The first Friday of the school year was quidditch tryouts. Harry already knew that Ron would take Oliver's place, but he went along with tryouts anyways. The rest of the team seemed happy to have Harry as captain. Harry practiced with Ron on Saturday morning, hoping he'll be in shape for practice in the afternoon. He warned him that the Slytherins like to taunt them during practice and suggested he put a silencing charm around him. Harry then decided to take his own advice. At the beginning of practice, he put a silencing charm beneath the field and advised everyone not to pay any attention to the Slyterins. Practice was okay, but not great.

Harry had a long talk with Sirius that night. He told him his concerns about Ron's quidditch abilities, Fred's and George's testing products on students, and how he knows that Umbridge is supposed to be making him write with his blood, except that she's not here. Sirius did his best to reassure Harry that everything will be okay. Harry felt better after talking to him.

At the first Hogsmeade weekend, Harry suggested to a group of friends that they try out Hog's Head. Aberforth came over to their table and asked why they were there.

"The Three Broomsticks is usually crowded," Harry told him. "I wanted to see if this was a good place for us to hang out."

"It's not," Aberforth said. "We get all types here."

"If I would ever be in danger though, this would probably be a good place to hide," Harry told him.

"Did you do your occlumency last night?" Ron asked suddenly.

"Why?" Harry asked back.

"Professor Dumbledore said you need to do it for ten minutes every night," Ron reminded him.

"I do it whenever I remember after homework," Harry said.

"In other words, never" Fred said smiling.

"Don't worry about Dumbledore," George said. "We'll stick with Harry no matter what's inside his head."

"Good attitude," Aberforth said. "Don't take my brother too seriously."

They left not long after, ready to hit the rest of Hogsmeade.

Harry was very careful the next potions class. He knew that he messes up easily and tried really hard to do the potion right.

Harry spoke to Sirius again that night.

"We're supposed to be at war now," he told him.

"Be happy that you're not," Sirius said.

"I'm failing potions," Harry said.

"Good," Sirius said. "That's a normal concern."

The next quidditch practice was somewhat amusing. Fred and George both had boils from the fever fudge they had tested on themselves and they complained about sitting on a broom. It was raining, but Harry made sure everyone could repel rain. The practice wasn't so good because of the weather.

As the first quidditch match came closer, Harry advised Ron to wear earplugs whenever he was walking near Slytherins. He explained that the Slyterins always taunt them in an attempt to make them nervous. Ron agreed, but he was still nervous.

At the game, Harry advised Ron to keep his earplugs in. This way, he wouldn't hear the Slytherins singing Weasley is our King. Ron let in several goals, but Harry caught the snitch so it didn't matter. Crabbe whacked the bludger at Harry after he caught the snitch. Draco made a not nice remark about Ron's keeper abilities, but Harry just glared at him. He continued making fun of the Weasleys until Harry decided he needs to interfere before Fred and George do.

"I understand that you're jealous because we won," he said slowly, not really sure what to say or how Draco would take it.

"You're a bunch of losers," Malfoy sneered.

"Actually," Harry said calmly, "you are being a sore loser. If you would have asked me to practice with you over the holidays, I probably wouldn't have turned you down. It would make your father happy to see us together even if we wouldn't enjoy it. Insulting my team because we won just makes you look like a sore loser."

He turned and walked away quickly, making sure Fred and George went with him. Harry was relieved that none of them were kicked off the quidditch team.

After the next Care of Magical Creatures class, Harry reminded Ron to put in his earplugs before leaving. He didn't want to take the chance of Slytherins intimidating Ron again.

Before Christmas, Harry woke Sirius up during the night via mirror.

"What's wrong?" Sirius asked, rubbing his eyes but sounding wide awake.

"Is Mr. Weasley okay?" Harry asked.

"I'll check and get back to you," Sirius said.

A few minutes later, Sirius returned to his mirror.

"Mr. Weasley is fine," he said. "Mrs. Weasley was curious about what danger you saw him in. I told her you had a nightmare and I promised to check on them for you."

"Thank you," Harry said.

He ran up to Dumbledore's office.

"Am I possessed?" he asked anxiously.

Dumbledore looked in his eyes.

"You're not possessed," he said confidently. "Go practice some occlumency and go back to sleep."

Harry reluctantly returned to bed.

Harry spent Christmas with Sirius as usual. He explained to Sirius what would have been going on if he wouldn't have already defeated Voldermort. He asked several times if he was possessed. Snape and Dumbledore came by a few times to assure him that he isn't. They each tested his occlumency every time they came.

The Monday after returning to school, Harry entered Snape's office.

"What are you doing here?" Snape asked.

"We're supposed to have occlumency lessons now," Harry said. "Although we tell people it's remedial potions."

"Is that what happened the first time around?" Snape asked curiously.

Harry nodded.

"We don't need to repeat everything that's not going to happen," Snape said.

"You're explaining to me that Voldermort can possess me," Harry said. "While logically speaking, that probably won't happen; I need to know for sure."

"Would you like me to test your occlumency?" Snape asked.

Harry nodded again. He didn't make much effort to push Snape out. He let Snape see him watching Dudley on a bike. He saw himself being chased up a tree by Ripper before deciding to push Snape out.

"Okay, Harry," Snape said. "I want you to close your eyes."

Harry willingly closed his eyes.

"Clear your mind, Potter," said Snape's cold voice. "Let go of all emotion."

Harry cleared his mind and Snape tried again. He let Snape watch Uncle Vernon hammering the letter box shut before pushing him out.

"Why are you letting me in?" Snape asked.

"That's how it was supposed to happen," Harry said. "Except that I didn't know how to push you out and you saw lots of things I didn't want you to see."

"I don't think we need to do this," Snape said.

"I think we do," Harry said. "Until now, I taught myself from a book, but now I'm at the age where Voldermort possessed me."

"He was powerful then," Snape said. "Now he no longer exists except for in your head. You need to let go of him."

"I'll try," Harry said. "Thank you."

He went back to his dorm, wondering why he ever allowed Snape in his head.