A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or any character thereof.

Chapter 63

Harry looked down at his schedule and grimaced. "One of you want to tell me what I was thinking by not dropping Divination?"

Ron and Hermione both looked over Harry's shoulder at the schedule in his hands.

Monday: Herbology (H), Free Period, CoMC (S), Ancient Runes (Ra), Divination (H), Divination (H)

Tuesday: History of Magic (Ra), Transfiguration (G), Transfiguration (G), Astronomy (G), Potions (S), Potions (S)

Wednesday: Herbology (H), DADA (H), DADA (H), Transfiguration (G), Charms (Ra), Charms (Ra)

Thursday: History of Magic (Ra), Free Period, Ancient Runes (Ra), Transfiguration (G), Potions (S), Potions (S)

Friday: Herbology (H), Charms (Ra), CoMC (S), Astronomy (G), DADA (H), DADA (H)

"You will not leave me in that tower alone with her," said Ron.

Harry laughed while he glanced at Ron and Hermione's schedule. Ron had two more free periods but Hermione didn't have any. He just shook his head. She was going to drive herself crazy again.

On the way out of the Great Hall to head to the dorms, Harry ran into a girl with long dark hair rushing in.

"Sorry," he said as he disentangled himself from her.

"It's alright," he heard her mutter.

"C'mon Harry."

Harry smiled at the girl again then ran off to catch up with Ron and Hermione who had already started walking away. He had thought the girl was pretty and for some reason felt his cheeks heat up.

"Who was that?" asked Ron.

Harry shrugged hoping that Ron didn't notice the color in his cheeks.

Hermione just snickered. Boys were so clueless.

Sirius had just finished thoroughly cleaning the kitchen when an owl flew in. He took the letter, found some left over lunch to feed the bird, and then opened it.

Padfoot,

Please don't come back. I don't want you to get caught. I was half asleep when I wrote you last time so I probably just imagined my scar hurting.

With the Tri-Wizard Tournament announced, I imagine security is going to be increased again. It worries me. I want you to be safe.

Love,

Harry

Sirius just sighed at the letter.

"And there has only ever been one survivor of the killing curse and he is sitting in this very room."

Harry's face was pale because everyone had turned to look at him. He just wanted to sink to the floor. He didn't remember much else of the class.

Afterwards, they returned to the dorms to get rid of their books.

"C'mon Harry. Let's go eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"You sure?" asked Ron. Evidently the thought of not being hungry seemed scandalous to him.

"Yeah."

"I'll bring you back some treacle tart anyway."

Harry simply nodded.

Once Ron and his other dorm mates were gone, Harry ensconced himself behind the curtains of his bed.

'So that's how my parents died,' thought Harry. 'At least it wasn't painful.' He took some solace in that.

He remembered his dreams from the summer. Voldemort had used that curse on the old man. The thought of it made him sick.

Harry was so lost in his musings, he never realized that Neville had returned from dinner.

After around 30 minutes, he sat at his desk to begin his homework - anything to occupy his mind.

"That you Harry?"

Harry startled. "Neville, you scared the crap outta me. I didn't hear you come in."

Neville chuckled. "Sorry. At least you didn't blow anything up this time."

Harry laughed. "What did Moody want with you after class?"

Neville pulled the curtains back from around his bed. His ears had turned pink. "Professor Sprout told Professor Moody that I was good at Herbology so he leant me a book on Mediterranean Plants."

Harry smiled. That was something that Lupin would have done.

Severus internally frowned.

Potter wasn't at dinner. He had looked fine at breakfast and lunch.

Just as he took a bite of his food, Moody sat down next to him. Severus downed it with a drink of water and excused himself.

He felt Moody's eyes on him as he swooped out of the Great Hall.

Harry woke up early on Saturday. He scowled because he was wide awake. Why was it impossible for him to sleep late like a normal teenage boy? After showering, he headed to the library. His homework was already finished but he wanted to see if he could figure out what the glowy thing was.

It was driving him up the wall.

About an hour into his search, he heard a noise. Turning around he saw Malfoy.

"Well. If it isn't scar head himself."

"What do you want Malfoy?"

"I don't have to explain myself to my inferiors," he said haughtily.

Harry just rolled his eyes.

"I heard you got ill when Moody showed you the killing curse Potty. The truth make you sick?"

Harry took a deep, calming breath. He would not rise to Malfoy's bait. "Did you get out of bed at 7 am on a Saturday just to annoy me?"

"Contrary to popular belief, the world does not revolve around you."

"Contrary to popular belief, I do not like the attention that I keep getting."

"Really Potter. You should be using your fame to your advantage, especially with the ladies." To Harry's horror, Malfoy wiggled his eyebrows. "And to answer your question, I imagine I'm doing the same thing you are."

Harry snorted. "I doubt that."

"So you're not looking for a way to enter the Tri-Wizard Tournament?"

"Definitely not. I just said that I hated the attention. Why would I enter something that would just attract it?"

Malfoy shrugged. "Then what are you doing?"

"Looking for some bed time reading."

"Right. Keep your secrets Potty. See if I care."

Harry then watched as Malfoy walked away. He shook his head. That had been an almost civil conversation.

Putting Malfoy out of his mind, he resumed his search through the bookshelves.

"This year you will be writing three essays instead of the normal two."

The entire Gryffindor and Slytherin potions class groaned as one. They had all noticed an increase in their school work so far and an entire full week of classes hadn't even passed yet.

"Today I will be lecturing on the many ways to detect poisons and how to identify one. On Thursday we will brew a basic identifying potion."

After Severus was done lecturing and had assigned his essays, the class whispered quietly for the last two minutes until they could leave.

Suddenly there was a loud crash behind Potter's head.

"Potter! What do you think you're doing? Detention. Tonight after dinner."

"But sir, I didn't do it," protested Harry. The Slytherins were snickering.

"Trying for two days Potter?"

Harry huffed. "No sir."

As they were leaving class, Hermione whispered, "Harry, you really need to control your temper better."

Harry glared. "I honestly didn't do it Hermione."

"Oh. Sorry."

His expression softened. "It's alright. I did actually double check myself to make sure when the jar broke. Merlin knows it's not the first thing I've made break."

Ron laughed.

Severus eyed the clock in his classroom. It was almost time for his detention with Potter to start. He cleared his mind and calmed his racing heart.

When Potter arrived he pointed to the cauldrons in the corner of the room. "You have two hours to clean those. Get started."

"Yes sir," muttered Harry.

As Harry was cleaning his 6th cauldron he felt the air around him change. It was really strange. He casually looked around the room and didn't see anyone other than Snape and he was grading papers.

Thinking he was just being paranoid, he resumed his cleaning.

On the 8th cauldron, Harry was positive that there was someone else in the room but since there was no extra glowy thing, he could only assume it was Moody.

He felt a sense of dread wash over him but surely Moody wouldn't hurt him. 'Though he wouldn't be the first defense professor to do so,' a voice in the back of his head said before he could stop it.

Frowning, he returned to his task, more than a little on edge.

"These aren't nearly clean enough Potter. Redo them," Snape said as Harry was almost done.

Harry growled. "Sir, they're spotless."

"Re-do them. Now Potter."

"Yes, sir."

Severus had been about to shut the class room door and garner Potter's attention when he felt his wards go off. There was someone else present.

As he picked up a new stack of papers to grade, he saw Potter look around the room.

That was interesting. It seemed Potter knew that they were no longer alone too.

Near the end of Potter's detention time, Severus got up to examine the cauldrons. They were spotless but since he had an audience - he had a reputation to uphold.

Around 10pm, Harry was done. "I'm finished sir."

"Merely passable Potter. Go on back to your dorms."

Harry put away the cleaning supplies, grabbed his things and left. He didn't like the feeling he was getting from the invisible Moody.

It creeped him out.

Harry was going cross eyed while looking at his ancient runes book. They were currently studying Egyptian Hieroglyph's and for the life of him, he could not figure out the difference between the two glyphs in front of him.

An owl took that opportunity and flew into the common room and landed in front of him. Harry grinned. It was a letter from Sirius.

Harry,

I assure you that I'm well hidden. Don't worry about me. I'm the grown up. Let me worry about you instead.

How are your classes going so far? What all are you taking? James didn't like to take a lot of classes because it interfered with Quidditch. He took just enough to become an auror.

Your mother, on the other hand, was a total bookworm. She used to take everything that would fit in her schedule.

I imagine you're disappointed that they canceled Quidditch for the Tournament but I think you'll have fun watching it.

I read in the paper that Albus got Mad Eye Moody out of retirement. He must be seeing the same signs that I am. Watch yourself - especially around the Slytherin's. They can't be trusted. Never go anywhere alone.

Remember to go to Albus if your dreams return. Write to me if you need me for anything.

Love,

Padfoot

Harry frowned. Not all Slytherins were bad and it wasn't just the Slytherins. Sirius should know that. Pettigrew had been in Gryffindor after all. He couldn't help but think of the picture in the photo album of his mom and Snape laughing over something. (He had long gotten over the shock of Snape laughing - though it had taken about three days to do so.) His mother obviously had not been prejudiced against the other houses, he didn't think he should be either.

Harry excused himself (anything to get away from Hermione's Elf Liberation ramblings and his Ancient Runes homework) to head up to the dorm rooms so he could send a reply.

He just hoped that he wouldn't upset his godfather with what he had to say.

"You will be preparing ingredients for your detention. You have two hours. You better get started."

"Yes sir," muttered Harry. This was his 7th detention with Snape in three weeks. It was like the man had a vendetta against him these days.

After rolling up his sleeves, Harry started dissecting the eel to harvest body parts. The entire time he felt Snape's eyes on him and even heard him clear his throat as if he wanted to say something but never did.

Severus watched as Potter carefully harvested the organs. Even though most students cringed at this type of detention, he wasn't even blinking.

He cleared his throat to get Potter's attention but when the boy turned around, he couldn't do it, so he conjured a glass of water instead and took a drink.

Twenty minutes later he tried again and again he balked.

"I'm finished Professor."

Snape got up to check each item over carefully. "Well done Potter."

At Potter's incredulous look, he sneered and sent him on his way.

Severus then returned to his desk. He couldn't do it. He couldn't tell Potter that he was the boy's father. He simply groaned. He would have to try again. Surely it couldn't be that hard to say, 'Harry, I'm your father'.

But clearly it was since he'd been unable to say it.

"Professor Snape, Professor Moody turned me into a ferret," burst out Draco Malfoy as Moody led him into his office.

"Be quiet boy," snapped Moody.

"What did you do Moody?" asked Severus incredulously.

"Nothing the boy didn't deserve, I assure you."

"Sir!" squeaked out Malfoy.

Moody trained his magical eye on Draco, who quivered in his chair.

"He tried attacking a student who's back was turned on him."

"So you turned him into a ferret?" asked Snape disbelievingly. "Surely you remember that Transfiguration isn't allowed on a student."

Moody grinned. "So Minerva reminded me. Rest assured that I'll be keeping an eye on Malfoy along with you Snape."

Severus watched Moody leave. "Who did you try to attack Draco?"

"Potter sir."

"Why?'

"Because he insulted my mother," pouted Draco.

Severus sighed. He was getting a headache. "Draco you need to be more discreet, especially with Moody lurking around. Chances are Potter tried to bait you on purpose. Ignore him next time."

Draco scowled. "Yes sir."

"Oh, and Draco, your potions essays were excellent. I'll be writing to your father about your quality work."

Severus watched the blonde glide out of the room in a better mood.

A/N: I've given up on the table issue that fanfiction has. The schedules will start looking like this. If you want to see how the time plays out, hopefully you don't mind going back to a previous chapter where I have it listed. The (S), (H), (G), and (Ra) next to each class is who it is shared with. For those with only the (G), that means that it's a Gryffindor only class. =)

A/N: So ... how was that for an almost civil conversation between Draco and Harry? hehe Up next, well, I'm not sure what all I'm going to include. If I leave the upcoming chapter the way it is now, it'll take us right up until the end of October. It's really long. I'm debating on breaking it up into two chapters. I'll decide what I'm going to do with it over the next couple of days. Anyway, some things that I know are going to appear in the next chapter include Sirius throwing a hissy fit and Harry getting a lecture on proper behavior by Professor Sprout. ;-)