A/N: Some have wondered why Harry doesn't know it was Lockhart who hurt him since his alters informed him they hadn't fought back because they couldn't get Harry expelled. First, there are other teachers in the school that are never mentioned because Harry and his friends don't take their classes. It could have been the professor from Muggle Studies, or any of the other classes we don't know who the professor is.

And even if he were to think immediately of Lockhart because he was Harry's least trusted teacher, it's not something he'd really want to face so he'd try not to dwell on trying to figure out who did it. That is why he still doesn't know. He'll have to merge with Kit before he remembers.

Freedom and Hogwarts

Harry ran from the parlor and upstairs to pack. It didn't take him long to gather all his things and pack them neatly in his school trunk. With a sigh, he looked around the room that had been his for nearly two months. He really was going to miss this place. He spent most of his time walking around the house saying goodbye silently. He lingered longest in the game room. He had wanted to beat his last score at Snitch Hording. He was sure he could.

Omi found him in the music room sitting at the piano when the hour was up, "Is young Harry's trunk ready?"

"Yes, Omi." Harry sighed and stood.

"But you forgot all your clothes." Omi wrung his hands unhappily. "Should I clean them and pack them for you?"

"They are clean already." Harry laughed. "And they're not mine, Omi. I was only borrowing them."

"I will set your trunk downstairs for you, young Harry." Omi said with heavy disappointment before disappearing.

Harry slowly made his way downstairs. His trunk was where Omi had promised it would be. He looked around the hall and mentally revisited the dinning room and the parlor where he had come to understand so much. He was only waiting a few minutes when Snape came down wearing school robes. Harry stiffened. He hadn't seen the man wearing robes since he had woken up here. The attire reminded him of the man's harsh attitude toward him at school.

Severus easily read the boy's expression, "I will not be kind to you at school. I can't. Not if what Gabriel said is true and he saw the Dark Lord's spirit using Quirrell to get the stone. If Voldemort's back, I have to be very careful."

"Why?" Harry asked worriedly.

"That is something I cannot tell you right now. But I give you my word that I don't mean it. It is an act I have to maintain, I cannot tell you why. I will tone it down and I will not use anything I've learned about you here against you. In fact, I do not even plan on telling the Headmaster of your condition. I will leave that up to you. We will be having sessions twice a week, however. I believe I'll give you detentions so we can spend time together without rising suspicions. When we are alone, I will be as I was here. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." Harry gave a trembling smile. "I'd really like that."

"We should go." Severus swished his wand and the trunk dwindled until it fit easily into his pocket. "This place is secret and so is the time you've spent away from your family, so we will step outside and I will apperate us to the end of your street. I will meet you at the Leaky Cauldron. To get there, merely raise your wand and the Knight Bus will come to pick you up."

"Okay." Harry said and then he followed Snape out the front door and into the midmorning sunshine. He barely had time to take a large lungful of the sweet air when Snape's hand fell on his shoulder and the world melted away. He landed hard and staggered. Snape held him up right and waited until he could see straight before releasing him. Harry looked around and found himself at the end of Privet Drive at the park, behind some trees.

"Are you ready?" Severus asked him, eyeing the boy and making sure that being so near home wasn't causing problems.

"Yes, sir." Harry lifted his wand, but Snape shook his head.

"They come very fast. Let me leave first." And he disappeared.

Harry waited a few seconds and was about to raise his wand again when a bush behind him rustled. He spun around, heart beating fast. But all that came out was a rather large black, half-starved dog. It stood stone still and stared with fevered eyes right at Harry's face. Harry chuckled nervously.

"Hello, doggie." He called, but the animal never moved. In fact, Harry thought it may have begun trembling. He was suddenly worried the dog was sick and may attack. He backed up slowly, never looking away from the animal's eyes. He was shocked when he found himself tripping backwards. He cried out, his arms flailing. The dog rushed forward just as a huge bus came careening down the street. Harry rolled back onto the sidewalk and away from both attackers.

The bus came to a screeching halt right in front of him and Harry stared up at the young man who came to greet him. Before getting on, he leaned around the bus to see if he could still see the dog, but it was gone. The ride to the Leaky Cauldron was horrifying. Harry was sure they were going to crash at least a dozen times and his heart was exhausted by all the leaps it had made into his throat. When he stepped off, his legs were shaking and he was very grateful for the steady hand that wrapped around his arm.

"About time." Snape scowled, but his eyes were neutral.

Harry guessed his act had to start even before they got to Hogwarts. He followed his teacher into the dim restaurant and Inn. The bartender and owner was very friendly and showed them a room with a bath that was available. Snape paid for four nights. Harry handed over his trunk and Snape resized it. Hedwig flew through the window and Harry happily stroked her feathers.

"Wow. You really are smart." He praised and the owl cooed and nipped at his ear before flying to the dresser to perch in her open cage.

"I have something for you." Severus spoke up and Harry turned to him expectantly. He felt awkward, so he did it quickly. He took out a necklace from his pocket. The silver chain matched the bracelet, but on the end was a piano, the size of a nickel. Harry took it and admired how real it looked. The wood was brown and the keys were black and white just like the real thing.

"Thank you." He smiled sadly. It was beautiful, but it also made him think of the piano he had to leave behind.

"I have cast several spells on it." Severus explained, looking over at the owl. "It should respond to your voice only. Just place it on the ground and say 'rescind spells' and it will return to its normal size. Saying 'activate spells' will return it to a necklace. It is the same one you've played at the house."

"Sir!" Harry protested, tears in his eyes. "You can't give me…"

"It is yours." Severus turned toward the door. "Remember the rules. Don't step out of line, Mr. Potter."

Harry watched the man leave and was too choked up with tears that he couldn't call for the man to stay. He held the necklace up to look at the piano. His heart loosened and a truly happy smile stretched across his face. There was no clasp, it didn't need one. He slipped the long chain over his head. The piano slipped under his shirt and hung right over his breast bone, invisible and yet he would always be able to feel it.

"Oh, Hedwig! Isn't it wonderful?" He laughed as he pet her feathers. "I have my piano and four days by myself! I wonder when Ron and Hermione will get here."

He looked out the window and saw that it was just past noon. He had plenty of time to explore. He laughed again and bounded out of his room, locking it behind him. Tom gave a wave, Harry waved back, and then he was at the brick wall. He tapped the brick he remembered from his first year with Hagrid and the archway was revealed.

Snape was right about Diagon Alley being busy. The street was teeming with shoppers and families. Harry slid into the crowd easily. He stopped to look into the window of every store, but slowly made his way to the bank. He'd need some money to buy school supplies. And maybe he'd find something for Professor Snape.

xXxXxXx

Diagon Alley was really amazing. Even in the three days he had been there, he still hadn't explored every shop. His favorites were Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor and Quality Quidditch Supplies. He visited them every day, Florean's for an ice cream sundae and the Quidditch store to stare at the new Firebolt. Harry couldn't wait to go back to school and fly again. He had a Nimbus 2000 from first year from Professor McGonagall, but in his daydreams he was flying on the Firebolt instead.

Harry learned many things from watching the crowds in the Alley. Gossip in the wizarding world was surprisingly exactly like it was in the muggle world. He saw wanted posters everywhere for Sirius Black. Most people were talking about that and the prison he escaped from. Some people say he turned the guards and soon a lot of ex-Death Eaters would be escaping. He heard one mother say she was taking her kids and leaving for France until things were safer here. There were even a few rumors that the Minister of Magic had a hand in the convicts escape.

While Harry explored, he slowly gathered his school supplies. He visited the Apothecary, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and Flourish and Blotts. The owner had about cried when he saw Harry, but quickly recovered when Harry assured him he didn't need A Monster Book of Monsters. Harry was astonished at how violent the book was. A few copies were sitting in a cage and tearing each other to pieces.

He did need Unfogging the Future, Intermediate Transfiguration, and The Standard Book of Spells: Grade Three. While getting his Divination book, he saw one on death omens. On the cover was a huge black dog called a Grim. Harry recognized it with a start. It was the same dog that had attacked him while he was waiting for the Knight Bus. Harry hurried from the store, laughing nervously about his gullibility. It had been just a dog after all.

xXxXxXx

"Harry! HARRY!"

It was the last day before school started. Tomorrow the Hogwarts Express would be leaving for Hogsmeade's Station. It was early morning and Harry had just left the Leaky Cauldron to spend his last day among the shops. When he heard his name, he turned and saw his best friends. He smiled widely and quickly made his way over.

Ron and Hermione looked tanned and happy, eating ice cream. Ron had grown several inches and was now a good half a foot taller than Harry and Hermione who shared the same height of five foot. Harry hugged Hermione and Ron pounded his back enthusiastically, already talking a mile a minute about Egypt.

"Have you gotten all your school supplies?" Hermione asked when Ron slowed down.

"Yeah." Harry said as he finished his sundae. "I've been here for days!"

"Well, I still have to get an owl." Hermione said excitedly. "My parents gave me money as an early birthday present and I've always wanted a familiar."

"Great." Ron sighed and patted his pocket. "I need to get Scabbers looked at. I don't think Egypt agreed with him."

Of course, anything his friends undertook turned out to be chaos. Hermione ended up with a bowlegged cat named Crookshanks who absolutely tormented poor Scabbers. Ron and Hermione bickered all the way back to the Leaky Cauldron. Despite all the excitement, Harry was happy to learn his friends would be spending the night with him. He only hoped they'd stop fighting when they got there.

All the Weasleys were getting ready for dinner. Ginny blushed red when she saw Harry and Harry did the same. He felt really uncomfortable not being able to remember rescuing her. Fred and George were already plotting about pranks during school. Harry was sure that all the teachers were counting down the last three years the pranksters had left. They were little terrors in their first four years and now that they were starting their fifth everyone was ready to see them go. Percy was as prim and self-important as always and was already wearing his Head Boy badge proudly.

Going to bed, Harry watched Ron and Percy fight. Percy had lost his badge and Ron was looking for Scabbers' medicine. Harry didn't like listening to the boys argue so viciously so he offered to go look for the items downstairs. He was about to turn the corner into the dinning area when he heard more voices arguing. It was Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. They were fighting about him. It seemed Mr. Weasley wanted to tell him about Black being after him while Mrs. Weasley thought he was just a child and should be allowed to be happy without scaring him half to death.

Feeling very uncomfortable about getting between the loving couple, Harry hid so they wouldn't see him when he passed. He darted out, found the rat medicine, and hurried back to his room. Ron thanked him and they all went to bed. Harry lay in bed thinking. He remembered that this year he was old enough to go to Hogsmeade on weekends with his friends, but he knew that wouldn't happen now. Not with everyone so upset over Black.

xXxXxXx

Silas and Gabriel were just as unhappy, but for different reasons than Harry. Silas was more concerned about the Grim death omen. He didn't necessarily believe that they were destined to die because of it, but thought they should be careful. Black was a real threat and if was after their life, it wouldn't be a bad idea forego unnecessary risks.

As for Gabriel, he was frustrated that they were going to be watched so closely even while at school. He was independent and capable of defending them if Harry got into trouble. He liked their freedom on Diagon Alley and wasn't eager to exchange that for a prison-like school.

xXxXxXx

The next morning, they ate and then climbed into the Ministry provided cars. It seemed even the wizarding government was concerned with his safety this year. They were running late and by the time they got to King's Cross Station they all had to hurry to get aboard. Harry was pulled aside by Mr. Weasley before he could follow his friends.

"Harry, I've got to tell you something."

"It's alright, Mr. Weasley." Harry interrupted. "I already know about Black being after me."

"How?" Mr. Weasley looked shocked.

"I've been on Diagon Alley for days. It's all the people can gossip about."

"Well, promise me…"

"That I'll be careful." Harry rolled his eyes.

"No, that you won't go looking for Black." Mr. Weasley said sternly.

"Why would I do that?" Harry frowned and the train began to whistle.

Mr. Weasley pushed him toward the train, all the while demanding that he promise. Harry was onboard and leaving the station before he could answer. He pulled his friends with him to find an empty compartment. Maybe they could help him figure out why everyone was so strange about Black.

All the compartments were full so they had to settle for one occupied. Harry chose the one with the new Professor Lupin because the man was sound asleep in the corner. Whispering, he told Ron and Hermione about Black and the strange way everyone act around him when the name came up. Ron and Hermione took the news badly. They were both scared of the convict and Harry just didn't get it. It was just one man and he was safe at Hogwarts.

"What's that?" Hermione asked as she heard a sudden muffled high-pitch screeching.

Ron stood and dug in Harry's trunk. Harry opened his mouth to protest, but the redhead was already pulling out the Sneak-a-scope. The students looked sharply at the professor, but the man merely shifted in his sleep, his golden brown hair falling across his face. Ron quickly stuffed the screaming thing back into Harry's trunk, using his clothes to muffle it better before slamming the lid.

"It's a cheep one." Ron blushed.

"Well, well. If it isn't Potty and Weasel." Malfoy drawled as he opened their door.

"Don't, Malfoy." Hermione warned. "The Professor is sleeping. We don't want to wake him."

Malfoy looked over at the teacher and sneered, but he backed out without further taunts. Harry smiled at Hermione, proud of the way she had defused the situation while Ron ranted on how he wasn't going to take crap from Malfoy any longer. They talked quietly for the rest of the train ride. Professor Lupin never woke.

They were almost there when the train slowly came to a stop and all the lights went out. Ginny and Neville stumbled into the compartment, frightened. They were bickering with Hermione and Ron when Professor Lupin stood with cold fire crackling in his hand. He was tall and thin. His face was angular and tired-looking, but his light brown eyes were alert.

"Quiet!"

The urgency in his voice silenced everyone. Just then the compartment door opened and in the faint light the professor was carrying, Harry made out a gray skeletal hand. Its fingers were like claws and the light seemed to glisten off of the thing's skin, as if it were damp. Harry couldn't hear anything. Not even his own ragged breathing. He knew he had to be panting; he could feel his heart rapidly pounding at his chest. But there was nothing.

The hand disappeared with slow grace into the folds of a black ragged robe. Harry's horrified eyes slowly rose to the creature's head. He felt faint with relief that the thing's face was covered by a black cowl. But the relief was short-lived as pain began to build in his head. He felt like it was being compressed into the size of a marble.

The monster seemed to look right at him as it drew in a rattling breath, the sound as loud as a waterfall in the absolute silence. Harry gurgled, his throat so tight he was unable to scream, before his eyes rolled up in his head and he fell unconscious.

xXxXxXx

Silas watched as Boy's door was slammed open, but Harry's image didn't form on the couch. Gabriel looked confused and poised ready to fight, but Silas knew that this wasn't something Gabriel could combat. Suddenly, they were slammed to the floor by unbearable pressure and Boy and Harry screamed in unison. The pressure built with every second that passed and soon Silas, Gabriel, Kit, and Rose were screaming in agony as well. Demon's door began to tremble ominously.

Just when Silas was sure they were all going to die, Boy's door slammed and they heard weak crying within the cupboard. The two older teens were lying on the floor, limp. They were too exhausted to move and both were covered in sweat. They lay there weakly for several long minutes. Eventually, Rose and Kit's cries tapered off and Boy was merely whimpering from inside the cupboard.

"What was that?" Gabriel gasped.

"That thing forced Boy Out with Harry. Harry isn't ready to merge with Boy and it was tearing his mind apart. If it had lasted any longer, we would all be dead and Harry insane."

"Shit." Gabriel whispered.

xXxXxXx

"Harry. Harry! Wake up!"

He opened his blurry eyes and found himself lying on the floor. Ron and Hermione were kneeling beside him and over their shoulders he could just make out Neville, Ginny, and the new professor's worried faces. He felt sick. Sweat coated his face and was dripping down his back, but he felt cold. Hands shaking, he reached for Ron and was levered into a sitting position still on the floor. Everyone was watching him and it set him more on edge.

"Are you okay?" Ron asked nervously.

"Yeah." Harry's voice was raspy and hoarse. He ran his hands over his face and turned dazed green eyes back to his friends. "What happened? Who was screaming?"

"No one screamed." Ron bit his lip and turned anxious eyes to the professor.

"But I heard the most horrible screaming…" Harry whispered and jumped when he heard a hard snap. Professor Lupin was smiling kindly at him and handing him a large chunk of chocolate. Harry hesitated, but took it. The others all got a piece too.

"Eat it." The man encouraged. He had a soothing tenor voice. "It will help, I promise."

"Wh-what was t-t-that thing?" Neville stuttered.

"A dementor." Lupin answered gravely. "It's gone now. Eat your chocolate and I'll be right back."

The lights had come back on so they weren't too frightened by the professor leaving. Everyone was pale and scared. Ginny and Harry looked the worst effected, though Neville came in a close third. Ron and Hermione looked startled, but not greatly disturbed. It was Ron who broke the tense silence.

"Are you sure you're okay, Harry? I thought you were having a fit or something. You went sort of rigid and fell right out of your seat and started twitching ---"

"And Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked toward the dementor, and pulled out his wand." Hermione cut in, turning the conversation away from Harry's collapse. Harry smiled weakly at her in gratitude. "He said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the dementor didn't move and the Professor muttered something and a white thing came out of his wand and the dementor left."

Harry said nothing as the others began to talk about the dementor and how they felt when it had come in. He was still in shock. He could clearly hear the screaming still. It was awful. Shivering, he pushed away the memory, but it still sat in the back of his mind. The door opened and Lupin came back in.

"Please. Eat the chocolate. I haven't poisoned it." He said gently and everyone took a bite in unison. Harry's eyes widened as he felt warmth return to his hands and feet. Lupin came and sat next to Harry. He asked gently, "Are you feeling better, Harry?"

"Yeah." Harry nodded tensely.

When they reached the station ten minutes later, everyone bolted from the train. Harry had never been so glad to see the school. He stared out the window at the lit-up castle all the way, oblivious to the worried glances his friends were sharing behind his back. Things didn't get better when they reached the school.

"Is what I heard Weaselette saying true? You fainted, Potter?" Malfoy asked in delight.

Ginny was standing a little behind him with her friends and stared in horror when she realized she had been overheard. Embarrassed and still sick, Harry ignored him and made his way inside. But McGonagall stopped him, asking for Hermione and him to come up to her office before the feast. He went without objection. He didn't really feel like being stared at right now. McGonagall's office was warm and had several comfy chairs. The two Gryffindors settled into them while the professor took the seat behind the desk.

"Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead saying you took ill on the train." McGonagall explained just as Pomfrey came in.

Harry went red. Though he did feel ill, he hated the attention he was getting over this. "I'm fine." He said firmly as he stood to leave. But Pomfrey just pushed him back into the chair and looked him over. Harry seethed while she worked. When she finally released him, Harry ran from the room, barely catching McGonagall's order that he wait outside for Hermione.

A hand fell on his shoulder as he stepped into the hallway. He spun in fright, only to relax completely at seeing it was Snape. The Potion Master pulled him into a shadowed alcove and asked him if he were well. Harry had hated it when Pomfrey checked him over, but was strangely comfortable when Snape did the same thing.

"Why did the dementor affect me so badly?" Harry asked tiredly.

"I think it has to do with your condition." Severus answered calmly, though his eyes still held worry. "I recommend you stay very far away from them in the future."

"No problem." Harry assured, wrapping his arms around his chest.

"Remember I will be giving you detentions so that we can meet twice a week to talk." Severus reminded, knowing they had little time before Hermione joined them. He gave the boy a magic compass. "That will guide you to my rooms should you have need of me any other time. And if it is an emergency, the bracelet will still summon me."

"Thank you." Harry sighed and leaned against the wall.

Severus nodded and gripped the boy's shoulder before striding away. Hermione stepped from the office just as Snape was out of sight. She looked happy and excited. Harry didn't ask. Ron was saving them seats at the feast. They had missed the Sorting. The redhead didn't seem to be too happy with being left behind, but that was forgotten as Lupin and Hagrid were introduced as new teachers. They cheered louder than everybody.

"Look at Snape." Ron whispered as they were getting ready to leave.

Harry looked over and saw that the dark-eyed man wasn't just staring angrily, but with soul deep loathing at Lupin. He bit his lip. Why did Snape not like him? It looked way more personal than jealousy over the DADA position. Maybe he could ask? But Harry doubted he would. He had come to trust the professor and maybe even like him, but he'd never willingly provoke his wrath.

xXxXxXx

The first day of class came and Harry was again treated to Malfoy putting on a skit of him fainting before a dementor. He again ignored it and settled in with his House for breakfast. Minutes later they were going to their first class, Divination. The whole way Ron was bugging Hermione about her overlapping classes, but their friend was very reluctant to talk about it or explain past, "I can handle it, Ron. Leave it alone."

They were panting by the time they arrived at Divination. The room was at the top of the North Tower and was a cross between a stuffy attic and an old-fashioned tea shop. Professor Trelawney was just as exotic, looking like a huge human bug the way her glasses enlarged her eyes. She put on a good show before telling them to read each other's tea leaves.

"You've got a crooked sort of cross…" Harry mumbled over Ron's cup and used his other hand to look through the text book for its meaning. "That means 'trials and suffering' – sorry, Ron – but there's a thing that could be the sun… hang on… that means 'great happiness'… so you're going to suffer but be very happy?"

"You need your Inner Eye checked if you ask me." Ron snickered. "Okay. My turn… There's a blob a bit like a bowler hat. Maybe you're going to work for the Ministry of Magic… But this way it looks more like an acorn… What's that?"

"'A windfall, unexpected gold.'" Harry answered as he found the right symbol in the book.

"Great you can lend me some." Ron joked before looking back into the cup.

But Trelawney had heard their quiet laughter and took Harry's cup from Ron. "Let me see that."

xXxXxXx

Harry sat silently at lunch while Ron and Hermione fought on either side of him over the truthfulness of the Grim being in his cup. When he admitted to seeing a large black dog on Privet Drive, Ron looked like he had already died and Hermione became even louder in her belief that Divination was rubbish. Thankfully they had Care of Magical Creatures next and everyone was soon distracted.

The class stared in awe at the hippogriffs Hagrid led to them. The creatures had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but the front legs wings, and heads of giant eagles. They had terrifying, cruel, steel colored beaks, and the deadly talons on their front feet were half a foot long. Large orange eyes pinned you to the ground with fear when the hippogriff looked directly at you.

"Right, who wants to go first?" Hagrid asked joyfully after introducing and explaining the creatures to everyone. "No one?" He asked with a pleading look.

"I'll do it." Gabriel grinned in excitement at the challenge. It was surprisingly easy to come Out, but attributed it to Harry being shaky since the dementor's attack. He ignored Silas' groan of despair in the back of his head and approached Hagrid and a hippogriff.

At the teacher's direction, he didn't blink and bowed low. The hippogriff didn't respond so he began to back away. But then it got down on its knees in an unmistakable bow. Gabriel smiled and stepped forward to touch its beak. Hagrid was booming his approval, but Gabriel wasn't really listening. He was about to go back In when Hagrid lifted him and settled him on the hippogriff's back.

"Go on an' ride 'em, 'Arry!" Hagrid said happily as he slapped the creature's rump.

Gabriel whooped and gripped the feathers securely as he flew a circle around the lake. After ten minutes, they headed back toward the ground. It was a rough landing, but he balanced expertly. When the hippogriff came to a stop, he slid off and walked gracefully toward the gate in the paddock. I'm victorious once again, he thought with a grin before allowing Harry to resurface.

Harry looked around in surprise. Instead of standing with a hushed and frightful crowd, he was now in the paddock with the hippogriffs and so was everyone else. They were talking and bowing, and many were even touching the creatures on the beak. He realized that he must have lost time while one of his alters was Out and looked nervously around to see if anyone had noticed.

His eyes fell on Malfoy who was disdainfully patting a hippogriff. He drawled an insult about the creature's intelligence to his friends and the hippogriff became furious, lashing out at the boy with steel talons. Malfoy screamed and Hagrid wrestled the creature back into its collar before scooping the blonde up and racing him to the hospital wing.

xXxXxXx

That night Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sneaking out of the castle to visit Hagrid. All day everyone had been badmouthing him as a teacher and all the Slytherins were demanding that he be fired. They had seen the half-giant moping miserably around the school grounds and had decided to go and try to cheer him up.

They were successful, but once Hagrid was no longer depressed he yelled at them for leaving the castle after dark and walked them back to school. Snape had been passing when they came in and coldly gave Harry a detention to be served on Wednesday night for leading his peers into danger. Hagrid tried to get him out of it, but Harry shook his head.

xXxXxXx

Harry knocked on the potion classroom's door before pushing it open. Snape was sitting behind his desk and nodded when he came into the room. After casting several spells to ensure their privacy, Snape gestured for him to sit at the front table. Harry did so with a tired sigh. The man's black eyes rested on him for a long minute before speaking.

"How are you?"

"Fine, sir." Harry answered immediately and then smiled sheepishly when his teacher raised a disapproving eyebrow. "Well, I lost time during Care of Magical Creatures. I remember the class starting and I came back right before Malfoy was injured."

"Do you know who came Out?" Severus asked curiously.

"I think it was Gabriel." Harry hedged. He had written to his alters in his journal after getting back from Hagrid's and knew for a fact it had been Gabriel. The alter had only said it looked like fun and Harry seemed a bit shaky so he took over. "It made me nervous that someone might notice I was acting differently, but no one did so I didn't mind so much anymore."

"Do you normally switch with your alters during school?" Severus was very concerned. He had thought the child was making progress. Was he getting worse instead?

"I don't think so. I mean besides those times when Gabriel came Out to fight." Harry shook his head.

"I'd like to consult with Silas." Severus decided. "Do you mind?"

"No, sir." Harry closed his eyes and relaxed. When he opened them again, his whole expression had shifted into something weary and mature. "Good evening, Professor Snape."

"Are you well?" Severus had come around his desk by this point and was leaning back against the front so he was closer to the boy.

Silas smiled jadedly, "Why ask a question you know the answer to?"

"What is the problem?"

"Dementor." Silas answered shortly, eyes hardening. "We can't be afflicted like that again."

"What happened?" Severus asked seriously, face pale with worry.

"Dementors draw a person's worse memories up to the front of their consciousness. For Harry, that meant Boy was slammed forward with him when he wasn't ready or prepared. If Professor Lupin hadn't forced the dementor away when he did, we would be dead and Harry would be insane. Harry still hasn't recovered and all the barriers between us are a bit weak, thus Gabriel's escapade with the hippogriff."

Severus couldn't help smirking in response to the disgust in Silas' voice when he spoke of the other alter. "So no progress with Kit?"

"None." Silas sighed. "Survival and recovering are higher priorities right now."

"I understand. I think I can help. Bring Harry back."

"Sir?" Harry blinked, feeling more disorientated than normal when returning after an alter has been Out.

"Drink this." Severus handed him a potion and Harry drank it unquestioningly. "It is a strengthening potion, very mild and general. You have an hour left of detention. Why don't you play for a while?"

Harry smiled with gratitude before removing his necklace and placing it in the middle of the cleared space Snape had made with a swish of his wand. "Rescind spells," he said happily and sat.

Severus graded papers to the sound of Harry's playing. The boy was getting better fast. Calming, strengthening melodies flowed from his fingers with the occasional jarring note. He was almost surprised when his silent alarm warned him that time was up. He stopped Harry and the boy turned his piano back into a necklace before leaving the room. He looked less weary than when he had come in and Severus felt satisfaction at that.

xXxXxXx

The next day Harry had his first potions class. It was also the day Malfoy finally returned from his three day stay in the infirmary. He came late and was forced to sit at Harry and Ron's table, to no one's delight. While they were working, they heard Dean at the next table gossiping about how Black had been spotted not too far from school.

"If it was me, I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy; I'd be out there looking for him." Malfoy said casually, his gray eyes staring straight into Harry's.

"What are you on about, Malfoy?" Ron glared hatefully.

"Don't you know, Potter?" Malfoy whispered, still not looking away or blinking.

"Know what?" Harry asked just as softly, but before the blonde could answer Snape interrupted by trying Neville's potion on the boy's pet toad, Trevor.

The potion worked, turning Trevor into a tadpole, and Hermione lost Gryffindor points for helping the boy. At least Snape returned Trevor to a toad before they left. But Ron wouldn't stop badmouthing Snape. Harry felt uncomfortable with that since Snape had done so very much for him, but stayed silent knowing the others wouldn't understand.

xXxXxXx

The day got better immediately after lunch when they went to their first DADA class. Lupin won them all over instantly when on the way to the teacher's lounge he got one up on Peeves by shooting gum up the ghost's nose. The class only got better as he made a game of confronting everyone's fears and a dark creature at the same time.

They had never had practical lessons in Defense before and it was great. Except for Harry because when he was about to confront the boggart himself, Lupin had stopped him. The class was talking happily as they filed from the room, but Harry stayed behind. "Yes, Harry?" Lupin asked with a kind smile.

"Ummm… Professor? I was just wondering…. Why didn't you let me fight the boggart too?"

"I would have thought that was obvious, Harry." He said with surprise while beckoning the boy closer. "I assumed that if the boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort."

Harry stared in shock at his teacher. Not only had Lupin admitted to not letting him participate, he had actually said the Dark Lord's name. He'd only heard Dumbledore, besides himself, ever do that.

Lupin studied his face and frowned, apology in his warm eyes. "Clearly I was wrong." He said and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "But I didn't think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staffroom. I imagine that people would panic."

Harry shared a smile with him, but that quickly faded. He found himself wanting to tell this man what he was feeling. He'd never felt that way before. Not even with Snape who had to coax things from him in the beginning. He felt torn about it, but decided to give Lupin his trust after looking into the man's unwavering eyes for several long seconds.

"I didn't think of Voldemort. I thought of dementors."

"Well, I'm impressed." Lupin smiled at the surprise that elicited from Harry. "That suggests that what you fear most of all is – fear. Very wise, Harry."

"Thank you, Professor." Harry ducked his head in embarrassment.

Lupin squeezed his shoulder before letting go. "You should be off. I'm sorry for underestimating you, Harry. Maybe you'd like to come by and have lunch with me sometime so I can get to know you better and never do that again?"

"Okay." Harry smiled brightly at his professor before rushing from the room.

Chapter end.