Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.

Some of the concepts that will be in this fic are from other Fan fictions about Harry Potter with my own twist on them. So I would like to acknowledge all the Harry Potter fan writers on this site for great work and hundreds of hours of reading. This is an AU story.

Chapter 19

Strategizing and Socializing

Narcissa sat in the little one room flat she had rented for the past year. Since her cousin Sirius had dissolved her marriage to the idiot Malfoy, 'oh yes he was an idiot' she thought, her life had been at a stand still. She had been waiting for the letter she had in her hand for almost a year, the letter telling her what house her son was sorted into.

She looked down again at the words, but only one stood out, 'Slytherin'. She had tried to get rid of Lucius's influence on her son, but the boy worshipped the ground the snake slithered on. 'Slytherin', she looked again. It took her another few minutes to gather her thoughts. For Narcissa the current state of living was unacceptable, as much as she hated Lucius, he had provided her a standard of living that was worthy of a member of the Black family.

Narcissa was a pureblood and proud of the fact. She believed that purebloods were better than all others, but not for the same reasons that Lucius or the other bigots did. To Narcissa it was just about station, like old money families in the muggle world. Oh yes she knew about muggles, at least the muggles worth knowing. Right now she was below all of it, not a Malfoy, as bad as that had been, and not a Black, what money she had hidden away from Lucius would keep her where she was now for many years but it would not get her back into the social circle she enjoyed.

All because her son had to go and get sorted into Slytherin, now there was only one way to get her family name back. Narcissa loved her son; she loved the boy that she gave birth to, but not the boy that her former husband had created.

Pulling a new sheet of parchment in front of her she started writing.

-oo00oo-

Sybill Trelawney was in a panic. Everything she had worked for was falling apart. She had miscalculated the effect the prophecy that she gave Dumbledore almost twelve years ago and got herself, for all intent and purposes, imprisoned inside the walls of Hogwarts. At first the idea of being trapped in her tower, inside Hogwarts was infuriating.

Over the years she had come to enjoy being at the school. Dumbledore went out of his way to make sure she was well provided for, and all the while she was getting rich on the Potter stories and the fallout from the fall of the Dark Lord. When she made that prophecy all those years ago, she did not expect a Death Eater to be at the Three Broomsticks who then ran off to his master. It was only suppose to be one of her little scams to get some money out of the Dumbledore and the Potters.

If it had not been for Severus Snape she would have gotten the job at Hogwarts and spent a few months teaching children Divination, a branch of magic that could not be taught unless you have the inner eye of a seer. She would have then left, after giving another prophecy that would bring her more money and notability as a seer. None of that had worked out, it had turned out better.

The dark idiot had heard part of the prophecy and run to kill the Potter's. Sybill wasn't cold hearted and didn't want to see anyone die, loss their memories sure, have their life savings drained into her vault, sure. To see someone killed over her prophecies, no. Was she going to confess to her crimes? Not bloody likely. She sat the first few months stewing over the misfortune until her partner had sent her a message with the idea for the Boy-who-lived books and memorabilia.

Since then her vault at Gringotts was full to over flowing, she had a rent free place to live and do with as she pleased, house elves that saw to her every need. The only down side was having to teach all the little brats Divination. So she picked a student from every class and year to get the death prediction and that would scare off all but the truly stupid from taking her N.E.W.T classes. As it was, she didn't have any sixth or seventh year students this year.

But now she was in a panic, keeping one eye on the door to her quarters. She was expecting Dumbledore to come barging in any time now. She couldn't get away; the old goat had the wards of the castle blocking her. Her floo was cutoff, and if she was out on the grounds there was always Hagrid watching her. Not that she had been out on the grounds in ten years, so to even walk in that direction would bring attention to her.

The Potter boy just had to take offence to the books that she and Lockhart had written about him, and for once she didn't see it coming. Sybill had an information network that the wizarding world had never seen the likes of in all its history; it was one of her greatest secrets. Not only did she develop the prophecy charm but she had also developed a listening charm that was completely undetectable and only she knew it.

She never even told Lockhart about it. She knew he suspected but didn't have any proof. Those listening charms were everywhere. She had them in every office in the Ministry, every hall way, every lift, and even on a few key people. Diagon alley was covered in them. She had them in every room in Hogwarts, and spread out in the hallways. She even had one on Dumbledore that the old man had not detected once in fifteen years.

All of the charms fed into a special pensive she created. She could search for all the big news and get information for the prophecies she would make. It had taken her years to get it all set up. Last year when a Mr. Crandall had entered the office of Madam Bones, she got a new idea to play up the Potter scam. Sybill was a researcher and she new everything about everyone, she had had access to family records going back a thousand years and sometimes she just guessed. Maybe she did have a touch of seer in her; her great grandma was a true seer. When the Harry Potter's Ministry file change she had been all over it. The listening charms inside Gringotts got the rest.

Now she was waiting, waiting and panicking, it was all coming down, Lockhart had been picked up last night, and he was talking, telling the Auror everything. It wasn't going to be long now.

-oo00oo-

At breakfast in the Great Hall, Draco was watching Potter while he ate. The buzz in the Slytherin common room the night before was enough to make him want to puke. 'The Heir of Slytherin' this and the 'Heir of Slytherin' that. 'Potter, Potter, Potter,' that was all everyone was talking about. He had been able to, with the help of most of the sixth and seventh years whose fathers were on the run like his, to get about half the house on his side against Potter.

As he was going over what had happened the night before in the common room, the morning mail arrived. Two owls descended toward him as he waited. He was sure one was from his mother, and the other from his father since it was the family owl. After removing the letters he opened the one from his father first.

Draco,

I am proud of you. Keep watch on Potter, find out all you can. Try to get friendly with him if you can so he may take you to the Founders' Tower. You have lived up to the name Malfoy.

Father

Draco read the letter again. His father had never told him that he was proud of him before. He was going to have to think of a way to get into Potter's good graces and still maintain his position in Slytherin. He then picked up the letter from his mother and opened it.

My beloved Draco,

It shames me to think that you would still follow your father into the snake pit that has become Slytherin. I am proud of my Slytherin heritage, but our house is not what it once was. I had high hopes that you would be sorted into Ravenclaw as you are smart enough to be there.

I am sorry my son, I cannot live without a name. As of this letter, you are disowned. I will be rejoining the proud, Ancient and Noble House of Black without you.

Mother

Draco sat stunned by the letter. His mother was abandoning him to his own fate. Without the support from either his mother or his father, who at the moment could not, he was knotless. He knew his tuition was paid for at Hogwarts for all seven years, but that was it. He had about one hundred galleons in his trunk. Where would he stay during the summer and holidays? Draco again looked over at Potter, his scowl deepening as he watched Potter laugh at something being said by that squib Longbottom.

He would find a way to get what his father wanted, but he would never soil himself to be around a mudblood and blood traitors. Maybe if the mudblood had an accident...

-oo00oo-

Quirrell was afraid, since that night in the Albanian forest he knew he was a dead man. If the possession of his body by the Dark Lord was not enough, the peck he received from the Night Crow would have finished it. His new master had promised him that if Quirrell served him well, that he would spare his life. To die a painful and cursed death from the Night Crow was a certainty if he did not do as his mater asked. Quirrell, from that little corner of his mind that he was able to keep from the Dark Lord, cursed Dumbledore for sending him to that forest.

He needed to find out the other protections that lay around the stone for his master and that was going to take time. Quirrell had been pleading with his master for patience, but since the Potter boy had turned up and been declared the heir to all the founders his master had been more and more persistent.

"Quirrell!" hissed Voldemort from the back of Quirrell's head.

"Master please be patient, it would not do well to be discovered by Dumbledore. It will take time to gain the trust of the others and find out what they have placed in our path. Snape is still in the Hospital Wing, and it is not known when he will return. Without finding out what he has placed before us, I could fail you Master."

"You presume to tell me what to do!" hissed Voldemort as Quirrell was dropped to his knees in pain. "Find the answers or you are of no use to me. You have until all hollows eve, I wish to be reborn that night."

"Yes, Master." Quirrell stuttered.

"And watch the boy, he must be present that night so I may reclaim what is mine." hissed the spirit again.

"Yes, Master" stuttered Quirrell again.

-oo00oo-

It had been an exciting night for Harry, having his friends staying in the tower with him. He wouldn't give up the Ravenclaw rooms for Hermione, so she was stuck in Slytherin's suite. Of his friends that he invited to stay with him, only Neville and Susan really mattered at the moment. Having Hermione stay in the tower was a spur of the moment idea after seeing the look on her face. Harry had made it clear to all of them it was only going to be for the night right now.

Professor Flitwick told him he would inform the headmaster that the students would be in the tower for the night. The twins begged off saying they didn't like to leave their dorm unattended for too long, they had things brewing. So they left early through the secret passage for the Gryffindor Common Room.

Later that night after returning from his extra curricular activities in the Hospital Wing, Harry had gone to Neville's rooms to let him know he was invited to stay permanently if he wanted to. Neville was excited at the opportunity, but told Harry he wanted to stay in the Gryffindor house dorm for at least a little while.

Truth was, and since Neville and Harry had no secrets he told Harry, that he didn't want to be singled out and Harry was going to be drawing a lot of attention for some time to come. Harry understood that, Neville wanted to be there with him but didn't want to look like he was riding on Harry's coattails. Neville needed to find his own path; it was not the end of their friendship, just a new chapter in it. He would always have Harry's back.

Harry didn't offer it to Susan or Hermione. He didn't invite Susan because he didn't want a girl in the tower with him without Neville being there. It wouldn't look right and could paint Susan or Hermione as something they were not. There was another reason for not inviting Hermione; he just didn't know her well enough yet.

The four made it down to the Great Hall for breakfast on time and were ready for the second day of classes. Harry was waiting for the mail so he could get his paper. He wasn't expecting anything else today, not that it would come via normal owl anyways. All his mail went to a Potter Manor; Tula would then pick it up and sort it. The only thing he received by Owl was the Prophet and a few week or monthly publications. Harry loved The Quibbler, he found all the stories hilarious and at the same time seeing all the truths hidden in it crazy articles.

When the mail came Hedwig appeared over the head table again with the sounds of crystal chimes being heard throughout the hall. She landed on his shoulder holding out her leg for him to remove the news paper.

"Anything good this morning Hedwig?" Harry asked.

Hedwig hooted bobbing her head up and down.

"Harry, Hedwig isn't a normal owl is she?" It was one of the questions Hermione had been dieing to ask. She didn't think it was too personal a question that Harry would get upset over.

"Just figuring that out Hermione?" replied Harry sarcastically with a smile on this face. "No, Hedwig is not a normal owl, she is a…" Harry got interrupted.

"Moonowl. I had hoped to see one in my lifetime. I'm sorry Lord Potter I did not mean to interrupt your explanation." Harry turned to see the Headmaster standing behind him with what looked like a genuine smile. He was looking at Hedwig and she was looking right back at him.

"That's fine Headmaster. I'm not trying to keep her a secret. Hedwig found me or I found her, we argue over that, a year ago. She has been a remarkable friend and is my familiar." Harry's eyes hadn't turned black again during his reply and Dumbledore took this as a good sign.

"Simply remarkable, Fawkes has been with me for many, many years, I do hope you have as wonderful a time with Hedwig as I have had with Fawkes. May I ask a simple question Lord Potter, and please feel free to decline to answer?" asked Dumbledore.

Harry turned to look at Neville with a questioning look; Neville just gave a small shrug. Turning back Harry nodded to Dumbledore.

"Lord Potter, I would just like to know how it is you turn your eyes black?" the look on Dumbledore face told Harry all he need to know, he had stumped the old man with that trick. He wasn't sure if he wanted to give it up just yet.

"Headmaster", Harry's eyes turned black. "Once we have resolved our differences, if we even can resolve our differences, and I am not saying that is possible yet, I will be happy to tell you." Harry kept looking at Dumbledore, but forced his eyes to flash through several other colors.

Dumbledore was taken aback for a moment. "Ah yes, well, I see, maybe at some future time of your choosing we can sit down and discuss our differences as you put it, and come to a middle ground. You are of course welcome to have anyone you wish there with you. Thank you Lord Potter."

"You're welcome Headmaster." Harry had been able to see a small change in Dumbledore's mannerisms toward him.

Dumbledore turned to leave, but stopped and turned back looking at Hedwig, but he spoke to Harry. "For what it is worth Lord Potter, I… I am sorry." Dumbledore turned away quickly and went back to the head table.

Harry just sat there looking at the retreating Dumbledore; it took a few moments and a hoot from Hedwig to get Harry to snap out of it.

"Maybe Harry, he is seeing the light again?" offered Neville as way of an explanation.

"Maybe… but I'm still not going to trust him. There is too much history… Maybe Neville." replied Harry.

Hermione had sat listening through the exchange between Headmaster Dumbledore and Harry. She was excited that the Headmaster had paid her some attention, but was confused by what had happened between him and Harry. She was just about to ask when Susan nudged her in the side. She turned to look at Susan and was about to go off about interrupting her when she saw the look on Susan's face. She had seen it a few times the night before in the tower, it meant don't ask and don't push.

-oo00oo-

Hermione and Susan had gotten along ok the night before. After everyone was in the tower and had the tour, Susan had pulled her aside for a little talk. Hermione had been an almost none stop questioning machine from the moment they had arrived. Most of the questions were directed toward Professor Flitwick, but he didn't have any answers and Harry was filling in some as they went. He didn't answer all of them, but he did answer a few. Hermione was getting frustrated with Harry, when Susan motioned to her.

Susan pulled her into Hufflepuff's rooms and turned to her.

"Hermione, I know that Harry likes you as a friend, but I will tell you this right now, stop with all the questions. He doesn't have all the answers either and you're just going to annoy him. I have been his friend for a year and I don't know everything. My Aunt is the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and I'm not sure, but I don't think even she knows everything about Harry and they have spent hours just talking." Susan stopped to take a breath.

"Listen Hermione, Neville, Harry, and I, have spent a lot of time together. If he won't answer my questions sometimes, what makes you think he will answer yours? There are only four people he tells everything to, Sirius Black his Godfather, Remus Lupin who is his Uncle, Tula his house elf, and Neville, oh wait there is Mr. Crandall too, he's his solicitor. My point is you're not going to get to know Harry by asking him a thousand questions; he will open up to you the longer he's around you and gets to know you." She paused for breath again.

"As for the tower here, he knows as much as you do, maybe a little more. This thing was a surprise to him, he didn't know about it before it happened. So just stop and listen, you will get more answers that way." Susan's rant finally ran out of steam, and she turned to rejoin the others. Hermione just stood there looking at the floor, but Susan could see she was mad.

"Oh and by the way, don't try coming between Harry and me." Susan gave her a smile. Hermione just looked shocked at Susan for a moment before Susan started laughing. "I'm joking Hermione, Harry and Neville have been best friends and I've felt like a third wheel, maybe you and I can be best friends. Want to share the Hufflepuff room with me tonight?" Hermione got a big smile on her face as Susan turned to open the door.

"Yeah, I would love that Susan." replied Hermione as she chased after her out the open door. She did end up in the Hufflepuff room talking until late into the night with Susan, but took the Slytherin room in the end when they both couldn't keep their eyes open.

-oo00oo-

The first class of the day was Charms and Harry was looking forward to it. He was a charms prodigy and loved everything to do with the subject. He had all the theory down through the fifth year, but he had a long way to go on the practical side of things, he was only through third year material in that department. He figured out that Remus was trying to hold him back a little so he wouldn't overdue things.

Remus had eventually explained, and so had several of the family portraits, that as strong as Harry was he was still only ten going on eleven, his magical core needed years to develop to a point were he could perform the more complex spells. If he tried to do anything beyond his cores ability it could damage it and he would be in big trouble then because it could put him in a magical coma or worse.

So Harry was ready for this class, he was ready for all of his classes, but this one was his favorite. It was a double with Ravenclaw and Professor Flitwick. The previous night Harry and the Professor had started off on the right foot. He had told the Professor a general overview of his life with a few details; that talk had happened in private while the rest of the group was exploring the tower. The two of them had then gotten into a discussion about charms. If it had not been for that, Professor Flitwick would have gotten to the Headmaster's office much sooner.

Harry found a seat at the front of the class being one of the first ones there. Hermione arrived not long after, not finding a seat in the first row she sat behind Harry and one row over. The rest of the class soon arrived finding seats and waiting. Professor Flitwick entered the class just as the bell sounded around the castle. It took him a moment to get up on the pile of books that he used to gain some height and get behind his podium.

"Welcome to your first day of Charms. I find this area of study to be the most exciting of all the classes here at Hogwarts; it is definitely the most widely used field of magic in the world. Now let us take attendance and get started."

After taking attendance the professor got right down to business, and Harry soon found himself in Neville's shoes from the day before. Sure he had read and studied all the first year material, he even had it explained to him several different ways by Remus and some of the Potter portraits, but to hear another view on it was exciting to him. He now understood why Neville had been so engrossed in the lecture during Herbology the day before. Harry looked over at Neville who now had a smirk on his face as he winked at Harry.

The first half of the double class was all lectures on the theory of charms, the second half started with Professor Flitwick demonstrating the seven most common wand movements of Charms and having everyone practice. With only fifteen minutes left in the class, Professor Flitwick started asking several questions.

Harry answered the first, receiving five points to Ravenclaw. Hermione got the next getting five more points. Then the class was asked what Wingardium Leviosa was. Hermione beat Harry to raising his hand and answered the question.

"Wingardium Leviosa is the levitation charm." answered Hermione with a smile.

"That is correct Miss Granger…" started Flitwick, but he noticed Harry with his hand up. "Mr. Potter?" Flitwick had decided to use Harry's title when in class, but Harry's objections the night before changed his mind, Harry really didn't use the title for gain, only to annoy some people.

"Wingardium Leviosa is fine for lifting an object up and down, but to move the object after it is in the air you must add tactus to the spell. So the entire spell would be Wingardium Leviosa Tactus." replied Harry with his own smile.

"That is correct Mr. Potter five…" Flitwick was interrupted again this time by Hermione with her hand raised. "Miss Granger?"

"There is an easier spell for setting an object floating and with movement that can be directed by your wand, Paroimotus." This time Hermione was smirking in Harry's direction.

"That is correct Miss Granger, and we will be discussing it in a later class. I think ten points to Ravenclaw."

Harry gave Hermione a scowl, but she could see it wasn't reflected in his eyes, they were currently a light yellow in color.

After Charms, Harry and Neville had a free period so they returned to the tower to relax before going to lunch. Professor Flitwick had assigned a foot of parchment on the theory of Charms. Harry walked into his rooms Neville following him, opening his trunk Harry descended into the library compartment going to a filing cabinet.

"Did you save all your work from classes with Remus?" Harry asked Neville as he pulled out a two foot long rolled up parchment that he had done in the first charms class a year ago.

"Ya, I saved them all why?" answered Neville.

"Did you bring them with you?"

"No I left them all at home." Neville saw what Harry pulled out and slapped his hand to his head. "I should have known the assignments would be the same or close to it."

"Well my homework is done." replied Harry as he tapped the parchment roll in his hands with a smile

"Want to have lunch up here or in the Great Hall?" Harry really didn't care one way or the other, but figured he would ask. If he could get Neville accustomed to being in the tower he figured Neville would move in faster.

"Nah, I like eating in the Great Hall." Neville wasn't fooled by Harry's ploy. They exited the trunk Harry putting the roll of parchment on the desk in Rowena's sitting room to be recopied later in better handwriting.

After sitting around for an hour they left the tower using one of the doors in the hall of doors that opened into a corner of the Great Hall. Harry was looking forward to the defense class as it was his weakest subject practically. He knew the theory and the spells but had trouble casting them without a lot of practice. It had taken him a week to get the Protego shield to work right, once he got it though, it was as strong as Sirius'.

When they got into the Great Hall and sat down, Harry noticed Snape was sitting at the head table eating. To Harry, Snape looked worried, not that you could tell by his face, his scowl was firmly in place. It was the way his eyes darted around and the slow measured movements as he ate lunch. Harry just smiled to himself, his plan was already working.

During lunch Hermione was doing nothing but talking about the charms class between bites of food and how she received ten points for Ravenclaw which had Harry giving snorts in the appropriate places, although on the inside he was having a good chuckle. Hermione was so incredibly competitive Harry thought.

Harry and Neville headed toward the DADA class room. Harry was really hoping that Professor Quirrell had a different way of performing defense spells from what Remus and Sirius had taught him, something that would make them easier for him. Sitting in the second row next to Neville, Harry pulled out his book and some parchment for notes.

Quirrell entered the class and took the role before starting in on his lecture or rather stuttering through what Harry assumed was his lecture. Five minutes in Harry stopped taking notes and just tried to listen, in his mind he was pulling all the stuttering out, finding that Quirrell wasn't really telling them anything substantial.

It was during the second half of the double class that Harry felt an intruder in his mind again. It was subtle and had not even entered the mist around his mind. Harry looked inward and found the shadow he had encountered during the opening feast was back. In his minds library the door holding that part of Voldemort's soul was trying to break free again but the re-enforcements that Harry had put up were holding this time.

"I really need to get this thing out of the Library and my mind." thought Harry.

The shadow circled around the outside of the mist before disappearing from Harry's mind. The scar on his forehead was a little sore after the intruder left. Harry quickly looked around him, but found no one looking in his direction and Quirrell had his back to Harry writing on the blackboard. It worried Harry that he couldn't find the intruder, legilimency required line of sight so the intruder had to be in the room.

Harry scanned the room again using his glasses function to see invisible objects or persons and found nothing out of the ordinary. It was now Harry's turn to be worried. He wasn't worried that someone was entering his mind, as he could deal with that, it was that he couldn't fine who it was and since the person had not entered deep enough Harry couldn't counter attack. He was going to have to tell Sirius and Mr. Crandall about his.

After learning nothing new in DADA from the bumbling Professor, Harry returned to the tower for his second free period of the day. Neville went to Gryffindor Tower to write to his Gran asking her to send all of his notes and homework from the past year to him and then to spend time with some of the other students.

Harry decided to forgo dinner in the Great Hall that night, and asked Tula to get him something, which she was more than happy to do. After eating Harry sat down to do the homework for DADA that turned out to be just slightly different from what he had done for Remus so he had to do it fresh.

A little after dinner finished in the Great Hall, Professor Flitwick walked into the tower's main common room. He spotted Harry sitting in the lounge area reading.

"Harry, I missed you at dinner, is everything ok?" Harry looked up at hearing the question from his Hogwarts advisor, Head of House, mentor, and friend? He wasn't sure what to call Professor Flitwick yet though he did trust him.

"Everything is fine Professor; I just didn't feel like eating in the Great Hall, Tula brought me dinner here. It gave me a chance to just talk to her for a little while." replied Harry.

"Ah good, but please let me know in the future if your going to be missing a meal, I worried. I know you have seen nothing dangerous in the tower so far, but that doesn't mean there isn't something up here that you could get hurt by. Would it be alright if I took a closer look around this weekend to rule out any possible problems?"

"Thank you Professor, for worrying about me, I don't see a problem with you taking a look around, but I have to ask that nothing be removed from the tower, if it is dangerous let me know and we can discuss what to do, but if there is something dangerous like a book or object I would prefer we find a way to lock it up in the tower, because whatever is removed from the tower could find its way into meddlesome hands or worse."

"That sounds reasonable Harry. I think any of the books in the library up stairs would be trouble if they found their way into any other hands. I would ask that I be allowed to use the library. I find I am most interested in finding out what is there in the way of charms and other knowledge."

"You have free access to the library Professor, speaking of the library, there is a Potter family spell that will create an index book for the library. I have tried casting it in the past, but it is way above my skill or power level and knocked me out for two days the last time I tried it. Would you consider casting it for me if I give you the book detailing it? The spell would fall under the goblin law being as it is privileged. You could use it in school library, but not teach it to anyone else."

"I would be happy to help Harry."