Author Notes: Over 100 reviews now. Many thanks to all the reviewers. I enjoy reading your comments and I am very keen to hear what people enjoy most about this story. As always answers/replies to questions and comments are/will be posted at www fanfiction net/topic/135718/89507238/1/

Last Chapter - Classes: Harry decides that whilst the subjects are enjoyable not all the professors are, especially the potions professor. Harry helps organise a number of study groups some of which he jointly leads with Hermione. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff group together for Charms and Herbology. Ron has to be given an ultimatum before he behaves himself. Harry introduces some of the others students to the basics of Occlumency. Toms discovers something in the DADA classroom is causing him problems

Update 14 July: Many thanks to Aletheya for proofreading this chapter.

Chapter 8 - Slytherins

The Gryffindor's final subject was also with the Slytherins. That particular subject started a few weeks after the start of term and also, unlike the others, was held only once per week. Despite being with the Slytherins, the Gryffindors were looking forward to it except for two notable exceptions.

"Don't worry about it, Hermione. I've never flown a broom, either. They'll start with the basics."

"But there is nothing about the basics in my books. Why wasn't there a book on basic broomstick flying on the book list?" Hermione had been panicking all day.

Ron spoke up in what was obviously meant to be a comforting manner, "It's easy. Just feel it and be confident. Those things you can't learn from a book."

"Can't learn it from a book? Why can't I learn it from a book? What am I going to do?"

Harry held her gently by the shoulders. "Hermione, calm down. Deep breaths. Remember your meditation exercises." He glanced at Neville who was also looking a little pale. "Neville, you too. Breathe."

In another effort to calm Hermione down, Harry led her and the others down early and ended up helping Madam Hooch set up for the class. Under Tom's guidance, he selected the healthiest looking brooms for Neville and Hermione.

'I wish I could close my eyes. This is going to be a disaster.'

"Why don't you go hide in the quiet then?"

'And miss all the fun? No way!'

"Gah.. I thought you were meant to old and wise?"

'Guess I've been stuck in your head for too long. Bad influence.'

"I wouldn't dare to disagree."

'Smart arse.' Tom's voice showed his amusement.

There was a pause as Harry tried to tweak a few tail bristles back into place before, "Oh joy, the Slytherins are here."

The Gryffindors and Slytherins eyed each other warily as they waited for Madam Hooch to return. Harry noticed that one of Slytherin girls looked like she had been recently crying and was standing a distance away from the others of her house. He briefly wondered if the house of snakes were having a few internal problems before giving a mental shrug. It wasn't his problem.

'Not your problem, Harry, but possibly an opportunity.'

"What do you mean?"

'At some point, you do need to work on the Slytherin problem. Don't disregard any chance to learn more about the happenings of that house. You are already making good progress with the other Houses.'

"But I thought you said I should spend at least a few months to learn more about the situation before acting?"

'That doesn't mean you shouldn't already be gathering information and looking for opportunities. Pay attention. Watch how the others are treating her. Look, even Pansy is sneering at her and they used to be on half decent terms.'

"Which one is Pansy?"

'Honestly, Harry. Know all your potential enemies. Pansy Parkinson is the one trying to smother Malfoy. The chubby upset girl is Millicent Bulstrode.'

Tom's voice was only mildly chastising, but Harry felt more than a little ashamed. He remembered he had promised to help Tom try and repair the damage his alter ego had caused to his old House. It wasn't that big of a deal to pay a bit more attention and Tom had helped him so much to improve his life.

'Don't worry about it, Harry. You are still doing well. Now focus on the class.'

Madam Hooch returned from the broom shed and switched out another of the brooms before barking out. "Well, what are you waiting for? Pick a broomstick and stand beside it with your wand hand over it."

The class shuffled around a little as the Slytherins selected brooms. Malfoy pushed his way to the front to choose a broom then changed his mind and forced one of his cronies to swap with him.

Madam Hooch called out, "Hand over the middle of the broom and say 'Up!'"

There was a mixed chorus of shouts and whispers as the students commanded their brooms up.

Harry and Ron's brooms were two of the few that went straight to their hands. Neville's and Hermione's lifted a little off the ground before falling back.

"Intent. Focus on your intent. Picture and want the broom to be in your hand." Harry told the two of them.

Neville and Hermione both took a deep breath and tried again. This time the brooms lifted to their hands though neither as energetically as Harry and Ron's.

Madam Hooch went around the class helping and correcting everyone before moving on to showing them all how to mount them. "Now, when I blow my whistle, kick off hard, Keep them steady, rise a few feet, and then lean forward slightly to come straight back down. On my whistle: three, two..."

Harry whispered to the others, "Intent. Picture and focus on a gentle and smooth takeoff and landing."

The whistle blew and soon all the students were doing short flights without too much effort. Even Neville and Hermione had got over their initial fear though, when the students got the option to go a bit higher, they both stuck to doing short hops.

Harry, on the other hand, was having a ball. He would spend a minute helping either Neville or Hermione pushing them to do longer and faster hops each time. Then he would go for a quick dash, loop or barrell roll before returning at speed to help the others.

'You're a good flyer, Harry. It would be worthwhile getting yourself a shrinking broomstick for additional emergency mobility.'

"Flying is great!"

'When your power matures I'll teach you how to fly without a broom.'

"Cool. What other ways to fly are there?"

'In England it's just brooms or riding a flying creature. Other countries allow flying carpets. All require you to depend on something else. Flying under just your own magic is much more liberating.'

"Is it hard to fly without a broom?"

'As far as I am aware, I was the only one to do it. I developed a method, though there are stories that Merlin could do it as well. Such stories were my inspiration to developing the technique.'

"Cool."

'Actually there is one other method, but it's rare. A few people are able to transform themselves into a flying creature and fly that way.'

All too soon the whistle was blown and Harry returned to find a crowd gathered around a fallen student. He landed next to the gathered Gryffindors to hear the crying and mutterings of the crowd.

"She was pushed."

"Who did it?"

"Goyle and Crabbe, they were both knocking her around from their brooms."

Harry glanced around and saw Hermione supporting Neville who was looking rather green. A little embarrassed that he felt so relieved to see her okay, he pushed forward to see who Madam Hooch was helping up. It was Millicent Bulstrode. Madam Hooch had already cast some sort of spell to paralyse her leg.

"Class over. Mr Potter, can you and your friends put the brooms away whilst I take Miss Bulstrode to the hospital? Everyone else dismissed."

No sooner was she out of sight than Draco summoned his broom back to his hand, "Come on, Harry. Let's have a race. First to that tree there and back."

Hermione had already gathered three brooms and snapped at him, "Didn't you hear Madam Hooch? Class is over, we need to put these brooms away. Hand it here, please."

Draco sneered, "You're not the boss of me, mudblood."

All conversation halted and there was a clatter of broomsticks as Harry, Neville and Ron dropped their collections. The silence continued as lines formed, Gryffindors facing Slytherin.

'Harry, keep your head, they are just students. If it goes to a fight tickling, bat bogey, jelly-legs and tongue tying jinxes only. If they cast anything nasty let me call what spell to use.'

Harry stood in the middle of the line of Gryffindor boys. Facing him was Malfoy. Goyle and Crabbe stood to either side of him with Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini flanking them. Nott and the bookends were sneering whilst Zabini just looked slightly disappointed. Parkinson was behind Malfoy and looked ready to fight whilst Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis looked worried and almost ready to run.

Behind Harry, Lavender and Parvati were explaining to Hermione in whispers what was going on.

Harry spoke first clearly and slowly, "Apologise, Draco, and do it properly."

'After Malfoy, Nott should be your second priority. Zabini's probably not going to join unless he's attacked and Goyle and Crabbe, whilst dangerous, will be slow to get started. Don't let Pansy out of your sight. She's more likely to go for the low blow.'

Malfoy, his sneer long gone, looked into the cold green eyes and took a moment to take in the situation. No one had drawn a wand though most everyone except him had hands near them. He still held his broom and there were equal numbers.

He gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, then forced out, "Miss Granger, I sincerely apologise for my ill-considered words. Forgive me but I must take my leave."

'Seems he isn't stupid enough to go up against superior odds.'

Throwing the the broom down he spun around and strode away. The other Slytherins stood still for a moment, letting Draco get a few meters away before they backed away and followed him, sending the occasional glances back towards the line of Gryffindors.

Ron let out a long sigh, "Merlin's Beard, Harry. Thought we were going to go at it then and the only spell I know is rictusempra. Bet you they know heaps of dark spells."

Neville spoke out, "Doesn't matter. Can't let them go calling Hermione that to her face, bad enough already when they mumble it."

Harry was quiet as he approached Hermione and was surprised to find himself being hugged. "Thanks, Harry."

"Ehh.. that's okay, Hermione. Let's get these brooms away, right?"

"Of course."

'Harry. Harry. Pay attention. You can daydream another time. The hug is over now, pay attention. This is a good opportunity to teach your house mates some basic dueling.'

"Fine. Fine."

Harry handed his brooms to Dean Thomas and picked up those Hermione had dropped. "Think we should learn a few more defensive spells, Ron? Not learning anything in Defense."

Before Ron had a chance to speak up Seamus Finnigan got in. "I'd be up for that. Don't think those snakes are going to let this rest. Zabini, maybe, but did you see that look of disappointment on Nott's face when Malfoy apologised?"

Dean asked, "Didn't think Nott was one of Malfoy's group?"

Seamus shook his head "Don't think he is. Seems like a bit of a loner. Usually partners with Zabini. I think he just wanted to fight."

Very soon, everyone was showing interest in learning a few more useful spells and plans were made to get together sometime. Even Lavender agreed to come along after Parvati, who was very keen on the idea, talked her into it. "Come on Lav, us Gryffindors have to stick together. We're not going to go looking for a fight. Just want to be ready to protect ourselves and our friends."

They finally made plans to meet up behind the Quidditch stands on the weekend. It was decided once again that Harry and Hermione would lead the group. Hermione doing the planning and Harry running the actual meeting.

-my-friend-tom-

It was Friday, breakfast time, when Harry next encountered Draco. Harry and Neville had come down alone. Ron had been moaning about it being too early to get up and Hermione was doing some last minute revision for a test in the common room. As they walked into the great hall Draco and his two sidekicks intercepted them.

Harry was thinking he should at least make one more attempt at making peace with Malfoy and was thinking to suggest that they give the broom race idea a shot. However, Malfoy spoke first. "Potter, I'll give you one more chance to show that you're worthy of my attention. We're doing a bit of a cleanup and dropping the dead weight in my house and I think you should do the same. Longbottom's acceptable, same with Patil and Brown but the rest of your friends, they're dragging you down. Don't be a loser. Join the winners."

'I give up. Malfoy's not worth the effort. We'll work on the Slytherins from another angle. Do as you will. Just by mindful of your audience. I'll come up with some ideas on how to break his influence.'

Harry raised his eyebrows and cocked his head and took a few steps to the side as he considered Malfoy's words. He slowly brought his hands up and clapped slowly, "Bravo, Malfoy. I guess you were up all night writing that little speech. Yet all you've managed to do is show how stupid you really are. You and anyone small minded enough to call themselves your friend is hardly a winner. Just someone in need of the money your father throws about."

Draco was shocked, "You can't say that. I'll.."

Harry, "..go tell your father. Of course you will. I'm sure he loves having you come crying back to him every time someone doesn't treat you like the little princess you act like."

Draco was surprisingly quick on the draw. If Harry hadn't been prepared, there was a good chance he might have been too slow. Luckily he hadn't been planning on drawing his wand, instead he rapidly spread his hands shoving Neville. He stepped one way, Neville stumbled the other and Draco's curse shot between them.

Harry had positioned himself so that the student tables weren't behind him and hoped that the curse would be visible from the staff table. However Draco had shot for his head so the curse actually rose as it traversed the great hall and by the time it got to the staff table, it was at just the right height to slam into a huge metal bowl of pork sausages. There was an almighty clang as the bowl was shot into the air trailing sparks. Sausages came raining down on Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick and Professor Snape.

'Oh my, Harry. That was impressive.' Tom sounded rather amused.

Harry so wanted to laugh and it took all his willpower to just make sure it was only shock that showed on his face. He kept both his empty hands in view and took another small step backwards so he didn't impeded any of the staff's view from the sight of Draco frozen in shock, his wand still pointing at the staff table. Neville, Crabbe and Goyle followed Harry's lead by stepping back as well, leaving the stunned Draco in full sight of everyone.

"Mr Malfoy. That's fifty points from Slytherin and two weeks of detention. Casting curses at other students is not acceptable behaviour. Severus I take it you will be having a talk with Mr Malfoy about this."

Snape picked a piece of sausage out of his hair, "Indeed Minerva. Mr Malfoy you will report to my office now and will wait outside till I get there."

As Draco fled, the room erupted in whispering and restrained chuckling. There were many dark mutterings from the Slytherin table. Fifty points was a massive amount to lose. Harry had no doubt that Slytherin would no longer be in the lead for the House Cup, in fact he'd be surprised if they weren't dead last now. A few students left the hall on their way to check that.

The Professors cast a few cleaning spells and sat back down to continue their breakfast. Harry noted that Snape wasn't making any effort to eat quickly.

'Malfoy is not altogether stupid. He's weak right now, but he'll be already plotting how to regain his standing. If we want to ruin his standing with the other Slytherins, it would be best to do it soon.'

-my-friend-tom-

By the time Harry and his friends had finished breakfast and made it to the Potions classroom, he had been congratulated by at least thirty people. Surprisingly, most people actually knew what happened and didn't bother exaggerating the story too much. By tomorrow, the story would have started changing, but Harry hoped it'd be a long time before Draco stopped being called 'Princess'.

The Gryffindors and Slytherins ended up standing outside the locked Potions classroom in two small groups and glaring at each other. However, they kept the conversation to low mutterings within their respective houses, instead of the usual taunts. When Professor Snape strode up a few minutes late with a cowed Malfoy in his billowing wake, his expression was so dark no one dared to make a sound as they filed into the classroom.

Harry had noticed in the previous two classes that the Slytherins had rearranged their typical groupings. Malfoy had started partnering with Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode instead of his two cronies. Before, the two bookends had usually just watched Malfoy make the potions. For the previous two classes, Crabbe and had been paired with Nott and Goyle with Zabini and, though Harry had heard a few muttered insults from the two smarter boys, nothing overt was said about the rearranging. The Slytherin's work had improved and Tom had said it was obvious Snape was now providing private lessons, probably as he found it unacceptable to have his snakes being shown up by the lions.

This class initially looked like it would keep the same groupings but when Millicent Bulstrode went to sit down next to Parkinson, Malfoy sneered, "Find another seat half.. Bulstrode."

'Looks like Millicent might not be that useful after all. I guess her mother wasn't what her family had hoped for. Half-bloods have little sway within Slytherin.'

Millicent glanced at Pansy but the other girl just looked away.

Snape sneered as Millicent looked around the other Slytherins who also turned their heads to look away from her, "Miss Bulstrode, unless you want to skip the class, find a seat now."

"Millicent, you can join us." Hermione's hesitant voice was quiet but easily heard in the otherwise silent room.

Millicent blinked twice, but quickly moved over to sit on Hermione's other side and nodded a quick thanks before dropping her head to stare at the table.

'That probably wasn't the smartest move. Weasley is seen as a blood traitor and your girl is a muggleborn. Even though the others pretty much forced her to find new partners, she's not going to enjoy the reception she gets back in the Slytherin common room.'

"Sounds like it was pretty bad before, anyhow."

'I assure you, it can always get worse.'

Harry frowned.

The class started and Hermione conducted a muttered conversation with Millicent as she enlisted both her and Ron's help in preparing and brewing the lesson's potion. Harry noted with some amusement to Neville that Hermione managed to complete the whole lesson without touching a single ingredient or stirring rod and yet their potion turned out quite well. The Slytherins had made numerous attempts to ruin their potion but they couldn't bypass Hermione's ward. It wasn't powerful but they had no way to overpower it or break it without being obvious.

On the way to their next class, Hermione told Harry about her and Millicent's whispered conversation.

"Professor Snape has set up additional Potions study sessions for the first year Slytherins. They are run by some of the sixth years for additional credit. Millicent wasn't invited as she's not pureblood."

Harry noted that Tom had been right once again, "If she's not pureblood what's she doing in Slytherin?"

"Actually, turns out most years have two or three half-bloods, but they tend to be the better students. Millicent is quite good at Charms and Transfiguration, but has a lot of trouble with Potions and Herbology. She is also the only half-blood in first year and they have an odd number of students, which is making it difficult for her."

"Ouch. So you're going to partner with her again next time?"

Hermione glanced at Ron who turned his attention to his feet.

"What happened?" Harry already had an idea so he tried to act just a tiny bit irritated.

"Well, Harry, yes. But she needs help and our study group is pretty small so I asked if she wanted to come and join us for that too. I mean, it'll be just her and the four of us. She promised she'd be on her best behaviour and..."

"Hermione, don't worry, it's fine. Right, Neville?"

Neville shrugged, "I've no problem with it. Millicent is not like the boys or Parkinson, she's usually just quiet."

Harry nodded and looked at Ron, "And you, Ron? Are you okay with it?"

Ron gave a small shrug as he continued to stare at his feet, "Does it matter? Seems like you've already decided. As long as she's not there to spy or make trouble I don't care."

Harry gave a small smile, "Well, that's decided. That's very nice of you Hermione, let her know she is welcome to join us."