Disclaimer: Other than owning a humongous dust bunny and a cat that I think may have been in the catnip, I don't have much of anything else, so don't sue!

Chapter 117

Thursday morning, Harry blindly stumbled into the Great Hall. Snape had kept him up until 2 a.m. working on wandless magic. He slowly made his way to the Hufflepuff table. (He and Susan alternated where they sat each day.)

"Morning, sleepy head," Susan said with a grin.

"Ugh. If I had stayed in the dorm last night, I wouldn't be here."

"Snape would probably punish you if you missed any classes without being sick," piped in Leanne, who was sitting on Susan's other side.

"I know," he muttered. It was then he glanced up toward the Head Table.

"I don't see how you can spend any extra time with him. It would seem like one continuous detention to me," stated Ernie from across the table.

If Harry had heard him, he most likely would have hexed the boy, as it was, he did not. He was still staring at the head table. Dumbledore was missing which was not a normal occurrence.

The owls then flew into the Great Hall bringing the mail as well as the morning paper. He saw Hedwig holding the Daily Prophet in her talons. Harry took it from her but before he could offer her a piece of his bacon, she stole it from his plate. She also ate the piece that Susan had offered.

Harry gasped the same time as most of the students in the Great Hall did. The headline certainly explained why Dumbledore was absent.

Evidently, late last night, the Minister had been assassinated. According to the paper, as of press time, the Wizengamot was currently trying to obtain some order in the Ministry.

"I wonder if my Aunt is in the running for Minister or if she's hiding underneath her desk?"

"Does she want to be Minister?" asked Harry curiously as he continued to read the article.

"She's been approached a couple of times but she prefers being the head of the Department of Law Enforcement."

"As long as they pick someone better than Scrimgeour, I don't care who it is," commented Justin from a couple seats down.

"That won't be hard," grumbled Harry to himself.

"Reckon You-Know-Who is behind this?" asked Hannah.

Harry grimaced. "Probably." He closed his eyes to check his occlumency shields and saw that they were fine. He didn't feel any thing that he could recall but then again, he hadn't slept very long either.

Ten minutes later, he said bye to Susan and headed to where Ron, Hermione, and Neville were walking toward the History of Magic classroom.

The evening Prophet declared that Kingsley Shacklebolt had been named as Minister for Magic. Harry remembered the man because he had been the one to take the report about Umbridge's blood quill. He also thought that he was a member of the Order, though he couldn't remember ever seeing him at Grimmauld Place.

Dumbledore was present at dinner. He thought the Headmaster looked younger. Hopefully that boded well for the new Ministry.

"Are you hiding tonight?" whispered Susan.

Harry shook his head. "Hermione will hunt me down and practice on me if I do."

"Can I join your all's study session?" asked Hannah.

Since she and Susan didn't appear to be fighting anymore, he figured it was okay.

Harry shrugged. "Sure. Hermione runs it. Be in the library by eight. I think tonight is mainly Herbology."

After they ate, Harry and Susan headed out to the lake. They talked for a while about what the Prophet had reported about the new Minister. Discussion then turned to how everyone was still pestering her about her family. Thankfully, she didn't cry this time. Eventually they plopped down against a tree.

He warily cast a couple warming charms over both of them.

"It's nice out here," she said as she laid her head on his shoulder.

He put his arm around her. "It is."

"You know we're going to have to go inside in the next few minutes, right?"

Harry sighed. "I know. Personally, I'd like nothing more than to go to sleep. I fell asleep in Binns and Sinastra's class earlier today. I can only imagine the lecture that's gonna produce from Snape when he finds out."

"Have you asked your teachers not to report to him?"

"Yeah, but he overrode my request. McGonagall told me that whenever the staff had children currently attending the school that it was something most have to put up with."

"That sucks."

Harry chuckled bitterly. "Yeah. It does."

A few minutes had passed in comfortable silence when Harry asked, "Why do you like me?"

She looked up at him. "Excuse me?"

"Why do you like me? I'm nothing but a magnet for danger."

"Where is this coming from?"

"It's just something I've been curious about ever since the Hogsmeade battle."

"Harry," she said as she pulled away and turned to face him, "I like you because of how kind you are and who you are as a person. I don't care about the danger that comes with you. You're nice, you're smart, and you're cute."

Harry flushed. "I'm not all that smart and I definitely ain't cute. I think you need your eyes checked."

Susan giggled. "Oh, Harry, you're clueless. That also makes you cute."

Even though it seemed impossible, he felt his face heat even more. She then slowly leaned in and fully kissed him on the lips.

At first Harry didn't respond, mostly out of shock, but then he did. When they finally pulled away, they were both gasping for air. He noted that Susan was flushed, too.

A quick 'tempus' showed that it was 8:15, so they gathered their things and headed back to the castle. Both were grinning like idiots and neither one cared about the fact that Hermione was going to yell at them for being late.

Harry was sitting in the warded dungeon classroom on Saturday waiting for Dumbledore. When he had arrived, there had been a book on Elemental Magic for Beginners waiting for him, so he had started to read.

As he was getting ready to start the fourth chapter, the Headmaster came in the room.

"Sorry I'm late, my dear boy."

"It's all right, sir. I've been reading."

"Excellent. Before we start, I need to ask you some questions."

Harry put the book down and nodded.

"First things first, how are you doing with your new wand?"

Harry smiled slightly. "A lot better. Though I am still annoyed you kept the scales from me."

"'Tis better to learn without them."

"I know. Snape tested me on them last night. He said he doubted I'd need them anymore."

"Good. Now, where did you originally learn about Elemental Magic from?"

"The ... library. Both of them actually. Plus Neville got me a book on Ancient Defensive Theory and there was a chapter on Elemental Magic and how it could be used defensively. I ... uh ... just thought they were normal spells, not anything special."

The Headmaster's lips twitched slightly. "What all can you do?"

"What do you mean?"

"What various elements have you tried to control?"

Harry frowned. "Fire, water, air ... I also made that dust storm in Hogsmeade, but I guess that's considered air ..."

Dumbledore's lips twitched again. "The basic elements are air, fire, water, earth, and spirit. Although, throughout history, some people have included metal and wood as well. My next question for you is what is the difference between a normal spell ... let's say Aguamenti and a water elemental spell?"

Harry frowned. To be honest that was one of his questions for Dumbledore.

"I don't know," he eventually whispered.

"Harry, look at me. Why did you look away when you answered?"

"I didn't want to see your disappointment when I didn't know the answer."

"Oh, Harry. You can't disappoint me. I would have been surprised had you actually known the answer, but you can't disappoint me by admitting that you don't know something. I think it takes courage to admit when you lack the knowledge in something."

Harry shifted in his seat but nodded that he understood.

"Now, most of your classmates have no trouble with spells that involve water, for instance, but I doubt any, with maybe the exception of one or two later in life, would show any talent at manipulating it."

"You mean like changing it to ice?"

"I mean like this."

Harry watched with fascination as Dumbledore conjured a glass of water and then proceeded to play with the water. He watched as the liquid turned into a ball, a house, a flower, a broomstick, and even to his amusement - an identical copy of himself.

"That was brilliant, sir, but uh, weren't you just transfiguring the water into different shapes?"

"If I was then it wouldn't have held the shape as if the liquid was actually a solid. And I wasn't using any charms either, for the same reason."

"Well, it was still brilliant."

Dumbledore laughed.

Harry didn't get back to Snape's quarters until almost 11 p.m.

The Headmaster had given him a couple things to practice on and told him to finish reading the book he had started before the lesson. As he was leaving the classroom, he had also told him that every Saturday he'd teach him what he could and that every Sunday, starting the next afternoon, various Order members were going to teach him different styles of battle magics.

With a sigh of exhaustion, he sat down in the tub. He wished he could share what he was learning with Ron and Hermione but Dumbledore had made him promise not to say anything.

It was after midnight before he finally fell asleep. He was completely oblivious to the fact that Snape had tucked him in again.

"Where are you going?" demanded Hermione.

Harry finished chewing the last bite of food he had put in his mouth. He then absent mindedly took a drink from the glass Susan, who was sitting on his left, had handed him.

"Thanks," he said to her. "Snape wants me for something."

"But why? Doesn't he know that studying for our O.W.L.'s are important?"

"I'm sure he does, but it still doesn't change the fact that I'll be spending most of the day with him."

"Most of the day?" she screeched. "But think of all the studying you could get done!"

"Is he gonna feed you dinner?" interrupted Ron.

"Most likely. He also wants me to stay down there tonight."

"Well, I don't know what could possibly be more important than studying."

"That's because you don't know everything, Ms. Granger," said a voice in a near silent whisper behind her.

Harry sighed. He had tried to interrupt her to tell her that Snape was walking in their direction but couldn't get a word in during her rant.

"Sir, you're cutting into his O.W.L. study times. He's going to fail if he doesn't study according to my schedule."

"I can assure you, Ms. Granger, that he will study -"

"But not enough, sir."

"Five points from Gryffindor for interrupting me. Come on, Potter."

Harry sighed. Hermione looked on the verge of tears at having lost Gryffindor points. "I'll see you guys later."

As he followed Snape, he glared at him. "There wasn't any reason to take points."

"But taking points from Gryffindor is fun. Besides, she should learn not to question me. Frankly, I don't see why she's so worried. She has a photographic memory."

Harry glared even harder at Snape as they descended yet another set of stairs. He wasn't going to give the man ammunition to use against his best friend.

When they walked into the warded classroom, to his surprise, Moody was standing there.

"I have things to do. If you're not finished by dinner, call that hyper active elf of yours."

"Yes, sir."

Harry watched as Snape shut the door. He then turned toward Moody.

"First things first, I need to see what you can do. We're gonna duel. None of that mamby-pamby one at a time spell casting either."

Before Harry could even draw his wand, he found himself stunned.

"Lesson number one, always keep your wand at the ready."

Pulling his wand as he stood up, he nodded. From the way Moody was smirking, he had most likely waited a while before ennervating him.

"Expelliarmus," called out Harry.

"Reducto," Moody said lazily.

"Incarcerous."

"Conscrescere."

"Protego," Harry said - too late. He also discovered what the unknown curse did. It literally froze him.

"Again," called out Moody a few minutes later.

This time, he lasted a grand total of seven minutes before he was stunned by his own stunner which had reflected off of one of Moody's personal shields.

"All right. Have a seat, Potter."

Harry sat down and took a sip from the offered pepper-up potion.

"Dumbledore showed me the memory of your time in Voldemort's stronghold. You done fairly well against the Death Eaters. Tonks showed me the memory of the Hogsmeade battle. You done well then, too. I even saw a portion of the battle between you and old snake-face. You were holding your own. So my question is, what the hell is wrong with you?"

Harry choked. "Excuse me?"

"You're barely putting up a fight. How can I fully train you if you don't fight back?"

"I am fighting back," came his immediate protest.

"Not with everything you have."

"Oh. No."

"Why in the blazes not, boy?"

"Because I might accidentally hurt you."

"Oh dear sweet Merlin. Albus warned me of this but I thought he was joking. Potter, all of the Order has been briefed on how powerful you really are. Those of us that offered to teach you know what we're getting into."

"What do you mean Dumbledore told you how powerful I am?" he asked as he stood up, knocking the chair away in the process.

"He had to."

"Argh! I don't want anyone to know!"

"I happen to agree with you. The less your enemy knows, the better, but in this case, he had to share. If it makes you feel any better, we all took oaths on our magic to never inform anyone else."

He groaned.

Two hours later had Harry calling Dobby.

"Hi, Harry Potter, sir."

"Hey Dobby. Can you bring us some food and a few more bandages?"

Dobby opted a scandalized expression as he took in the cut on Harry's face.

He popped back in the room five minutes later.

"I guess I need to learn some healing magic," he muttered as he held the bandage to his face.

"I think that's one of the lessons Tonks is having with you."

Moody no doubt saw the look of horror on his face and laughed. "She's actually quite decent at it. Not perfect, mind you, but in a pinch, she does an okay job."

About halfway through the meal, Harry asked, "Can you show me how to put up a personal shield? I've read a couple of books that explained it, but I've not been able to actually do it."

"I wondered why you didn't have one up. After we eat, I'll go over each type and how to do them."

"Thanks," he said with a grin.

The laugh Harry received didn't ease his mind any. "Don't thank me yet, sonny."

Moody saying that didn't help any either.

Around 11 p.m., Snape eased into the room to watch Moody and Harry's lesson. He silently stayed in the corner.

He watched as Moody tried to help his son with personal shields, but every one of them crumbled.

"You need to practice, practice, practice, and then practice more, Potter."

Harry groaned. "I will."

"Here, let me heal your wounds. We're done for the night."

He saw Harry flash an incredulous look at Moody. "If you could heal wounds all along, why did you make me use bandages earlier to stop the bleeding?"

"Wanted to see what you could do. Tonks is scheduled for next week. Remember to practice those personal shields."

Harry still had a scowl on his face as he nodded at Moody.

Severus stalked over to Harry and frowned down at him. "How much blood did you lose?"

"It was just a few cuts and scratches. I'm fine. Just annoyed. I'm going to take a shower and go to sleep. I'm tired."

"Do you need a pain reliever?"

Harry opened the classroom door. "No. I'm just sore because I found muscles I didn't know I had today. It's nothing sleep can't cure."

As they entered their quarters, Severus asked, "Why are you having trouble maintaining a personal shield?"

Harry laughed bitterly as he headed to his room. "I'm not having trouble maintaining it. I'm having trouble putting one up."

Severus raised his brow as Harry disappeared into his bedroom.

A/N: You know, printed out, this is about 3 pages longer than the previous chapter, but when I compare them to the words listed, it's not that much longer. *shakes fist*

Anyway, had a review a while ago from someone that wanted to know when Harry and Susan were gonna kiss, at least more so than pecks on the cheeks, so there ya go! *points*

So ... any bets on how long Kingsley lasts as current minister? ;)

Anyway, Dumbledore and the Order has started training Harry now, something I felt should have always been done. And look, Moody lectured Harry about using his full power! I figured if anyone would get through to him, it would be Mad-Eye. bwahaha

I hope that I explained how elemental magic is different than normal magic alright.

Up next, Harry ends up in the hospital wing ... again. Plus, lots more studying for the O.W.L.'s and Harry and Susan have a nice little ... scene. *snickers and flees with own Death Eaters robes and masks*

*Pops head back around the corner* Thanks to everyone that left reviews. It always brightens my day when I see that one was left. *leaves out cupcakes and flees again*