It was late evening and Harry was once again in the library, as he had been every night for the last few weeks. He was trying to work out a way to teach the first years situational awareness, and thus far had had no inspiration. He hoped the library might offer a book to spark such, so he had been browsing every evening, but no such luck.

He hadn't realised how late it had got. After school had finished for the day, he had completed his Herbology assignment (which seemed to take forever) and then he had headed here, knowing he was running out of time to come up with a plan.

"Oi Harrikins" a voice hissed.

Harry spun round and stood in one movement, his book still in one hand, wand raised in the other.

"Oh hey Fred" he said, blushing slightly and lowering his wand.

"How many times have I told you I'm George?" the boy retorted with a grin.

Harry smirked. "Whatever you say Fred."

The ginger shook his head wistfully. "I'll never know how you do that Harry. Even Mum can't tell us apart."

Harry tapped the side of nose with a knowing look and another smirk.

"Well I brought you some dinner, seeing as you missed it. It's nearly curfew and you know what Andrew's like if you miss meals."

Harry sighed. Indeed he knew. It was more than four years ago now that he had been malnourished, but his guardian was still on at him if ever found out that he wasn't eating three square meals a day. The lecture that came from it was a nuisance at the best of times, and right now would be a serious inconvenience.

"Thanks Fred" he said as he took the package.

Fred sat down next to the boy as Harry ate his dinner.

"You know our birthday's coming up in a few weeks" he started.

Harry nodded, his mouth full.

"Well Mum's talking about doing this big party thing being as we're coming of age."

"Bet you're looking forward to that" Harry replied when he had swallowed.

"Mmmm, well George and I were wondering, you know that muggle magician you like?"

"Mr Samson?"

"Yeah him. Think we could do some of his tricks at our party? Maybe tweak them for a wizarding audience?"

"Do mine ears deceive me?" another voice said. "You two wouldn't be plotting without little old me would you?"

"You wound me brother, would we ever do that?" Fred clutched a hand to his heart.

Harry cleared up his food wrappings and vanished the crumbs.

"Sounds fun" he said. Then he saw his books on the table and added "as long as you help me plan my lessons."

"Deal" they said together.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The birthday celebrations were something to behold, though Mrs Weasley would probably want to forget a lot of it. It was an incredible buffet of food and drink with the most enormous tower of cake in the middle.

In true style the twins had bewitched the plates of food to fly around randomly, occasionally knocking glasses out of hands and had managed to spike everyone's drink at least once. It was absolute chaos and Harry loved it.

When it came to cutting the cake there was an almighty squawk and a chicken appeared covered in icing as if rising from an egg. Harry was laughing so hard, he didn't even think when George handed him a drink. He chugged it whilst still holding his side in laughter. A small pop was the only warning Harry got before he suddenly found himself an oversized canary.

Mrs Weasley was trying to look stern and started to reprimand her sons but after a few seconds Harry changed back, laughing even harder, and congratulated them heartily on a fantastic prank. Seeing no harm done, Mrs Weasley excused herself with a grin and a chuckle.

Later on, Harry could not remember much of the magic show him and the twins had put on, though he knew the whole party had been absolutely awed by it. As he tried to sleep, he realised that he had really enjoyed himself during the show, and he idly wondered how else he could change and adapt things to a wizarding audience. With a contented sigh, he snuggled down and fell asleep.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Now well into April, OWLs were definitely on the horizon for the fifth year students. As they got closer, Harry's workload began to pile up with revision exercises and exam practise. Trying to balance all of this with additional Charms theory and teaching first and second year Defence, he was finding increasingly difficult. Most evenings Harry would spend in the library, with Fred or George or both bringing him food and helping out as much as they could, and often he would wake early and head to their training room to continue his studies. Breakfast was requested to a house elf if he remembered.

Harry was just packing up his things from Transfiguration, his last lesson of the day, intending to head to the training room to look at his homework he hadn't yet done for the day after, but a voice stopped him.

"Mr Potter, please wait a moment."

Harry sighed. He hadn't had much interaction with his Head of House, preferring to go to Flitwick with any queries he might have.

"Yes Professor McGonagall."

When the classroom was clear, Harry was bid into the woman's office.

"Can I offer you tea or biscuits?"

Harry took the offered beverages, deciding it would be rude to refuse, and sat down.

"Thankyou Professor. What did you want to see me about?"

"Are you alright Potter? I rarely see you outside of class and even Professor Flitwick has said he hasn't seen much of you lately. Whilst it's good that you are taking your studies seriously, it is not healthy to spend all of your time in the library."

"I'm fine Professor, really. I just really want to do well on my exams."

"Admirable as that is Potter, you won't do anyone any favours if you are too stressed to concentrate when exam time comes. You are not the first student to have overtaxed themselves at OWL time and you will not be the last, but if you carry on like this you will not live up to the potential I know you have in you."

"I know Professor, but there's just so much to do. I've missed so much school over the years that I need to make sure I've covered it all. Andrew would expect me to."

"He would definitely not expect you to make yourself ill over it. Grades are not the be all and end all. Besides I hear that you are doing self-study for your Charms lessons now."

"Yes, erm, actually" Harry fidgeted in his seat. "I'm expected with Professor Flitwick now, may I go?"

Harry stood and was practically out of the door before he heard his professor reply.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Harry!" the diminutive professor greeted the boy cheerily. "What brings you here this fine afternoon?"

"Wondered if we could have a session sir" Harry muttered.

Flitwick led the boy into his office and sat down.

"Harry, don't think I can't see what's happening. I had hoped you would be old enough now to come to me when you couldn't handle things but its obvious you are having trouble with your workload. Unless I miss my guess, you've just come from another professor and you used our sessions as a way to escape, but then you daren't not come in case I was asked later on."

Harry looked up and gasped. "How did you know?"

"I've worked here a long time Harry. I've also never seen you so miserable, especially not if we're about to discuss magic. Your Charms work far exceeds Ordinary Wizarding Level and so for now I think it would be best if you concentrated on your other subjects. We will pick this back up again in the summer. It's not going anywhere."

"But-"

"No buts Harry, that's my final word. You are good but if you burn yourself out Andrew will have you on bed rest regardless of what else might be going on. OWLs or no OWLs. I'll call him if I have to."

"That's low."

"Oh and also, if my friend Gritson needs to take some time away from teaching I'm sure we can come up with a plausible story." Flitwick winked at the boy.

"Ha, thanks but I can handle it."

"I'll be watching Harry."

Harry smiled thinly. "Thankyou sir. I should be getting off, I have lots of homework to do."

Flitwick sighed as the door shut. He really hoped that Harry wouldn't force his hand, but given the state he was in, he wouldn't count on it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A few days later there was a staff meeting to discuss the revision schedules and office hours for each professor, in order that the OWL and NEWT students could get the assistance and help they required for their exam preparation.

"Gritson has to help" Dumbledore asserted. "It is a requirement of all Hogwarts professors to be available for any student around exam time."

"He does not teach more than half the students Albus. How can he be expected to give them office hours? Besides I notice you still haven't found his replacement. Intending on teaching all seven years next year are you?" Flitwick retorted.

"Nevertheless, he is a Hogwarts Professor, and must abide by the protocols and procedures like the rest of us."

"He certainly won't be one if you force this Albus and then where will you be? Has he signed a contract? Did you tell him this when you practically begged him to take the other years as well?"

Flitwick may only be half the height of Dumbledore, but he was just as fierce. He stood on a chair and glared at the Headmaster who didn't back down.

"Honestly, for Merlin's sake, the boy needs a break! I'm this close to calling Andrew as it is!"

The Scottish brogue of the Deputy Headmistress broke the staring match between the men as both turned to stare at her in a whipcrack. One was in confusion, the other shock.

"You knew?" Flitwick questioned into the silence.

"Of course I knew. Your friend Gritson didn't exist before this year. Never been to any internationally recognised school, never taken any formal qualifications, never even registered with any ministry. Even the goblins have nothing on him until last year, and you say you met him on the duelling circuit but his name appears nowhere in any entry list for the last fifty years! I do like to know who I'm working with."

"Why didn't you say?"

"He was enjoying it, the students were enjoying his lessons and he was teaching them useful, real-world skills. It didn't appear to be affecting his own schoolwork and it was good experience for him. Where was the harm?"

"Are you telling me that one of my professors is actually a student?" Dumbledore's tone was deceptively mild.

Flitwick turned back to the venerable Headmaster. "I'm sure you'll be glad to know that Professor Gritson will not be with us much longer. I doubt you'll allow it to continue, and I'm damn sure Andrew Cokeworth won't."

He loved it when Dumbledore was speechless. It meant that something had passed him by so completely that he never even knew it was there, a rare feat indeed. He got off his chair and turned to leave with a wicked grin. He and Minerva would finish the rotas another day.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Flitwick decided it would be best coming from him rather than however Dumbledore would describe the situation to Andrew. The Headmaster was still rather put out about not having known and his opinion of that "professor" from their few interactions would probably still colour any message he tried to convey.

"Andrew Cokeworth" he called into the flames.

"Filius! Good evening! All is well I hope?"

"Would you be able to come through for a few minutes Andrew?"

"Of course."

Flitwick withdrew his head and stepped out of the way just as Andrew arrived, questions tumbling from his mouth.

"What's happened? Are you ok? Where's Harry? Is he ok? What do you need me for?"

"Sit down Andrew, it's nothing major. Tea?"

"If you're sure, tea would be lovely thankyou."

After some time for the pair to appreciate their respective brews, Flitwick spoke again.

"To answer your questions. There's a situation you should be aware of, I'm fine, Harry is hopefully in the Great Hall at dinner though I wouldn't like to bet on that, he's ok for now and as I said there's a situation."

When it looked like Andrew was about to start questioning again, Flitwick held up his hand.

"You know that Harry has been taking extra Charms sessions with me."

"I was aware that he had moved into self-study in that area, yes. Is it too much for him?"

"Not in the least, if you'll let me finish. Some while ago, he taught a first year defence class, and then decided that he liked it. Given that we had no defence professor and the timetable could be shifted to accommodate it with his standard Charms periods, I allowed it."

Andrew spluttered. "What?! I mean looking over the obvious problem of putting a fifteen year old in charge of a class, how did you even manage it? The rumour mill would have had that to every professor by lunchtime! I'd heard from Jeff that Harry had helped out on one occasion, but never dreamt it went this far, or even that you had conspired with him!"

"The students never knew it was him. Still don't if Albus hasn't told them. He glamoured himself and we made up a back story of working with the goblins to avoid any pastoral activities."

"But still, he's only fifteen! How did you get Albus to agree?"

"Albus didn't know until the last staff meeting when Minerva spilled it. He's been teaching the older years himself because he can't find anyone to take the post, but the students loved Professor Gritson and all the staff agree that he was teaching them useful things."

"How long has this been going on?"

Flitwick winced. "Since he returned from that last trip to the Ministry with you."

"That was months ago! If you've kept it this long, why are you telling me now?"

There was a brief silence and then a sigh.

"What's he done Filius?"

"Nothing but teach useful real world skills to students who are likely to need them" Flitwick replied with a smile. "However, with his OWLs so close, he's wearing himself out a bit with all the extra work. We are pushing the revision on them, but Harry seems to think that he must put every ounce of time into his work that he can, that if he doesn't work hard enough he will be a disappointment to you. He hasn't said so in so many words, but that's what it looks like. Any time away from his work that he does have is taken up planning his next lesson for the first and second years. I've stopped his extra sessions with me and I know Minerva's had a word with him, but I don't know if we'll do any good."

Andrew closed his eyes and sat for a minute, hands cupped reflexively around his warm mug.

"Thankyou for your candour Filius" he said eventually. "I'm not exactly happy about it, but I know you didn't intentionally set out to harm Harry, and I appreciate that you have told me as soon as you suspected a problem."

"For what it's worth, he's a damn fine teacher. Both Minerva and Poppy have voiced about his excellent methods and the lower amount of injuries and scuffles they are having to deal with over the school as a whole."

"Says something about the previous quality of teaching" Andrew muttered. Then he stood.

"Do you know where I might find Harry now Filius?"

"Either the library or his training room would be my best guess. Try the kitchen if not, he does like the house elves after all."

"He better not have been skipping meals."

"You will have to ask him that I'm afraid."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Andrew found Harry, as expected, in the library. He taking up a whole table and had books, scrolls and parchment heaped and scattered around. He was writing furiously and muttering to himself.

Harry looked up when a shadow fell across his work.

"Andrew!" he gasped. "What are you doing here?"

Andrew took in the ink smudged hands and face, the tousled hair and the wide eyes of his charge in a glance.

"Have you had dinner?" Andrew questioned.

Harry looked down again. "I was too busy."

"Harry..." Andrew started.

"I know. Don't start now, not here. Please."

Andrew was taken aback by the resigned tone in the boy's voice. He also wouldn't look up from the table and that worried the Healer.

"You've done enough work for this evening, come on."

Andrew hoisted Harry to his feet and started to lead him towards the door.

"But my essay isn't done! Snape will kill me!"

"He will understand, I will let him know. Come on. I'll get your things once we've got some food into you."

He led the boy, protesting all the way, out of the library and into the kitchens.