After the trip home the week passed in a blur of activity and training. Occlumency and apperation were among the top two priorities. By the time September first rolled around they could each apperated, though rather noisily, and had the beginnings of shields starting. Unfortunately it would take another month or so to be able to keep out Snape's and Dumbledore's passive legilimency attacks.
The trip to the train was a lesson in patience for Harry who had all his things packed the night before. When they did manage to get to the platform Harry had to pull Ginny along with him and found a compartment that Neville and Luna were apt to ride in. He was going to try forging their friendships early. After the initial conversation they all settled in for the ride.
Ron and Neville were in a heated game of wizard chess while Ginny was reading the Quibbler with Luna. Harry and Hermione were leaning on each other's shoulder while reading. Harry twirling his wand in his fingers. I was a habit he pick up from Riddle. He was just about to turn the page when the compartment door slammed open with enough force to shatter the glass window.
"Your going to pay for what you did to me and my family Potter!" Draco hissed, wand pointed directly between Harry's eyes. As alway Crabbe and Goyle were flanking their leader. A few other Slytherins too came to see the 'Great Harry Potter' being put in his place. "Do you have any idea the trouble your comments caused my family. I am a Malfoy and our name demands respect!"
"Go away Malfoy before you embarrass yourself in front of all these people. This is your only warning." Harry calmly replied not even looking up from the book he was reading.
"You think you're so great don't you Potter. Like you..."
"No Malfoy I don't." Harry calmly put the book down and focused his would be attacker. "Personally I don't like the fame or want it. I'd be more than happy to give it to you but seeing that your father spent those years licking Voldemort's boots and your mother too busy bending over for any death eater she was told to, it would have been rather difficult to for them to have done what was right." Harry focused slightly behind Draco to the other Slytherins. "I don't know why you all put up with this buffoon. He acts more like a Gryffindor than a Slytherin, constantly spewing his allegiance to Voldemort with no regards for slyness or secrecy. Personally I don't have a problem with any of the other Slytherins and wouldn't mind sitting down to chat with some of you sooner or later to get to know you better. I'm always willing to have more people I can call a friend."
Everyone in the compartment was looking at Harry strangely. He was really different this year. Draco looked like he was about to have a stroke, his face nearly as red as Ginny's hair. But some of the Slytherins in the back seemed to really be thinking Harry's statement over.
It seemed that Draco couldn't take it any longer thought. Twisting his wand he shouted "VENIS CARDO!". A twisting sphere of black magic shot from the tip of the wand, strait at Harry.
Quicker than anyone should be able to move Harry moved to defend. He never thought Malfoy would dare use such a lethal curse. Especially in front of so many others. Instinctively knowing he couldn't just dodge for fear of the curse hitting someone else Harry's wand seemed to just appear in his hand. An instant later a silver prism of magic absorbed the curse making the silver shield solidify more before Harry dropped it and went on the offensive.
Harry's face was contorted in feral anger and before Malfoy could even move Harry had decked him. The uppercut landing just under his jaw, lifting off the ground, where he landed on his back. He didn't stop as a swift side kick pushed Goyle's knee the wrong way. The ape collapsed, screaming in pain. Without stopping Harry landed a chop to Crab's neck. The other body guard dropped to the floor choking and holding his neck.
"Envenerate" Harry spat. The others moved away as they realized Harry wasn't done with Malfoy just yet. "If you ever try something like that again I will make you beg for death." Harry flicked his wand mumbling an unintelligible word and Draco started screaming and trashing on the ground. Harry waited until the boy had clawed a sufficient amount of skin off himself before ending the curse.
"Choose who you follow wisely." Harry intoned to the now packed hallway. "I can be a great friend but I make a terrible enemy."
With that he turned back into his compartment, shutting the door behind him.
Once he had sat back down he recovered his book and tried to start reading it again. He knew everyone was looking at him but he really didn't want to get into it now. He had nearly snapped seeing the curse that the Malfoy's seemed to love using. Perhaps hundreds of souls perished because of that family and that curse.
"Are you alright Harry?" Ginny asked nervously.
Harry looked up at them and sighed. It was time to spill. "Do any of you know what that spell was Malfoy shot at me?" No one knew. Not even Hermione. "Venis Cardo constricts the veins and arteries around the heart slowly and painfully. Eventually the veins are ripped from your heart causing you to die slowly of internal bleeding. It was mentioned in one of the books I bought this summer. It was a favorite of one of Voldemort's top death eaters in the first war. If I had to guess, I would bet that person was one Lucius Malfoy seeing as his son seemed to wield the same curse so easily."
The statement shocked the others at how lethal the curse was. They realized why Harry became so furious now. Draco tried to kill him.
"What was that curse you put on Malfoy there at the end?" Ron asked
"He felt like his body was on fire and melting. It's a non-lethal submission curse used by aurors. I got it on mine and Dobby's trip this summer."
The others nodded, relaxing that Harry hadn't tried to kill Malfoy or use and unforgivable like it had seemed.
"Did that yogo stuff teach you how to fight like that?" Ron again asked.
Harry and Hermione laughed, breaking the tension in the compartment. "Yoga, Ron, yoga. And no. Those skills are thanks to Dudley's new video game." At the blank looks of most of the pure-bloods Harry rolled his eyes and continued. "I'll tell you later. Needless to say I saw the move the character was using and decided to research it a little. The muggles have this thing called the internet that allows people to store information and retrieve it from all over the world. I simply started looking up ways of fighting and came across hundreds of different styles. Since I only really wanted to learn to bring someone down the fastest and most painful way possible I found things on pressure points and how much force is required to break bones and where the body is most fragile. The punch I hit Malfoy with knocked him out. It's hard to land one of those when someone is ready but I was able to catch that rat by surprise. It also only takes something like ten pounds of pressure to break a knee if you kick it strait back. Then if you chop someone's throat you cause them to choke. If you do it hard enough you can even kill them. I'm sure Crab will be back to his grunting self in a few hours."
The others were hanging on his every word and kept asking questions. Even Hermione seemed to be interested in the conversation.
Finally the train came to a halt and the students disembarked. Harry, Neville and Luna all gave a passing glance at the leathery winged horses pulling the carriages. They made it into the entrance hall just as the rain started to fall and they all went to sit at Gryffindor table, ready for the feast.
The sorting went like usual and Harry assumed it was the same as Before. He really couldn't remember even with his occlumency. Mad-eye again barged into the hall half way though dinner so Harry thought things were going as planned. After the desserts were finished Dumbledore stood up. Harry still had to keep himself from killing the man where he sat. His murder of Amy was still fresh in his mind.
"Welcome all, young and tall, to another year at Hogwarts. Before I allow you to go to bed please listen to the following announcements. The Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden. No magic is to be used in the halls and a list of banned items is attached to Mr. Filch's door.
"Also, Hogwarts this year will be playing host for the Tri-Wizard tournament. We along with Beaubaton and Durmstrang will each have one student from our schools entered. Eternal glory awaits the winner.
"However, due the the dangerous nature of this contest only those of sixteen and older will be permitted to enter."
The hall exploded in angered shouts. Harry just sat and watched the others be idiots. He did have to admit Dumbledore was pretty stupid to hype it all up as he did then crush the hope of nearly three quarters of the student population.
The old man held up his hands for silence and the hall quieted. "These restrictions have been put in place because of the skill and magical level involved in the contest. Those any younger would not have the needed training to ensure their survival during the tasks.
"The other two schools will be arriving the first of November and please be your most courteous to our guests. Now off you go. Classes start tomorrow so get a good night rest."
With that the students started to make their way to their own dormitories for a good night's rest With one exception.
"Mr. Potter, would you please stay behind. Several of the teachers need to speak with you."
Harry gritted his teeth together at the old man's voice, but merely stopped and turned back to the three waiting professors.
After the hall cleared Dumbledore started his interrogation.
"Some very serious charges have been filed against you Harry. Young Mr. Malfoy had to be sedated and carried to the hospital wing along with his two friends Mr. Crab and Mr. Goyle I believe. As such you are to be given detention with Professor Snape until the start of the first of November. You are very lucky not be be expelled after what you have done. Do I make myself clear?"
Snape's eyes glittered with malicious glee and a dark smirk was fully formed on his lips. McGonagall merely pressed her thin lips together in a show of anger and intimidation.
Harry merely quirked an eyebrow before responding. "No I don't believe I will. Now if I may leave I wish to get to bed for tomorrow."
Before Harry was even able to turn around Snape exploded into his usual slander of him and his parents. Harry tolerated nearly five seconds of it before he broke the tirade. The other two professors were still too shocked to respond. Neither of them had ever had a student refuse a detention as bluntly as Harry just had.
"You will desist your slander of my family Snape. Any further comment directed either at myself or my parents will cause me to not only write to the Board of Governors for your removal but also to the Minister himself. You have spent the last ten years causing three quarters of the graduates to hate you. How much do you think it would take to have you removed from your position."
"You can not do that Harry." Dumbledore stated. "Professor Snape is needed here in Hogwarts for reasons you simply can not fathom at this time."
"Oh really?" Harry interrupted. This time shocking even Snape with the venom behind the words. "I would think it has to do with that tattoo he has on his left forearm. Or the fact that he says he is your spy within the death eater ranks. Do you really think that will hold much water with the wizarding public. It would only take one letter to the Prophet. I wonder how many parents would remove their children and call up for charges on child endangerment for forcing them to learn from a death eater who only says he's returned to the light." Harry paused to regain his breath and turned to Snape. "Tell me Snivellus, " Harry spat. Snapes face drained of color. "How many people did you kill in the last war, how many woman and children did you rape, how many lives did you destroy... all for the greater good of course." Harry finished with a pretty good imitation of Dumbledore. "Do you really think the public will show you mercy? Dumbledore's word might have kept you from going to prison the first time but if you so much as look at me or my friends in the wrong way I will make sure you are in a world of pain before the rest of this world stones you to death, Death eater"
Harry was breathing heavily as he finished his monologue. Snape's face had turned a sickly white with a ting a green around the edges. It was most likely due to the fact that he realized Harry was speaking the entire truth. McGonagall still looked stricken that Harry would have said such a thing. It was Dumbledore however that looked like he was ready to blow his top.
"I simply will never allow you to do that Harry!" The old man fumed. "Too much is at risk for you to hold such a petty grudge and attempt to ruin a man's life. I am sorry to have to do this but..."
"If you even think of obliviating me it will only make things worse. You really didn't think I would have told you all that without having a back up plan of some kind." Harry looked rather smug with himself. "I have... acquaintances... outside these walls waiting to hear from me tonight. If I don't put certain things in the letter... encrypted things... by tomorrow morning you can expect a lynch mob to take away your dear professor."
"You are ruining years worth of work Harry and condemning a man to death. Is that what you want? You know Voldemort is not dead and just waiting to come back. Are you willing to ruin any chance we might have against him?"
"Your dog is to act like a real professor for once in his life. You should have never offered him the job if he had no intention of teaching and treating his students with respect. Every class I have to sit with him he does nothing but ridicule my family and let his pet Slytherins sabotage other's potions. He's lucky no one has died in the explosions yet. Nearly every class he calls Hermione a 'mudblood'. Tell me, is that conduct becoming a professor. Don't even get me started on what he calls the Weasley's. So to answer your question, I really don't give a damn if he lives of dies. Personally I would rather him dead and rotting in hell where he belongs. Don't try me on this." Harry looked directly into Dumbledore's eyes hoping to make him see his own resolve. "You will lose. That I can promise you."
The room was deathly quiet for a few minutes before the Supreme Mugwump inclined his head. "Very well Harry. I will ensure Professor Snape's conduct is becoming a member of the Hogwart's staff. However there is still the issue of your punishment regarding what you did to young Mr. Malfoy."
"Oh," Harry's asked surprised, "I thought we had this figured out. I'm not going to any detentions regarding this."
"And why is that Harry." Dumbledore's grandfatherly tone was back.
"First is because the school year had yet to start when the incident occurred. Next is because you hold no jurisdiction for the goings on during our ride one the Express. It is a rail that is maintained by the Ministry and does not belong to Hogwarts though it is traditional to ride to and from the castle. Therefore, any penalties or laws would be dealt with though the Ministry. Since I'm guessing the extent of your in depth investigation was to have Snape swoop up to you and start yelling about how I had cursed Malfoy and demand my expulsion." Dumbledore and McGonagall blushed at this as it was nearly exactly what happened. "I doubt you have any idea of the circumstances leading up to the cursing. Allow me to fill you in and if you want I have five witnesses more than willing to verify my story."
With that Harry told the story. "...So Malfoy then looses it and tries to curse me with 'venis cardio'. He got the spell perfect and I know exactly what would have happened to me if the spell would have hit. Luckily I was able to shield everyone from it. Then I punched Malfoy, knocking him out. Goyle attacked me. I broke his knee. Crabe attacked and I punched him in the throat. I woke Malfoy up and told him if he ever tried that again I would kill him. I then cast an auror submission spell. Malfoy would have felt as though his body was on fire and melting. He did the physical harm to himself."
McGonagall was red with fury by the end at both Harry and Malfoy. It was Dumbledore though who surprised Harry. "Be that as it may Harry. I am very disappointed in you for you action. I must insist..."
Harry snorted. "I don't care how much you insist. If you want to push this then do it though the Ministry. If you plan on doing that you will have to have a number of laws overturned to bring me any sort of punishment. Draco however will most likely be put in prison and his father, another death eater, will likely put his full weight and money behind me to keep himself and his son out of even more trouble."
"I have had enough Mr. Potter! I can not believe you are sitting here threatening member of the staff." McGonagall burst.
"Don't even try me woman!" Harry yelled right back. "You sat there year after year allowing that death eater to treat children he was suppose to be teaching like utter shit. How many lives have you ruined because the students you have sworn to protect and nurture couldn't or simply refused to take NEWT potions with such a bigoted fool." Harry spat. "You just sat back and let it happen. Probably because some where along the line Dumbledore told you it was for the greater good and like the good sheep you are you sat back and watched it happen. Just like when I was dropped off at Privet Drive. Because of your cowardice I was subjected to ten years of abuse and neglect. So don't even try scolding me woman!"
Harry glared at the three elders. He was pissed and not only at them but himself as well. He had let out way too much information and after the shock wore off he was sure they would be wondering where he had learned all this from. Without waiting for permission, Harry turned on his heel and swept from the room, robes billowing behind him much like a certain dungeon bat. It was a very impressive site and the three professors couldn't help but feel like they had been the students being reprimanded.
Somehow Harry had managed to glare his way into the common room since he didn't know the password. It might have been that he was prepared to turn the portrait into kindling and burn it in the fire or maybe the glowing green eyes. It didn't matter because the Fat Lady had merely opened the frame and then fled.
The dying fire seemed to hypnotize Harry as he stared into it's depths. The anger he felt for himself faded as a plausible story concocted it's self in his head to cover his tracks. The anger at the professors faded as well, pushed to the back of his mind. He knew he was going to have to control his temper better around them and he would from now on. Hopefully they would come to believe he was just tired and still a bit off with almost having been killed.
Some good things came from it though. He had warned them about Snape. They didn't need to know Harry was going to kill the bastard some time this year or next anyway. He also had managed to get out of trouble with causing even more to Malfoy. The little ferret would be livid to know that any action taken against Harry would only hurt him more. It wouldn't stop him from trying to cause more trouble though and Harry was reluctant to exterminate the Malfoy line before his sixth year. If he was able to keep the major events the same he would be happy. That was his one advantage right now and he knew it well. To change too much would remove that advantage.
"Plus," Harry murmured into the flame, "Crouch was the second best Defense teacher we ever had. Best keep him." With that Harry, sleepily, moved up the stairs and fell onto his bed, asleep.
"So, what does our schedule look like?" Harry said as he slipped into a space between Ron and Hermione and started loading a plate full of food.
"Here." Ron handed a folded piece of parchment to his friend. "I think we have Creatures first with Hagrid. It ought to be fun this year with the thing they bring in for the tournament. After that, don't know.
"Divination Ron. You two have divination while I go to Runes." Hermione supplied without looking up from her book.
Harry really didn't want to spend any more time than necessary with that old fraud Trelany. "Hey, Mione, what do you do in Runes. I mean is it practical in the real world?" he asked. Really, Harry didn't know. He had spent so much of his time studying spells, both light and dark, Before just to be able to survive. Then any free time was spent working on alchemy. He only had a very base knowledge in runes that he and Remus had used while studying rituals. He knew they could be a very useful fighting tool. Runic wards were much stronger than spell based and much harder to take down.
"Oh yes." the girl put the book down. "I know it is needed for any of the Gringotts jobs, especially a curse breaker like Bill. Any type of wizarding archaeologist as well. More practical though is the field of warding. Runes can make wand cast wards many times stronger and can even make their own wards that are nearly unbreakable. The darker aspects of them are rituals and they can be used to literally curse a person or family line. I find it much more useful than divination."
Harry nodded. He had pretty much made up his mind to drop divination anyway. "What about Arithmancy?"
"Well that is really the math involved with how a spell works. If you wanted to be a spell creator or possibly an unspeakable I'm sure it would be a requirement. As an auror it would be good to know as well to possibly make your own spells that could only be reversed by you. But that is after you have mastered it."
Harry nodded. It didn't seem as Arithmancy would help him much in the long run. Well maybe to help destroy the horcruxes and save the artifact itself, but it seemed like an awful amount of work for such a narrow field. "Thanks Mione, I think I'm going to drop Divination. The less time I have someone predicting my death the better. I think runes would be fun though. I can see myself doing something like Bill after I graduate. I don't think I could just sit behind a desk all day doing paperwork. After the life I've led it would be just way too boring."
Those around Harry laughed knowing what he was talking about.
"But Harry, it's an easy class. You can't drop it." Ron whined. "Who will fake the homework with me if you do?"
"That's just it Ron. I don't want to have to fake homework. What do you think will happen when we take our OWLs or NEWTs. Those examiners will probably be real Seers, people that will know what they are doing. We'd fail anyway so what's the use. Plus what the hell can divination do for us after we get out of school? I can't really think of anything. Personally I don't believe our futures are set in stone. That we have a certain fate that is impossible to escape from. I refuse to believe that. We all have free will for a reason and there is a reason the one spell that can take that away from an individual is considered an unforgivable."
Harry looked over to one of his best friends. "Ron, when I came here I promised myself I would be the best wizard to walk these halls ever. I would become powerful and know magics that others only dreamed of. It only took a few months for me to fail. Think of all the time we've wasted away doing stupid things. I'm not saying don't have any fun, but we have an ability nearly every muggle out there would give anything for. And what do we do with that ability? We learn to turn rats into goblets. How to look at tea dregs and predict a foggy future. How to mix certain things and produce a potion to change hair color or make someone babble nonsense. Hell the only time I've learned anything useful in Defense was with Moony. The rest of the time was wasted. Do you get what I'm saying? We are wizards and witches." Harry whispered intently. Nearly half the Gryffindors listened with rapt attention along with many Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. His voice was mesmerizing and seemed to draw all those around to his point of view. "We have powers others can't even fathom and we waste them away with magic to do our dirty dishes and cloths. Even muggles have created machines to do that for them. We have the ability to change the very nature of the universe around us but we piss it away like it's not anything amazing. Just think of all the amazing things magic creates. Flammel and the Stone giving ever-lasting life. Dragons which can breath fire. Phoenixes who's mere voice can lift the hearts of the good and put the fear of death into it's opposition. Rituals that can transform our minds and bodies into the perfect being. Spells to treat the most heavily injured person and bring them back from the brink of death." Harry stopped and shook his head in disappointment. The hall had long ago quieted. Harry's voice seemed hypnotic as it drifted to every ear in the room, exciting some, worrying others. "Just think about the gift we have been given. We owe it not only to ourselves but to the Powers that gave us this gift to live up to our very highest potential."
Harry slipped from his chair and moved to the head table. Once he arrived in front of his head of house he again spoke. "Professor McGonagall, I wish to drop Divination and take up the study of Runes. I will do my best to ensure I get up to speed quickly."
The stern witch, still seemingly under the spell of the young man's voice from earlier, could only nod her head in acceptance. She received a crooked smile as a result and nearly smiled herself at the the happy, passionate, young man before her. Many times had she heard lectures of the importance of magic but none had been done with the intensity Harry had just used. She knew then he would grow into a leader, a very powerful one.
Dumbledore watched with guarded eyes as Harry slid out the door to the Great Hall on the way to his first class with his friends following behind him. On the outside he seemed calm but inside he was nervous and fearful. Harry sounded very much like a young Riddle who had lived in this very castle more then fifty years prior. The passion was the same. To become the best they could be and both had nearly unlimited potential. The old man didn't even think Tom could have produced a full corporal patronus at thirteen. He vowed he would keep a closer eye on Harry from now on. All his plans, years worth, hinged on his ability to control the child of prophesy. He would not allow all those years of planning to be for naught.
Harry sped down the halls of Hogwarts on his way to his first Ancient Runes class. Hermoine was slightly ahead of him leading the way and both were late after having to run all the way from the far side of the castle grounds. It had been an interesting class if somewhat trying. The Screwts, half crab, half scorpion with something else thrown in there for good measure, were no more than the size of a galleon. During the entire class they had tried to find a food the things would eat with no avail though. Harry knew he had done the same thing Before but for the life of him he couldn't remember what the things had eaten. He did however remember the giant thing that he had met in the maze during the last task. Merlin only knew how big they would end up getting. His mind flashed back to a maze with one nearly as large as he was blocking the way. Harry shivered. Maybe he should just kill them all now.
"Good morning class. As you should recall from last year I am Professor Vector." The tall, skinny and completely lust worthy teacher listed off. Harry had often wondered what the hottest teacher had taught and now he knew. "We have been gifted a new student this year. It seems Professor McGonagall deemed Mr. Potter worthy of entering this class after a years absence."
Okay, so maybe she is a little milfed... miffed at having to take him without being asked. 'Damn Potter start using the correct head.'
"Tell me Mr. Potter why you choose now to attend this class and why I should let you stay? Every other student here is already a year ahead of you. Why should we allow you to hold us back?"
Harry bristled slightly at the condescending tone of voice.
"Because Maddam, I find this subject much more fulfilling than listening to that fraud of a divination professor constantly predict my death. I am interested in warding or curse breaking as a career choice and know this is a requirement for those fields of study."
"And why Mr. Potter did you not think of that last year?"
"Because," Harry stated in a icy tone. If she was going to disrespect him, he would do the same. "any culture that would have a child at the age of barely thirteen make a choice of a career that he would spend the rest of his life in is not a culture I would want to be a part of."
Vector blinked, shocked at the tone of voice and the direct answer. She tried hard to swallow the lump in her throat and managed after the third time. She knew Harry Potter was powerful and she just realized how bad of an idea it would be to get on his bad side as the killing curse green in his eyes seemed to flash. Plus the not so subtle threat given would have most of the wizarding world after her blood.
"Very well Mr. Potter." She really tried to keep the waiver out of her voice and she damn near did too. "Do not take our valuable time asking questions you should have learned last year. You will take two exams at the end of the year showing you know the material sufficiently."
"Now class who can tell me what this symbol means and why it is so important regarding Lea Lines?"
The lecture continued and Harry absorbed the information like a sponge all the while knowing his first few months back at Hogwarts would be some of the busiest and he ever had. Luckily he was already friends with Hermione. She would at least be able to show him around the library more. He really couldn't believe he had spent three years in the school in this time and still didn't know anything about the library.
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The first two months of schooling passed in a blur of hard studying for Harry. He did however manage to condense a years worth of Ancient Runes into that short time. For some reason the subject fascinated him even more than learning defensive and offensive spells. It was one of the few classes he was able to absorb the material after reading through it only once.
The only consequence of changing courses was that his plans had been pushed to the side for the time being and Harry wasn't sure that was a bad thing. He knew that he was still too young to really preform any of the rituals he had done in his prior life and now that he knew Runes better he felt that he would get a better result from said rituals and many he was thinking of replacing with another, harder and more dangerous, variant than he had done before. It also kept him out of trouble. He had been studying so hard, using his work ethic from Before, that he had no time to sneak out after curfew. And the threat of having to spend a few hours of precious study time in detention kept his mouth shut and temper tampered during times he was in the presence of those he still loathed. All in all it had been most advantageous.
Dumbledore had given Harry a wide berth seemingly knowing that he had done something to earn the boy's ire. The old mage still seemed confused by the anger directed at him and some of his staff. It seemed he couldn't understand what Harry knew that would make him go to such extremes as ruining another's life.
McGonagall seemed to forget about his back talking and threatening after his first transfiguration class. Harry decided to take a small break from his studying and leaned back against the soft sofa and relax his eyes for a bit as he remembered that day.
"This year will start your transition from learning how to transfigure items into actually learning the art of transfiguration. In years prior we have been working on technique, focus, and actual spell work. Those who have the aptitude for this subject will find that they have no real need for the first or third. Animagus transformations, which is considered the height of transfiguration, only needs focus and the feel of your own magic. This goes to show that wand techniques and actual spells are not needed for this subject."
Harry knew all this already. After all, Before he had been able to cast spells with little more than a gesture with his wand. Transfiguration, Charms and Defense he was nearly perfect at. He did find that the more difficult and powerful the magic the harder this was. Of course that meant absolutely nothing to him now as even though he already knew the spells and what they would do, he still needed to familiarize his body with the magic.
Harry had finally figured out what to compare his predicament to. He was like Hermione in a way. It was like he had read all the information in books but had yet to transfer that knowledge to practical use. So even though he already knew the spells and the magic he still needed to 'learn' to use it. Harry broke his silent contemplation and focused his attention back on his professor.
"...process would be turning an animate object into an inanimate object. After we have a firm grasp on this we will move to animate to animate. This will most likely take up the remainder of the year. In fifth year, your OWL year, we will learn to transfigure inanimate objects into animate, seemingly living, creatures. The following years will be spent on human and self transfiguration then conjuration. Both are extremely difficult and are only taught to those who have passed their OWLs with an E or above.
"Now, please come up to the front and take a worm from the jar. We are to practice the spell you were to have been reading at the beginning of class."
After retrieving his worm Harry watched it. He already knew that the easiest of this type of magic was to use a creature with very little self awareness and an invertebrate. The smaller and less complex the easier.
He watched as Hermione glared at Pavarti and Lavander as they screeched every time their worms moved. He couldn't hold back the chuckle after Ron started. It really was ridicules to act so girly.
"Attention class." McGonagall gathered all eyes to herself once more. "You are to use the information from your text to transfigure your worm into an item of your choice. Remember, if you are trying to make an item larger than the mass of the worm you will have a more difficult time."
That information struck a cord with Harry and by the look on her face it did with Hermione as well. The two looked at each other knowing the same thing was racing though both their minds. Hermione was the one to act on it.
"Excuse me, Professor McGonagall?"
"Yes Ms. Granger?"
"Why would it be more difficult to transfigure the worm into something larger. I have never heard of that before." Harry nodded his head from beside her to let the teacher know he was thinking the same thing. Even Before he had never heard of that.
"That is a discussion for another day Ms. Granger. It will likely take an entire period to cover the subject and field the questions. For now just concentrate on your worm please."
Hermione nodded and she and Harry got back to work. Harry's mind was working though. Before the subject had never been brought back up, or even brought up in the first place. Either that or he had been absent that day. That didn't make sense though, wouldn't have one of his friends said something about it.
"Mr. Potter! Please bring your head from the clouds and start your work. Your worm has nearly escaped."
Harry looked at his desk and found that his worm had been making a bid for freedom and had nearly made it off the side of his desk. Harry grabbed the worm, placing back in the middle of the work station and gave a sheepish grin toward his teacher.
"Sorry Professor. I was just thinking."
"That much was obvious. Now please get to work."
"Yes ma'am."
Harry thought for a little longer of what he would like to transfigure his worm into. He knew the act of transfiguration itself would forever change the molecules in the worm's body. Something he had picked up from a muggle physics book he read once. Only the counter to the spell would make the magic reverse. Otherwise it would stay the same forever.
It didn't take long to disregard changing it into anything normal. He was taking the life of the creature since he wasn't going to be changing it back and from the amount of worms still in the jar he doubted McGonagall would waste her time changing it back. That brought up another question that had no answer. What happened to the life and soul of the being transfigured. Did the item retain the soul or essence of the being and if it didn't what happened to it and how was it brought back when the transfiguration was reversed.
Harry forcefully shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts. This was a question for later on. He really doubted that anyone would be able to answer him though.
Thinking briefly his mind jumped to a ring he had once seen in a store window. It hadn't even been magical but it reminded him of his family. One of the things he had found out from Before was that both his mother and father had deep roots in the Celtic lifestyle and beliefs. The ring was a plain silver band with different celtic runes etched into it and all connected by a celtic weave of some kind. He never found out what the runes meant and never went back to buy that ring. It was something he had always regretted.
Studying the worm intensely and blocking out the shouts of spells from other students, Harry sank into his psyche, bringing a perfect representation of the ring into his mind. He wanted it to be special though. To be one of a kind. Without his conscious though his mind altered the image slightly. The thick band became a sparkling white and the inside had an engraving on it. The change was so sudden that the young man couldn't stop the soft mummer of his incantation and he wouldn't have anyway with how beautiful the ring now looked.
Nothing happened. The worm remained the same. There was no flash of magic. All eyes however were turned to Harry as if by their own violation. Harry himself was in a sort of trance. All of this lasted only seconds before the air around Harry grew heavy and visible ripples of magic formed around the young man. Then as if waiting for some silent command the magic condensed and rocketed toward the worm only inches from the end of the wand.
The white beam instantly set to work and the living worm changed and flowed slowly into a brilliant white band. It took a surprisingly large amount of the translucent magic that was flowing around Harry to do so as well. After the band finished runes etched with a golden light formed in the band sucking in even more of the visible magic.
Hermione and Ron had been pushed away by some invisible force and no one was moving in the room, so entranced by what was happening.
Finally the golden etching finished and a silver light emanated from the band. Slowly a celtic braid etched itself into the band connecting all the runes together. The visible magic was sucked into the band as the last of the etching was made. Then, the ring floated in the air, the inside of the band started to engrave itself. Red light burned from the neat script as it looked like a spiritual hand wrote the words.
As the amazing display of magic ceased, the ring floated softly onto the desk. The golden light faded from the runes as did the silver from the braid, turning the ring back into it's brilliant white. The last thing Harry saw as his vision faded were the red glowing words etched into the interior of the band.
'We will always love you our son. Love Mum and Dad'
Before it too faded back to white and Harry finally gave into darkness.
From what Ron and Hermione told him afterward it took a good minute for people to come out of their state of shock. It seemed Malfoy was the first and with the little ferret growing up in a magical household he knew the value of what Harry had just created. Before anyone could stop him he had reached over to grab the ring, a taunt already forming on his lips.
The words never came however as when he touched the ring a tortured scream tore from his mouth and a gold and silver light shown though the part of his fingers. The pained scream didn't stop until the white haired child had passed out from the pain, soiling his robes in the process.
That had been all it took to snap the spell on McGonagall. She quickly took charge. Harry and Malfoy where rushed to the hospital wing. The ring was levitated to the stand beside Harry's bed. Harry had found that the Headmaster had tried to touch the item but he too felt like his blood was on fire from the contact though it had not been as severe as it had been for Draco.
The next morning Harry had woken up and Maddam Pomphrey had run thirty minutes worth of tests on him. He had been magically exhausted, though not severely so. The amount of magic used to make the ring was astounding she had said and it took nearly every bit of energy he had. She was still confused though. The amount of magic used during the spell had been felt all over the castle even by the students. It was way more than any fourteen year old wizard should have. But when ever had Harry been 'normal'.
END FLASHBACK
The smile on Harry's face increased as he remembered leaving later that same day. He thanked Merlin he no longer had to wear glasses. All he had to do was place his wand back in his wrist holster and take the ring. As he first touched it, against the wishes of nearly five teachers who had gather to study him, he felt loved. It was the only way he could explain it. The ring fit perfectly as he placed it on his right index finger. It would be the last finger in contact with his wand and knew that was a very special place to put any jewelry. The placement of any jewelry on that finger is to be heavily considered in the magical world.
Harry came back to himself as he opened his eyes, finding himself back in the common room. He glanced at his right index finger and saw the ever present ring. The feeling of love still flowed from it just like it had the first time he touched it.
"Have you finished your potions essay yet Harry? I can't figure out what the dung beetle legs will do when mixed with unicorn hair and griffin blood." Ron asked as he scratched his head with a quill.
"Huh?" Was Harry's articulate answer. To be fair he was still caught up in his daydreaming.
"Honestly Harry." Hermione sighed. It wasn't in her normal patronizing tone. After finding how hard Harry could work to learn something she had stopped being her overbearing self. Something Harry recalled only happening after she and Ron had refused to believe him regarding Malfoy and Snape in his sixth year Before. "You seem to not be able to concentrate at all today. Are you alright?" She asked with concern.
"Yea, I'm fine. I think I might have just been pressing too hard these last few months. I feel like I can't concentrate on anything today." Harry replied.
"Your probably right. You have been working awfully hard lately and it has shown. I don't think I have ever seen Professor Vector so shocked in my life when you turned in that Rune adjustment to enhance listening wards. She didn't think you would last until Christmas let alone already know more Rune set and how to combine and create them than most sixth years."
"Only because I had you teaching me at the beginning. If it hadn't been for you Mione I don't think I would have ever gotten how these things work."
"Hey! Over here guys. Enough of the lovely dovey you helped me crap. I need to know what in Merlin's name happens to the potion!" Ron puffed. He really didn't like to be ignored like he had been.
"It turns silver and starts to make golden vapors appear. You have to turn down your flame to half heat to keep the potion from exploding. Hey ten galleons says when we make this Neville will forget that part."
"I heard that Harry!" Neville yelled from the another chair further down the common room. "And your probably right. I don't know why I can't get the hang of potions."
"Don't worry Neville." Hermione comforted the boy. "You are brilliant in herbology. I still don't know how you managed to transplant and prune that snapping snapdragon without it getting you. It even seemed to just let you do everything without argument. You really do have a gift. Your a natural. You should think about starting your own nursery after graduation."
Neville blushed the same shade as the Gryffindor crest and tried to wave off the praise. "I'll think about it."
"Hey why don't you come over here with us Neville?" Ron called, pointing to a vacant seat between him and Harry.
Harry had already told his two closest friends that he was going to try to gather more people into his group. There were some concerns about Ginny from Ron obviously. That lasted until Harry asked who he would think would win in a duel between the two. Plus Ginny was the best in her class in Arithmancy and Defense. Luna had been hard to sell to Hermione. It took Ginny telling her that she had top marks in Charms and Transfiguration. It seemed that she had some seer blood in her as well. Her real, though not important, predictions in the Divination had earned the ire of Trelawny and Harry thought anyone who could piss her off without getting in trouble was good in his book.
"Yea come on Nev. We can all form a study group. Hara knows I'm going to need your help when it comes to Herbology. I can't even touch a plant and not kill it." Ginny finally added from her spot beside Hermione. It had been easy to meld the youngest Weasley into the group. After her first year she found it hard to become good friends with anyone in her year. But she seemed to fit right into a never before seen place with the Golden Trio. Harry was also doing everything he could to slowly ensure that he would only be seen as a good friend and not a love interest.
As Neville gathered his books and things Ron asked, "Where did you find that? I've looked all though this years and last years potions books and didn't find anything on that."
"You wouldn't either." Hermione responded in a frosty voice. "Snape never even went over it in class. Harry and I found it in another book we had been looking though by sheer accident. I swear, that man tires his hardest to make people fail." She really hated how Snape acted all the time. She couldn't understand how he could be a teacher and this great potions master when he really only taught one quarter of the school, his Slytherins.
"Have you ever noticed that the Slytherins have no trouble with even the hardest potions we make? They might not be perfect but they are at least passable most of the time." Harry watched as the other nodded.
"He probably holds extra classes for his house or gives them an extra work sheet that tells them the little things that has to be done with the potion before class." Neville remarked as he set up his work station.
"I wouldn't doubt that." Ron grumbled as he filled in the rest of his essay and blew the ink dry.
"You know he's never really taught us anything. He just yells to read the book then do the potion. The only time I can remember him teaching was when we were doing something real dangerous that if someone messed up it could harm his precious Slytherings." Harry continued
"I heard that every first year Slytherin has to sit an extra hour class with him a week for potions for the entire first year. It would explain why they seem to know so much more about potion making than any other house." Ginny added into the conversation not even looking up from her star chart.
"Really?" Harry and Hermione asked at the same time.
"Yea. It was from a third year I was talking to that was sorted into Ravenclaw. His sister was a Slytherin and she did her best to help him catch up the summer after his first year. So I think it was probably true."
The others nodded. Hermione rather stiffly as she thought of the instructor intentionally attempting to fail students.
"It would probably be a good idea to owl Flourish and Blotts to see if there are any beginning guides to potions. It would probably help fill in the gaps." Harry already knew just about everything that would be written in the books if they got them but the others would learn a lot of information he already knew and Snape had 'forgotten' to teach them in first year potions.
"Good idea Harry." Hermione was already drafting a letter to the esteemed book store. "I'll simply tell them what we are looking for and ask them to send us the best books they have for the amount of gold we send them.
Harry nodded and dug into his robes pulling out his money bag. "This one's on me everyone. We only need one set and we can all share among ourselves. I would like to start a library anyway and this will make a good start." Harry passed a stack galleons to Hermione.
"Harry!" The girl gasped in astonishment. "There has to be nearly fifty galleons here. That is way too much."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Do you know how much I won at the world cup?"
Apparently Hermione didn't know he had even placed a bet. "Harry you know gambling is illegal." She hissed.
"Not quite correct Mione." Harry smiled. "Since it was outside of school and we were not in the muggle world, where you would be correct, it was a perfectly legal venture for me."
"How much did you win Harry?" Ron questioned with a wide grin.
"Somewhere over ten thousand galleons." All the others gasped. "Yea," he continued enthusiastically. "I won some really high odd bets what with Krum catching the snitch but Ireland still winning. Then there was the bet that I had with Krum making the Irish seeker plow into the ground more than twice. That one payed out big."
"When did you get to be so knowledgeable about Krum Harry?" Ron questioned. "The papers don't follow Bulgaria too well."
"Well," he scratched the back of his neck in a show of embarrassment. "I just hedged a guess really. What with all the talk of how good he was and I already knew he had a mean Wronski Feint and that the Irish seeker wasn't the best."
The faces of those around him gaped.
"Harry, you must have put down at least a few thousand galleons yourself to be able to make that much."
"Yea, guess I just got lucky."
"Well you do seem to have all the luck... both bad and good." Ginny said as she shook her head in amazement. "You know your going to have to get us some really good Christmas gifts this year, right?"
"Don't worry Gin. I have the perfect thing picked out for you. You'll love it."
That was all it took for the circle of friends to erupt in an uproar. Harry sat back as his best friends animately told him that he didn't have to and they wouldn't accept any expensive gifts from him.
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Albus Dumbledore ran his old fingers through the soft plumage of his phoenix. He didn't feel it however. Again he found himself contemplating one of his student albeit a very important one. Harry Potter was now a mystery to him. He had kept his distance from the lad these last few months hoping the rift between them would close. Preferably by Harry coming back to him and apologizing. It hadn't happened though. He had also noticed young Harry expanding his sphere of influence. He had brought in the youngest Weasley girl and Longbottom into his close knit group of friends. He seemed to be offering friendship to a Ravenclaw that he never really paid attention to before. Beside that he seemed friendlier with those from all houses, including some Slytherins, though he noticed how they always acted indifferent when in public. It really amazed Albus how cunning Harry was with making new friends. Without the help of the portraits he never would have know of the inroads young Potter was making in the serpent house.
Albus chuckled slightly thinking how his potions master would take the friendship of any one of his serpents with the young Potter boy. He could definitely see why many of the Slytherins would agree to silent acquaintances. The Potters were extremely wealthy and had, in years past, much sway within politics. Any Slytherin worth their salt would never scoff such a powerful ally away.
He rubbed his beard with his free hand as his mind worked out darker meanings to it all. Riddle had acted much the same way. He had his core group of 'friends', though Dumbledore was fairly sure Riddle never really had friends. Outside this core group he pulled everyone into his infectious attitude. 'Was this what the prophesy meant when it stated that Harry would be Tom's equal? Was it a literal meaning?' Question after question popped into is mind but he had no answers.
What Albus did know what that Harry was growing in knowledge and power at an astounding rate. That ring he made was of a substance he had only seen a few times in his life and never had it been transfigured. Mithril, only a few veins of the ultimate magical metal resided inside the earth. Dwarf and goblin alike had exhausted the veins they could reach centuries ago. The only items he knew of that were made of the substance was a cup once owned by Helga Hufflepuff and a hair piece from Rowena Ravenclaw rumored to have been gifted to her by one of the high mages in Egypt before she ventured to England. For a fourth year student to create such a magical item was unheard of. Albus doubted he had the power to create such a thing.
Albus shook himself from his thoughts as Fawkes tilled softly. It was time to meet his children in the Great Hall for breakfast. He would have to think further on this later on. Hopefully he would be able to glean some information from the young man in question. He hated to try to use legilimency on Harry but if he had to he would. He had already forbidden Severus from using his mind magic on the students in Harry's class and even went so far as to ward the room so that legilimency couldn't be used after Harry's threat the first night he had entered the castle. The firmness in the young man's voice and his eyes that looked so much like chips of emeralds promised he was not bluffing. That was another question he would have to have answered soon. How in the world had Harry learned of the things he spoke about? And how much more did he know?
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"Dear Merlin Harry! How do you bend like that?" Ginny huffed as she tried to move into the same position Harry now was. All six of his core group of Hogwart's friends sat on the cushioned floor of an empty class room performing the beginnings of the intermediate poses they had just moved to.
As the last full week in October finished the group had practiced yoga every morning and night. It was six thirty Friday and even though most had complained heartily about it, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna, spent a good hour twisting their bodies around in different poses.
"It's not just me. Even Ron can do this one." Harry responded.
Ginny huffed and attempted to enter the pose once again. "Remind me how this is suppose to be helping us again."
"It helps you master your body both in flexibility and control." Hermione answered with a thin voice as most of her diaphragm was working to gain the needed oxygen to keep the brain working. It really was a difficult pose.
"It also helps clear your mind. It's one of the reasons you have been able to pick up occlumency so well." Harry added as he pushed the pose further to stretch his lower back out even further.
"I'm just glad it's not a running day." Ron huffed. He really didn't see the point of all this exercise yet. But with after Harry threatened him with not helping later on he decided to do it. Really he did feel better and stronger. He could already see some definition in his stomach and he didn't get nearly as tired after a hard day of spell casting.
"Yea I brought my trunk with me so we can all work out in there. It will be crowded but it's better than nothing." Harry responded as they lowered themselves from the last stretch.
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Five worn out, sweaty, but happy looking Gryffindors said goodbye to Luna as they split up and headed back to their respective commons to take a shower and get ready for the day. After an hour of working out they had thirty minutes to get a shower and get down to the Great Hall to catch the last half hour of breakfast before classes started for the day.
"My legs feel like jelly. I don't know if I'll make it all the way to the commons." Hermione whined as she forced herself up one of three stair cases. She had done her lower body work out today and pushed her muscles to their limits.
Harry and Ron had to admit that they were very impressive muscles too. None of the group wore robes while working out and Harry and Hermione were the only ones with real work out clothing. Hermione's, as apposed to Harry's loose mesh shorts and fitting tank top, wore a full outfit of spandex. Ron nearly passed out the first time he saw it from blood flow problems and had immediately set to work on the heavy bag, spending the entire hour pounding away on the thing until he could barely lift his arms.
Harry and Ginny laughed tiredly at the other girl. They had paired up and done an upper body this morning. Ginny was just starting to really gain strength after spending her first month working the seldom used muscles into shape. Harry however had already gone though that stage. He used his Bowflex to give every muscle from waist up a solid work out. Then the two hit the heavy bag for a few minutes each.
After Harry's performance with Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle on the train none of them thought the weight lifting and other items in the large room were a waste of time. Even Hermione had to admit it was a great way to relieve stress and had asked to use it numerous times after a particularly bad confrontation with the blond twit or Snape. All six had blanket permission to use the fifth compartment in the trunk without asking Harry. He only asked to leave the others alone.
It hadn't taken Malfoy long to regain his swagger. The blond still had three shiny scars running down each side of his face from where he had clawed himself on the train. It seemed that they had went long enough without treatment that the scars were permanent That fact led the Malfoy heir to confront the group of Gryffindors even more than any other year.
"You know, we need to get Malfoy and his goon squad back for trying to get us put in detention yesterday." Ginny said as they made their way to breakfast after getting cleaned up.
"I am finding myself agreeing with that statement." Harry threw his two knuts in.
"He is getting a little cocky isn't he?" Hermione stated.
Ron and Neville just looked flabbergasted the Ms. Prefect would dare get revenge.
"We have been a bad influence on you." Ron smiled affectionately at the bushy haired girl.
Hermione just smiled sweetly back.
I think a prank is in order. A really good one." Harry said. "Something that will embarrass him and we can use it to shut him up in the future."
"Should we get Fred and George into it?" Asked Ron.
"No this should just be us." Hermione said thoughtfully. "And it needs to be really good to. Something that will utterly humiliate him."
"Well let's talk about it tonight. It needs to be before all the other schools arrive. We don't want to give a bad impression right off the bat. Still we need to make sure Colin has that damnable camera with him and ready to immortalize the moment." Harry finished as they entered the great hall.
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The days passed quickly for the six students that now made up Harry's core group of friends. They were all heading to the Halloween feast. Hogsmead had been fun with all of them around.
They had spent days getting everything ready for the prank on Draco and Harry had to pull out his big guns, delving into his prior memories and using his trunk's potions lab. The inhibition potion, that worked by lowering ones own inhibitions and bolstering one's confidence, had ruined many a good wizard's reputation in the past century since it's creation by a vengeful wife. That along with a few other enchantments would really make for a great show. Quietly and stealthy they had slowly layered spells onto Malfoy. The last had been placed that morning as they walked behind him into Hogsmead. Over all the spells themselves were simple second or third year spells so no one would really be able to determine who had done it, although that didn't mean that speculation from the professors wouldn't center on either Harry or the twins. Now though all that was needed was one final activation spell and Harry had used Dobby and Winky, who were working in Hogwarts while he was there, to place a specially made fork in Malfoy's place.
It was a neat bit of transfiguration. He had simply spelled one of the spoons into a fork then placed a rune for activation of spells on it. Harry was hoping that after the rune activated it would trigger the release of the magic and turn it back into a perfectly un-etched spoon. It had worked on a few of his tests and the whole thing really kind of confused him even after Hermione explained the reasoning behind it all.
"Are we all ready?" Ginny asked.
"Shh, don't say anything. Leave no way to incriminate yourself." Harry whispered but nodded all the same to her question.
"Who would hear us?" Ron said looking around.
"Really Ron." Hermione sounded exasperated but it was Luna who answered.
"There has to be twenty hiding places between here and the Great Hall. With the amount of attention Draconis has deemed us worthy for this year, I would not doubt he would be there trying to find out any little thing he could use against us." She said with her usual misty voice.
Harry nodded his agreement but trying to set an example for the rest to shut up.
"But we only need to look at the Marau..."
Harry slammed a hand over Ron's mouth to keep him from blurting out the rest of his sentence.
"Are you insane!" He hissed into Ron's ear. His face clearly showed his rage at his friend bring up the Map where any one could hear about it.
The group stopped to watch the confrontation. Everyone looked angry that they male Weasley would be dumb enough to bring up his father's map.
"Never talk about that in public do you understand?" Intense green eyes bore into frightened sky blue. Ron nodded, his face turning from frightened to abashed in seconds. "Sorry." Harry nodded and playfully punched Ron in the chest.
"Just learn when to keep your big gob shut Weasley." Harry chirped and lead the group along the halls.
A/N:
Another chapter out on my 'back burner' story. I swear, since going over my notes with this I have not even thought of my other stories. And I blame it on all of you. Yea, you out there reading, it's your fault. I can't get the damn thing out of my head.
Anyway, this will probably be the last chapter out before the final book comes out and I'm sure I will hole my self up somewhere to read it, going so far as to forget to eat and potentially sleep as well. So I'm an addict, so sue me. Have fun.