Disclaimer: As you wish.
Summary: Harry returns to Hogwarts, gets back in the swing of things, gets into some trouble and ultimately worries people.
Ron Weasley was concerned. Harry had been missing for hours, and he and Hermione had physically searched the entire castle, including using the Marauder's Map.
They met up in the boys dorm. Standing next to Harry's bed, Ron stretched his arms out and said, "I just don't know where he could be."
Harry fell straight into Ron's arms, startling him into dropping his wayward friend.
"Ow!" Harry exclaimed, looking up at the person who dropped him. "Ron! Come on, I would have had a soft landing for once!"
Ron and Hermione stared.
"Sorry. What's happening?" Harry said. "Is there something wrong?"
Hermione looked at him. "Where have you been? We've been searching for hours!"
"Oh, only hours? That's good. I thought I was gone longer, the way you were staring."
"Gone?" Hermione squeaked. "Gone where? And what are you wearing?"
Harry grimaced, realizing he was wearing his leather jacket, blue shirt (with Morgana bracelet) trousers and boots. For a brief moment, his mind raced ahead, creating situations in which he could lie, but gave up immediately. "I was in Camelot."
"Right," Ron laughed. "And I bet you met Merlin, Lord Draco and King Arthur too!"
Harry looked quizzically at his friend. "L-lord Draco?"
"Oh Harry, don't you ever listen in class?" Hermione moaned. "Lord Draco was a close friend of both Merlin and King Arthur..." Hermione looked at Harry's carefully blank face, and rolled her eyes. "Honestly, don't you remember anything about Lord Draco and Lady Morgana? How Draco got a near-fatal wound, and Morgana healed him? And that blossomed into -"
"Morgana?" Harry said incredulously, that wasn't right! Gaius had healed him. Now that Harry was thinking about it, the scar on his arm hurt. "Ah, my scar hurts." Harry muttered.
Hermione heard his mumble, and spoke concernedly, "Harry if your scar hurts you should go to Professor Dumbledore anyway."
"Oh no, not that scar. The scar on my arm." He said.
"What scar? You don't have a scar on your arm!" Ron interjected.
"I do now, see?" He took his leather jacket off so he could pull his sleeve up. A crescent shaped faintly pink line shone on his skin, where the bandit had hit him.
Hermione gasped, staring at Harry for a moment. "Oh my. You're Lord Draco." She said faintly.
"Don't be thick, Mione, how could he be Lord Draco?" Ron said.
"You're the one being thick, look at his scar!" Hermione motioned frantically to Harry's arm.
"Merlin's beard! He is Lord Draco! But that means -"
"Ron!" Hermione screamed. "You can't say anything else. Harry, what was the last thing you did before leaving Camelot?"
Harry blinked. "I... I said goodbye to Morgana, she gave me a bracelet." He held up the thin fabric magicked into a circle, showing it to his friends.
"Alright. What did you say to her?" Hermione waved off his words.
"Just that I promised I'd come back in the summer."
Ron sniggered, and Hermione elbowed him in the stomach. "Alright. So you plan on going back." She shot Ron a meaningful look, and he quickly schooled his face into something resembling seriousness. "What about your magic, Harry?" Hermione pressed on.
"Oh, Merlin taught me how to control it. I can almost do whatever I could before the potion, and then some."
Ron gaped, "Merlin taught you?"
Harry nodded. "I actually taught him some things too. And he was nothing like the stories I've heard."
"Merlin's beard..." Ron trailed off.
"He didn't have a beard, Ron. In fact, he looked about sixteen." Harry grinned, walking down to the common room. "What day is it?" Harry changed the subject.
"Sunday, Seven-thirty. We need to be down to dinner soon, and don't think you're getting out of explaining things, Harry!" Hermione said sharply.
Harry sighed. It was no use, Hermione would nag him until he told her everything. Harry stayed silent until they were situated at the Gryffindor table, and Harry wolfed down food at a speed almost rivaling Ron's.
"Sorry," he said between bites, "I've missed Hogwarts food. You don't realize how wonderful it is until you've got to live on bread and questionable meats."
Hermione made a face. "So tell us about Camelot." Ron said.
Harry grinned suddenly, remembering what he wanted to tell them. "Well, King Uther, Arthur's father, banned magic from the realm. Merlin is actually Arthur's manservant, and Morgana is the Kings ward. You know Guinevere?" Harry said with a sly smile.
"Queen Guinevere? What about her?" Ron said through some mashed potatoes.
"She's not queen. She's not even a Lady. She's Lady Morgana's maidservant." Harry cackled.
"You're joking!" Ron said.
"Harry, you can't be serious. I've read countless books on the subject, Guinevere is always Queen."
Harry shrugged. "Arthur seems pretty friendly with her. Maybe she becomes Queen."
Hermione's eyes widened. "Oh, I shouldn't have told you that. I'm such an idiot! You can't know anything about it!" She whispered fiercely.
Harry looked puzzled. "Why can't I know anything about it?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's the same as knowing the future before it happens, isn't it?" Harry frowned confusedly, prompting Hermione to continue, "If you know what happens in the future - or in the past, in this case - you could affect it or even change it!"
Harry shook his head. "But... I already knew the past when I went there, and it changed by the time I came back. No one mentioned Lord Draco before I left. He just didn't exist."
Hermione looked at him, exasperated. "Exactly. Now that Lord Draco exists, and everyone knows his history, we can't tell you! That'd be like telling someone what decisions they make! It never works. If you know you're going to do something, and if you don't like it, you'll change it. That'd create a paradox."
Harry shook his head. "I don't think its quite the same as what you're used to. I changed the past, and everything's still fine!"
Hermione argued, "There's a difference between world timeline and personal timeline! Even if it's not true, this is legend! You can't know your future. Harry, I know you'd like to know, but you can't know your personal future! It's not done. It can't be done. I don't know how else to explain it to you..."
"It's alright, Mione. I get it." Harry calmed her. It might be cool to know what happened in the future, but Harry remembered being trapped by the future they knew during the whole time-turner deal. He could have done whatever he needed to - but he already lived through it, and he knew how it ended. He wanted to do whatever he did - will do - without being trapped by what he knows happened.
"So you won't try to look for information on it?" Hermione pressed.
"I promise, I won't." Harry swore.
"Good." She nodded her head happily.
Ron looked at the two incredulously, speaking through his biscuits, "Wha' just 'appened?"
Hermione just shook her head.
It was interesting to go to classes again. Fortunately, Hermione had made him do his homework before the task, so he was still on track. Sitting through Flitwick's, McGonagall's, and especially Snape's classes were a laugh.
"The trick is to move your wands in a short flick to the right, and say 'Arborem!' McGonagall said sharply, two Thursdays later.
The rock on her desk grew into a miniature tree, waving in a unknown wind.
Hearing her tell them to practice it themselves, Harry shared a look with Ron and held his wand in the air. With a wave of his wand, he said "Arborem!"
Nothing happened. Harry leaned over the hand-sized rock, and whispered with a flick of his hand, "Arborem."
Immediately, Harry backed away. He, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the very back corner, and they ran to the front of the room when Harry's miniature tree became not so mini.
McGonagall walked over to the three of them, asking, "What happened, Mr. Potter, Miss. Granger, Mr. Weasley?"
"''Fraid it's my fault." Harry grimaced. "I dunno what I did, but my tree turned too large."
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, waving her wand to banish the tree. It wouldn't leave. She went up to touch the tree, and recoiled. The students could see a spark appear where she touched it.
"Mr. Potter." She said quietly. "Stay behind. Class is dismissed!" She said for the class to hear.
"Mr. Potter," McGonagall said once the door had closed, a worried Ron and Hermione finally being signaled to leave him, "Have you any idea what it is you have done to this rock?"
Harry shook his head. "I thought I was doing it right..." he mumbled.
"It was not intentional, then, and I cannot punish you for a mistake, do not be worried." Harry released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Although, I do hope you can remove it. I would prefer not to have an oak tree decorating my classroom any longer than necessary. Perhaps you attuned it to your magic. You know how to banish?"
Harry nodded. It was something he had learned after the first task, in Charms class. But he still hasn't used a wand, and he didn't know if he could pretend to cast with his wand and cast without. It wasn't the best opportunity to try, but try he would.
"Depulso!" Harry cried, trying to channel the magic through his left arm, instead of his right. The tree stayed stubbornly put.
Harry thought for a moment. If the tree had shocked Professor McGonagall, he wondered what it would do to him. He reached out and touched a leaf. The leaf sparkled, golden mist swirling around it.
Harry groaned. "You may go, Mr. Potter." McGonagall said calmly. Harry obligingly left, but as he shut the door he was sure he heard the sound of rushing feet.
Harry tucked his wand in his robe pocket. What had made his magic do that? He had practiced countless normal spells wandlessly, and they had all worked! Harry frowned, and picked up a loose pebble. He stepped into the same corridor he and Hermione had stopped in before he left - the shattered glass was still lying there, which he carelessly banished - and cast the spell again, "Arborem."
The pebble grew into a willow tree, covering half of the corridor. In fact, the roots melded into the rock, making it unmovable. "Great."
What if he tried simply conjuring it? Maybe if he focused on what he wanted and didn't have anything to make it grow from, it would be just as he wanted it.
He walked farther down the corridor and made his eyes flash gold. The result was a small apple tree, complete with ripe apples.
No, it was supposed to be a seedling! Harry walked to the end of the corridor, eyes again flashing gold as a miniature tree appeared. Harry smiled triumphantly, picking his successful plant up. When Harry looked closer, however, he saw that it was a fully grown, white tree with tiny leaves all over it. Harry tucked the partially successful tree in his pocket regardless - if they were working on them again next class, he could present this as a less permanent result. Harry wondered how McGonagall was going to deal with having a tree in her room.
Speaking of unwanted trees, Harry had two in this corridor. Sure, the only people who knew this were the Marauders, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George...
Harry had an idea. He was normally with his two year mates, or he could warn them against using this corridor, but Fred and George didn't need to know that. With a thought, the floor sprouted bright green grass, and the walls and ceiling enchanted like the Great Hall - it showed a bright, sunny day, and even showed a few birds flying high overhead. Harry smirked. It was fun to be able to do enchantments like that. He knew Merlin couldn't, but that was probably just because he'd never seen it before.
He covered the two doors with vines, and stepped out into the normal hallway, blinking slightly when he adjusted to being 'inside' again.
Despite his newfound problems with his magic, Harry still had opportunities for fun in Potions.
The first time Harry deliberately changed a potion from the directions on the board, Professor Snape loomed a bit away from his desk, waiting for it to explode... but it didn't. This potion was one he had read about from Gaius, and he knew the directions he used...
"Potter! Why are you deviating from the instructions?" Snape yelled, expecting the next ingredient to make it explode...
Harry tossed the roots in and the potion turned a pale yellow.
Snape scowled. "Why are you using different instructions?"
"Sorry, sir. I read it in a book somewhere, I hadn't realized it was different." Harry said respectfully. He had spent enough time in the presence of a king to keep from angering arrogant people in power. But still, his pale yellow next to Malfoy's peach was way too satisfying.
Harry had fun in the time leading up to March, but nor was he idle. He tried out his new broom, (which didn't work quite as wonderfully as he expected, but he was working on it,) he worked on homework, finishing it within a few days of receiving it so he could focus on other things (Hermione was extremely pleased, and had begun to think that Camelot was the best thing that had happened to Harry.)
He also had to work on his wand problem. It puzzled him for around a week, before he decided to simply make a non-magical copy of it to use for class, deciding it was the best solution until he had a free weekend for Hermione to help with it.
Harry was so preoccupied, he was caught completely by surprise when Sirius's return owl came on the fifth. 'Be at stile at end of road outside of Hogsmeade (Past Dervish and Bangs) at two o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Bring as much food as you can.' It read.
"He's come back to Hogsmeade?" said Ron incredulously.
"It looks like it, doesn't it?" Hermione said.
"If I'm remembering right," Harry said thoughtfully, "He asked for the Hogsmeade date, didn't he?"
Hermione nodded. "Of course!"
"Well, I guess we'll just have to go. I have an idea for the food..."
"There they are!" Pansy Parkinson squealed in delight. "There they are! Show them!" She looked around, but Malfoy had stepped forward.
"Look at this!" The blond cried with a vicious grin. A small circle of people started gathering around the group.
"Draco," Harry said loudly, and it got moderately quieter. Since when had Potter called Malfoy by his given name? "Why in the world are you holding a Witch Weekly magazine?"
Draco scowled, as people streaming out of the great hall heard Harry's comment and sniggered, joining the crowd.
"You just wait, Potter, till you read this article!" The blond boy thrust the magazine at him.
"Thank you, Draco, but I don't think I want to read," He peeked at the magazine cover, grimacing slightly, "Face and Hair care articles. Not to say I'm judging, of course. I'm just not interested. I do appreciate your offer, though."
Draco scowled, thrust the magazine at Hermione and stalked off.
Ron turned to Harry, "Mate that was bloody brilliant!" He grinned.
Harry smirked lightly. "Come on, let's get to class."
_-*-_
Potions class wasn't enjoyable on any occasion (When taught by Snape, of course) but Double potions that Friday was reminiscent of Harry's pre-Camelot classes.
Harry was talking idly to Ron and Hermione, chopping some reeds for a potion, when Snape billowed over, sneering at the three of them.
"I suppose you think this is a social hour?" Snape scowled. "Perhaps you will be quieter if separated. Weasley, by Mr. Goyle. Granger, next to Miss. Parkinson. Potter, to the front. Now."
Harry whistled slightly as he walked up to the front, no reason to let Snape think he'd gotten to him. And what were a few hours sitting at the front of the class, anyway?
"... Don't care that half the world thinks your a pint-sized celebrity. I know you're just an attention seeking brat..."
Harry ground his beetles, annoyed. How long was Snape going to drone on? Harry decided to pretend he couldn't hear.
"... Can't help but wonder what has been happening. All these feats of magic in hidden hallways, and of course your solution at the second task, stolen boomslang skin,"
"Hang on, what?" Harry said confusedly. Boomslang skin? Last time he had heard of that, Hermione had stolen it second year. But why would he bring it up now, two years later? Harry couldn't deny Snape was clever, but how had he connected him to the hidden hallway?
"You know what I said." The Professor put his hand in his pocket, and Harry instinctively raised his hand in case he was grabbing his wand, but no. It was a small potions vial, with clear liquid inside. "Do you know what this is?" He said, voice lowered dangerously.
"No." said Harry.
"It is a truth serum. Odorless, tasteless, blends into any liquid, and three drops will have you telling me everything I ask for. Of course," He examined the vial thoughtfully, "It's use is heavily mandated by the Ministry, but I think you'll find that my hand slips," The vial dropped into his other hand, "Right into your evening pumpkin juice. Next time you try anything, I'd watch out."
"Right." Harry said, outwardly calm. "Next time I want to enchant a secret hallway, I'll be sure to remember that." He tipped his ginger roots into the cauldron. just as a knock came at the door.
"Come in," Snape said in his usual voice.
The class stopped as the door opened. Professor Karkaroff walked in nervously.
"I need to talk to you, Severus." He said, scanning the room and making the class avert their eyes quickly.
"After my lesson."
"No," Karkaroff said, determined. "Not when you can slip off. You've been avoiding me, Severus, and I need to talk now."
"After the lesson." Snape snapped.
Under the pretext of holding up a measuring cup filled with armadillo bile, Harry glanced at them. Snape looked angry, and Karkaroff scared. At the end of class, Harry knocked over his armadillo bile, ducked down and spent an inordinate amount of time cleaning it up.
"What is so urgent?" Snape hissed.
"This," Karkaroff showed Snape something, and Harry heard the rustle of robes being pulled aside.
"Put it away!" Snape said, as Karkaroff spoke.
"Don't you see? It's never been this clear. Not since-"
"Put. It. Away."
"But-"
"We can discuss this later." Snape peered at the classroom. "Potter! What are you doing?"
"I spilled some armadillo bile, sir." Harry magicked the rest of the bile back into his container - no reason for it to go to waste - and walked out of class. This was an interesting development.
On Saturday morning, Harry ran down to the kitchens before they headed to Hogsmeade.
"Hey Dobby!" Harry said loudly over the scrambling house elves. "I need your help!"
"Dobby is happy to serve Harry Potter sir. What is you needing helping with?"
"I was wondering if you could pack a very large amount of food in a very small amount of space. Three of my friends and I wanted to have a picnic..."
Harry rejoined Ron and Hermione and headed down to the gate. "Harry," Hermione said. "Why don't you have any food with you?"
Harry grinned. "Don't worry, it'll be there."
Hermione pursed her lips, but didn't say anything.
"Hey, mate, can we stop at Zonkos?" Ron asked suddenly.
"Sure," Harry looked up, "we've got thirty minutes or so."
"How can you tell?" Hermione said, checking her watch and realizing that it was, indeed, half past one.
"It was a skill Merlin taught me," Harry said as they stopped at the store. "He seemed incredulous that I couldn't tell the time of day from the sun, but I told him I always used magic for it."
Hermione nodded. That made sense. "Why didn't he use magic for it?" Ron looked confused.
"Two reasons I can think of," Harry said, "One, is that clocks hadn't been invented, and two, if you recall, Merlin could never do magic openly because it was banned. We got ourselves into quite a bit of trouble because of that."
"Oh." Ron said, almost sadly. "Can I come with you, when you go back?"
"That'd be brilliant!" Harry grinned.
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "How would that ever be a good idea?"
"Come on," Ron said, "It'd be fun!" Harry nodded encouragingly.
"Have you two completely lost your minds?" Hermione looked at them desperately. "Please tell me you considered - at least for a moment - how completely and utterly disastrous that could be!"
"Er..." Harry and Ron looked at one another.
"It's completely dangerous! Ron'd need to side-along with you, and I'm not even sure you can do that. Also, if Ron wanted to do any magic, he'd have to carry his wand around, and if that doesn't get you both killed he'll probably run his mouth and do it anyway!"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Hermione." Ron scowled.
"I'm sorry, but unless you took the potion too - and don't even try to tell me that's a good idea - Its way too risky. If I could, I would keep Harry going back too, but..."
Harry noticed her hesitation, and saved her, "We've got to meet up with Padfoot!"
The trio arrived five minutes till, Ron whining about lost opportunities and dungbombs, do Harry had time to unpack his picnic basket, complete with white and red checkered blanket (Harry shook his head slightly at Dobby.)
He laid his miniature food and blanket down, pretending not to notice his friends bewildered expressions. With a flicker of his eyes, the food grew until it reached it's original size.
As if on cue, a big, black dog padded into the cave, following the smell of steaming chicken and rice.
"That looks delicious." Sirius said, transforming quickly.
Harry grinned. "Help yourself."
With that out of the way, Sirius dug in. After about five straight minutes, he finally stopped.
"Hogwarts food!" Sirius groaned in delight, looking at the mostly full plates.
Harry nodded. "It's just that much better after you've not had it." Sirius's eyebrows shot up, but he didn't say anything. Harry continued, "What are you doing here?"
Sirius paused for a moment, then smiled, "Fulfilling my duty as godfather. What's been happening, Harry?"
Hermione, Ron and Harry looked at one another. "Well..." Harry started.
Chapter Word Count: 3747
Also, some of this chapter is made up of quotes from "Padfoot Returns", HPGoF. If you notice something from the Books that's wrong, I would appreciate it if you would point it out!