Disclaimer: I do not own anything classic of this story. Harry Potter and all of the notable characters belong to J.K. Rowling, aka, God. All original characters are copyright of me, however.

Magnolia Crescent

Chapter Eight

Who's Confused? I'm Confused

This was Hermione's brilliant plan, Harry grumbled in his head, making his way grudgingly to Professor Snape's dungeon. Christmas break was over and classes had been in session for about a week. She had come up with a brilliant plan to start work on the Pensieve. Reluctantly, he knocked on the potions room door.

"Yes?" Snape's voice drawled.

"Professor, I was wondering if you would be willing to give me extra potions lessons. I noticed I was falling behind and …." Harry trailed off, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I don't see why not. Although I can't imagine why you would want to spend any extra time in class. Especially since Gryffindors tend to be, shall we say, slackers?" Snape smirked. Moving to a shelf behind his desk, he pulled down a large book titled The Potions Master.

Snape selected a potion from the middle, instructing Harry to brew it the best he could within one hour. "This is known as the Skin-Growing potion. It's simple in principle and useful for almost any small scrape or cut."

"Okay," Harry nodded as Snape pulled out a small sheet of paper with the directions on it as he walked back to the front of the room. Harry worked in silence as the minutes ticked away when someone else knocked on the door. Snape frowned as he walked over to answer it. Harry glanced over and spotted some bleach blonde hair. He kept working until after Snape had dealt with the student, whom Harry presumed was Malfoy. He managed to finish the potion under the requested time limit.

"Professor, I finished it," Harry announced, handing a vile over to Snape. The professor glared at him for a moment before taking out a spoon and testing it.

"It is acceptable," Snape commented after a long moment. Harry relaxed before Snape waved his hand at Harry to leave. He went to his desk and started to clean up his mess.

"Professor Snape?" Harry asked, clearing his things away. "How exactly does one put a stopper on death?" Snape glanced over at him, surprised that Harry would ask something he mentioned two years prior. He flipped through the book, trying to locate the potion he was referring to.

"It's an extremely complex potion," Snap said, rifling through the pages. "But if you must know, it's right here." He set the book down in front of Harry, pointing to the correct page.

On the page opposite, Harry noticed a potion recipe for the Pensieve. He pretended to look over the page, while in reality he was thinking on how to get the Pensieve list without Snape noticing.

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said, closing the book and handing it back. "I was just wondering how you would go about that. I was thinking randomly of first year the question's been bugging me." As he spoke, Snape replaced the book on the shelf it came from.

"Don't push your luck. This is far too advanced for you current skill level. If you wish to continue tomorrow, be here around six after dinner. Don't be late," Snape emphasized.

Harry left the dungeon quickly, rushing up to the common room where he found Hermione working on homework still in the common room.

"I found the potion for the Pensieve, Hermione," Harry said nonchalantly, pulling his bag over to sit by her.

"Did you really? Where?" she asked excitedly.

"In a potion book of Snape's," Harry admitted, glancing around. Luckily, the common room was empty. He really didn't need Neville hassling them again like first year. Now that he thought about it, they never did apologize for that.

"That will make it harder to get ahold of," Hermione frowned, trying to think of a way to get a copy of the potion.

"Not necessarily." Hermione gave him a questioning look so he explained. "My dad's old cloak." Harry's face broke into a huge grin.

"Fair enough, but we may need to find some supplies for it as well. You may have to make more than one trip down there," Hermione pointed out. Harry nodded in agreement, but with the cloak, he wasn't too worried.

Somewhere around midnight, Hermione began to shoo Harry out of the portrait hole. Quietly, he made his way down to the dungeons once more that day. The door to Snape's classroom was locked when Harry tried it. A whisper of 'Alohomora' fixed the problem, allowing Harry to enter.

It was eerily dark, with jarred potion ingredients glowing in the dark. Harry lit his wand, holding it high beneath his cloak. The book sat high on a shelf, just barely out of his reach. Only by stretching on his toes did he manage to grab it. His heart gave a great leap when it nearly tumbled from his hands. Gingerly, he set the book on the desk, flipping through the pages until he came upon the one he wanted.

He threw off his cloak, digging into his pocket for a piece of parchment. Luckily, Snape had left a quill and ink pot there. Knowing how meticulous Hermione could be, he carefully but hastily copied it. Once he finished, he reread both lists twice before replacing the book and grabbing his cloak.

Black's freedom depended on the accuracy of the potion. Harry couldn't chance getting even one thing wrong. He looked over the list as he rapidly exited the room. He needed to find the store room now. Harry stopped outside an old closet, looking it over. Something told him that it was the store room. Rattling the handle told him that this door was locked as well. He muttered 'Alohomora' but to no avail.

"This isn't going to be as easy getting into," Harry frowned as he thought of a way into the room. "If only I could get in another way. If only Dobby were here, that would make this so much easier," he mused.

"Harry Potter!" a high-pitched voice squeaked from behind Harry. He about jumped out of his skin, noting of the big eyed house elf next to him.

"Dobby, what are you doing here?" Harry asked, forcing himself to be quiet. Before Dobby could speak, Harry heard footsteps in the distance.

"Who's out there?" a cold voice called. Harry snatched Dobby into his arms and pulled the cape over them as Snape strutted down the corridor.

"Harry Potter, what is – " Dobby started but Harry quickly covered the elf's mouth, Snape stopping just outside of the store room door. He slid it open, glancing inside. Harry took the opportunity to slip inside before Snape could shut it.

"Bloody students," Snape frowned as he slammed the door shut. Harry smirked as he lit his wand and set Dobby down.

"Harry Potter, what are you doing up at this time of night?" Dobby squeaked as Harry looked around. He spotted one of the main ingredients and quickly put it into his bag.

"I could ask you the same thing," Harry whispered back, looking down at the little creature. He was now sporting a small sweater instead of the old pillow case, along with the old sock that had secured his freedom last year.

"Dobby will always come when Harry Potter had need of him. I am indebted to you," Dobby said proudly as Harry nicked another item from his list.

"Well, I need to make a potion to help prove the innocence of a family friend," Harry admitted. When he grabbed the third item, Dobby clapped his hands.

"Amazing, Harry Potter is truly a kind hearted wizard, so willing to help others. Who is it that Harry Potter is trying to help?" Dobby asked, looking up at him with big green eyes. Harry wondered for a moment but decided that it wouldn't hurt.

Harry knelt down and whispered, "My godfather, Sirius Black."

"Sirius Black!" Dobby shouted. Harry quickly clamped his hands over the house elf's mouth. Frowning, he once more pulled the cloak over them as footsteps came back down the hall.

"Quiet, Dobby! Yes, that Black. He's a good man, I can tell, and I need to get these things together to help him out. Or else the dementors will get him," Harry hushed. Snape stopped in front of the store room for a moment. Harry kept his mouth shut, watching the small shadow of Snape left from under the door. The footsteps echoes away as Harry released breath.

"Dobby heard his old master talking about Black, he was the fall guy. Master often talked about him mocking Mr. Potter," Dobby explained. Harry nodded, becoming more and more certain of Black's innocence.

"Can you help me, Dobby? I need to get these supplies together," Harry explained, showing the elf the piece of parchment he had wrote on. Dobby nodded as the ingredients started to float off of their shelves. Harry pulled open the bag and quickly placed the items inside. He patted Dobby on the head after completion.

"And now the door," Dobby smiled, snapping his fingers. The door slid open and Harry moved back outside. He slowly pushed the door shut as he spotted Dobby.

"Thank you, Dobby. I really appreciate your help," Harry admitted.

"No need to thank Dobby, sir. Dobby is always happy to help Harry Potter," Dobby smiled, snapping his fingers and vanishing in a plume of smoke. Harry smiled, quickly moving back towards Gryffindor Tower.

Making his way through the seventh floor corridor was difficult. Peeves was hovering in the middle of the corridor, appearing to make trouble for Filch.

Harry slowly crept along the edge of the wall. Unfortunately, he was so focused on Peeves he failed to see the suit of armor in front of him. The armor crashed to the ground, echoing off the corridor. As he tumbled to the ground, the cloak slipped off, exposing his entire body.

"Potty wee Potter!" Peeves yelled joyously. "Why are you out of bed?" A huge grin broke across his face. Harry glanced up, adjusting his glasses, and saw Filch running through the corridor. Hurriedly, he grabbed his cloak and pressed himself tightly into a corner.

"Peeves! What have you done?" Filch croaked.

"T'wasn't me," Peeves said defiantly.

"How do you figure? I know you're lying to me!" Filch hollered.

"Wasn't me! Wasn't me!" Peeves zoomed down the hall, repeating that. Filch grumbled after him. Harry waited a few minutes before racing silently for the portrait hole.

Hermione rose to her feet as soon as the portrait swung forward. Breathlessly, Harry pulled off his cloak and thrust the piece of parchment into her hands. Without another word, he headed towards his dormitory.

"Thank you!" Hermione called after him. Harry turned and gave her an award winning grin as he folded the cloak back up.

"No problem, let me know if we need anything else," Harry smirked as he looked up the stairs. "Right now, I am going to get some sleep." Harry sighed as the adrenaline started to wear off. Hermione nodded as she glanced at the slip of parchment. She rushed over to him and planted a kiss on his cheek before rushing off to the girl's dormitory. Harry blinked, stupefied, as he raised his hand to his face.

The following day, Hermione ate a hurried lunch before dashing off to work on the Pensieve potion. Ron watched her go as the two boys suddenly seen a dark shadow looming towards them.

"Potter," Snape drawled.

"Professor," Harry said, looking back at Snape. He wasn't sure what he wanted and prayed that he hadn't been found out. "Can I help you?" he asked, turning in his seat.

"Your extra lessons are canceled," Snape informed, glaring down at Harry, who squirmed under his gaze.

"Why?" Harry asked, hoping that the confused look on his face would be enough to throw Snape off. 'Please don't expel me,' he thought to himself as Ron looked up at their teacher.

"If I ever find out that you broke into my classroom, I will personally make sure you are expelled." Snape's voice was cold and menacing. He stalked away but not before giving Harry one last glower.

"What was that about?" Ron asked, turning to look at Harry.

"I guess I didn't put the book away properly," he shrugged, going back to his food. "To be honest I didn't mind the class work," Harry admitted. Ron looked at him like he grew another head.

"You sure you didn't get hit since the last time I saw you. Who would want to hang out with that teacher, out of all of them?" Ron asked as he looked over at Harry with a raised eyebrow. "Anyway, I'm going to help Hermione out. Don't stay out with, um, Padfoot for too long okay?" Ron advised. Harry nodded as Ron grabbed a muffin and quickly rushed after Hermione. The group had been caught up to the same page that morning at breakfast. Ron agreed to help Hermione during Harry's late night classes. So he already knew that he and Harry were supposed to meet Hermione after eight or so that night in the common room. If he didn't, they would call Black out and Black would be on the run again.

"Always worried about me," Harry grinned, shaking his head. He finished off his meal before checking his watch. There was more than enough time to get to his next class.

At the end of the day, Ron ate a hurried dinner before following after an impatient Hermione. She led him straight to the second floor girls bathroom. Ron groaned as he spotted the familiar bathroom they had used last year.

"Is there a problem with this?" she snapped as she looked at the redhead.

"Moaning Myrtle," Ron replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Why couldn't we have done this in the library?"

"I already have it set up. Besides, we both know it happens to be the only place we can safely prepare the Pensieve!" she said huffily. She made for the door but it opened before she touched it. Leo walked out, much to their amazement.

"You do realize that this bathroom doesn't work?" he smirked at Hermione.

"Yes. You do realize that this is a girls bathroom, right?" she replied.

"I know that, but it's quiet and I don't always like to be around my fellow Slytherins," Leo explained. "They can get quite annoying, especially Malfoy and his cronies."

"What's wrong with Malfoy? He's in your house…" Ron asked, trailing off, noticing the questioning look that Leo was giving him.

"Malfoy thinks that Slytherins are better than everybody else, especially Gryffindors. Worse yet, he's been going on about this pure blood mania as well. I happen to not care about anybody but myself, but it's annoying whenever he starts picking on my about my half-blood status," Leo explained.

"There are plenty of other places you can go for quiet," Ron said angrily. "Why don't you go there?"

"Because Moaning Myrtle's bathroom is one of the only places where people from any house tend to avoid. Except you three. I'm assuming that's your potion in the locked stall?" Leo assumed. Hermione blushed. "I thought so. Don't worry, I won't tell. Well, beautiful," he said, gently tapping Hermione's chin. "I'll see you tomorrow in class."

"Keep your hands to yourself! You bloody Slytherin!" Ron snapped as Leo headed down the hallway.

"We're not 'bloody Slytherins'," Leo growled, turning around to face Ron. "I respect all of the houses, whether I like them or not. The least you could do is show me the same." Before Ron could say another word, Leo stormed away. Hermione grabbed ahold of Ron and drug him into the bathroom.

"The potion will be done in a few days. I still need to add gillyweed and let it brew for 24 hours. Unfortunately, this is just the liquid portion of it. To make it work properly, we need to cast a few enchantments."

"So, who do we talk to about that?" Ron asked. Hermione just smiled as Harry walked in who looked even more exhausted then from last night.

Alright, so the next chapter is finally here! yay! I know that a lot of you really wanted the next one, so Happy Birthday! Here it is! As for Book Three (Prisoner of Azkaban), there will more than likely only be about three or four more chapters. Then comes a dilemna. starwarsdude8221991 (co-author/beta reader/idea originator) wants to continue on through this title and location. I, on the other hand, would prefer to start a new title and story location on FF. Since neither of us could come to an agreement, we agreed to disagree and decided to let you, our faithful readers decide.

So, let us know in a review A) what you thought of the chapter, duh. and B) where you want to see the Book Four installment. Should we continue it right here under Magnolia Crescent? Or should we start a new story with the appropriate name?