(Ginny's pov)

It was wasn't until two days before New Year's that I was finally able to talk to Mum about my problem. I wanted to wait until the house was as empty as possible before talking to her about my failed attempt.

Luckily today most of my family was elsewhere. Dad had taken Ron, Fred, and George on a trip to Diagon Alley. Bill and Charlie had left for their jobs the day after Christmas. That only left Percy, who was hiding in his bedroom, probably reading over some books and getting ahead in homework.

I explained how I had made the very mild love potion, and that it was meant to make Harry want to be around me. However he just brushed it off, saying that it smelled horrible.

"I got the instructions from the book you gave me Mum." I told her, handing her the book, marked at the page the potion was found. I also gave her what I had left of the potion.

She told me that she would have Dad check the public records for any chance of Harry being bonded or married 'just to be safe dear'. In the more likely event that he is starting to get an interest in a girl my mother said that she would fix me up with a few potions that she would give me before I leave for school.

I thanked her before running to my room, planning on what I will do with Harry's money once I snagged him permanently.

After my talk with mum she had told Dad that she wanted him to check the public records office for anything pertaining to Harry being bonded or married.

He told her that he would check it after work the next day. When he got home that night he said that there were nothing on record for Harry being bonded or married, even if he is much too young.

It is now a couple of days before our trip back to the school, and I was sitting in my room, day dreaming about my future, when mum came in with a vial of bright blue potion, and another vial of red potion.

She explained how the potions were supposed to be used and how I should plan carefully. She and I went over the general plan, and she told me that I should execute it when I knew that I could get close to Harry, without that Greengrass girl around.

And I knew exactly when I should use the potions.

(Harry's pov)

I was sitting in a private sitting room in the manor, talking to Severus on the day before Christmas. He had told me about what had happened after Professor McGonagall dragged Dumbledore to Madam Pomfrey.

I eagerly listened as he explained the headmaster's check up, right down to the magical core test. He told me that the test is generally used by magical parents to check on the current magic level and potential of a child after their first bout of accidental magic.

He told me that Dumbledore was smugly waiting for the test to show that he had a magic level of 97, where it was when he graduated Hogwarts, but it was a 52. Severus said that it was at the lower end of the average wizard range.

I had asked if it was possible to find out my range, he told me that he could test me the day after we return for the next term.

He then continued telling me about all of the extensive testing they had done on the old wizard, checking for any possible magical illnesses that could be the cause. They both smirked at the lack of health problems.

I had mentioned that there was no way Dumbledore was going to say anything about the potion, since he wasn't supposed to have kept the stone. He had told everyone that it had been destroyed to prevent Voldemort from getting it.

"Then again, he wouldn't suspect it to be a side effect of the 'elixir'." I finished.

"Yes. This has been a prank worthy of a Slytherin." He smirked, continuing that Madam Pomfrey had eventually decided that it was a mix of fatigue, age stress, and a possible illness that Dumbledore was not aware of having.

After that we went to a better topic, our shared love of potions. Severus had told me that I was so advanced in his class that he was plan in on starting me on a more advanced class. He told me that he wasn't truly allowed to have a second year in the N.E.W.T classes, no matter how advanced he might be, but with Mr. Malfoy's help, he was able to get a pass for me to take private lessons in the evening. If I could keep my grades up I might be able to take my Potions.O.W.L next year, whenever Professor Snape feels that I am ready.

He gave me the list of this year's potions just before I left, wanting me to brew them for grading. I had worked on the potions in the Malfoys potion lab, under the watchful eyes of Severus and Lucius. I finished all of the remaining potions and handed them over to him.

He nodded approvingly, and told me that we would start at the start of term. He told me to come to his offices Monday and Tuesday after dinner. I would be starting with a third year potion, and if I did well, than I could use the class time to work on the homework normally given to third years.

I nodded my approval, looking for my return to the magical school.

(Time Skip)

Daphne, Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Tracey and I were sitting in our usual compartment talking about our holidays.

I glanced over at the pretty blonde girl sitting next to me, as I thought over everything Salazar told me about being in love.

I knew that I felt the same way for Daphne as he did for Rowena, which led me to the decision to talk to Severus when I see him tonight to do my magical core test.

We finally arrived without any interruptions and my friends and I rode the carriage back to the castle.

We sat through the feast and together we walked to the dungeons, before I separated from the others, walking to Severus's office instead of the Common Room.

I only had to wait a few short minutes before my Magical Guardian arrived. He gave me the potion, which tasted like peppermint. After waiting a few minutes he gave me the test wand and told me to press the tip of it to a piece of parchment that he sat in front of me.

Magical core test results

Patient: Harry James Potter Blood Status: Half-blood Age: 11

0-15- muggle 16-30-squib 31-49-low/near squib 50-70-average 71-90-sorcerer 91-100 mage

Scores:

Current 67 Potential: 94

Excels: Potions-easy mastery Herbology-potential mastery Healing-possible medi wizard

I was surprised at the results, and a bit confused. Severus had to explain to me that my current magical power placed me in the higher range of regular full grown wizards, and I have the ability to be a mage level warlock when I turn 17 which is when I will come into any magical inheritance that I may end up getting.

He also explained his surprise at the easy mastery. He says that it means that I am such a natural at potions, that I could probably pass the Potions NEWT without waiting til my seventh year.

"With that kind of potential, along with how easy it was for you to make the potions I had you do during break, it is very possible for you to sit you Potions and possibly Herbology OWLs by the end of next year. Maybe even earlier, though you would have to go to the Ministry to take them if you choose to do that." I nodded, excited at the prospect of being a Potions Master. It is easily my favorite thing to do in my free time.

We talked for a few minutes longer before I brought up my other reason for coming to him. He listened patiently as I explained my thoughts and reasoning.

"Since your parents made me your Magical Guardian, I can help you with your request. Though you might need to tell them the truth about your living arrangements."

"I was actually planning to tell a select group of people. I wanted to wait until I had some good allies, and have begun Dumbledore's downfall. My plan was to tell at least you, Daphne and the Malfoys. I might tell Daphne's parents, depending on how things go. I want to be honest with my closest friends, but I don't want too many people to know."

I wanted his advice, so I decided that it was time to tell him about the Potter trunk. I began with the day of Dudleys birthday, and how my relatives left me in the house all alone with the impossibly long and difficult list of chores. I explained how I found the Potters trunk, and my reasoning for why I decided to live in the trunk. I told him how I had been in contact with the goblins ever since I was 3, and about all of my reading and training, preparing for the day I would officially enter the wizarding world.

I finished the explanation with my animosity towards Dumbledore and the Weasleys, as well as my Slytherins way of handling the money issue. I did leave out the Lord Hogwarts bit though, considering that I gave him quite a bit to think about for now.

He understood my desire to keep everything a secret, and told me that it will be wise to tell the few people I had planned to tell, as they would never betray my trust.

"I will work on the requested documents for you Harry and I will let you know when I send them out, and when I get a reply."

"Thank you Severus." I replied, before bidding him a good night. I walked to the Common Room feeling like I had made my first step towards my future.