Chapter 16 – First Day of Classes

Harry woke up to a knocking on his door.

"Harry, are you up yet?" asked Hermione's voice through the door. We really should not be late for the first breakfast of the year. We have to set a good example for the younger students."

Harry called back that he would be ready shortly. Rolling over, Harry pulled the pillow over top of his head. Maybe Dumbledore had a good point when he had made Ron a Prefect instead of Harry.

Harry pulled himself out of bed and proceeded to get himself dressed. A quick shower later followed by a Drying Charm and Harry was dressed in his school robes. Harry's new wrist holster went under the robe and then the wand. Harry was all set. The great thing about inheriting his father's hair was no one ever really knew if he combed it or not.

During the routine, Harry could not shake a strange feeling. This was Harry's first morning at Hogwarts without sharing a dorm. Ron snoring and Neville talking in his sleep seemed a part of the natural background noise of the dorm. The Head Boy's dorm seemed too quiet.

SLAM!

The dorm door swung open and smacked into the wall behind it. Harry's wand was in his hand instantly as he started to peek out of the bathroom.

"Come on, Harry! Get up!" yelled Ron. The sound of firecrackers suddenly started going off next to Harry's bed.

It seems like Ron has been listening to the twins again Harry thought. A flick of his wand and Harry wordlessly cast a Silencing Charm. All of his practice since his disastrous fight with Snape was already paying off.

Ron stood in the doorway perplexed. How did Harry stop the fireworks? The pile of blankets never moved. Fred and George told Ron that no spell could stop their wizard fireworks. It did not make sense.

Harry darted out of the bathroom with his wand drawn and said, "Rictusempra!" Ron's face suddenly went pale as he recognized the spell. The Tickling Charm hit Ron full on in the chest. Ron fell to the floor laughing.

Harry walked to the door of his dorm and looked down as his laughing friend gasping for a breath. Shaking his head, Harry said, "Next time make sure I am in the bed before you launch an ambush."

"Would you boys stop playing?" Ginny asked. Harry looked up at his girlfriend and felt a warmth spread through him. Although her expression and words were disapproving, her eyes danced with the Weasley sense of humor.

Drawing her wand, Ginny said, "Finite Incantatem!"

Ron stopped laughing and sat gasping for breath for a moment. He smiled up at Harry and asked, "Did I loose any House points, Mr. Head Boy?" When Harry just shook his head in resignation, Ron said, "Sorry, it is a family tradition. Fred and George woke Percy up his first day with those fireworks. They lost five House points for it."

Harry grinned, "Yes, but they caught Percy. You missed me."

Ginny giggled at the dirty look Ron shot at Harry. As Harry helped Ron off the floor, she asked, "Harry, how did you stop the Weasley fireworks? Fred and George told us it was impossible."

Harry smiled at her, "I didn't. I just cast a Silencing Charm. They are probably still going off."

The two Weasleys started laughing again at the thought their brothers' fireworks could be cancelled out by a second year spell.

"Are you three coming to breakfast?" Hermione yelled from the portrait entrance.

Ron, Ginny and Harry joined her at the front entrance. Hermione seemed very agitated about the first day of classes.

"You three are going to make us late! I don't want to set a bad example!"

Ron tried to calm her down. "Hermione, it will be okay if…"

Hermione exploded, "DON'T YOU TELL ME…"

Realizing that Hermione was about to completely lose it, Ron decided to use a piece of his father's advice. It seemed mad at the time, but Ron could not think of anything else.

Ron reached over, grabbed Hermione by both cheeks, and kissed her square on the mouth. Hermione was so shocked that she just stood there for a second and then kissed him back.

When he stopped the kiss, Hermione smiled sweetly at him and asked, "Are you trying to distract me?"

"Umm, yes?" Ron answered. "Is it working?"

"I will tell you later… when we are alone." Then Hermione turned and led the way out of the portrait.

Ron felt excited but realized there could be more then one meaning to what she had said. As he turned to follow her, he decided he was probably in a world of trouble.

Harry and Ginny snickered at the two as they followed along at a safe distance. Ron and Hermione were made for each other in many ways but it would be fun to watch them figure out each other's boundaries. They enjoyed their games of "verbal tag". Harry was just glad not to be in the middle of it.

Approaching the Great Hall, Harry heard a voice call his name. Turing he saw Professor Ioshi walking behind them. Harry and Ginny waited while the new DADA professor approached.

Harry bowed as the professor approached. Professor Ioshi had taught Harry the proper form when he was Master Ioshi to Harry. Unsure what to do, Ginny simply smiled.

"Professor Ioshi-sama, it is an honor to see you again. I was very surprised at seeing you here." Harry said.

Professor Ioshi returned Harry's bow and said, "How could I give up seeing my favorite student, Harry-san? I still have so much to teach."

Harry smiled. "May I introduce you to my girlfriend, Ginny Weasley? Ginny, this is Professor Ioshi. He introduced me the sword this summer."

Ginny was astonished listening to Harry talk to the new Japanese DADA professor. Harry talked to the old wizard in a very respectful and formal manner. The only professor she had heard him speak to that respectfully before was Professor Dumbledore.

Ginny smiled, "It is an honor to meet you professor. Harry has told us about training with you."

The new professor smiled with a glint in his eye, "And I have heard much about you, Ginny-san. Although it was usually with much moping."

Ginny grinned, "He deserved it. A little suffering is good for him."

Professor Ioshi laughed softly at this. Then he said, "Excuse me, Ginny-san. I must speak you Harry-san for a few moments. He will join you at breakfast shortly."

Ginny politely smiled again and politely left the two alone.

Once she had left, Professor Ioshi laughed, "That young lady is going to run you ragged. Even worse then me! I like her." Then he turned serious, "Harry-san, we have much to discuss."

"Yes, sensei," Harry acknowledged. "Why did you not tell me you are a wizard this summer?"

"It would have distracted you. You needed to learn the basics of the sword. I did use some magical techniques to impart on you the way of the sword faster then would normally occur. These techniques will not make you a master, merely proficient. For true mastery you must continue to study and practice,' the old wizard replied. "You did show a true gift for it."

When Harry nodded his understanding, Professor Ioshi said, "As Professor McGonagall informed you, you will be assisting me in some of my classes for older students. I will be teaching them to defend themselves against an attacker. Michael-san told me you would make an excellent training dummy."

Harry inwardly groaned. Harry was not worried about getting hurt in duals with other students. Harry knew he was the most proficient dueler currently in the student body. However, the constant dueling would be a drain and a test of endurance. In addition, the realization the Mike and Professor Ioshi now had Harry for the entire school year as their own pet project was a little daunting.

Confirming Harry's suspicions, Professor Ioshi continued, "I will also set up time after classes to continue giving you special training. You must be prepared when you face your destiny."

"Yes, professor. I would like your training. Did Professor McGonagall explain to you about our agreement?"

"Hai, she did. If a higher priority occurs then you must go. But I will otherwise expect you at the planned times. Agreed?"

"Yes, sensei," Harry bowed in his agreement.

The old wizard grunted, "Good, now go eat breakfast. You will need your energy. You have double Defense class first thing."

Harry moved quickly into the Great Hall and saw that breakfast was ending. Ginny waved him over to where the others were sitting. As he approached, Harry noticed that Ginny had saved some breakfast for him. He gratefully sat down and started eating.

Ginny watched him for a second and then asked, "So, what did Professor Ioshi want?"

"I am going to be the dueling opponent for the fifth, sixth and seventh year DADA classes. He also wants me to attend after-class training sessions with him on a regular basis."

Ron's eye had grown big. "He wants you to do all of that? You aren't going to have time to pay Quidditch!"

Hermione sighed, "Really Ronald. There are more important things then Quidditch."

"Like what?" Ron challenged.

"Like getting his homework done," Hermione sighed. "How is Harry going to be able to prepare for his N.E.W.T.s if he is training all the time?"

Harry mentally groaned. They were starting again. He loved his friends but if they stayed together he hoped they did not settle in Godric's Hollow. They would be at his place constantly dragging him into their "domestic bliss".

Before Harry could cut off the impending verbal battle, Ginny slammed a text onto the table. Everyone in the Great Hall was silent for a moment.

Ginny leaned in to her brother and her best friend. In a quiet but strong tone, Ginny whispered, "If Voldemort wins then Quidditch won't matter. Neither will N.E.W.T scores. Maybe Harry was right for not planning to come back here. You two have not been here a day and you are already forgetting what is important. Defeating Voldemort and keeping Harry alive are the only things that matter!"

Hermione and Ron looked abashed at Ginny's reminder of what was at stake. Both avoided looking at Harry in their embarrassment. They missed the wink Ginny threw at Harry.

Harry felt a wave of affection and awe roll over him. Ginny had used Riddle's self-chosen nickname twice. Ginny impressed Harry with her strength. She was determined and willing to fight for what she wanted. How far she had grown from the shy ten year-old he first glimpsed his first year when getting on the Hogwarts Express. The wink sealed it for Harry. What ever anyone else may think because he was "The Boy-Who-Lived", he was the lucky one to have Ginny, not the other way around.

The bell rang indicating the end of breakfast. The students left in the Great Hall started to exit on their way to classes.

Harry stopped Ginny and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"I like that," she said. "You can do that anytime."

"I will remember that," Harry smiled.

Then they separated, Ginny going to Charms and Harry, Ron and Hermione to DADA.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom changed with each professor. Changes in the classroom layout or decoration seemed a part of every new professor's prerogative. Snape caused the classroom to resemble a dark cave or dungeon. Umbridge removed all decoration and kept everything as plain as possible.

Professor Ioshi kept the tradition alive. The students' chairs now formed a U and sat with three rows on a raised platform. Each row of chairs was higher then the one in front. Inside the U was a white dueling mat. A small pad with a desk sat at the open end of the U. Obviously, this was the professor's seat.

The class filed in and sat down. Although this was supposed to be a mixed Gryffindor and Slytherin class, only four Slytherins sat down; Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini, and Tracey Davis. Draco and Blaise sat together while Davis sat several seats away. Nott sat in the third row at the top of the U. With twelve Gryffindors in the class, the Slytherins seemed distinctly outnumbered.

Harry considered the four Slytherins. Why had they returned when so many of their House did not? Harry watched Draco and Blaise for a moment while he wondered about the four students.

Harry felt some one watching him as he watched the class. With a sudden turn of his head, he caught Nott looking at him. Nott did not seem surprised or embarrassed to be caught staring at Harry. Rather, he seemed to have expected it. Nott simply nodded to Harry and then turned his head to look out the window.

This was the second time Harry had found Nott watching him. The odd Slytherin boy never caused any problems that Harry knew of in their time at Hogwarts. Hermione had told Harry he was one of the few Slytherin to never call her Mudblood or harass her in any way. Draco seemed … careful of him. Nott was definately an enigma.

Professor Ioshi walked gracefully into the classroom. Standing at the head of the class her bowed. "I am Professor Ioshi. I will have the honor of being your teacher for this year. I require that you pay attention and work hard. Perfection is unattainable, but we must strive for it anyway."

"Those who use the Dark Arts seek simply to take what they have no right to. There have been many in history who sought power simply for its own sake. In England this has noted in historical figures like Morgana LeFay to the contemporary Lord Voldemort."

The class stiffened slightly at the casual mention of Voldemort. Harry was impressed that the old wizard did not even pause slightly at the name. Even many of the Aurors Harry had met were reluctant to say Voldemort's name aloud.

The professor looked at the faces of each of his students. Then he said, "In your previous years you have been taught basic dueling. In addition, you were taught how to deal with Dark creatures. You even had a Death Eater posing as an Auror teach you about the Unforgivable Curses. I understand that many of you formed a group outside of class to study when you had an incompetent teacher."

The class murmured agreement at the description of Umbridge. All of the students in the room except the Slytherins were members of the DA. Many of them openly said that passing their O.W.L.s was because of the group the Trio founded.

"I intend to build on the group known as Dumbledore's Army. This year will be an intensive review of all of the combat and protective magic you have learned in your previous six years. I will hone that skill to enable you to survive in the coming war. Harry Potter will serve as my deshi. He will assist in all training."

Professor Ioshi gestured at Harry. "Please join me, Harry-san."

Harry walked down onto the mat. Standing in the middle of the mat, he bowed properly to his teacher.

"I would like two of the other students to join us for a demonstration," the professor said.

Draco and Blaise drew their wands and joined Harry on the mat. Professor Ioshi thanked them for volunteering and asked them to stand opposite Harry.

"You have been taught to duel using the rules established under the various Ministries," the professor began. "In a true battle there are no rules. There is only victory. You must approach each battle confident of victory. You must use every advantage possible to achieve that victory. Many who fail to achieve victory in war will not live another day. Dark wizards have no mercy."

The class was silent. The image presented by their new professor was stark. Professors Moody (Actually Barty Jr.) and Snape (both of whom turned out to be Death Eaters) spoke of fighting the Dark Arts but never this bluntly. Harry looked around and noticed that only Hermione, Ron, and, strangely, Neville seemed at ease with their professor's strong words. Malfoy seemed particularly pale.

Professor Ioshi turned to Harry. "I would like you to attack these two students. You will play the role of the aggressor. Attack them as though you were a Dark wizard." Then turning to the two Slytherins, he said, "You will defend. If you get past your attacker and off the mat, you will be victorious."

Draco leaned into Blaise and whispered something. Blaise nodded a response and made a whispered response.

Pulling his wand from his sleeve, the professor activated wards around the mat to prevent any injury to the watching students. Then he said, "Begin!"

Harry's wand dropped into his hand with a flick of his wrist. Blaise immediately raised his wand and fired a Stunner straight at Harry's chest with Draco an instant behind him. Harry sidestepped the spells while raising his own shields.

"Tenebraearum!" Harry muttered as he cast a spell. Both of his opponents raised shield to counter the expected spell, but nothing materialized that the other students could see.

Draco whirled around and yelled, "Where did he go?"

Blaise looked very unsure of himself and looked around carefully. "He has to still be on the mat."

The other students looked at each other in puzzlement. Harry stood openly upon the mat. Why couldn't they see him?

Harry raised his wand again and pointed at Blaise. He said, "Langlock!"

The tall black boy suddenly looked shocked. His hand went to his mouth but no words came out, just mumbling.

Draco turned to see what was wrong with his partner. His distraction cost him as a Stunner hit him.

Professor Ioshi brought down the wards. He released Blaise from the hex gluing his tongue to the roof of his mouth. Then he revived Draco.

"An unorthodox approach. Tell the class what you did," the professor told Harry.

"I cast a Darkness Charm on them. To their eyes, I disappeared. Then it was simply a matter of waiting for the proper opening," Harry replied.

Hermione called out, "Harry, who taught you that spell? I never read it in any of our books."

"I created it myself over the summer. It came out of the research I was doing."

A stir went through the class at the news. Not many wizards created new spells. Most witches and wizards were content using the standard spells. Most new spells came out of the Department of Mysteries after full testing.

Professor Ioshi nodded, "Why did you choose this technique?"

Harry looked at his two opponents. "They were ready for anything standard. They planned based on what they would do without accounting for my actions."

Professor Ioshi laughed softly. "You took my word literally when I told you to play the role of a Dark wizard." Turning to the class, he said, "Harry-san has shown you an important lesson. The practitioners of the Dark Arts will seek to obscure and misguide you. You must be prepared to adapt to their attacks. Flexibility in your approach is the key."

Dean turned to Ron and whispered, "Harry is a little too good at playing a Dark Wizard. Did you see the look on his face?"

The remainder of the class consisted of a series of conventional duals between different pairings of students. Harry noticed that Professor Ioshi did not really teach any new spells. He focused entirely on strategy and the proper application of the students existing spells.

Ron paid particular attention throughout the class. Professor Ioshi's emphasis on strategy had a particular impact on Ron. It was well known in Hogwart's that Ron was a superior player of Wizard's Chess. The Trio's success in their fist year depended on Ron's skill on a chessboard. Ron also showed a skill in the development of plays and defenses for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Having a class devoted to strategy seemed like Heaven for Ron.

Professor Ioshi assigned a three-foot scroll on strategies for dueling and dismissed the class. As the students moved out of the classroom, the professor called out to Harry.

Harry told Hermione and Ron that he would meet them at Potions class and then walked over to join the professor.

"I did not expect you to use a new spell like that. I expected your opponents to be set on getting by you and leave them selves open," the professor said. "You took me unaware as well as them. A very interesting first class."

"I am sorry, sensei. I did not mean to ruin your plan."

"Nonsense. I think it went splendid." The professor gestured at the mat for Harry to sit. Taking a seat next to Harry, he said, "Harry, I must discuss with you our plans for you for the coming year."

Harry felt uneasy at those words.

The Japanese professor said, "I have been asked by Professor McGonagall and others to help prepare you for your fight. I will be teaching you almost everything an Auror would receive over three years in the next ten months. This will demand much of your time and energy. This is why I have assigned you as my deshi in class. It will help you in practice certain skills and endurance."

Harry nodded as he considered the immensity of the workload he expected to carry. At least Hermione had the Time-Turner when she tried it!

"Professor," Harry asked, "you said I would get most of the training. What will be left out?"

Professor Ioshi chuckled softly, "Nothing you will miss, mostly how to shuffle parchment and scrolls around to make Ministry bureaucrats happy. Most of the reason I retired was I couldn't take them looking over my shoulder anymore."

Picking a small scroll, Professor Ioshi handed it to Harry. "This contains a list of additional texts and materials I suggest you order. I will provide you with a syllabus and schedule tonight. Please meet me here at 8:00."

Harry thanked his new professor and turned to leave the classroom. Before he could leave the professor called after him, "Please bring your katana and your parents' wands.

Harry nodded and left the room in confusion. He could understand his sword, but why his parents' wands?

Once he was out of the classroom, he stopped and looked at the list. It contained texts on curse detection, tracking, disguise, concealment and advanced defense. The list contained more titles then Harry had to study for his N.E.W.T.s!

"Potter," a voiced hissed from the shadows.

Harry looked up quickly in surprise. He had not been aware of anyone else in the hall.

Out of a shadow stepped Nott. The Slytherin seventh year advanced towards Harry in a slow, non-threatening manner. Harry tensed his arm to drop his wand out of its sheath, but waited to see what the other boy wanted.

In a carefully neutral voice, Harry simply said, "Nott"

Nott stepped close to Harry and said in a voice too low to be heard from more then a foot away. "I normally stay out of these affairs, but find I am forced to take part."

Harry eyed the other boy wearily. "What affairs?"

"I know I am placed with Malfoy and the other children of the fools who follow the Dark Lord, but I should not be," was a hissed reply. "The Dark Lord and his followers' actions are those of spoiled children denied pudding."

Harry raised an eye at the description. He passed the largest and most dangerous group of dark wizards in centuries passed off as errant children?

"Why are you telling me this?" Harry asked.

"I have stayed out of my father and his friends affairs since I was a child. Now they seek to drag me in. I like the current system and don't want to see it overthrown. So I find I must assist you."

Harry's suspicions went very high. Why would a Slytherin offer to help in the fight against the Riddle? The fact that Riddle was currently winning made that support that much odder. All Slytherins wanted to be on the winning team; winning was the only important thing to most of them.

"Why should I trust you? And what help could you give?" Harry asked.

Nott smirked slightly, "To answer you second question, information. I know more about what is going on around here then anyone else now that Dumbledore is gone. Try me. For the first question, you have no reason to do so right now. I am only asking for a chance."

Harry shook his head, "That is not good enough. Why are you doing this?"

Nott hissed softly through his teeth. "I am a Slytherin and proud of it. I am ambitious and make no excuse for it. I also believe in playing by the rules. Winning the game by cheating makes it worthless. If you do not follow the rules then your competition will not either."

Nott shook his head, "If the Dark Lord had put his gifts and leadership into playing by the rules, he would be Minister of Magic today, probably the greatest in history. Instead, we have this war. How would he maintain order if he won? The Light wizards will simply adopt his ambush tactics and the war will continue."

Harry nodded. He had to admit that Nott's logic made sense. He knew that he would never quit fighting Riddle.

Harry considered the boy standing in front of him. Harry remembered all of the times Dumbledore had done the same to him. Harry asked, "So, then what is your ambition?"

"I am applying for the Auror program after leaving Hogwarts." Seeing Harry was going to speak, he raised his hand up. "I admit that is a short term goal. I plan to use it to rise to a gratifyingly powerful position within the Ministry."

Harry considered response. It seemed honest, but how could Harry trust the son of an active Death Eater. The older Nott fought in the battle in the Department of Mysteries. In fact, he was the one who knocked Hermione out of the fight. How would Hermione react to working with his son?

Harry decided to give Nott a challenge and himself time. "I will think about your offer. Come to talk to me in the Heads' common room tomorrow after dinner. You must find out the password, without asking Malfoy, to get in. We will talk then."

Nott stood silently for a moment and then nodded. Without another word, he turned and walked away. Harry turned and walked quickly towards the dungeons. Students for the next DADA class were approaching and he did not have much time if he was to make Potion class on time.

Harry sprinted the last section of the dungeon hallway to reach the Potions classroom with seconds to spare. Reaching his accustomed seat next to Ron and Hermione, Harry quickly started to pull out his materials for class.

"Ah, Mr. Potter! So glad you made it in time! Did you have a good summer?" Professor Slughorn asked.

"Yes, professor. Thank you for asking."

"We are having a little get together in my office tonight at 8:30. Please join us."

Harry groaned inwardly. Slughorn was starting already!

"I will try professor. I have to meet Professor Ioshi at 8:00. I am not sure how long he will keep me."

Slughorn's face appeared disappointed shortly, and then he said, "Of course. Come after you finish then. Mention to Professor Ioshi he is invited also."

Professor Slughorn waved the door shut with his wand. "Good morning class," he began. "This is your final year of Potions here at Hogwarts. Due to the size of the body of students, all four Houses are represented here."

Harry looked up in surprise and surveyed the room. At a back table with Zabini sat Nott. How had he reached the room so fast? He did not come the same way Harry did.

Unaware of Harry's questions, Slughorn continued, "Please put your books away. I will give you a potion recipe and I would like you to brew it for me. I will award twenty House points to the first person to do so successfully."

Harry took the recipe and looked at it. The recipe was for a Blood-Replenishing Potion. Harry read quickly through the steps and realized it was an amazingly complex potion. After skimming the recipe and its steps, Harry went back and read the instructions carefully.

When Harry returned from the ingredients cabinet, Hermione had already started preparing her ingredients. As Harry started to lay his out, Hermione smirked at him and asked, "How are you going to do without your former assistant?"

Harry frowned slightly at her reference to Snape and his old text book. Realizing she was attempting her own version of humor, Harry resisted snapping back at her. Instead he rolled his eyes and said, "Now those kinds of remarks are hardly the proper role model for a Head Girl, unless she is a Slytherin."

Seeing the little grin on Harry lips, Hermione surrendered, "Okay, you won that round."

"Are you and Ron keeping points now? I always suspected it was a game with you two." Harry murmured bending over his ingredients.

Hermione turned red as Ron approached. Ron looked at her questioningly and looked confused when she would not look up. He looked over at Harry and said, "I thought I would understand her more once we started dating."

"I think you two understand each other too well," was his reply from Harry.

Thirty minutes later, Harry finally completed his potion. The rest of the class already completed their potions. The potion remained a dark blue while most other students potions was a light red. Ron and Hermione both had red potions. While Hermione looked pleased, Ron was shaking his head.

Hermione asked him what was wrong.

"My potion is the wrong color. I think Harry is the only one who got it right."

Hermione looked at Harry's blue potion. "Why do you say that?" she asked.

"Remember when my father was bitten by that big snake?" Hermione nodded her head, so Ron continued, "I had to sit with my dad a couple of times and saw the Healers giving him his potion. It was blue."

Professor Slughorn wandered through the room looking at each potion. When he reached Harry's potion a large smile filled his face. "I should have known! The son of Lilly Evans did not let me down! Twenty points to Gryffindor!"

The professor looked at the rest and said, "Mr. Potter was the only student to get this potion correct. This is one of the most common N.E.W.T. practical potions over the last ten years. I would like to see an essay from each of you on what went wrong with your potion and how you could correct it at this point. Mr. Potter, you are excused from the assignment."

The class dismissed and everyone headed towards the Great Hall for lunch. Hermione maintained a frown on her face all the way to their normal places at the table.

"What is wrong?" Harry asked her.

"How did you get that potion right?"

"One of the ingredients is iron…" Harry started.

"Oh no!" Hermione grasped. "Charming iron to keep it from rusting the potion is a second year skill! I can't believe I forgot that. I am going to fail my N.E.W.T.s!" The last came out as a piteous wail.

"Relax Hermione," Ron said. "It is the first morning of classes and you are scaring the first years."

Ginny walked into the hall, almost skipping in her excitement. She dropped down next to Harry and gave them all a huge smile.

"That was the neatest class," she said with her huge smile.

Her brother asked, "What class is that?"

"Transfiguration. Professor Goshawk taught us a really useful spell for transfiguring a layer of water into ice that will support you to walk on it. We did the class down at the lake."

Ron pulled out his schedule and said, "Of course, we don't have it until tomorrow."

The Gryffindors sitting around her heard this and a buzz of excitement went around the table. The food arrived and everyone started helping themselves to the food. Harry sat quietly while the rest of the table chatted around him.

Ginny was talking to Hermione. "I think I am really going to enjoy this year. O.W.L.s are done and I have a year before I have to start worrying about N.E.W.T.s!

Ron, Seamus, and Dean were talking about this year's Quidditch teams. All three were discussing with glee the depleted Slytherin team. With most of the older students not returning, they were going to be very light on experienced players.

"Harry, we are going to get together tonight to make up strategies for the team this year." Ron told Harry.

"You are the captain this year. That is your job."

Ron looked crestfallen. "Don't you want to join us?"

"Sorry, mate. I have work to do for Professor Ioshi. I think he is going to keep me busy.

Harry left soon afterwards, leaving his friends to finish their lunch at a leisurely pace. Ginny rose from the table also and asked where he was going.

"I need to get ready for my afternoon classes. I also need to send an owl." Harry replied.

The petite redhead smiled and said she was finished and would join him. Holding hands, they walked out of the Great Hall. Harry felt many eyes on his back as he walked out. It was a very uncomfortable feeling. Harry was afraid he was getting as paranoid as Mad-Eyed Moody.

Exiting the Hall and starting to climb the stairs for the Heads dorm, Harry and Ginny saw Professor Slughorn leaving the dungeons. Seeing two of his favorite students together, he gave them a wave and a smile. Harry paused with Ginny for him approach the stairs.

"Ah, Mr. Potter and Ms. Weasley, it is nice to see you together. Mr. Potter, that was an exceptional job on your potion today. Many seventh year students start to pay too much attention to the advanced magic and not enough to the basics. Well done, your mother would be proud."

Ginny said, "Professor, I think you missed lunch."

The short, round Potions Master looked towards the Great Hall and absently rubbed his belly.

Harry saw an opportunity. "Professor, why don't you join us in my common room? I can get you lunch. I would like the opportunity to talk with you about something."

Professor Slughorn looked at Harry with a faint look of surprise on his face. He had been quite frustrated last year getting Harry to attend his get-togethers. Harry's earlier comments seemed to indicate that this year would be more of the same. Yet now Harry was inviting to eat lunch with him.

"I would be happy to have lunch with you, Harry," Professor Slughorn replied.

The threesome climbed the stairs to Harry's dorm. The knight and the dragon were using the knight's lance to shoot pool using round stones. Harry noticed that when the knight stood to accept the password, the dragon "accidentally" knocked a couple stones into a pocket.

Harry smiled at the dragon's antics and led the way into the common room. As the portrait shut, a fight could be heard erupting on the other side over the missing pool balls.

Once they were in the room, Harry called out for Dobby.

Dobby appeared in an instant at Harry's elbow. "Does Harry Potter need anything?"

"Hi Dobby. Could you please bring lunch for Professor Slughorn and tea for Ginny and I?

"Dobby will go right now!" and in a blink he was gone.

"Harry, I am impressed. I did not know you had your own House Elf!" Professor Slughorn said.

"I hired him this summer." Harry told him while leading them to a nearby table.

Sitting down, Slughorn asked in a very confused voice, "Hired him? Why would you hire a House Elf?"

"Dobby used to be bound to the Malfoys. He did me a favor and I tricked Lucius into freeing him," Harry said.

Ginny finished for him. "Professor Dumbledore hired him at Hogwarts for a while and the school released him for Harry to hire. Harry needs someone to look after him."

Professor Slughorn laughed at Ginny's inference of who should be looking after Harry. He was distracted from further questions by the arrival of a number of platters of different foods from the kitchen.

Dobby appeared to see if they needed anything else. When Harry thanked him and said they were all set, Dobby said, "Harry Potter just needs to call me if he needs anything. Dobby has a surprise for Harry Potter latter!"

An uneasy feeling swept through Harry. Harry said, "Thank you Dobby. You can show me after lunch."

Dobby bowed and disappeared in an instant.

Ginny smiled, "Every time you thank him I think he is going to explode of pure happiness."

Harry poured tea for Ginny and himself while Slughorn started eating his lunch. After several minutes of small talk, Harry turned the conversation in a particular direction.

"Professor, I became very interested in some of the stories you were telling me about my mother when she was your student," Harry started.

Slughorn took on a reminiscent expression. "Lily was one of my all-time favorites. She would have gone far. Her goal was to be a Healer. She was very good with people. I had been looking forward to seeing the magical medical advances she would have made."

"I found some of her old letters to her mum. Did you know who here friends Sarah and Amelia?"

Professor Slughorn paused for a moment. "Amelia must have been Amelia Bones. She was killed by You-know-who after he returned."

Harry and Ginny were shocked. "Susan Bones' aunt, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was one of my mother's best friends? I met her. She never said anything." Harry shook his head. "She may have not wanted to since she was the head of the Wizengamot and I was under trial."

"She never said anything to Susan either," Ginny said. "I wonder why."

Slughorn sipped his tea. "I believe Sarah may be Sarah Weston. They were always together. I felt they were the anti-Marauders. All of them were polite, smart and good workers."

"Were they in Potions class with my mum?" Harry casually asked.

Slughorn considered for a moment and said, "Yes, I believe the two girls were partnered together."

"What kind of projects did my mother do for you sir?"

"I often had Lilly and her partner working on special research topics. Both of them finished their seventh year material by the end of their sixth year!" Slughorn responded excitedly, as through their achievements were solely due to his teaching.

"What kind of topics, professor?" Harry asked.

"I am afraid my boy that I don't remember after all of this time."

Harry noticed that Slughorn was starting the same signs of evasion shown as when Harry first tried to get the memory from him last year.

"Would you have any of her old notebooks? I would really like to see them. I don't have anything that was my mother's."

"I suppose I could look around."

"I would really appreciate that, professor. It would make me feel closer to her," Harry said in an encouraging tone.

Ginny picked up Harry line of questions and innocently asked, "Then who was Lilly working with?"

"What? Oh. Um. I believe she was working with Severus Snape."

Now he got really nervous. Harry could see small beads of sweat forming on his brow.

Before Harry or Ginny could ask any more questions, the portrait opened to admit Ron and Hermione. Malfoy trailed along behind them. The distance making it perfectly clear, he was not with them.

Professor Slughorn used this opportunity as an escape. Thanking Harry for lunch, he quickly made his exit.

After he was gone Harry turned to Ginny and said, "He is not going to let me see those notebooks. He is acting guilty again."

Ginny patted Harry's hand and said, "I will make sure you get them. Trust me." Then she stood up and kissed Harry before leaving for her afternoon classes.

A/N: Below is a translation of the Japanese words used in this chapter

sensei teacher

hai yes

deshi teacher's student-help or apprentice

katana long sword

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