The third chapter is up, Enjoy! R&R

Chapter 3: First day troubles

Harry ran all the way to the Gryffindor tower. When he got to the Fat Lady he realized that he didn't know the password, and going to Prof. McGonagall wasn't the best choice after his runaway from the Hospital Wing. The time was after curfew, so sitting outside the common room and waiting for someone like Filch or Snape to catch him wasn't in Harry's intentions.

'Dobby!" he whispered to the space. The house elf appeared from the thin air.

"Dobby happy to see the Grate Harry Potter, sir" squeaked an excited elf.

"Shh, I'm glad to see you too, Dobby," said Harry "could you do me a favor?"

"Everything for Harry Potter, sir"

"Thanks, Dobby, could you enter to the Gryffindor tower and ask someone to open the door? I don't know the password," asked Harry.

With a POP Dobby was gone, a few seconds later the painting was open and Ginny was at the entrance.

"Madam Pomfrey let you out?" She asked as they made their way to the common room.

"No, I ran away." shrugged Harry as a matter of fact.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" demanded Ginny, her hands on her hips and sounding like Mrs. Weasley.

"Come on, Ginny, you know how she is, nothing was wrong with me, she gave me some potions that made me better, why do I need to stay over night, I'm going to bed. Good night!" With that he made his way to the boy's dormitory. Ginny made her way to her room.

He was glad that his roommates were already asleep, even Ron. Harry took clean pajamas from his trunk and made his way to the shower, locking the door behind.

He took off his uniform, and undone the charm, than went straight to the shower, avoiding the mirrors.

The warm water had a soothing effect on his sore body, he spend there almost an hour, cleaning himself. When finally done, he put back the charm, wore his pajamas and climbed to his four poster bed.

He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

He was in his cupboard under the stairs; his uncle locked him again, after beating him for something minor. Suddenly a door burst open, there stood his father, his face ghostly white, and looked sternly at Harry.

"You are a disgrace to Potter family! You murdered your mother, me and Cedric. It's a good thing that your uncle finally decided to educate you!" said the ghost of James Potter. The door was locked again, just to be open a few seconds later to show Cedric Diggory.

"I trusted you, Harry. I thought you were my friend," said Cedric, "You said it's a Hogwarts victory, but you lied! You wanted to win. You lied to me and then you got killed! You are nothing but a murderer!"

Then his mother appeared "Harry, I even can't call you Potter anymore, it will be an insult to James!" said Lily Potter with disappointed voice, "I'm ashamed to call you a son of mine, you are nothing but a freak!"

The picture then changed, he was in the graveyard, he saw Voldemort with red eyes, pointing his wand at him, "It's time for you to join your parents," hissed Voldemort, "but first you'll get punished!" Harry saw his uncle stepping from behind of Voldemort with a belt in his hand, and started to beat Harry, than Voldemort raised his wand and yelled "Avada Cadavra!" Harry saw the green light and felt a horrible pain in his scar.

He felt someone touching and shaking him, still not fully awake he backed as far as possible, clutching his forehead where the scar is. His face streaked with tears. He sat there muttering 'I am sorry, mom, dad… I'm sorry… No, please, no…"

"Harry, wake up, mate, you are having a nightmare!" called Ron. It was him who was trying to wake Harry.

Finally Harry opened his eyes, evaluating his surroundings, his breathing became more even. "I'm sorry to wake you," he said to the four boys whom gathered around his bed.

"Was it a dream like last summer?" asked Ron, Harry shook his head, "No, I think it was just a nightmare, nothing new really…"

"What do you mean nothing new?" inquired Ron. Harry caught his tongue slip. "Hr… I mean… I had a few over the summer, after… you know… but I'm fine now… I think it was today's excitement… won't happen anymore…" he said, looking at his friends.

"Right, hope you'll be fine," said Dean Thomas and fell asleep as soon as he was in his bed. Seamus Finnegan and Neville left too, but Ron stayed.

"Are you alright, mate?" asked Ron, "maybe you should talk to somebody about your nightmares, maybe even Snuffles; you know he'd like to help you…"

"No, I'm fine; I don't want to bother him. Remember, he got a job to do from Dumbledore… I think we should go to sleep… I bet it would be Snape first thing…" said Harry, faking a yawn.

As soon as Harry was sure that Ron fell asleep too, he got up and went to the common room, placing himself in front of the fire with a book Hermione gave him.

At six thirty he went back to his dorm to get ready for the new day.

At seven thirty Ron dragged Harry towards the Great Hall insisting he should eat something. When they got there, they saw Hermione, already eating her breakfast, so they sat beside her; Ron immediately filled his plate. Harry decided to eat something too. He acknowledged that he won't last without food and he couldn't allow another accident like yesterday, for Hedwig sake. So he took a little porridge, knowing he couldn't digest anything harder.

He ate a few table spoons of the worm porridge, immediately feeling fool. Harry promised himself to eat something at the dinner to.

When the breakfast was over, Professor McGonagall came with the timetables.

"Potter, why did you ran away from the hospital wing, yesterday?" she asked Harry. "Madam Pomfrey is very angry, right now, and I'm too!"

Harry just shrugged her off, "I was feeling better… honestly Professor…" he added when he saw her look.

"You better apologize to her!" said Prof. McGonagall.

"Fine, Professor," promised Harry. She gave him another calculating look, handed the Trio their timetables and left, shaking her head, and muttering something that sounds like 'The teenagers those days…'

"You ran away from Pomfrey?" asked amused Ron, "You better watch yourself now, mate, she will probably tie you the next time you step to the Hospital Wing."

"What do you mean you ran away?" demanded Hermione.

"Oy, Hermione, not you too…" groaned Harry, "I'd already been yelled by Ginny and McGonagall…"

"Boys" muttered Hermione. Ron and Harry imitating her mouthed "Women!" to her and laughed at Hermione's irritated face.

They looked at their timetables, Ron and Harry groaned in unison. Double Potions with Slytherins was the first lesson.

After they grabbed their books, the Trio made their way to the dungeons.

The Slytherins were already there. A few minutes later came Snape and let them all in. While entering, Malfoy purposely bumped into Harry on his way inside, Harry involuntary winced.

"Are you O.K., Harry?" asked Hermione.

"I'm fine!" dismissed Harry, "the ferret just bumped to hard onto me."

They made their way to the tables and settled down.

"Silence!" roared Snape, "It's your O.W.Ls year, so there won't be any childish games and no interferences. Some of you, dunderheads luckily won't be here next year, since I accept to my N.E.W.T class only students with Outstanding on their O.W.L." and he sent a pointed look to Harry and Neville. Noticing this Draco smirked.

"I bet Ferret Senior will pay Snape to accept his precious son next year, the slime ball!" muttered Ron. Harry snored, "Ferret Senior? Good one Ron!"

"Potter, Weasley, 10 points from each for talking!" threw Snape at Ron and Harry, then he waved his wand and directions appeared on the board.

"Today we are going to brew a Fever Reducing Potion, I will test them and the perfect ones will be given to Madam Pomfrey. You may begin, and NO TALKING."

Harry was pared with Neville, while Hermione worked with Ron. He walked to the cupboard to gather the ingredients, when he reached the cupboard he suddenly felt trapped, his breathing became uneven, and he began to sweat. The worst thing was that he just froze and couldn't move.

"Move, Potter!" he heard someone's voice. He was shoved brutally; he lost his balance and fell. Recovering from the sudden panic attack he noticed it was Blaze Zabini who made him fall. He got up, strode towards his offender and overturned the boy's cauldron on his head. Zabini stood dumbstruck, his cauldron contents dripping from his head and face to the floor. There was a grave silence in the class; everybody was looking between the wet Zabini, shaking with anger Potter and furious Snape, who made his way toward the two mentioned students.

"POTTER, GET OUT OF MY CLASS!" he roared, "100 points of Gryffindor, and a week of detentions!" Snape grabbed Harry by his robes and literally threw him out of the classroom.

Harry made his way to the Gryffindor tower; he was wondering what happened today, both the sudden fear from the potions cupboard and the incident with Zabini. He felt ashamed of himself, but for a few seconds, back there, in the classroom, he felt good when he could get back on the Slytherin.

Harry climbed into his bed and fell asleep; he woke up, a few hours later, and noticed that he missed Charms and Herbology and it was a lunch time. He wasn't hungry. Harry suddenly realized that he hadn't done his summer assignments, so he took his books down to the common room and set to work, wishing to finish at least the essay for Transfiguration, which was his next class.

With his work poorly done, since he had only half an hour, he arrived to the Transfiguration class. Ron and Hermione were already there, discussing something between them. When they noticed him, they stopped their conversation and greeted him.

"Bloody howl, mate" exclaimed Ron, "What happed to you lately? Where were you, anyway? You missed Charms and Herbology!"

"Nothing happened, Ron" said Harry, irritated "Zabini deserved it for pushing me, and I was tired so I fell asleep."

"Snape gave you a zero for your summer assignment; he informed the whole class about it. He said you shouldn't bother to do it at all, he won't accept it" added Hermione, "Flitwick and Sprout said they expect it tomorrow, before breakfast." Harry nodded "It won't be a problem" he gave his friend a false smile.

He knew he was going to spend another sleepless night to complete the whole summer work, and with the detention with Snape tonight he'll start doing them minimum at ten o'clock.

The bell rang and McGonagall entered the class. She as well gave the beginning of the year speech, warned them that it their O.W.Ls year and she won't accept to her N.W.E.T. class anyone with less than Exceed Expectation.

She began her lesson with practicing the spells they were supposed to learn their theory over the summer. Harry of course failed miserably.

"Mr. Potter had you once opened your book over the summer?" she asked.

Harry lowered his head; "I wrote the essay, Professor" he defended himself. She scanned his essay, "It seems you wrote it at the last minute."

"I hadn't have time," protested Harry.

"May I ask you, what, exactly, were you doing, the whole summer, Mr. Potter?" she continued her berating, not noticing how distressed the teenager became, "you hadn't had to work to support yourself, which left you enough time for your studies."

Harry didn't know what to say, he couldn't tell her that he indeed had to work, to work for his survival. That all his possessions where locked from the day of his arrival. He stared at his hands, head down.

"Nothing, Professor," he finally managed to say, "I did nothing the whole summer, I'm sorry."

"And you should be, Mr. Potter," continued McGonagall, "but, I'll give you an opportunity to improve your summer work, you have a week to work on it. I will test you here, next Saturday at five o'clock. Do we have a deal?"

"Yes, Professor," mumbled Harry.

The rest of the lesson Harry stayed silent, doing his work. Ron was sending him pitiful glares. Harry ignored him.

As the lesson was over, Hermione came over. "O, Harry, why didn't you do your homework?" she asked, "It was your relatives, isn't it?"

Harry looked at her, "No, Hermione, it wasn't them!" he said, too fast.

Hermione didn't believe him. She knew something was wrong with her friend. Ron sensed it too, after all he was a brilliant chess player to notice small things, when he wanted; but they both knew their friend was stubborn, and decided not to push it anymore, till Harry was ready to talk to them.

"I'll help you," Hermione promised.

"Thanks, I'll need it, with the detentions and all…" smiled Harry.

Truth be told, Minerva McGonagall was worried about Harry Potter. She knew from the school nurse about his strange injury and the fainting on the train. From Severus she knew about his sudden violence towards Malfoy and Zabini, and now, his undone homework. He always did his homework. They weren't perfect like Hermione's, but they were pretty decent. Although his every day homework was better then his summer work. She knew Harry as an average student, although she suspected that something was holding him back to show his full potential. After all, he managed to produce a corporeal Patronus at the age of thirteen and to win the Triwizard Tournament in his forth year.

Something was definitely wrong. She decided to watch her student closely.

Severus Snape sat in his office and graded summer work. He was frowning and cursing those dunderheads who couldn't write a decent essay to save their lives. His mind drifted to his first lesson of the term, and to a specific Gryffindor.

How he hated this arrogant and spoiled brat, who was a spitting image of his more arrogant father, James Potter.

But something was disturbing his mind. A small voice in his head told him something was wrong with the Potter brat. He noticed the boy's sudden freezing in front of the cupboard. If thinking of it, he never came to the cupboard to retrieve ingredients. It always was Granger or Weasley. This time he had no choice. Well, who in his right mind will let Longbottom to collect them, the boy can't distinguish beetle eyes from frog's legs! And then the fights. He hated to admit, even to himself, but Potter never was the one to start a fight. This time, however, he attacked two students without any reason. Then there were the disturbing news about Potter's injury and his run from the hospital wing. Somehow he knew this type of behavior too well. He was acting like this himself after his summer holidays with his father. But he, Severus, had a reason; after all, he was releasing his emotions after three month of hiding them from his abusive father. He couldn't let anybody to found out; otherwise his mother would have suffered. What excuse does Potter have? He after all is a pampered little prince, who probably been spoiled by his relatives. Severus silenced the internal voice and returned to work.

Meanwhile, the Trio made their way to the common room. They had their last lesson for today, Ancient Runs for Hermione and Divination for Harry and Ron.

As soon as they came back, Harry sat down to do his homework. He hoped to finish his Herbology essay before his detention with Snape.

Suddenly an owl flew in and landed in front of Harry. There was a parchment attached to its leg, addressed to him. Harry took the parchment and was thrilled to found out that it was a letter from Sirius.

Hello, Harry, The letter started,

Sorry I couldn't contact you sooner, I was on some mission. Never mind on that.

How have you been? Moony received your letters over the summer saying you were fine, but I like to hear more.

How are you dealing with Cedric's death? Did you have any Scar Related nightmares? How is your hand? By the way you wrote, you seemed to be in a lot of pain.

I wish I could be with you right now, but till we find the traitorous rat it will be dangerous for both of us.

I contacted Dumbledore and asked him to let you talk to him if something bothers you. He said you're welcome anytime. So use it, please, till we talk.

There is present for you, attached to the letter, it is a late Birthday present from me and Mooney. Hope you'll like it.

Don't send Hedwig with the reply, she is too noticeable. The owl that brought you this letter will come the day after tomorrow, send your answer then.

With whole my love, Snuffles!

P/S Mooney says Hi too!!!

Harry felt happy and sad on the same time. He was happy finally to hear from Sirius, his godfather, but he was also sad that he couldn't be with him.

When he finished reading the letter he found the package, his godfather mentioned. Inside was a gold chain with four pendants: a dog, a wolf, a stag and a lily.

He took off the chain Ginny gave him, separated the green stone and added it to the gold chain.

"What's that, Harry?" Ginny asked as she saw the gift.

Harry smiled "It's a present from Sirius, my godfather and Remus Lupin."

"I think it's beautiful, what the pendants represent?" she kept asking. She sat besides him on the handle of the armchair he was occupying and leaned forward for better to see the pendants, her long hair brushing his face. Harry felt his face turn hot and probably red as her hair.

"The dog is my godfather, it's his Animagus form, the wolf it Remus Lupin, the stag is my father, his Animagus form and the lily, you can probably guess," he said.

"And the green stone?" she asked playfully, obviously teasing.

"It's from some special girl, you probably don't know her," Harry caught the game. When he realized what he just said, he blushed, as well as Ginny.

"Well, I should go," Ginny excused herself, "homework, you know…"

"Yea, me too…" said Harry, still red as a Quaffle.

He returned to his Herbology essay. When the clock struck seven o'clock he jumped and cursed. "What's wrong, Harry?" asked Ron

"I'm late to my detention with Snape," he shouted while pushing his way to the exit of the common room.

He ran all the way to the dungeons. When he got there he was ten minutes late and about to faint from the exertion. Harry knocked on Snape office door; he heard the permission to enter.

"You are late, Potter!" stated Snape, "Ten points from Gryffindor! If you are late again you will receive another detention. Is it a part of your arrogance?" asked Snape.

"Answer me, boy!" demanded Snape, when Harry didn't answer.

What came next surprised Snape. Harry backed a little, his eyes wide open, he looked at his Potion Professor and said in a stammered voice, "I… I'm so…rry uncle"

"What did you say?" inquired Snape.

"I mean… Sorry sir… I mean… No sir… I was doing my homework… I didn't pay attention to the clock… sorry Professor… it won't happen again." Harry corrected himself, his voice still shaking.

But for Severus Snape it was enough to tell that something definitely wrong was with Potter. He decided to investigate.

"You said 'I'm sorry uncle', why did you call me uncle?"

"It was a mistake, Professor"

"You acted like you was really afraid of me, and called me uncle, why?" continued Snape.

Harry felt trapped, "It's nothing, sir. It was a mistake, I'm sorry…"

"Tell me, Potter, is everything alright between you and your uncle?" The signs were too obvious for Snape to ignore that Potter was afraid of his uncle, but nothing can be done till the boy admit it.

"Yes sir," said Harry, finally composing himself, and looking straight into his Professor's black eyes, "Everything is just fine!"

"Fine, Potter, if you say so," Snape dismissed the subject; Potter was too stubborn for his own good. "I want you to scrub the desks and then arrange the ingredients alphabetically. You have eight days to finish it. You may begin."

When Harry finally was dismissed, it was almost eleven o'clock. He was tired, but he knew he still couldn't go to bed; he needed to finish his assignments for Sprout and Flitwick.

'It's going to be a long night' he sighed, before taking out his books.

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Thanks to everyone who sent a review!!!!

YinYangWhiteTiger – You should wait and see. Draco will have a major role in the plot.