Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Thank you for the reviews! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

After dinner Harry asked Percy to walk him to his quarters. He wanted to talk to his Dad about what had happened during Care of Magical Creatures. Harry thanked Percy when they arrived in the dungeons and then let himself into his quarters. He flopped down onto the couch to wait for his Dad. He wondered if there had been any news on Sirius Black. He couldn't believe classes had just started and he already felt so stressed out.

"Harry?"

Harry looked up and saw his Dad looking at him in concern.

"What are you doing here? Are you all right?" Severus asked, putting his hand to Harry's forehead to make sure his son wasn't sick.

"Yes, I feel fine." Harry said with a shrug.

"Did you walk here by yourself?" Severus asked with a frown.

Harry made a face. "No, I asked Percy to walk me. It's so embarrassing; you'd think I was a toddler or something."

"The whine in your tone sure makes you sound like one." Severus said lightly as he put the pile of papers he needed to grade on the coffee table. "I saw you riding Buckbeak earlier."

Harry's face brightened. "It was so awesome! I loved it!"

"I must admit I was startled to see you riding a hippogriff." Severus admitted with a chuckle.

"Thank you for not pulling me to safety like you did during the summer." Harry joked.

Severus smirked. "I thought about it."

"I saw Nott at dinner." Harry said casually. "He had a sling on his arm." He looked questioningly at his Dad.

"Yes, Madame Pomfrey healed his arm. I doubt he actually needs the sling." Severus remarked, settling back into the sofa. He stretched his legs out and rested his feet on the coffee table. Summoning his papers to him, he began to grade essays.

"He said he was going to complain to his father." Harry said, leaning over to read whose essay his Dad was grading.

Severus gave a mock scowl and pulled the essay out of sight. "The only grades that are your business are you own." He scolded in amusement.

Harry smirked. "My essay should receive a big fat O as my tyrant of a Dad made me redo it like a hundred times."

Severus rolled his eyes. "It was not a hundred times."

"Felt like it." Harry playfully grumbled. He returned to their previous conversation. "Hagrid's not in trouble is he? It wasn't his fault that Buckbeak attacked Nott. It wasn't even Buckbeak's fault."

"I'm sure it wasn't. I do know what Mr. Nott said and have heard Hagrid's version as well regarding the incident." Severus said slowly. "I do know that Mr. Nott sent a letter off to his parents. We will have to wait and see what will happen with that. As far as Hogwarts goes, Hagrid is not in trouble."

"It really was Nott's fault. He didn't bow and just walked right up to Buckbeak and grabbed him roughly. Buckbeak was just protecting himself." Harry told his father. "Everyone saw it."

"I believe you Harry." Severus said quietly. He had a feeling Mr. Nott was going to make trouble for Hagrid but didn't want to tell his son that until he knew for sure. Theo Nott was already trying to bully his son and was upset at the punishment Severus had given him for his stunt in potions. Who knew what trouble he would try to cause. "As I said, we will wait and see what happens."

"Nott's a prat, can't you just expel him?" Harry only half joked.

"If I could expel all of the obnoxious children, you would be the only student here." Severus smirked. "As it is, Mr. Nott still has a month of detention to look forward to."

Harry grinned. That was true. "Couldn't happen to a nicer Slytherin." He teased. He tilted his head to the side. "And speaking of nicer Slytherins, what's with Malfoy?"

Severus raised his head from the abominable essay he was reading. "What do you mean?"

"He's kind of been sticking up for me. Well, he did in potions and in Care of Magical Creatures he and Zabini stuck up for me again." Harry shrugged. "It's weird."

Severus had not responded to Lucius yet but if Malfoy senior was interested in switching sides then having his son be nicer to the "boy-who-lived" would be a start. "That is interesting. You never know, he could be seeing the error of his ways." Hopefully.

Harry gave him a doubtful look.

"But you are wise to be cautious of it." Severus amended. "People are capable of change but you do want to be careful."

"I will be, believe me." Harry said as he stood up. "I better get back to my dorm. I still have homework to start."

Severus gave him an exasperated look. "You need to manage your time better. Perhaps make use of the planner Miss. Granger gave you?" He stood up as well.

"Uh, yeah maybe." Harry said reluctantly.

"I'll walk you back." Severus said. "And I do not want you staying up too late."

"You really don't need to walk me back. I have my wand." Harry sighed.

"I really do not want to have this same agreement every day." Severus said firmly. "Until Black is caught you are not to be on your own."

"Dad…"

"Harry…"

Father and son stared at each other for a moment. "Okay. I'm sorry." Harry said finally. He wasn't going to win this argument and he had been told enough times that this was how it was going to be. "I still think the castle is safe." He couldn't help adding. There was no way Sirius Black could get into Hogwarts.

"Do you?" Severus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So you think nothing bad can get you here?"

"Well, yeah. Hogwarts is well protected, especially this year." Harry shrugged, not realizing he was being led into a trap.

"So being hexed to fall off of your broom and facing Voldemort your first year, entering the chamber to once again face Voldemort your second year, those are not examples that even Hogwarts is not one hundred percent secure?" Severus asked sarcastically.

"Um," Harry hedged. Drat. "That was just bad luck." He tried.

Severus crossed his arms. "That was not bad luck especially when you went looking for trouble."

"Trouble just finds me!" Harry protested weakly. Okay, so he had deliberately gone looking for the Sorcerer's Stone. And he had gone looking for the Chamber of Secrets. Hmmm…

"Indeed it does." Severus agreed with a shake of his head. "Back to your dorm with you, homework apparently awaits." He put his arm around Harry as they walked out into the hallway.

"So I guess there are no updates about Sirius Black." Harry said as they walked.

"No. I would tell you if there were." Severus assured him.

Once they arrived to the Tower, Harry gave his Dad a quick hug before entering the common room. He found there were still students awake and doing homework. He saw Hermione and Ron in their usual spot by the fireplace and after grabbing his books from his dorm he joined his friends.

Hermione was writing a lengthy essay and Ron was writing as well with a bored expression on his face.

"Is that for Ancient Runes?" Harry asked as he got out his textbook.

Hermione nodded. "It's really interesting isn't it?"

Harry began his reading with a shrug. It had only been one class and seemed a little overwhelming but some of it sounded interesting. "What are you working on Ron?"

"Divination." Ron rolled his eyes. "We have to describe a recent dream and then conclude what we think the dream means."

"Sounds easier than this." Harry began writing his essay.

"True." Ron snickered. "Although, Professor Trelawney doesn't think Hermione is receptive to the future."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "It's only been one class, but I am already regretting taking it. She's seems a bit…"

"Mental?" Ron suggested.

Harry frowned suddenly. "Wait, how were you in Divination? Doesn't that meet at the same time as Ancient Runes?"

Hermione began gathering her papers and books. "Don't be silly Harry, how could I be in two places at once? Well, I'm off to bed. Goodnight!"

Harry looked at Ron. "Seriously, aren't those classes at the same-"

"Harry, I have to tell you something." Ron interrupted with an unusually serious look on his face. "Hermione told me not to so that you didn't get upset but I figured you might hear about it from other students anyway."

"Tell me about what?"

Ron took a deep breath. "Professor Trelawney started talking about you when we were viewing our tea leaves. She said she had foreseen that you would not be in Divination because you wouldn't be able to handle the truth."

"What truth?" Harry asked in confusion. "And why would she mention me at all?"

"She said she saw something about the chosen one in my cup." Ron replied. "And then Lavender told her that you and I were best friends. Professor Trelawney said that my cup showed you and the grim."

"What's the grim?"

Ron looked nervous. "An omen of death." He whispered.

Harry stared at him for a moment. "She is predicting my death and I'm not even in the class?"

"Yeah mate. See, I thought the leaves looked like a dog but she said it was the grim."

Harry froze for a second, remembering that he had seen a dog after Hagrid's class.

"Hermione thinks she is a fraud and she really does seem loony." Ron said quickly. "I just thought you should know but don't worry about it or anything."

"Yeah, I won't." Harry said weakly, returning to his essay. But after seeing a strange dog today, how could he not worry about it? He sighed. It was just like he had told his Dad, trouble just found him.

HPHPHPHP

"Welcome to your third year of Defense against the Dark Arts. I am Professor Lupin." Remus introduced himself to his students.

"Are we going to actually learn about Defense this year?" A student called out.

"I sure hope so." Remus chuckled. "I understand your Professor last year was unsatisfactory?"

Snickering could be heart throughout the room. "That's for sure." Ron muttered.

"Hopefully this will be a better experience for you." Remus said, walking towards a wardrobe that was shaking slightly. "Today we will be learning about boggarts. Does anyone know what a boggart is?"

Hermione raised her hand. "They are a shape-shifting non-being that takes the form of what you fear the most."

"Correct Miss…?"

"Granger, Hermione."

"Five points to Gryffindor Miss. Granger." Remus nodded. "What we will be doing today is learning the charm that will repel them. Repeat after me. Riddikulus."

"Riddikulus!"

"Now, what you want to do is when your boggart turns into what you fear is to picture something funny." He nodded at Neville. "What is your greatest fear Mr.?"

"Longbottom." Neville said nervously. He cleared his throat. "Um, well…" He glanced at Harry. "Professor Snape." He said quietly.

Laughter could be heart throughout the room and Harry frowned at his fellow Gryffindor. While his Dad was still a strict teacher he had changed in a lot of ways. He didn't take points unfairly anymore and even though he still scolded Neville when Neville messed up a potion or melted a cauldron, he didn't yell or call him names.

Remus grinned a little. "Yes, Professor Snape can be scary."

Harry's frown turned into a glare and was now directed at Professor Lupin.

Remus didn't notice as he was still talking to Neville. He looked at the nervous Gryffindor thoughtfully. "You live with your grandmother correct?"

Neville nodded.

"All right, now picture your Grandmother's favorite outfit. Get a clear vision of it in your head and when you say the charm, keep picturing that outfit. Ready?" Remus opened the wardrobe and suddenly what looked like Professor Snape stepped out, a sneer on his face.

"Riddikulus!" Neville shouted.

Suddenly the boggart was wearing an olive green dress and a vulture hat as well as a red handbag. It looked around in confusion as the class began laughing.

Harry crossed his arms and huffed. He didn't like that people were laughing at his Dad. Well, technically they were laughing at the boggart but still. He noticed Hermione had refrained from laughing and instead gave him a sympathetic smile. Ron, however, was cracking up. Harry did see that most of the Slytherins were not laughing either.

"All right, who is next?" Remus called out with a laugh. He turned on some music and the students began lining up.

Ron was next and "Professor Snape" turned into a giant spider that had several students yelp with fear. Ron said the charm and the spider now was wearing skates and sliding all around.

This Harry did laugh at, though he was still a little irked about Neville's boggart. He noticed Draco watching the boggart lesson with a bored expression.

Before Harry could stop himself, he stepped closer to the Slytherin. "Why didn't you laugh?" He asked in a whisper, not wanting to lose points for talking in class. "When Neville's boggart became my Dad?"

Draco looked surprised. "Professor Snape is my Head of House. No proper student would laugh at their Head of House expense. It's called respect Snape." Draco looked at Harry curiously. "Would you have laughed if a Slytherin had done the same thing only it was McGonagall instead?"

Harry paused. Probably no Gryffindors would have laughed if McGonagall had been made a fool of. "Point taken." He muttered.

Draco snorted and looked away.

Harry waited patiently for his turn and when he finally stepped up to the boggart he wondered if it would turn to Voldemort. Or maybe….he remembered the dementor on the train and bit his lip nervously.

Before the boggart could change Remus suddenly swooped in front of him and the boggart turned into a full moon which he then turned into a balloon. He sent the balloon into the wardrobe and shut the door. "I know everyone wanted a chance but that is all we have time for. Class dismissed!" He said hurriedly.

Harry waited as the students began leaving.

"Harry let's go." Ron said.

"No, I want to ask Professor Lupin something." Harry responded.

Remus looked at the trio in confusion. "Is something wrong?"

"Why did you stop me from facing the boggart?" Harry asked flatly.

"We ran out of time." Remus answered, though he couldn't look Harry in the eye.

"No we didn't. We actually still have a few minutes." Hermione spoke up.

Remus sighed. "You know, most students would be thrilled to get out of class early." He informed them. He relented. "I thought your boggart would turn into Voldemort and that would have startled everyone."

"Oh." Harry said slowly. "I don't think it would have turned into Voldemort."

"You-know-who!" Ron hissed, covering his ears.

"So can I try?" Harry asked, ignoring Ron.

Remus hesitated and then nodded. "Of course. Do you have something funny in your mind?"

Now it was Harry's turn to hesitate. If the boggart turned into a Dementor, how could he make that humorous? Turning it into a blanket? A cloud of smoke? "I'm ready." He announced, trying to sound braver than he felt.

Remus opened the wardrobe and a Dementor floated out, heading straight for Harry.

Harry raised his wand, trying to focus on something funny but he couldn't. All he felt was cold and alone. Once again, a woman screamed but this time he could hear what she was saying.

"No, not my baby!"

There was a shout and then what looked like a silvery dog filled his vision before he once again passed out.

TBC: I don't think Harry's Patronus would be a stag in this story so what should it be? A baby deer maybe? Something that flies? What are your thoughts?