Chapter four

Over the next few days, Harry and Megan kept watching Albus Dumbledore to see if their plan was working. They could tell he was concentrating on something. Most of the time he didn't seem to be taking any notice of what was going on right in front of him. At other times they would see Dumbledore stare at a particular student then turned to stare at another, then he would shudder. The couple would smile because they knew exactly what the old man was thinking about, and remembering from his dreams.

'Tt's time to deal with that bastard which may just push Dumbledore faster in cancelling the tournament. We only have another week before the visiting schools arrive,' Harry said.

'Then let's set everything up.'

Harry and Megan had their plans in order, they had the time turner which will make it seem they were with other teachers at the time Snape was killed. By the time Snape was found, they should be eating dinner. It could be sooner, or it could be later. But thanks to Megan talking to Susan Bones about crimes her aunt investigated when she was an active auror, they knew the aurors could determine the time of death down to the minute of when it happened.

Harry and Megan used the excuse that they needed the bathroom and would meet their friends at their next class in a few minutes. They slipped under Harry's invisibility cloak, turned the time turner over once then waited until it stopped spinning. Megan slipped her own cloak over herself so her and Harry could move freely.

They were able to slip in after the last students left the potions room. They had an hour before Snape normally left his classroom for the great hall for dinner since this was his last class of the day. But they didn't want to wait that long. They planned it in the hope no student found Snape's decapitated body. But they knew there was always a chance that a student, probably a Slytherin, could want to speak with Snape about potions, and find his body. If a student needed to speak with Snape, they hoped it wasn't a young student so they would not be traumatised, but they knew things did not always go as planned.

The other Harry and Megan caught up with their friends for their next lot of classes. Harry was in transfiguration and Megan was in herbology.

At the end of the class, Harry told Hermione and Ron that he needed to speak with McGonagall so he would meet them in the great hall for dinner.

'You wanted something Potter?'

'Yes Professor. Since I found out about my father and Sirius, not to mention, you, I've become interested in animagus. I know it's a difficult spell to master and it's something we don't learn until seventh year, if we want. But I was hoping to read more about it. Since I do still have a few years to go, I could do a bit of research when I get time. With school work, quidditch and just making sure I have time to spend with my friends, there isn't a lot of time left to concentrate on anything else. I figured since I have a few years, I could at least read as much about it when I get time. Another reason for this is that if the rat wasn't caught by the time I've finished here then I might just be able to use my animagus form to find him.'

Minerva stared at Harry for a few minutes, 'I will tell you that since the headmaster found out about your father and his friends, he activated a new ward that would alert him to an animagus entering the school. He wished to stop Pettigrew from returning. We don't believe he will but there is always a chance he may try something, especially if he is trying to locate you-know-who.'

Harry had to make sure he didn't smile at that bit of information. He and Megan planned to use their animagus while at Hogwarts, and now Harry knew they still could. The ward would alert Dumbledore when they entered the school, not if they were inside the school when they changed. If it was to alert him to anyone changing while inside Hogwarts then every time McGonagall did the headmaster would find out. Now he had to convince McGonagall that he wasn't planning on changing during like his father and Sirius had done during their fifth year.

'I always keep an eye out for rats now, in the hope if he does come back Sirius might finally be free. But I would never try to change without supervision Professor. Sirius explained about their near disastrous starts. I would not like being stuck with a tail, or huge ears. I already planned to take that extra class with you in my seventh year. I'll give you a wizard's oath that I don't plan to do any more than read up on it until my last year here.'

'That won't be necessary, yet I am surprised you offered.'

'With the way I seem to attract danger in this place, I decided to be more watchful and more open with the staff. If I see or hear anything suspicious I plan to come straight to you, or Professor Sprout or Professor Flitwick. I want a quiet year with no danger or adventures.'

'That is good to hear Potter. Very well then,' Minerva took her quill and began to write, 'These are three books that are in the restricted section of the library. If you give this to Madam Pince she will see I have given you permission to borrow them.'

'Thank you Professor,' Harry took the slip of parchment, 'One more thing Professor. Is there any chance I could take up ancient runes and join the third years since I've missed a whole year?'

'There is, if you give me a reason why you want to add another class to your schedule.'

'I want to drop divination. I'm getting tired of Professor Trelawney predicting my death during every class. Since I've almost died a few times here, I really don't want to hear about the gruesome ways I could die. I know she's never been right yet, but I still don't like to picture those painful deaths, if I can help it.'

'Yes, it seems ever since you entered her class she has turned her sights on you and no other student,' Minerva stared at Harry again for another minute, 'Alright, I'll change your schedule. You will have ancient runes with the third years. If you could do extra reading, by next year you may be able to catch up with Miss Granger.'

'I doubt I will ever be as good as Hermione, but I realised I've been slacking off. It's time I knuckle down and do more than I have been. I had someone point out to me that if I keep slacking off it could ruin my chance at the career I want.'

'That is true Potter, very true. Out of curiosity, do you have a career in mind?'

'Yes ma'am, two actually. One I know I wouldn't get until I'm a lot older. But when I leave Hogwarts I would like to become a healer, then maybe when I've done that for thirty years or so, after I've had a family and they have grown up, I would like to return here and be a teacher, if possible.'

'Then you will need to get serious with your studies. They only take the best at St Mungo's and you have to prove you're dedicated to helping others before they will take you on. To teach you will need to know not only the subject you wish to teach, but have a good knowledge of the other subjects as well. The staff will sometimes have to take turns to teach another subject if one of us falls ill or is injured. It does happen, thankfully, not very often. But I am please you are going to take your studies seriously, I'm sure your parent's would be pleased as well, since they were both in the top five of their year.'

'To be honest Professor, I skived off work because of Ron. See, he was my first ever friend and I believed he would stop being my friend if I didn't follow in what he wanted, which is usually playing chess or talking quidditch. My cousin made sure no other kids wanted anything to do with me. It was a lonely way to grow up. I meet Ron on the train and we became friends. But I realised I have to stop allowing Ron, or anyone to influence me so much that it could ruin my chance at the career I want. I don't have any family to help, so I have to do everything myself, and I want to do my best.'

Minerva sighed, just from what Harry said about his cousin and how he didn't have family, she knew she had been right about the muggles Albus left Harry with. Petunia Dursley may be Lily's sister, but she was still a muggle, who it seems has not changed. She disliked her sister from the time Lily got her Hogwarts letter, so she was still angry that Lily was a witch and she wasn't. Harry was a wizard, so again Petunia saw another member of her family who was different from her.

As soon as Harry left McGonagall's office he headed straight for the great hall for dinner. He would have liked to see Megan but they had to make sure their alibies were tight. It took him two minutes to get from McGonagall's office to the great hall. If the aurors questioned him then they would know Harry would not have had time to get from McGonagall's office to the dungeons, then kill the potions teacher and get to the great hall within two minutes. Now it was just waiting until he was discovered. Harry knew the students might not be told what really happened. But with the aurors having to investigate Snape's murder, then he was sure they would be told that Snape was killed. They just might not be told everything, like someone cut his head off, and it was lying five feet from his body. But they couldn't hide the fact Snape had been murdered.