared at the hand. The he smiled. "Deal."

"Excellent."

Professor McGonagall came around behind Jon, holding the hat and the stool he saw earlier. "First years and our first transfer. Eyes on me, we're about to go in." Jon stood up and nearly went to attention, but relaxed a bit when McGonagall turned and looked at him. "Thank you for calming him, Mr. Lionheart. I was beginning to worry about him. That'll be ten points to whichever house you are sorted to." There was a twinkle in her eyes as if she already knew which house that would be. Jonathan wondered how much she knew about him.

The doors to the great hall opened and the line of students began marching in. Jon took a quick look around the room. He saw Harry, Hermione and Ron all sitting together. Harry gave a nod that Jon returned. Luna was sitting with a bunch of other students he didn't recognize, the dreamy look firmly in place. Draco Malfoy and his thugs were sitting at the far end of another table, glaring at Jon. 'If looks could kill.' Jon smirked back with a look on his face that he hoped said one thing: "Say When."

They reached the end of the great hall, standing right in front of Headmaster Dumbledore and the rest of the professors. Professor McGonagall put the stool down in front of Jonathan and set the hat on top of it. He looked up at Dumbledore with a puzzled look. Dumbledore just smiled.

That was the moment that the hat sitting on the stool opened at a tear and began to sing:

In times of old when I was new

And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school

Thought never to be parted:

United by a common goal,

The had the selfsame yearning,

To make the world's best magic school

And pass along their learning.

"Together we will build and teach!"

The four good friends decided

And never did the dream that they

Might someday be divided,

For were there such friends anywhere

As Slytherin and Gryffindor?

Unless it was the second pair

Oh Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

So how could it have gone so wrong?

How could such friendships fail?

Why, I was there and so can tell

The whole sad, sorry tail.

Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those

Whose ancestry is purest."

Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose

Intelligence is surest."

Said Gryffindor "We'll teach all those

With brave deeds to their name."

Said Huffelpuff, 'I'll teach the lot,

And treat them just the same."

These differences caused little strife

When first they came to light,

For each of the four founders had

A House in which they might

Take only those they wanted so,

For Instance, Slytherin

Took only pure-blood wizards

Of great cunning, just like him,

And only those of sharpest mind

Were taught by Ravenclaw

While the bravest and the boldest

Went to daring Gryffindor.

Good Huffelpuff, she too the rest,

And taught them all she knew,

Thus the Houses and their founders

Retained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in Harmony

For several happy years,

But then discord crept among us

Feeding on our faults and fears.

The Houses that, like pillars four,

Had once held up our school,

Now turned upon each other and,

Divided, sought to rule.

And for a while it seemed the school

Must meet an early end,

What with dueling and with fighting

And the clash of friend on friend

And at last there came a morning

When old Slytherin departed

And though the fighting then died out

He left us quite downhearted.

And never since the founders four

Were whittled down to three

Have the Houses been united

As they once were meant to be.

And now the Sorting Hat is here

And you all know the score:

I sort you into Houses

Because that is what I'm for,

But this year I'll go further,

Listen closely to my song:

Though condemned I am to split you

Still I worry that it's wrong,

Though I must fulfill my duty

And must quarter every year

Still I wonder whether Sorting

May not bring the end I fear.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs,

The warning history shows,

For our Hogwarts is in danger

From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her

Or we'll crumble from within,

I have told you, I have warned you…

Let the Sorting now begin.

The hat became motionless and Jon found himself staring at the hat with both eyebrows raised. "I. Did. Not. See that coming." He mumbled.

All around the great hall were murmurs and some clapping. Dumbledore stood and the hall went quiet. "This is a historic moment for Hogwarts, and I hope a sign of future co-operation and unification between ourselves and other schools of the wizarding world. Tonight we will induct our first American student into a house. Mr. Jonathan Lionheart comes to us as a fifth-year student, and we are excited to see how he will do and what he may bring to our school." Dumbledore looked at Jon. "There's a lot riding on your shoulders, young man. But every professor here will do our best to help you along. Please." Dumbledore motioned at the hat.

"No pressure," Jonathan mumbled as he stepped forward, placing the hat on his head and sitting on the stool.

"Hmm. You're a strange one…" A voice spoke in his ear. "Oldest I've ever sorted. Sorted before, too. What is there to you? A strong code of honor. Loyalty. And a lot of skill." The hat shuddered. "A past, too. Quite a few scars. Courage in spades. Oddly, not much fear. A lot of passion, too; you'll jump into any situation no matter how dangerous. Well, there's only one place for you. GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table burst into applause and cheers. Jonathan saw Harry, Ron and Hermione wave him over, so he walked down and sat in a spot next to Hermione, across from Harry. Harry looked at him. "Told you." He whispered.

Jon grinned and nodded.

Professor McGonagall called a name. "Abercrombie, Euan."

Jon strained to see the young boy he'd befriended set the hat on his head, seeming to vanish underneath the much too large hat. A moment, and then: "Gryffindor!"

Jon stood, clapping. "Woo!" He looked at Euan and waved. The boy smiled back, still nervous but seeming much happier that he's be in the same house with his friend. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at him puzzled. "I'll explain when this is done."

The rest of the sorting passed by with students going to various houses until Professor McGonagall took the hat and stool away. Dumbledore stood. "To our newcomers, welcome! To our old hands, welcome back! There is a time for speech making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"

Ron looked at Jonathan as he was piling food onto his plate. "So what was with your reaction to the first student?"

Jon placed some sliced turkey on his plate. "I met him just before the sorting. He was kinda terrified about the whole thing. I talked to him, calmed him down. Offered to be his friend. That'll be a bit easier now we're in the same house."

"That was very kind of you, young man." A voice came from behind Jon.

Jon turned to see a ghost hovering bit behind and above them, looking wistfully at the food on the table. Ilvermorny had a few ghosts too, but it was unusual for them to be with the students when they ate. "Thanks. You, umm…"

"Oh, how rude of me! I am Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Jon was a bit baffled by the name. "Quite a name."

The ghost chuckled at bit. "I am also known as Nearly Headless Nick." The ghost grabbed his head and leaned it to the right, showing he was nearly decapitated. "But you may refer to me as Nick."

Jon nodded. "Well, I'm Jonathan Lionheart. Pleased to meetcha, Nick."

Hermione huffed a bit in impatience. "Nick, what were you saying before the Sorting? About the hat and past warnings?"

Jon nodded. "I was wondering a bit about that myself. Wasn't a very happy song for the moment."

"Ew kan zay hatagan." Ron said, his mouth overflowing with food. Hermione looked disgusted, and Harry just didn't look.

Nick seemed to be jolted from his staring at Ron. "Oh, yes! Yes, the hat has given warnings before. Always at a time it detects a period of great danger for the school. And the message is always the same. Stand together and be strong from within."

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." Jon said. Hermione and Harry looked at him. He shrugged. "President Abraham Lincoln."

Harry looked clueless, but Hermione looked impressed. So did Nick. "A very true saying, young man."

"Ow duz at knw theresdanger iffits ahat?" Ron asked again.

Jonathan looked at Ron. "Were you born in a barn, or do you just live in one?"

Harry stifled a laugh. Hermione snorted. Ron swallowed at glared at Jon. "I said, how can it know when the school is in danger if it's a hat."

Nick shrugged. "I'm not sure. It does live in Dumbledore's office, so no doubt it hears things."

Harry looked thoughtful. "And it wants all the Houses to be friends?" He looked back at the Slytherin table. "Fat chance."

"Easy, Harry," Jon said. "One bad apple does not spoil the whole bunch."

Hermione looked at Jon. "That's not how the saying goes."

Jon shrugged. "Truth, though."

"I must say I agree." Nick said. "Peaceful cooperation, that's the key. We ghosts may belong to different houses, but we maintain friendships. Despite the competiveness between Gryffindor and Slytherin, I would never consider seeking an argument with the Bloody Baron."

"That's because you're terrified of him." Ron said.

Nick looked offended. Jon looked to Harry for some indication of how to handle the impending argument, and found Harry looking intently at his own food. Jon glanced at Ron and then decided to do the same, eating his food and listening to Ron, Nick and Hermione tussle.

After the rest of the room finished eating, Dumbledore stood up. "Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices. First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds – and a few of our older students ought to know by now too."

Jon noticed that Harry, Ron and Hermione all smirked at each other. "Oh, there's a story there." The three chuckled as Dumbledore continued. "Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of others things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list not fastened to Mr. Filch's office door.

"We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons. Also, we are delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Everyone clapped, but it felt fake. "And there was much rejoicing." Jon quipped. Harry, Hermione and Ron looked at him puzzled. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail? You guys are British, right?"

Harry opened his mouth, but Dumbledore continued. "Tryouts for the House Quidditch teams will take place…"

There was an annoying sounding "hem hem," causing Dumbledore to stop and look at a woman who was extremely short, extremely ugly, and was wearing a sweater Jon was convinced was made from the skin of a slayed pink alien Muppet. Dumbledore sat down, giving the woman the floor. "Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome." Her voice was just as annoying as Jon suspected it would be, and from the reaction of the students and teachers in the hall to her interruption of Dumbledore, Jon quickly figured out who, and what, she was. 'She's from the Ministry. That's what Dumbledore meant, close scrutiny of the school. They sent in an enforcer.'

Professor Umbridge continued. "Well, it is so wonderful to be back at Hogwarts, I must say. And to see such happy little faces looking back at me."

Jon felt his eyes go wide before he wiped his face with his hands. "Oh, for cryin' out load. Do we look like we're seven?" Ron snorted, but brought it under control. Harry looked at Jon sympathetically. "Too right."

Umbridge cleared her throat with that annoying "hem, hem" before continuing. "Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation…"

Jon rolled his eyes. He'd heard enough of these speeches through the war, mostly from the R.W.A. The base message was always the same: things are going to be done our way, and you'd better step in line. Jon tuned her out for the rest of her speech, instead trying to figure out how he was going to avoid getting detention from this professor. He also started hearing the Mission Impossible theme in the back of his head.

He started paying attention again when Dumbledore started clapping. "Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating." Jon noticed Dumbledore was looking at him, the look on his face conveyed a simple message: Mind your P's and Q's.

"It was very illuminating." Hermione mumbled.

Ron coughed. "Don't tell me you enjoyed that, Hermione. That was the dullest speech I've ever heard!"

"I said illuminating, no enjoyable. It explained a great many things."

Harry's eyebrows went up. "Really? It just sounded like waffle to me."

Hermione looked at Harry with a disappointed look on her face. "There was some important stuff hidden in that waffle."

"Really?" Ron said, disbelief in his voice.

"Things like, 'progress for progress's sake must be avoided,' or 'pruning where we find practices that should be prohibited'."

Ron looked impatient. "Are you going to tell us what that means?"

"I'll tell you what it means," Jon interrupted. "It means your government is sticking its nose into how things are done at Hogwarts. Maybe even trying to change some things."

Hermione looked at Jon warily. "Now how did you figure that out?"

'Oops.' "I saw her name mentioned in a couple newspapers. She held a position in the Ministry, if I remember right. Besides," Jon smirked. "We Americans are naturally distrustful of the government. Especially yours."

Harry and Ron both chuckled. Hermione looked thoughtfully at Jon when everyone in the hall got up to head for his or her dorms. Hermione pulled Ron up to guide the first year students, admonishing him for calling them midgets. Jon looked at Harry. "Are they always like that?"

Harry looked at him. "Like what?"

"Do they always fight with each other? Get on each other's nerves?"

Harry shrugged. "Yeah, I guess." They stood up and made their way to the exit of the hall. The first years were following Ron and Hermione. Jon saw Euan with another young blonde boy and they were talking animatedly. Jon waved to Euan who waved back. The blonde boy looked terrified and Jon wondered if he was being intimidating again when he saw the blonde whisper in Euan's ear and suddenly Euan looked frightened. The only difference was he wasn't looking at Jon; he was looking at Harry.

Harry's shoulders slumped. Jon patted him on back. "I thought you said I was the intimidating one?" Harry grinned, but it was halfhearted at best. "Don't worry about it, Harry."

Harry mumbled something Jon didn't catch, then he looked at Ron and Hermione. "See you two later!"

Jon and Harry made their way towards the dorms. Jon was noticing that a lot of the students were either mumbling or pointing as they walked by. "Are they pointing at you or me?" He asked Harry.

Harry's voice was gloomy. "Probably me."

"How come?"

Harry seemed uncomfortable. "I'd rather not talk about it."

Jon nodded. "Fair enough."

The two boys came to a stop at a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. Jon looked at Harry. "Common room entrances marked by paintings here, too?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, only problem is, I don't, erm. I don't know the password."

"No password, no entrance." The fat lady said, her nose in the air.

Jon sighed when a voice came up from behind them. "Harry! I know it. Oh." It was Neville. "Hi, umm. Hi, Jonathan."

Jon made sure his posture was as casual as possible. "Hey Neville." Jon saw Neville was protectively carrying a small gray cactus. "Nice cactus."

Neville flushed. "Oh, thanks. It's not a cactus, really. But it's still pretty cool. It's also the password. Mimbulus Mimbletonia!"

"Correct!" The fat lady sang and the portrait swung open.

Jon stepped back to let the other boys go in first. "Well, you heard the fat lady."

Harry and Neville grinned at the joke as the three boys crawled the hole to the common room. The common room was fantastic in Jon's opinion; warm and medieval, with worn out chairs and sofas and creaky old tables. A fire was crackling, illuminating the room with soft firelight. Harry waved to two other boys, the twins Jon saw at King's Cross that looked a bit like Ron. "Those are Ron's older brothers, Fred and George." Harry explained to Jon.

"I can see the resemblance."

Harry and Neville chuckled as the three boys made their way upstairs to the dormitories. Jon had no idea where he was supposed to go, so he stayed with Harry as Harry opened the door to a room. Two other boys were already there, setting up their beds. Neville squeezed in beside Jon and made for his bunk. There were only five bunks, and Jon noticed his stuff wasn't here. Harry looked back at him. "Umm. I'm not sure where you're supposed to be. Maybe another dorm?"

Jon nodded. "Probably. I'll find it here in a minute."

The other two boys turned and saw him. One was about Harry's height with sandy hair and pale skin; the other was taller than Jon, with dark skin and hair. They both walked up to him, the one with dark skin reaching him first. "Hi, I'm Dean, Dean Thomas. This is Seamus Finnigan. You're the American, right?"

Jon nodded, shaking their hands. "Yep. Jonathan Lionheart. Good to meetcha."

Dean nodded. "It's good to meet you." Dean and Seamus walked back to their beds.

Jon nodded at Harry. "See you tomorrow Harry."

"Yeah, see you."

Jon stepped out of the door way and headed back for the common room. He ran into Ron as he was coming up the stairs, apparently done with his prefect duties. "Hey Ron, you wouldn't umm. Happen to know where I'm squeezed into, would you?"

Ron looked surprised by the question. "No. Sorry. But let's go find out."

They climbed back up the stairs but stopped as they heard a commotion coming from Harry's dorm. Jonathan looked at Ron. "That doesn't sound good."

"Too right. Better see what's going on."

They walked into to the still open doorway and found Harry, one knee on his bed, one foot on the floor, with his wand pointed at Seamus, who looked like he was ready for a boxing match. Jon put his hand on his wand while Ron stepped inside. "What the bloody hell is going on?"

Seamus took one step towards Harry. "He's havin' a go at me mam."

Ron shook his head. "Harry wouldn't do that. He met your mother, we both did. We like her…"

"Well that was BEFORE she started believing every word that comes out of the Daily Prophet!" Harry yelled.

Realization dawned on both Jonathan and Ron's faces. "Oh." Ron mumbled.

Seamus looked at Harry, then to Ron, and then his eyes settled on Jonathan, who was leaning against the door frame, hand still resting hear his wand. "Y'know what," Seamus fumed, glaring back at Harry. "He's right. I don't want to share a dorm with him anymore. He's gone mad."

Ron steamed. "You're out of order there, Seamus."

"Oh, I'm outta order? You're gonna tell me you believe everything he's said, about You-Know-Who and what happened to Cedric?"

"You bet I do!" Ron shouted.

Seamus snorted. "Then you've gone mad with him!"

Ron stepped forward. "Well that's bad luck for you then, because I'm also a prefect! So I'd watch what you say, or you'll end up with detention."

Seamus fumed at Ron, then spun around, yanked his posters off the wall and threw all his loose stuff in his trunk. He spun back to Ron. "Then I'm goin' to a new room."

Ron growled. "Fine with me." He led Seamus out of the dorm and up the stairs.

Jon stepped aside as the two boys skulked past. Harry was still standing with his wand drawn. "Harry," Jon said.

Harry turned to him. "What!?"

"Put the wand away. You don't need it. Pretty sure we're all on your side here." He looked at Neville and Dean. "Right?"

Dean shrugged. "I don't have a problem with Harry. I'm sorry Seamus acted like that. He can be a bit…" Dean trailed off, turned back to his bed and kept getting ready.

Neville spoke up. "My gran always said the Prophet was rubbish. Cancelled our subscription this summer." He looked at Harry. "I believe you."

Harry seemed to calm down knowing he had at least one genuine ally in the room. "Thanks, Neville." He looked at Jon. "You're on my side?"

Jon nodded. "Like I said on the train, you're my friend."

Harry calmed down a lot more, putting his wand on his nightstand. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." He looked at the now vacant bed that was pointed right at the door. "Sooo… Is his bunk free?" Harry chuckled softy when a bumping and banging sound caught their attention.

Ron was carrying Jon's backpack and trunk into the room. "Bloody git! Who the hell's he think he is, anyway!?" He dropped the trunk at backpack at the base of the now vacant bed, spinning to Jon. "You're in here, now. But if you give Harry a tough time…"

Jon raised his hands in surrender, impressed at Ron's loyalty to Harry. "Hey, we just covered that. I'm on Harry's side."

Ron grumbled a bit, then went over to his bed and started getting undressed. Jon walked up to his trunk, brought it back to full size and started getting ready for bed himself. It was becoming clear to Jon that Harry Potter was sorely outnumbered in his belief of Voldemort's return, and the sheer amount of flak Harry was getting convinced Jon that Harry was telling the truth. 'This is gonna be a long year.'

o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o

Jon bolted up in bed, clutching his wand and pointing it straight at the door. His sleep had been deep but not terribly restful, and his dreams had revolved around the battle at Ilvermorny. He shook his head, looking around the dorm. Ron, Harry, Neville and Dean were all still asleep, but Harry's bed a disaster. 'Nightmares too, huh.'

Jon got out of bed as quietly as he could and started throwing on his Ilvermorny tracksuit and sneakers. He wrapped his wand holster around himself and tucked his wand into it, making for the door. Once he reached the common room he was surprised so see that no one else was awake. It was probably a couple of hours before the day actually started, but Jon was used to other students starting early.

Climbing out the portrait hole of the Gryffindor common room, Jonathan started making his way down to the doors that they came in last night. As he approached the old oaken doors, a dusty looking cat bolted under his feet and up another set of stairs, causing Jon to trip and fall. Dusting himself off he shook his head. 'Crazy cat.'

He stepped outside and was greeted with a breathtaking sight. The moon was shining brightly, and it lit everything in an ethereal and otherworldly light. The Scottish highlands around the castle rose out all around, and the grounds were glowing. Not knowing much about the lay of the land, Jon decided to simply run the road that led back to the main gate.

Running became a staple part of Jonathan's life when he stopped managing to sleep all night long. He could grab naps for an hour or so throughout the day, but he could never sleep for more than five hours at most. Since he seemed to do fine physically and mentally on such a short amount of sleep, he just started using the extra time to his advantage. He'd read books, paint, or listen to music. But mostly he ran. It gave him a chance to be alone with his thoughts, and he could talk out loud to himself without anyone thinking he was too crazy.

"Sucks to be Harry." He started his out-loud thinking. "Everyone except those closest to him seems to be against him. And they don't seem to be much support. That leaves… Quite a weight on his shoulders. And he's very, VERY defensive. All the time. He think's everyone is out to get him." It made sense to Jon, though. During the Triwizard, another champion from the school had died. From what he'd been told by Tobias, Harry watched someone murder Cedric Diggory. "That's a helluva thing to see. And, if you haven't… You can't understand it."

Jon stopped running after he'd crossed the viaduct and stared out at the lake. "As close as Ron and Hermione seem to be to Harry, I don't think they get it. I don't think they get what Harry's been through. And I don't think they get what their constant bickering is doing to him." Jon shook his head and started running again.

Tobias and Dumbledore were right. Harry needed someone that could understand what he was going through. And Jonathan certainly knew what it was like to lose friends. "I need to get him… To open up about Cedric if I can." That would be a tough order, Jonathan knew. It seemed that anytime anyone even thought of bringing the subject up, Harry sealed himself up behind a thousand walls and started striking out at whoever pressed him. Jon had seen that to. Things like PTSD and survivors' guilt were common in the war, and Harry seemed to have those things in spades. He didn't seem to trust anyone, and while he could laugh and show other emotions, everything was wrapped in anger and pain. 'Someone's got to break him out of it. Someone's got to get to the bottom of Harry Potter.'

"Guess that's… Why I'm here." Jon panted as he finally reached the main gate. He put his hands on his head to help catch his breath. "I just hope I can do it." He walked in circles a bit to catch his breath. It was an easy run, not quite what he'd been hoping for. He wanted more of a challenge. The sun was coming up and Jon noticed the Quidditch patch for the first time. It was almost identical to the one at Ilvermorny, and most importantly, the grounds around it were open and seemingly without hazards. Jon smiled. "It'll do." He made for the patch.

It was roughly thirty minutes by the time he'd made it back to the oak doors of the school. The run still hadn't been quite as challenging as he'd hoped, so he'd gone faster and did a couple laps around the patch. When he finally made it back to the doors of Hogwarts, he was sweaty and a bit muddier than he'd planned, but he was in a good mood as he opened the door. That good mood wasn't going to last.

"AHA! Troublemaker! Sneak! What sort of mischief have you been into!" A gravelly voice was yelling as Jon managed to close the door. He turned to see a hunchbacked man shove him back against the door, glaring up at him with pale, bulging eyes. "What are you doing out of your common room!? Tearing up the grounds! Planting some nice little pranks on the grounds for Mr. Filch, eh?"

Jon held his hands up defensively, trying to back away from Mr. Filch's horrible breath. "No sir. I was out for a run…"

Mr. Filch backed up, an evil look on his face. "You're that new student. The yank! Aren't ya! Dumbledore speaks so highly of you, but you yanks are all the same. Think the rules don't apply to you."

"Now hang on a sec…"

"And your feet! Look at the mud! I have to clean that up, you know! You ungrateful… Come with me. We're going to see your head of house right now!"

Another voice came from around a corner. "His head of house is already here, Mr. Filch. Please keep your voice down. And unhand my student, he isn't a threat to you." 'Yeah, right.' Jonathan thought.

Professor McGonagall stepped up to the two men. "Mr. Lionheart, what are you doing out of bed?"

"I was going for a run, ma'am. Up to main gate, a couple laps around the Quidditch patch, then back."

McGonagall looked at Mr. Filch. "I understand he's broken some rules, Mr. Filch, however I think one pass can be given."

"Now wait here! The rules are the rules…"

"And Mr. Lionheart will be completely brought up to speed on all of them this morning in my office. Thank you for finding him, Mr. Filch. Come along, Jonathan."

Jon glared at Filch before following McGonagall down a few hallways to her office. Once they were inside, she motioned to a chair across from her desk. "Please take a seat, Mr. Lionheart."

Jon looked at her as he was sitting. "I'm sorry for causing trouble, ma'am. It's just a habit of mine, running this early. I didn't think about any rules."

McGonagall nodded. "I wouldn't normally be so lenient with a student, Mr. Lionheart, but I know some of your background." Jonathan stiffened. "Please relax, I'm in full support of your being here. I suspect I only know a fraction of your history, and I'm not going to pry. Dumbledore says you're needed, and frankly I agree." Her voice got soft and quiet. "Harry has been through more than anyone should ever have to go through. I'm quite fond of Mr. Potter, most of the staff is. So do me a favor and do what you can for him. Even if the only thing you can do is understand some of his pain."

Jon nodded. "I'm doing my best, ma'am."

"Good." She regained her strict composure. "I'll write a letter of permission for you to run, along with a map and set of rules as to where you can and cannot go. Please adhere to them; this in itself is a bending of the current rules, and Mr. Filch will look for any reason to give you a detention. I had also wanted to speak with you about a couple of classes. As you're presently scheduled, you are signed up for arithmancy, however I can get you into divination if you'd prefer. That would also allow you to be with Harry more."

Jon grimaced. "I'm not much for divination, ma'am. As much as it might help to be with Harry as often as possible, I think I'll stay put."

A small smile crossed McGonagall's face. "I quite understand." She wrote some notes on a parchment. "You'll get your schedule at breakfast with the rest of the students. You'll want to head up and get ready. You need a shower."

Jon flushed. "Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am."

"Don't apologize, just shower."

He almost saluted again, but stopped at an awkward wave. McGonagall noticed and watched Jonathan make his way to the door. 'I'd bet I know nothing about your life, Mr. Lionheart.'

o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o

Jon climbed the stairs that led him back into the boys' dorm and entered the room he now shared with Harry. Both Harry and Ron were still in bed, but awake. Dean was gone and Neville was climbing out of bed. Ron looked at Jon as he came in. "Bloody hell, mate. Where have you been?"

Jon looked at himself and realized that he was muddier than he'd thought. "Out for a run."

Neville looked at him nervously. "You could get in trouble for that."

Jon nodded. "Yeah, I ran into Mr. Filch. Not the nicest guy in the world, is he?"

Ron chuckled. "You get detention?"

"Nope. Professor McGonagall saved me just before he did."

Harry nodded as he climbed out of bed. He was moving pretty sluggish.

"Sleep alright?" Jon asked, collecting a change of clothes.

Harry shook his head. "Not really."

"Well, I'll grab a shower and we can go get some coffee in you." He paused. "Ya'll do drink coffee, right? Tell me you don't just drink tea?"

The other three boys chuckled. "We have coffee."

"Thank God." He made his way for the door. "Let's get cleaned up. I could use some black magic myself."

o – o – o – o – o – o – o

Sorry this took so lung to update. I wanted to plan out a little more and avoid plot holes.

I'm still running awfully close to parallel, but I'm working to slowly peel this away and into it's own story. It's taking longer than I'd hoped or planned. If anyone has ideas, suggestions or advice, I'm all-ears. I'd like people to like this story too, so

Well, I'm already working on the next chapter where hopefully the effects of someone like Jonathan in Harry's life will be more pronounced and meaningful.

I'm keeping this in the 90's, so Jonathan's pop culture references should all be okay. If I ever make one that doesn't fit, though, let me know.

Just let me know anything, really. Feedback helps make stories better. Even if you want to say it sucks.