It had been a long two days and it was finally potions. Severus cocked an eyebrow as a tiny first year walked into his Fifth year class.

"Mr. Riddle, I think you have some explaining to do." he said, Aries looked down to where Harry was leaning against him. "Yes, I'm talking about Mr. Potter..." Harry shrank into Aries side. Severus cursed himself all the teachers now knew that Harry didn't respond well to Potter. "Mr. Harry." Harry relaxed a bit. "What is he doing in this class? His first year class is next period ."

"Yes, Professor. " Ari said, making Harry sit down with Seria and him. " But Malfoy and the other Slytherin first years are a little...fed up with Harry's stuttering answers and Weasley stalking him so they asked me to bring him with me to class. Don't worry he's promised to do his homework ...of course he'll probably just end up taking notes. He's really interested in Potions."

"I was not aware that one of my snakes was being stalked." Severus growled making the Gryffindors look at each other warily. It was common knowledge even this early that Ron Weasley was convinced he was Harry's best friend and was following him around. It was also common Knowledge that Harry didn't like Ron and was scared of everyone in the school. "and it's a Lion."

"Yes, sir." Aries replied, then moaned. Harry was staring hard at the black board and writing down all of the notes. "Like i said he'll probably just take notes. "

"He may stay since I know he wont talk much. If at all."

Harry just kept writing down all notes on the board then every word Severus said. He'd decided that this was going to be his favorite subject and he'd be the best in his year at it. He needed to beat that know-it-all. he wouldn't let her beat him in anything. He was going to be a Prefect if it was the last thing he did.

Harry tried to follow Aries out of the classroom when the bell rang.

"No, you have to stay here." Aries told him with a gentle smile. "I'll be back to pick you up after class i need to answer a letter. "

"Y-y-y-you'll c-c-c..."

"UGH!" they looked to see The Know-It-All also known as Hermione Granger was the one who was being mean this time. Though Draco was rubbing his head. "just quit talking!"

"Mr. Harry." the class jumped as Severus steered him back to the table he'd been sitting at. " What did I tell you about stuttering?"

Harry opened his mouth. Then swallowed.

"N-n not to" Harry answered, "I -I can't help it"

"You can talk to me and Aries can't you?"

"Yes..."

The whole class was here now. "

"Mr. Harry. " Severus said, as kindly as he could, "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

"S-Sleeping Draught...D-Draught o-of...L-Living D-Death..."

"Correct."Severus sneered.

"where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"G-Goat s-stomach..."

"Correct."

" "What is the difference, Harry, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"Th-There i-isn't o-one. They a-are th-the s-same p-plant. Also kn-know a-as Ac-acconite. ..."

"Correct. " Severus replied, again. " 15 points to Slytherin. "

Harry was positively glowing as he made his Potion. Severus kept praising him on his Burn Cream. He could tell that Draco and Hermione were jealous that he was being praised and not them. He got the highest marks that day in class. He rushed out to tell Ari.

"Ari!" he smashed into the older boy in the hall. "I-I g-got..."

"UGH!" Hermione complained, "He must have cheated some how!" she was yelling as loud as she could. "There is now way the stuttering idiot could be smarter than me!"

"Did good in Potions did you?" Ari asked, and Harry beamed brightly nodding. "Did you get a passing cream?" Harry nodded again. "Do you know where those Potions go?" Harry shook his head. "They go right to the Hospital Wing."

"Wow, r-really?" Harry asked eyes shining. "Th-That's so cool!"

Ari laughed, and they went to the library only after Ari passed a note to Severus. It was the letter he'd received at breakfast from Lucius. They needed a guardian for Harry or they would need to start trying to get him emancipated . It was going to be a long and hard process . Harry sat as close to Ari as he could in the library and did his homework while working on his calligraphy. Ari and Seria had a bunch of friends around them that were also in their O.W.L year . They seemed to have a lot of homework for it only being the second day of school.

It was after dinner and Ari had decided he needed a break from studying, and Harry grabbing his notes to read, so he had taken Harry for a walk around the Castle holding him against him the whole time. They were on the way back to the Common room when they heard voices from the Teacher's Lounge.

"Harry is so smart. " it was Flitwick. "he gave a detailed answer in class..."

"I heard it took him ten minuets to do so ." Sinistra said, "I keep hearing he's a stutterer."

"He is ." Severus said "It's not that bad when he talks to me. I got him to answer three questions with minimal stuttering and he mad the best Burn Cream in my whole first year class. "

The teachers kept talking about how impressed they were with Harry but also about how worried they were. Madam Pomfry had informed them about his abuse.

"How are we going to help him?" it was McGonagell.

"You can start by punishing Mr. Weasley for stalking him. "Severus replied, " as to the rest of his problem Mr. Riddle and I are already taking care of it. "

"Really, Severus?" Minerva sounded surprised.

"He is in my House." Severus sniffed, "Now do something about your young Mr. Weasley he's scarring him worse then he already is. He's afraid of everyone and everything. He doesn't need that boy causing him to be even more scared then he already is."

"I will see what I can do." Minerva said, "Feel free to give him detentions. "

Harry was beaming as they walked back to the Common Room. The teachers wanted to help him and were very glad with his work. If he kept it up in four years he could be a Prefect just like Ari. He swore to try and stop stuttering.