After the Welcome Feast had finished, Harry followed the other Ravenclaws up to their Tower to listen as Professor Flitwick gave his annual welcome speech to the first years. When that was finished, and the first years had been shown their dorms, the seventh year prefects called a meeting of all the fourth years.

"As you know," Takashi started, once everyone had gathered. "Fourth years are responsible for buddying up with one of the first years and showing them around. We have a larger group of first years than usual with six boys and seven girls, so some of you will have to take on two students. Anyone willing to volunteer to do that?"

Terry, Lisa and Mandy all put their hands up quickly.

"Wonderful," Penny White, the female seventh year prefect smiled. "Just hang tight for a few minutes and we'll assign you some names."

Once the meeting was drawn to a close, and Harry had been assigned a first year by the name of Tiberius Odgen (who Harry was pretty sure he was Lord Odgen's great-grandson) Harry hung back to speak to Takashi. When the other students had moved away, Harry cast a basic privacy charm that Sirius had introduce him to.

"Merry meet." Takashi greeted him with a wide smile.

"Konbanwa." Harry returned, carefully concentrating on his pronunciation. "O genki desu ka?"

Takashi's eyebrows flew up in surprise. "Genki desu, Harry-sama. Anata wa?"

"Good, thank you." Harry replied. "Sorry, despite having been learning Japanese all summer, that's about all I can manage."

"It is impressive." Takashi told him. "I am honoured that you have taken the time to learn that much. I have been told that my language is very complex to learn."

"It is." Harry agreed. "I've found it equally as hard to learn as Gobbledegook."

"And yet you have persevered with both languages." Takashi commented. "As I said, it is impressive."

"Thank you." Harry inclined his head. "I've been learning Bulgarian as well which is easier than Japanese, but is still a lot harder than French or German."

"Did you know of the Triwizard Tournament before tonight then?" Takashi asked.

"No," Harry denied. "But Sirius did and he was the one who suggested that I learn it."

Takashi looked amused. "It will serve you well, I am sure."

"I hope so." Harry agreed. "

"My grandfather considered sending me to Durmstrang." Takashi commented. "But he chose Hogwarts because I already knew some English."

"Hogwarts must have been especially scary for you when you were a first year." Harry commented.

"It was very new." Takashi agreed. "Though it has since become like a second home. I will miss it when I leave."

"Yes, you're a big seventh year now." Harry remembered. "Are you disappointed that you are not Head boy?"

"No," Takashi answered immediately. "Lucian Bole is much more suited for the role than I am. I want to concentrate on my studies this year."

"Will you put your name forward for the Triwizard Tournament?" Harry asked curiously.

"I will ask my father and grandfather what their wish is," Takashi told him. "But no, I do not think so. They will want me to focus on my studies. Especially now that I have been tentatively accepted for an apprenticeship under Master Kobayashi."

"Who is Master Kobayashi?" Harry asked curiously.

Takashi shot him an incredulous look. "You have never heard of him?"

Harry frowned in thought. "No, I don't think so."

"Master Kobayashi is Japan's most prestigious wand maker." Takashi explained.

"You want to be a wand maker?" Harry asked in surprise.

"Yes," Takashi replied. "My father and grandfather believe that it will bring honour to our House. I think it sounds very interesting."

"No wonder you want to study this year." Harry commented. "Will you have time to become an animagus with us?"

"Definitely!" Takashi answered firmly. "My father was very pleased to hear that you would be helping me learn."

"I wouldn't say I'll be helping exactly." Harry admitted. "I don't know any more about it than you do."

"My father is also very grateful for the assistance you have given me with wandless magic." Takashi continued as though he hadn't spoken. "He wishes to meet you one day."

"I wouldn't exactly say I've been helping you with that either." Harry denied. "We just practise together."

"You do not understand your worth, Harry-sama." Takashi told him seriously. "It is only because of you that I have come so far in learning the discipline of wandless magic."

"So, I presume you've got the Mandrake in your mouth then?" Harry asked, desperate to change the subject.

Takashi looked amused. "Yes, though I still must keep it for another two days. I did not receive your owl until the third of August."

"That's alright." Harry said. "We have to meditate before we take the leaves out anyway – to find our animagus forms. We could all do it together, or we could do it separately."

"I would definitely recommend doing it as a group." Takashi told him. "Meditating next to you makes it easier to concentrate."

Harry frowned. "Still? I thought that would have gone away in first year after I learnt how not to glow."

"No," Takashi denied. "It still remains. It is not bad. Meditating with you reminds me of meditating with my grandfather."

"So you've said before." Harry remembered. "I should probably ask Professor Snape about it, just to be sure."

"I would not worry about it." Takashi told him. "It will help those in the group whose magic is not as strong, or who are not so practised at meditating, to find their animagus forms."

Harry nodded slowly – he wasn't even sure that Fred and George knew how to meditate. "Alright. I'll arrange for us all to meet after dinner on Wednesday then."

9-9-9

Harry woke up at five the next morning to ensure he had time for his daily wandless magic practise. He had been learning for almost two years now and he had definitely made progress. He could cast the levitation, lumos, stunning, and tempus charms easily now, but he had discovered that he had to learn each new spell from scratch. It was frustrating, since he'd hoped that one day he would be able be as proficient without his wand as he was with it, but did make sense. Thankfully though, each spell took less and less time to learn – the tempus charm had only taken him two months. Now Harry was working on learning how to perform a heating charm wandlessly.

Neville had made similar progress, though his friend was still learning the tempus charm, but Takashi was still working on the levitation charm. Harry had no idea how Takashi found the willpower to continue practising. Sure the older boy had gotten better – while he still had to be meditating to levitate the quill, he could now stop meditating and still hold the quill in the air – Harry had learnt four spells in the time it had taken Takashi to mostly learn one.

After practising for an hour, Harry pulled open the curtains on his bed and quietly exchanged his pyjamas for clothes he could run in. Then, with his Hogwarts' robes tucked under his arm, he left his dorm and made his way to the Common Room where Takashi was waiting. They walked down the Quidditch Pitch together to meet Neville and, after the three of them had stowed their school uniforms and school bags under the bleachers, they set off around the lake. It was nice to run at Hogwarts again. The air was so clean and fresh compared to London and the scenery was a lot nicer too.

It was a little strange to be running without Remus though, the older man had been Harry's running partner since June. Harry wondered whether maybe he would be interested in joining them on future mornings. He'd have to ask Takashi and Neville of course, but he doubted that they would mind.

They made it around the lake in record time and then Takashi and Neville began stretching to prepare for their fencing practise. Harry stayed for a few minutes, before quickly making his way to the showers in the Ravenclaw Locker Room – he had less than fifteen minutes until he was due to meet Tiberius Odgen in the Ravenclaw Common Room and show him down to breakfast.

Despite having run all the way from the Quidditch Pitch to the Ravenclaw Tower, Harry only just made it to the common room in time to hear Penny White dismiss the first years and their upperclassmen buddies.

Harry winced inwardly as the students all dispersed leaving a small boy standing near Penny – that was probably Tiberius.

"Ah, there he is." Penny told Tiberius as Harry made his way towards them. "And I'm sure that Harry has a very good reason as to why he was late."

Harry tried to ignore the way the seventh year prefect's eyes were narrowed at him. "My apologies. I was running around the lake and misjudged the time."

Tiberius Odgen stared at him with wide eyes, before bowing over his hands. "Merry meet, Heir Black."

"Merry meet, Tiberius." Harry agreed, ignoring the way Penny was rolling her eyes. "Are you ready for breakfast?"

"Yes, sir." Tiberius nodded quickly.

"Excellent." Harry smiled. "You can just call me Harry though."

Tiberius' eyes widened even further. "Thank you, Harry."

"Did you sleep well?" Harry asked, as he led the small first year down the Ravenclaw stairs.

"Yes." Tiberius nodded quickly. "I've never had curtains on my bed before. Mother always said they were only for older people."

"Well," Harry grinned down at him. "I guess you're older now."

"Yes," Tiberius agreed with obvious excitement. "Did you really run around the lake?"

"Yes," Harry nodded. "I do it every morning with some friends of mine."

"Wow!" Tiberius exclaimed. "But the lake is so big!"

"I started by running around the Quidditch Pitch." Harry told him, before remembering that it had been Takashi, his upperclassmen buddy, who had invited him running in the first place. "You could come and run with us one morning if you like."

Tiberius shook his head. "I couldn't run around the lake."

"No, but you could probably run around the Quidditch Pitch a few times." Harry pointed out. "Did you know that running is actually good for your magic?"

"Really?" Tiberius was looking at him with wide eyes.

"Really." Harry nodded with a smile. "It helps you build up your stamina, which means that you can cast more spells without getting tired."

"That's so cool!" Tiberius told him.

"Meditating helps too." Harry told him.

Tiberius nodded. "I meditate every morning at home. Mother says I have to."

"I meditate every morning too." Harry told him as they entered the Great Hall.

Tiberius stopped suddenly beside him. "There's so many people."

Harry looked around the hall in confusion, only about half the school were there. "There are less than there were last night."

"I know." Tiberius was looking at the ground.

Harry sighed and crouched down in front of the boy. "Don't worry about all the people. They're just here to go to school like you are."

"Not like me." Tiberius answered much more confidently. "I'm a scion of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Odgen."

Harry couldn't help but be amused. "There you are then. There's no reason to let the people upset you. Be careful though. Just because you're from a Most Ancient and Noble House doesn't mean you can be rude to people."

Tiberius nodded. "I know. Mother says that it is my responsibility to represent our House with honour and chivalry."

"This must be the Odgen." Draco's voice sounded from behind Tiberius.

Harry stood up and grinned at Draco as Tiberius spun around. "Draco, this is Tiberius Odgen, Scion of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Odgen. Tiberius, this is Draconus Malfoy, Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy."

Tiberius bowed to Draco. "Merry meet."

"Merry meet." Draco agreed.

Tiberius looked up at Draco. "How did you know I was an Odgen, sir?"

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Honour and Chivalry. They are your House's words, are they not?"

Tiberius flushed. "Yes, sir."

"There you go then." Draco said, in a slightly warmer tone.

Harry placed a hand on Tiberius shoulder to get his attention. "We should go to breakfast. You don't want to be late for your first class."

9-9-9

It was strange to be responsible to showing a first year around Hogwarts and most of the time Harry found himself falling back on the same lessons that Takashi and Jeremy had taught him in his first year.

Harry's memories of his first few days at Hogwarts were startlingly clear now that he was focussing on them, something that he put down to all his Occlumency training, and he could hardly believe that he was now the same age as Takashi and Jeremy had been then. They had seemed so intimidating and all-knowing and Harry didn't feel as though he measured up.

It was bizarre to go to Charms and listen to Flitwick give a lecture about the Switching Spell and remember hearing Jeremy talk about it on his first day of classes. The Switching Spell had sounded very useful to Harry then, but he'd forgotten all about it. He looked forward to learning how to cast the spell properly. It was definitely one that would be useful to learn how to do wandlessly. That way if he was ever without his wand, he could switch it out for something near him.

The minute Flitwick dismissed the class, Harry quickly returned his parchment and quill to his bag before standing up.

"What is your hurry?" Neville asked curiously. "We have Magical Theory next, right? It's only one floor up."

"I told Tiberius, the first year I'm responsible for, that I'd show him where his second class is." Harry explained. "He's in Transfiguration right now and his next class is History."

"Poor kid." Neville grimaced. "Having History on his first day. Wait up, I'll come with you."

"Remus is taking History this year." Harry reminded his friend. "So it won't be so bad."

Once Neville had packed all his things into his bag, they made their way through the classroom and towards the door.

"You think you're so great don't you, Potter?" Ron Weasley's voice suddenly came from Harry's right.

Harry paused and turned towards him, his eyes taking in the class ranking that was pinned up on the wall behind Ron. He'd completely forgotten to check it. "I take it I'm first again?"

Ron scowled. "You think you're so smart!"

"No," Harry denied, suddenly fed up with Ron's attitude. "I know I'm smart. That's the difference between smart people and stupid people. Smart people know things, stupid people only think that they know things."

Ron's face was turning red. "Yeah? Well I know that you and your friends are bloody Death Eaters!"

"Come on, Ron." Neville started, his voice soothing. "Harry's not a Death Eater. He's the Boy-Who-Lived. He's the one who defeated You-Know-Who the first time. You can't seriously think that he's actually supporting him now."

"Maybe if he'd defeated him properly the first time, Seamus wouldn't be dead now!" Ron snapped.

Harry raised an eyebrow scathingly. "You can't seriously be blaming me for not properly killing a fully trained wizard when I was an infant."

Ron didn't look impressed. "Well, you clearly aren't too upset about him being back! You're the one swanning around with his Death Eaters."

Harry turned to Neville. "We need to go. Tiberius will be waiting."

"What?" Ron sounded surprised. "Not even going to try and deny that your friends are Death Eaters, Potter?"

The other conversations in the room stopped abruptly and Harry gritted his teeth in frustration as he saw his classmates turn their attention to him and Ron. The last thing he needed was an audience.

Harry turned back to Ron. "Not a single one of my friends are Death Eaters. There, I've denied it. Just like I've denied it every other time you've made this accusation."

Ron snorted. "Yeah right. Your friends are bloody Death Eaters and, either you're one too, or you just don't care that they're going around torturing and murdering people in their spare time."

Harry turned to leave before stopping in surprise as Neville, who had been standing beside him, suddenly strode towards Ron.

"Don't you dare throw around those kinds of accusations!" Neville snapped, only halting when his wand was less than a foot away from Ron's nose. "I get that you're still grieving Seamus' death, but don't you dare throw around the idea of torture and murder like that. How many family members did you lose in the war, Ron? Two uncles right? Well, Harry and I both lost our parents to Death Eaters and You-Know-Who. So you don't get to stand there, with two parents and a dozen bloody siblings, and accuse us of supporting that monster!"

Harry stared at his friend. He was impressed. How had the small, shy boy he had befriended in first year become this tall, icily furious wizard in front of him?

Harry stepped forward and placed his hand on Neville shoulder. "Come on, Neville. We should go."

It took a few seconds for Neville to lower his wand, but eventually he turned towards the door. Harry turned with him and together they began to leave the classroom.

"Locomotor Wibbly!" Ron exclaimed.

Harry spun around, wand at the ready, but it was too late to shield against the jinx. The instant the orange spell hit Neville, the Longbottom heir's legs collapsed beneath him.

Harry looked down at him, his wand still pointed at Ron. "You alright there, Neville?"

"Fine." Neville grimaced as he used his hands to turn over so that he was sitting down.

Harry turned his attention back to Ron. "Attacking a classmate when his back is turned, Ron? Do you have any concept of honour?"

Ron sneered. "There's no dishonour in cursing a Death Eater, Potter!"

Harry raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "You think Neville is a Death Eater?"

"Hey!" An older Gryffindor student, who Harry didn't recognise, appeared in the doorway. "What's going on here?"

"Neville raised his wand at me!" Ron exclaimed quickly. "I was just defending myself."

The older Gryffindor looked down at Neville with a frown. "Is that true, Longbottom?"

"No," Neville spun his body around so that he was facing the doorway which now contained at least five older students. "I'll admit that I raised my wand at him…"

"See!" Ron exclaimed victoriously.

"…but then I put it away and went to leave." Neville continued. "Ron jinxed me while my back was turned."

The older student's frown shifted to Ron. "You attacked him from behind?"

"He's a Death Eater!" Ron exclaimed, his expression still red.

"You're kidding, right?" Fred and George pushed their way through the group.

"Come on, Ronnie…," Fred started.

"...you can't seriously be accusing Neville Longbottom…"

"…of being a Death Eater! That would be like saying that…"

"…Harry Potter was a Death Eater." George finished.

"Oh, we've already been through that." Harry told them flatly. "You only missed it by about five minutes."

"Really, Ron?" Fred asked disbelievingly.

"You can't just go around accusing all the people you don't like of being Death Eaters." George told him.

Another older student pushed her way into the room wearing a Hufflepuff uniform and a Prefect badge. "What jinx did you use?"

Ron crossed his arms petulantly.

"He used the Jelly-Legs Jinx." Harry answered for him. "I don't know the counter for it."

"I do." The Prefect told him, before raising her wand. A few seconds later, Neville was able to climb to his feet. "Now, let me get this straight." The prefect continued. "Weasley here accused Potter and Longbottom of being Death Eaters. Longbottom raised his wand, but then walked away. At which point Weasley attacked Longbottom from behind. Is that right?"

Harry nodded along with Neville. "Yes."

"And you all agree?" The Prefect asked their classmates who had hung around to watch.

Most of the students nodded.

"This is way out of my league to handle." The Prefect admitted. "But I'm going to start with twenty points from Gryffindor for verbal bullying, ten points to Gryffindor for good decision making, and twenty points from Gryffindor for attacking another student."

"What?!" Ron exclaimed, practically foaming at the mouth. "You're actually awarding him points?"

"And," The Prefect continued firmly. "Weasley, I'm going to be talking to your Head of House. Does that sound reasonable, Professor?"

Harry turned in surprise, he hadn't even realised that Flitwick had arrived.

"Very, Miss Patrice." Flitwick nodded seriously. "Now, don't you fourth years have somewhere to be?"

"Yes, sir." Harry agreed, before finally managing to escape the classroom just as the second bell rang. "Damn it. Tiberius is going to think I abandoned him."

"Unlikely." Neville commented. "Chances are the whole school will know what happened by lunchtime."

9-9-9

Neville was right and, when Harry showed the Ravenclaw first years the way the Greenhouses after lunch, Tiberius peppered him with questions.

"Did you really get into a duel?" Tiberius asked excitedly.

"No," Harry answered firmly. "But another student cursed one of my friends."

"Why?"

"That doesn't matter." Harry sighed. "Cursing anyone like that is against school rules. He lost a lot of points."

"I think it sounds brilliant!" Tiberius exclaimed. "I wish I had been there. Why didn't you curse him back?"

"Because that would have only made the situation worse." Harry answered as patiently as he could.

"Maybe…"

"There it is." Harry interrupted with relief. "That Greenhouse there."

"Oh, cool!" Tiberius grinned. "Thanks, Harry."

That duty done, Harry made his way to the big tree near the lake where he had agreed to meet his friends. It was the best thing about having a dropped a class – he actually got a free hour four times a week.

"So," Draco started as Harry sat down. "Tell us what happened. Did you really curse the Weasel?"

"No," Harry denied. "Why does everyone seem to think that I cursed him?"

"Hopeful thinking?" Theo suggested with a grin.

"We were in Charms," Harry started. "Have you had Charms yet?"

"No, we've got that tomorrow with the 'Puffs." Theo answered.

"It's definitely something to look forward to." Harry told them. "We're learning about the Switching Spell."

Draco snorted. "Only you would think that was more interesting than what happened after the class, Harry."

"Fine," Harry sighed. "Ron accosted Neville and me as we were leaving. He made a comment about me being great and smart…"

"That doesn't sound like him." Theo commented.

"I think he was being sarcastic." Harry pointed out. "I of course agreed with him and may have insinuated that he was a bit stupid."

Draco whooped with glee. "I wish I had seen that."

"At which point he called you all Death Eaters." Harry continued. "I defended you, so he accused me of being a Death Eater. Neville got offended on my behalf and put his wand in Ron's face. Neville ranted at Ron, before deciding to leave and Ron cast the Jelly-Leg Jinx at Neville's back."

"At his back?" Draco echoed. "Really?"

"It's not surprising." Theo put in. "It's not as though we don't know that they're all blood traitors."

"Let's not lump the whole family in together." Harry defended. "Sure, they're not traditional. But some of them are definitely better than others."

"I'll believe that when I see it." Draco grumbled.

"Well, it's a good thing I've decided to give you chance to then." Harry said cheerfully. "I gave Fred and George each a Mandrake leaf, remember?"

Theo and Draco both looked horrified.

Draco sneered. "We don't have to learn with them though, do we?"

"Yes," Harry answered firmly. "Takashi thought it would be a good idea to do it together and I do not have the time to go through the process with two different groups. Give them a chance. They're nothing like Ron."

"Why do we have to do it together?" Theo asked.

"Because, before taking the leaves out, we have to meditate to find our animagus forms and according to Takashi it's easier to meditate when I'm around." Harry explained

Theo looked surprised. "Is this related to the glowing and levitating thing that happened first year?"

Draco chuckled. "I don't think he actually levitated, Theo."

Harry glared at Theo. "But, yes, it is related. We'll do the meditation part tomorrow after dinner."

"Where?" Theo asked.

Harry glanced towards Draco. "I'm not sure yet. I'll let you know. "What's it like having Natasja here?"

"No idea." Theo replied, leaning back in his chair casually. "I've only seen her at a distance. I doubt we'll have much to do with one another."

"But you're in the same house." Harry protested.

"So are Draco and Astoria." Theo pointed out. "And they don't see each other much either. Besides, she's just a first year. Do you plan to spend much time with the Ravenclaw first years, Harry?"

"Yes, actually." Harry told him. "I've been showing one of the first years around and I'm not planning on marrying any of them."