1995
As the sun began raising over the mountains east of Hogwarts, the students slowly began to rise and start preparing for their first day of lessons.
Everyone except Harry, who had been up since near five in the morning. Hours before the sun rose.
The students who happened to look out their windows towards the great lake were in for a shock when they saw a lone wizard running around the perimeter of the lake, not believing someone would possibly do it for fun!
But Harry ran. He had missed it since leaving Privet Drive for the summer, and he wasn't able to do it at Sirius's home, so now that he had an opportunity to run wild, he was gonna take it.
As he ran, he looked around and admired the scenery. The lake in front of him with it's calm and dark blue water. He remembered the second task, and how there was an entire village down there. He remembered saving Fleur's sister and the kiss she had given him on the cheek.
Blushing, he looked elsewhere. Across the lake from him stood the quidditch pitch, possibly his favorite place here.
He reminisced on becoming a seeker, and beating out almost everyone, except one particular time that involved dementors. He thought of the thrill of flying, and how free he felt. He missed his broom badly, but all the more reason to train. Quidditch season was fast approaching, and he couldn't wait. He had to miss an entire year because of the triwizard tournament, and being forced into it.
Remembering what happened to the pitch. The maze that stood in its place, and what took place inside of it.
Cedric.
Shaking his head from those dark thoughts, he finally looked towards his beloved castle. Hogwarts.
Harry's and many other's home. Every time he looked at it, it brought him a feeling of comfort and familiarity, but now, it also made him wary and a bit scared.
'Being almost killed year after year will do that to anyone.' Harry thought.
After finishing his lap, he plopped down next to his water bottle and took a hefty swig. Feeling the cool water run down. He laid back for a moment and closed his eyes, catching his breath.
Finally feeling rested, he sat back up and opened his eyes. Seeing the sun raising over the mountains. Realizing he had an hour to shower and eat before his first lesson, he stood up and collected his water and towel and started his trek back to his dorm.
Later
Entering the great hall, Harry scanned down the packed gryffindor table before spotting his friends. Hastily making his way over, he said some 'good mornings' and greetings along the table before reaching Hermione and sitting next to her.
He began quickly piling up an assortment of foods onto his plate. Only stopping to smile at Hermione and ask her to pass the sausages.
Hermione and Ron both looked at him strangely as he began to devour the plate in front of him, then the one after that.
"Harry?" Hermione asked, prodding her friend, "Are you alright?"
Harry, who was lifting another forkful up to his mouth, stopped at the question. Harry looked at them both back and forth, then began to laugh heartily.
"Yes I'm alright 'Mione, just starving is all." He said, lifting the fork fully and into his mouth.
"I went on a run earlier, a habit I missed from my summer at my relatives." He explained, pushing his empty plate away from him.
"Oh, a run?" Hermione wondered aloud.
"Yeah, its actually amazing. You should join me, both of you." Harry said, excited at the idea.
"Hah! No way in bloody hell will you catch me RUNNING before I've 'ad breakfast. You've really gone mad mate." Ron replied, leaning back and rubbing his belly.
Harry laughed at Ron's antics and looked beside him at Hermione, a hopeful smile on his face.
"I don't know Harry, I've never done something like that before. I would just hold you back." Hermione answered sorrily.
"Nonsense! If anything you would motivate me even more!" Harry said eagerly, grabbing her right hand. "Please 'Mione? Just once and I'll never ask again."
Hermione looked down to her lap, contemplating if she wanted to. Looking up at Harry, she laughed when she saw him trying to give her convincing puppy eyes.
"Okay fine Harry. I'll go run with you." She said warmly. "Im usually awake at that time anyway."
"Perfect, can't wait!" Harry replied, giving her a large smile that made her stomach feel funny.
"Hey look, Professor McGonagall is giving out our class schedules." Ron butted in, nodding his head down the table.
Harry looked, and saw that indeed their head of house was making her way down the table, handing them out.
Finally arriving at the trio, McGonagall gave them each of their time tables and wished them luck before moving onto the next student.
"Damn." Harry whispered under his breath as he read who their first class was with.
Defense of the Dark Arts-Gryffindor/Slytherin
Later
"Good morning students." Her sick voice said, standing at the front of the class.
A mumbling arrangements of 'good mornings' were heard around the class but that was not good enough for the Professor.
"No, no, no. That will not do at all. Not at all. Before beginning my lesson, I will say "Good morning students." And you will say…" She left open, waiting for a correct response.
Looking around at their nervous faces, she waited for a hand to raise. Except hers.
Hermione hand waved in the air as she waited to be picked on, almost flying out of her chair.
"Anyone?" Umbridge asked, avoiding that side as she walked down the rows of students, waiting.
"Uhm good morning Professor." Hermione answered with a smile. That smile then fading when Umbridge's face turned sour.
"Do not interrupt me girl. Ten points from Gryffindor." She snarled, shocking Hermione and sinking her into her chair.
Harry opened his mouth to confront her but stopped when Pansy Parkinson's hand raised shyly. Umbridge, delighted that someone worthy had raised their hand, called on her.
"Good morning Professor Umbridge." She answered nervously.
"Yes! That is what I expected. Fifteen points to Slytherin." She praised.
Turning and walking back to the front of the class, she began, "That is what I expect from you all for this class moving forward. Now-"
"I've read your book, the one for the class? Nowhere in it does it show us how to protect ourselves." Harry asked the turned back of the professor.
Hearing the interruption, Umbridge let out a shaky breathe, trying to control her emotion after hearing 'him' interrupt her. Turning sharply, she glared at the black-haired student, trying to intimidate him.
"Mr. Potter, ten points from Gryffindor." She answered in a snarl.
Turning again to the board to continue, she heard, "You didn't answer his question ma'am."
Whipping around at him, she saw it was his ginger friend who had interrupted her this time. She moved quickly to stand in front of him.
"I don't answer to you 'boy'. If either of you interrupt me again, you both will spend the entire year with me, in detention. Is. That. Clear?" She whispered in a dangerous tone.
Ron stared at her hard, before nodding his head and sitting down.
Taking a breath, Umbridge steeled herself before looking around the class. Walking back up to the front of the room, she decided to seal the deal.
"The reason your books will not mention any dangerous spells is because the ministry has deemed it worthless to teach young children ways to harm each other. There are not people out there to harm you. I understand due to some lies that are being spread that you will believe there are, but I and the ministry can assure you, you are safe, and do not need them. I mean, who would really want to hurt children?" She finished, staring directly at Harry.
Smirking to herself, she turned and waved her wand at the board, beginning her lesson.
The scraping of chairs sliding across the floor and moving footsteps stopped her lecture, as she turned to see who interrupted.
Seeing some students open the door to her class and walk out without a word, she looked at where the students were previously sat, and all she was met with was a smiling side of Gryffindor's and three cleaned out chairs.
"Detention! All of you!" She shouted at the door.
'This is not over Potter.' She thought to herself with spite.
Later
"So we have an hour before Charms class, what do we do?" Ron asked, plopping down on an empty armchair in the Gryffindor common room.
"I don't know, we don't have any homework yet." Harry said, shrugging his shoulders as he made his way over to the sofa opposite Ron. Dropping his schoolbag down on the floor beside him.
"What do you think 'Mione?" Harry asked, looking over at his friend who was stood staring at the portrait they had just walked through. Waiting.
"I think we've messed up. Terribly messed up." She said, terror in her voice, still looking at the closed portrait.
"Oh come on Hermione, she was being a bitch and you know it. All we did was save ourselves from being in a room with that bloody woman." Ron said, trying to comfort her.
"THINK RON! Why did she not call on me?! Why?! Because I'm a gryffindor?!" Hermione shouted, finally turning around to look at them. They both leaned back in fright hearing her.
Harry thought for a moment with his head down.
"It's because your parents." He said, nodding.
"Exactly!" She exclaimed. "We just walked out of the first lesson of a high ranking ministry official's class because of her views on people like me. A view that I'm seeing, a bunch of people have! What am I supposed to do? Not to mention her view on Harry and denying that Voldemort is back!"
Harry stood up and walked over quickly, making his way to cheer her up. To comfort her. He opened his arms and she softly met with him in the middle, wrapping her arms around him and crying into his shoulder. Harry wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.
"It's alright. We'll fix it, I know we will. One day you'll be Minister and you'll change the minds of all these bigots. You are the smartest, kindest, and strongest witch I know. It irritates them to no end that someone with parents like yours can do more than them with magic parents." Harry said, trying to help her while speaking his truth.
Feeling her nod, he slowly unwrapped his arms and felt her loosen. Stepping away from each other, he saw that her tears had mainly stopped, but a few ran loose. Harry took a step forward and wiped them away.
"I'm sorry, I'm just so scared." Hermione said vulnerably, looking between Harry and Ron, who was stood now, looking worriedly at her.
Harry nodded and took her hand, leading her to the sofa he had previously sat on.
"Sit, please. Take a break, and maybe read a bit. I'll be right back." Harry said, trying to get her to smile. "I heard they updated 'Hogwarts: A History'."
"Of course they did and I've read it already, Harry where are you going?" She asked quickly, raising out of her chair.
"Only to go talk to some professors. Dumbledore and maybe Mcgonagall. Don't worry." Harry said, staring into her eyes to comfort her.
"Okay, but hurry back." Hermione said, worry in her eyes.
"Do you want me to go too?" Ron asked.
Harry shook his head no. "I got it."
Ron nodded to his response and sat back down. Harry smiled again towards Hermione and turned to walk back to the opening portrait.
"Harry?" He heard Hermione call out.
Stopping, he turned to answer but was met with her body. Hermione had rushed forward and hugged him again, holding him tight.
Hugging her back, they stood for a second before she stepped back.
"Thank you." She said seriously, before turning and moving back to her spot.
Harry stood there with a slight smile, then turned and walked out of the portrait hole.
Somewhere Else
Narcissa was miserable.
Everywhere she looked, she saw him. The snakes on every wall, the lone chair at the head of the table, even in every portrait with her son.
She had wanted to enchant them, but Draco had insisted they don't, not comfortable on having a moving piece of him not under his control.
'When did I lose you my sweet boy?' She thought as she made her way through her home. A home that now inhabited a snake who demanded everything of hers.
Opening the door into the kitchen, Narcissa stopped when she saw who was sat at the bar.
"Hello dear, come to join me with a drink?" Lucius asked clearly drunk, holding up a swaying glass filled with amber fluid.
Narcissa snarled, now clearly revolted, and turned to exit the room when the door slammed shut.
"Where are your manners?" He slurred, wand in hand.
Turning around, she scanned the room before her eyes landed on something. Moving his eyes to see what had caught her attention, his eyes widened when he noticed the knife block.
Pointing his wand towards it to summon it away, he didn't notice Narcissa running from his left straight for him.
Her body met with his and they both landed heavily onto the hard floor. Fighting for control of the wand, Narcissa shouted in triumph when she grabbed it and forcibly jammed it into his neck.
She quickly thought for a moment on what spell to use on him. The killing curse was too quick, but the severing charm would make him feel it and bleed out.
She would get her revenge on him for ruining her life. Smiling down at her frightened husband who was begging for mercy, she began to say the curse when she suddenly stopped, her eyes widened at the feeling of the spell on her.
She hadn't even heard him enter the room.
Later
"Come in." Professor Dumbledore said through the door.
The doors opened and a determined Harry walked in next to a scowling Mcgonagall.
"Ah hello Harry, Professor Mcgonagall. What can I do for you both?" He asked, placing his hands together.
"You can help me by controlling Mr. Potter long enough for me to get through ONE lesson without an interruption." Professor Mcgonagall ranted, marching forward and turning at the headmaster's desk to glare at Harry, arms crossed.
Professor Dumbledore nodded to his friend, then turned his eyes to Harry, who stood determined.
"Harry? Is that true? Did you interrupt Professor Mcgonagall in a lesson?" Dumbledore asked Harry with a kind, understanding voice.
"Yes sir, I needed her help and it was urgent." Her explained to his Headmaster, who sat back in his chair.
Dumbledore thought for a moment, leaning forward to grab a lemon drop out of his bowl. Unwrapping the sweet and popping it into his mouth, he sighed in contentment, making up his mind.
"Harry, whatever the reason may be, you cannot interfere with a professor while they teach. Unless there is a danger to the school we must know about, I think we may go back to our duties." Dumbledore announced, much to Harry's shock.
"But…"
"But nothing, this matter is over. If you have a problem, then ask to meet during the breaks in-between lessons. You may go." Dumbledore concluded, with a pointed look at Harry.
Harry stood mouth agape while looking between the two. 'They've never griped at me like that before, they didn't even try to listen!' He thought in anger.
"So you hire a bigot then get upset when you get a complaint?" He asked in a fury-laced, cold voice.
The pair quickly looked at him, shocked that a student spoke to them in that manner.
"Mr. Pott…"
Harry interrupted his head of house, "No. It's fine. Hermione is disrespected, the 'professor' calls me a liar in front of the entire school and I go to someone for help. Only to be shooed away like the winter flu. Seems like the beginning of another grand year at Hogwarts."
"Now Harry-…"
"I wont attend her classes, not me and NOT Hermione. I've seen that slimy woman twice now and can already tell she is a cancer." Harry finished, still in the cold tone.
Dumbledore stood and stared into Harry's eyes. Harry returned the stare, making sure he wouldn't be the first to back down.
"Mr. Potter, Professor Umbridge's class is mandatory, and you will take it. I don't care if I have to personally drag you both into her classroom everyday but you WILL go. I don't enjoy her company either but I will put up with it for the sake of my school. You will go and apologize to Ms. Umbridge and you will mean it. Now, this is over. Professor Mcgonagall, please escort Mr. Potter back to his common room and make sure ALL students attend their lessons." Professor Dumbledore declared, not loosing sight with Harry's eyes.
Harry stared back hard, angry at his 'lesson'. He focused on Dumbledore's eyes, trying to assert dominance, when suddenly his vision shifted and he was somewhere else.
A gray room, lit by fire.
Wondering where he was, Harry looked around frantically before a flying image of a demon flew out of the flames.
"LEAVE! NOW!" It shouted as it flew at him. Harry ducked and shut his eyes tight, waiting for the heat, but it never came. Opening his eyes, he realized he was still in the Headmasters office. Looking towards the desk ahead, he was shocked to see a stunned Dumbledore sat back heavily in his chair, breathing heavily while a concerned Mcgonagall was stood over him.
"Professor? Albus are you alright?" Mcgonagall asked worriedly, holding his right hand in her own.
"Im fine Minerva, I'm fine." He said, using his left hand to pat hers. "Only stunned, old age I think."
Walking forward to the desk, Harry asked in a scared tone, "What was that Professor? Where was I?"
"Nothing Harry." Dumbledore explained quickly, waving his hand in front of him, "It was nothing."
Harry nodded his head, then turned to leave, wanting to return to his friends. He opened the door to leave but stopped, turning halfway back to the professors.
"I've read her books you know, the ones she wanted us to bring. They are all rubbish, and you know it, both of you. Voldemort and his army are coming, but at least in a fight we'll know that they don't really want to kill us, only play a little 'joke' on us. I mean, why on earth would anyone want to hurt children?" He finished sarcastically, before exiting the door and closing it softly behind him.