Chapter Three

Harry sighed as the lingering effects slowly drained away. He hated feeling so exposed to curious eyes. He knew if he hadn't kept track of the symptoms those wishing to know all about him would have an easier time. He couldn't do much when he was drugged or at least couldn't control what he did.

But he was grateful that his House looked out for him when he had those infrequent moments. He was especially grateful when unwanted attention turned towards two familiar Howlers winging their way to two suddenly pale and fearful students. This was a common sight in Hogwarts but even more exciting because it was the Girl-Who-Lived.

As he listened to the stormy cries of two irate mothers, Harry realized how much like their father Ember was. Both Potters enjoyed the spotlight, although Ember's was more of desire to keep Harry from being studied more than he was.

And she was also her mother's daughter.

And like every other witch in the magical world she had fallen for the golden looks of a pretty boy.

"Look who's the new Defense Professor," sneered Pansy.

Okay, mayhap some of the Slytherin girls were immune from his boyish charms.

"Oh!" He blinked when Millicent squealed, "I got my books signed by him, my entire book list!"

"I know! So did I!"

Okay, maybe they've all fallen for Lockhart.

And unwilling to listen to more gushing cooing, Harry silently slipped away, ignoring whether or not if his male Housemates followed, considering their grumbling, none wanted to listen to the girls giggling madly over a crush.

Unfortunately, the very first class they had that day was Defense Against the Dark Arts filled with adoring sighs and stares of puppy love as the famous Gilderoy Lockhart swept inside, barking out his various achievements as if they meant something, though to the girls it would but not the boys.

As he eagerly shared his crowning glory, Harry froze, silently listening to a voice it seemed only he heard as no one moved as it spoke, Freedom. My Master has promised. He tried to listen for more as the new Professor passed around a single sheet of paper, talking about a test of their knowledge. Emerald eyes darted about, watching as smiling witches eagerly scribbled down the answers to questions showing they read their books while the wizards sniggered quietly to their nearby friends, writing down any answer they could think of. Unlike the others, he left his blank, trying to discover the whispers that now barely grazed his ears, ignoring everything else.

Ember felt something slither through her link to her twin. She carefully glanced over her shoulder to find Harry looking down at his desk, silent and still, as if he was listening to only what he could hear. She wanted to know what was wrong but her concern was overrode by her blushing, teenage girlhood when Lockhart collected their tests, praising and correcting those who answered the questions.

"Ah, it seems only Miss Granger and Miss Potter, not only answered every question correctly, but they were the only ones to remember my secret ambition. Full marks, my dear ladies, as well as twenty points each."

Both girls blushed darkly in embarrassment and joy, smiling shyly that they could stand above all the others, smug they had their Professor's attention.

"But it seems one of you never bothered to read the required texts, did we now, Mister Potter?"

All eyes turned to the silent boy who was now staring at the chattering Professor. Most had forgotten Ember Potter actually had a brother, let alone a twin who was the same age and class year as their savior, who happened to be nothing like her, perhaps because he has a tendency to saucer them with his trance like abilities. Even his unblinking stares had them all flinching as Lockhart stuttered, "U-um, r-right, well…" He was at a loss for words.

Everyone was.

But apparently Lockhart gained words if he didn't look anywhere near Harry. "Now as you all know, this is Defense Against the Dark Arts. This is where I, Gilderoy Lockhart, will teach how to defend from the darkest of creatures and spells, much like these," he had walked towards a covered birdcage sitting upon his desk and now was slowly pulling at the covering to reveal strange little creatures flitting about the cage, "Cornish Pixies!"

The girls squealed, causing the creatures to squeal even louder, but even they fell silent when Harry softly spoke, "Pixies, even Cornish Pixies, are not considered Dark or Light Creatures. They are considered Grey tricksters, annoying as they are amusing. The Ministry has let them be for hunting them down causes more trouble than good."

Lockhart seemed to fight various expressions from his face as he dared to stare at Harry before coming to a conclusion, "Well then, Mister Potter, let's see how you fare. Remember your First Year lessons." He then flourished his wand in a showy arc that wasn't necessarily needed and released the Pixies into the classroom. He smiled brightly as his class screamed and ducked for cover, well, most of them had. The Slytherins had ducked down and slid out of the room as fast as they could, preserving themselves, while the Gryffindors tried to get out of harm's way. Lockhart's smile fell when his own wand was snatched, "uh, I'll leave it to you to catch them and cover their cage."

Ron exploded in rage as he slammed another Pixie with one of his school books, "That coward!"

"Ronald!" Hermione and Ember glared at their fuming friend, unwilling to let any one bad mouth their idol.

"Oh for Merlin's sake!" Both girl had had enough, jumping to their feet with wands raised, "Immobilus!" Every rambunctious pixie found themselves frozen in place. It was easier now to gather them and replace them back into their prison.

Ron snorted after they finished, "Maybe we should tell his cowardlyness they're locked up again and we found his wand."

"Honestly, Ronald!" Hermione huffed angrily, "He was obviously testing our knowledge. He said so himself!"

"Yeah, Ron, plus we were given a hands on lesson like he promised. How else are we going to learn to defend ourselves?"

"He's a bloody Professor! We aren't supposed to be abandoned! Professors are supposed to be watching over their students! Besides, he's too much of a coward and pretty boy to have this position."

"He is not!" Ron rolled his eyes as his two female friends venomously defended the coward, "How can he be a coward? Haven't you read his books?"

"No one can be a coward if they face a tenth of what he has!"

Ron tossed back in his defense, "what makes you so sure? For all we know he's a fraud making money off someone else's achievements. I mean, look what he did today!"

"Ronald Weasley!" His name echoed down in the empty classroom as two young witches huffingly stormed out and he followed meekly, still muttering the Professor was a coward and that he was right that the man was a fraud. The girls ahead ignored him, certain, they too, were right in believing their idol could never do wrong.

Ron would probably have a heart attack if he knew one other believed the same theory he did.

Harry Potter.

"It isn't over."

"Harry?" Draco eyed the emerald youth, ignoring the soft whispered words. The Slytherins pushed what he said away when it had nothing to do with them, at least not at the moment. For now, they consented to following the powerful Malfoy Heir, especially when it dealt with Harry Potter.

***Quidditch Practice***

Once again, the weekend arrived free of classes for those training in the only sport any wizard and witch enjoyed, Quidditch. But for one team it wasn't fun training with Oliver Wood as Captain. He was determined to keep their team as Quidditch winners and keep the cup among their House, especially with Ember Potter on their side.

He eagerly dragged his team along towards the pitch, ready for another day of training when he saw his hated rival, Slytherin team captain, Marcus Flint. "Flint."

"Wood."

He glared at the smirking Captain, "Why is your team here? We have the pitch. Our time slot was approved by Madame Hooch and our Head of House!"

Flint sneered at his rival, ready to argue when someone interrupted with a soft tone, "Marcus." They turned to find Harry Potter standing with a fancy racing broom in one hand and a scrap of parchment in another.

Flint grabbed it, eyes pouring over the lines of words, smirking, "And we have a note signed by our Head of House and Madame Hooch."

Oliver reluctantly accepted the note, reading it himself, "A new Seeker?"

"Harry!" Ember did not want to go against her brother. Both had the build of being a Seeker and while she was good on a broom, much like their father, Harry was better. He never missed a snitch in all the games played against each other. James had been ecstatic until he learned Harry never really liked to play, even if he was a natural. She had yet to win a single game and knew if he was the Slytherin Seeker, Gryffindor would never touch the cup again until he was off the team, please not him. Please not him.

Emerald eyes glittered at her, knowledge of what she was thinking evident in his eyes. "Professor Snape apologizes but our Seeker shall be late. His father made a last minute firecall in reference of his mother. It shouldn't be long. They were finishing up when I was asked to bring his broom and the note to you." He gently held out the broom while everyone stared in stunned fashion, never had he spoken so many words at once.

"Those are Nimbus 2000!" Ron was in awe of such a fine racing broom. He and his brothers had drooled over them in the window. For once in their lives they wished to have the money to afford such nice things and seeing Slytherin with one meant someone of money bought it, well them as the entire team had one.

Apparently he wasn't the only one to think so, "Your Seeker bought his way onto the team! How absurd! At least we know everyone on the Gryffindor team got there because of talent!" And when Hermione got in a huffy snit, no one could control her temper outbursts.

"Well, no one asked for your pathetic opinion. Did we, you filthy little Mudblood! Didn't your Muggle parents ever teach you to respect your superiors? Or did you grow up in a barn like Weasel over there?"

Hermione jerked at the snotty tone, hands flying to cover her sobbing gasps that escaped trembling lips. She stumbled back as tears glazed over brown eyes, trying not to cry before the haughty Draco Malfoy. She even jerked away when Ember or Ron or any Gryffindor tried to comfort her. As she lost her battle with tears, blurring her vision, she ran away, sobbing hysterically, trying to ignore the taunting laughter of cruelty and cries of worried concern.

Ember glared heatedly at a smug Draco while Ron's hot tempered exploded, drawing his broken wand that he tried to fix with tape, jumping to his friend's defense, "Take that back, you filthy snake!" Draco simply sneered, raising the redhead's temper even more, "eat slugs, you evil Death Eater!"

His spell flew out of his wand until it hit the taped part and exploded backwards, causing Ron to fly a few feet from where he stood. Draco and his team roared with amusement as Ron twisted in disgust, spewing out the very slugs he tried to curse another with. Harry silently watched the entire scene before calmly stating, "Best get him some help, Em. Faulty wands cannot be easily overturned, especially those spelled from strong emotions."

"Come on Ron; let's get you to Hagrid's. He'll know what to do with the slugs more than Madame Pomfrey." Ember already knew what Harry was trying to say. Lily had done more than lecture them. She had gone over dangers as well of owning a wand, even a damaged one. Not even a powerful wizard or witch mastering charms or whatnot could reverse a spell caused by strong emotions. All one could do was ride out the consequences until the user's emotion had finally crashed and burned.

Hagrid had sadly agreed with the same theory, "Your brother was right. Better out than in I always say." He set a bucket onto Ron's lap while turning back to a hiccupping Hermione. He had been stunned when the young witch stormed into his hut, begging for a place to hide and cry. He allowed it, knowing nothing got past Dumbledore, especially when her two friends came barreling inside, though Ron seemed sick. "So, what happened?"

"M-Malfoy."

"Malfoy?" Hagrid knew that would explain everything but not what happened.

Ember quickly explained as Hermione burst into fresh tears and Ron spewed up more slugs, "We were on our way to train in Quidditch when we ran into the Slytherin team. Ron and Hermione had come out to cheer me on when we learned they had a new Seeker on the team. Words were exchanged because Malfoy bought his way onto the team by buying them all new racing brooms. Then Hermione talked about talent which lead Malfoy to call her a Mudblood," Hagrid gasped, "and Ron tried to curse him in defense but it backfired upon him, causing him to cough up slugs. And we found ourselves here." She bit her lower lip as Hagrid tried to comfort Hermione, trying to tell her she didn't need to care what Purebloods thought of mixed blood, that even the purest magical being wasn't as smart as her.

All Ember could do was hope the year wouldn't get any worse than that moment.