Enjoy. :D

Harry told Arthur Weasley what he had seen at Borgin and Burkes with Malfoy before getting on the train. He doubted the man was taking him seriously, but he felt a little assured that at least the man knew. As he went he heard Blaise Zabini in conversation with an oddly familiar voice, that he soon recognized as Horace Slughorn.

"And I hear Nott's in his sixth year. His father was an excellent potioneer and we were old friends." Slughorn was saying.

"Yes, well, he's having a bit of a hard time, what with his father being caught last year at the Ministry and thrown in Azkaban for being a Death Eater."

"Oh, dear." Slughorn's tone of interest was instantly lost and Harry, feeling sickened, pushed past before the man had an opportunity to notice and stop him.

He found Theodore in the same compartment as Draco, which was nearly full with Pansy Parkinson, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle.

"Hello, Potter." Blaise's voice caused Harry to turn and he noticed the boy walking towards the compartment. "Oh, look. Sorry, but this one is full."

Harry shrugged and walked off as Zabini opened the compartment and slipped inside.

He found another compartment, this one currently empty, and took a seat inside it. He wasn't alone long enough to begin mulling when it opened and two third year girls started inside.

"Oh!" One squealed, jumping at sight of him and the other one gripped onto her friend. "Uh..."

"The other compartments are filling." Harry replied coolly. "I hope you don't mind."

They shook their heads and took their seats, giving him nervous glances as they did. It took some time before they were playing Exploding Snap, asking anxiously if Harry would like to join them, to which he said no.

They didn't have to endure him long as another third year came rushing in to deliver a letter to Harry for Slughorn. While he didn't want to, he attended the man's little get-together, where he was joined by Blaise Zabini, Cormac McLaggen, Marcus Belby, Neville Longbottom, and Ginny Weasley. He took an uncomfortable seat between Zabini and Longbottom, which was just as well as he could mediate between them.

The conversation here was exactly as Harry had expected, with Slughorn apparently having taken interest in them for certain qualities their parents possessed or qualities he had guessed or seen in them. There were a couple hot exchanges between Blaise and Ginny and Blaise and Longbottom, as was expected when Slytherins and Gryffindors were forced into the same compartment together, and then, with the sky now dark, they all started off.

"Hey!" Harry caught up to Blaise and forced the other boy to walk with him. "What was that about between you and the Weasley girl?"

"What do you mean 'what was that about'?" Zabini looked irritated.

"Well, it just seemed she really had it in for you." Harry didn't really care what was going on between Blaise and Ginny, but he did care about maybe getting the opportunity for Theodore to see him and come out to chat with him.

Blaise gave a grunt of disgust. "None of your business."

"Something happened?"

"I said, it's none of your business, Potter!" Zabini stopped in the hall and gave Harry a dark look.

"All right, why do you think Malfoy wasn't there?" Harry raised an eyebrow, wanting to keep walking.

Zabini's eyes were cool and collected as he gave a shrug. "I don't think Slughorn is interested in associating with Death Eaters and as Malfoy's father is, thanks to you, clearly in Azkaban for being one, I'd say Slughorn didn't chose him for that reason."

"That'd be the same reason why Theo wasn't there?"

"Yes." Blaise gave Harry an upraising look and said, "And we all know why you were there."

"And you." Harry smiled briefly. "Mother fancy gold, does she? At least, she's beautiful and the men she tempts get something worthwhile before they die. Did your father as well?"

Zabini gave a cold laugh. "My father didn't die. He left and then he died, mysteriously, I might add."

"Revenge can be sweet, I guess." Harry shrugged.

"You want to talk to Theo, don't you?" Blaise didn't sound like he was asking.

"I did."

"He's not in the mood to deal with you."

"And why's that?"

Zabini shrugged. "I don't know, but if he wanted to hang around you don't you think he would have looked for you?"

"I thought about that, yes."

"Than there's your answer." Blaise turned to walk off and Harry's mind began to spin with any way to still get what he wanted.

"You like that Weasley girl, don't you?"

Blaise spun around and gave Harry a foul look. "I do not."

"You find her pretty." Harry pointed out coolly. "You're hard to please, but I guess it doesn't come as a surprise if you fancy her. Most everyone does."

"I wouldn't touch a filthy little blood traitor like her whatever she looked like." Zabini spat.

"She rejected you, didn't she?"

Zabini swore and turned to leave again.

"Tell Theodore I'm looking for him." Harry ordered. "And do your best to convince him to find me or I'll let everyone know."

There was only a pause as Blaise absorbed this information, gave it a quick turn to see if he could step around it, and then raised his hand in a wave to acknowledge he had heard and would do as he was told.

Feeling only slightly satisfied, Harry headed back to his compartment, now empty again and quickly changed into his school robes. As he expected, Theodore arrived shortly after, eyes amused, but features bored.

"Hear you're becoming a Slytherin." Theo stated as he took his seat across from Harry. "Blaise was going on about it and he looked furious."

"Well," Harry shrugged, feeling his stomach begin to ache with excitement. "It was bound to happen at some point. I couldn't keep flashing Gryffindor colors forever."

Theo acknowledged this with a nod of his head. "What'd you want?"

"I just wanted to talk to you." Harry answered with a shrug.

"A lot happen over summer?"

"A bit."

"Well?"

"My Occlumency lessons have been switched over to Dumbledore." Harry lied. He wouldn't be taking Occlumency lessons this year with Snape as they conflicted with his new mystery lessons with Dumbledore. Harry of course didn't feel he needed any more lessons, partially because he had been practicing all summer and partially because the Dark Lord was using Occlumency against Harry for fear the boy would see his plans.

"Why?"

"Professor Snape says it conflicted with his schedule, which is supposedly getting busier." Harry lied again, giving a helpless shrug. "And we have a new teacher."

"Slughorn." Theodore nodded. "Yes, he was an old friend of my father, but because of..." He made an odd motion with his hand, indicating his left arm. "Didn't want to see me. Doesn't want relations with Death Eaters."

"But you're not a Death Eater."

"All the same in the eyes of most." Theo smiled slightly. "Have heard the Weasleys with their prejudices."

"Yeah...that's true." Harry frowned and shifted nervously in his seat. "I have to go back after school, to the Dursleys because of...stuff."

"Some kind of protective spell, you told me." Theo nodded.

"Yeah."

"Well, its just one more year."

"True." Harry hesitated and then said, "Dumbledore's hand was all messed up and he never got around to telling me why."

Theodore gave a curious look and then stated, "Is an adventurous person. Could have just got it caught in a curse."

"Yeah..." Harry wrinkled his nose. "You know, I've been thinking and we haven't gone on a run in ages. We should do that more this year."

Interest flashed through Theodore's eyes. "Is not such a terrible idea...I have a question."

"Go for it."

"Is it true what they say about you being 'the Chosen One'?"

Harry resisted his emotions so as not to give anything away. Dumbledore had informed Harry last year about the prophecy within earshot of Theodore, but had later told Harry that he and Professor Snape had deemed it necessary to erase this memory from Theo's mind just in case. Therefore, only Seamus, Dean, Ginny, Luna, Neville, Ron, and Hermione knew about the prophecy, which Harry found disheartening as none of them were really his friends.

"I have no idea." Harry shrugged. "We didn't get to hear the prophecy, so I don't know what it was about."

"I see."

"I was made Quidditch Captain." Harry showed his badge to his friend and the other inspected it with intrigue.

"Makes you as good as prefect." Theodore informed Harry with a small smile. "Good for you."

"Thanks."

The train began to slow and they began to ready their departure. Once off the train, they found themselves sharing a carriage with Malfoy, Goyle, Crabbe, and Zabini as Parkinson had apparently decided to join her gang of girls.

"Have a nice summer, Potter?" Malfoy asked with a sneer.

Harry answered with a shrug and the conversation was taken over by Zabini. After the Sorting and the Feast, Dumbledore made his announcements which appointed Slughorn as Potions Master and Snape as the new Professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Ronald had said such a loud "No!" to this that everyone had turned to look at him.

"Well, there's one good thing," Ron was saying a moment later in a quieter voice to his Marauders, but Harry still heard. "Snape'll be gone by the end of the year."

"What do you mean?" Neville asked nervously.

"That job's jinxed. No one's lasted more than a year...Quirrell actually died doing it...personally, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for another death..."

Theodore grabbed onto Harry to keep him in his seat and not a few steps away pounding his fists into Ronald.

Dumbledore finished his speech with a warning about safety since Lord Voldemort had risen again to power and then they were off to their dormitories and their beds.

Hagrid ran into him after the feast and invited him to meet Witherwings (Buckbeak), who had been staying with him since Sirius' hospitalization. He seemed to be under the delusion that Harry would be taking Care of Magical Creatures with him and this caused Harry some distress as he most certainly would not.

"Thought you would." Theodore raised an eyebrow at Harry when the boy confessed this.

"I decided to take Herbology instead." Harry mumbled. "And I thought six classes would just be too many."

"How'd you do on your O.W.L.s anyways?" Theodore asked.

"I got 'Outstanding' in D.A.D.A., Potions, and Transfiguration and 'Exceeds Expectations' in Herbology, Charms, and Care of Magical Creatures. I don't want to mention the rest. You?"

"Got 'Outstanding' in all my classes." Theo seemed to think this was normal and expected of him.

"You did better than Granger did." Harry grinned. "She got an 'E' in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Am not surprised about that." Theodore replied coyly. "Am better than that little Mudblood anyways."

Harry ignored the nasty word. "You are smarter and you're better at your practicals than her, which is shocking because she's excellent at Charms. You saw that Protean Charm she did last year."

Theo snorted. "I saw. You know, I was able to do that Charm as well, right?"

"Really?" Harry was shocked. "No, actually, I had no idea."

Rolling his eyes, Theo patted Harry's back, each touch sending sparks of excitement through Harry's body. "Have more faith in my abilities, Harry."

"Uh-huh..." Harry mumbled and didn't say anything more for the rest of the night.

The next day found Harry enviously watching as Snape gave Theodore a full schedule, which included all eight of the O. . he apparently intended to take, which was one more than Hermione as he wanted to finish up Astronomy as well. However, Snape gave Theodore a warning that if the schedule was too much to handle, he was to drop any classes he didn't need for his N.E.W.T.s, or Snape would chose a couple for him. He then turned to Harry.

"You did exceptionally well, Potter." He said as he reviewed his notes. "Getting 'Outstanding' in all the N.E.W.T. classes you should take for your career choice, I see. Will you be wanting to take any other classes?"

"No." Harry shook his head. "Just the five we discussed last year."

"Not as ambitious as your friend, Nott, I see." Snape raised an eyebrow. "Though this is just as well. You will be busy enough with Captaining the Quidditch Team and taking your extra lessons."

Harry nodded as he took the schedule from his Professor. "When should I set up trials?"

"I would recommend after you get the list of hopefuls and after you've settled into your classes."

"All right." Harry watched Theodore get up to leave for his Ancient Runes class. A sick feeling began to spread over him and he suddenly spoke up to Snape. "Actually, could I have a class added? I don't have the book yet, but..."

"Don't want to be left alone too often?" Snape asked with a raised eyebrow. "Adding Care of Magical Creatures to your schedule will not fill up your schedule and it certainly will not assist you with your endeavor to become an Auror. If anything, it may drag you down as we all know you struggle enough with the homework you're given already. I'd recommend sticking with what you were given."

"What about..."

"Astronomy is in the evenings." Snape cut across him. "And these evenings should be spent doing homework."

"And..."

"You either failed or didn't take your other options."

Harry sighed and sat there, feeling a bit miserable. He had a free period before his first class of the day and he didn't want to spend it alone.

"If you feel you should be spending this time doing something productive," Snape's voice hinted at an offer and Harry gave him his full attention, "Than either read your textbooks."

Disheartened, Harry nodded and took off after finishing breakfast to hide in the library where he studied for Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was here that Theodore found him. Apparently, Theodore had a mass of homework for Ancient Runes and he was irritated because Granger kept trying to show off in class as usual. They headed off to their first class together and Harry found he quite enjoyed Snape as the D.A.D.A. teacher. Snape understood the Dark Arts, having been avidly enraptured by them in his youth, and he, above most, was therefore a much better Professor in the study of defense against it. Both Harry and Theodore, who were skilled in Occlumency, were able to perform nonverbals with ease and thus earned some points for their abilities.

After this class, Harry received a note dictating his first meeting with Dumbledore and the password to get into his office. He stowed the note away in his robes and then he bumped into Goyle as they rounded a corner. His two books, rolls of parchment, cauldron, potion ingredients, and ink and quill, which he had been carrying, went flying everywhere and he fell hard on the ground. Goyle started to laugh even as he bent down to help Harry and Harry, red-faced and flustered, could only laugh in return. They picked up his scattered books and other belongings before heading into the Great Hall together for lunch.

It wasn't until he reached his Double Potions class, that he realized he'd lost his Potions Book and had to borrow one from Slughorn. Ron, who hadn't thought he could take the class, also had to borrow a book.

They all gathered around Slughorn's prepared potions and he began to ask them what they were. Hermione got her hand in the air before Theo on the first one and answered Veritaserum, but it was Harry who's hand got up first for the second one: Polyjuice Potion. Finally, Theodore got his chance with the third, answering Amortentia, the most powerful love potion in the world.

"Quite right!" Slughorn seemed gleeful at the the three who had been answering his questions. "You recognized it, I suppose, by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen?"

"And the steam rising in characteristic spirals." Theodore answered coolly. "Is supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us, and I...well, that's probably enough information."

Slughorn nodded, "And you are Theodore Nott, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, I see that your father's care for potions wasn't lost on his son." He turned to Hermione. "And may I ask your name, my dear?"

"Hermione Granger, sir."

"Granger? Granger? Can you possibly be related to Hector Dagworth-Granger, who founded the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers?"

"No, I don't think so, sir. I'm Muggle-born, you see."

Malfoy leaned suddenly close to Theo and whispered, "Mudblood's trying to get in on the Slug Club." They exchanged a smile, but it didn't seem that Slughorn was fazed at all.

"All the same, very well done." Slughorn turned to Harry. "And I'm glad to see you're living up to your mother's reputation as well, Harry. I believe that should be ten points to each of you who answered the questions correctly. Well-earned. Well-earned."

"Amortentia," Slughorn began to tell them. "Doesn't really create love of course. It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love. No, this will simply cause a powerful infatuation or obsession. It is probably the most dangerous and powerful potion in this room...oh yes." He nodded gravely at Malfoy and Theo, who had exchanged skeptical expressions. "When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love...and now, it is time for us to start work."

They were introduced to Felix Felicis, a luck potion, to which Harry's ex (he hated calling him that), Terry Boot, asked why most people didn't drink it all the time. The obvious answer was it caused giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous overconfidence when taken in excess. Slughorn then offered it as a prize for whoever was able to produce an acceptable Draught of Living Death.

To Harry's awe, he had been given a book, scribbled with miniscule writing that he, oddly, recognized, though he couldn't place where, and with it hints on how to do the potion more effectively. Without even bothering to point these out to Theo, Harry began to follow the scribbled instructions where they were made and before he knew it he had created a perfect Draught of Living Death. Even Theo looked disappointed.

After class and as soon as they were a ways away from the others, Harry pointed out the secrets of the book, much to the alarm of Theodore.

"Is cheating." Theodore grumbled, flipping through the book. "Should go and confess and turn that bottle over."

"Why would I do that?" Harry took the book back. "You would have done the same."

"Should have shared." Theo glowered at Harry.

"I didn't think about it." Harry replied with a dismissive hand wave. "But whatever. I don't mind sharing half the bottle with you anyways."

Theodore's eyebrow rose and he relaxed a margin. "Well, in that case, I don't mind then, but you have to share the notes with me. Whoever wrote that was a genius."

"The writing looks familiar." Harry admitted. "I just can't remember where I've seen it before."

"Will come to you."

"Yeah..." Harry scanned through the book and noticed on the back cover words scrawled along the bottom in that familiar miniscule handwriting.

This Book is the Property of the Half-Blood Prince.

Hope you're enjoying! Will write more later tonight.