Harry Potter and the Sword of the Hero

Chapter 4 - Of Krups and Animagus

Live in the now, with whoever you can
Never let the future disturb you…
You will meet it, if you have to, with
the same weapons of reason which
today arm you against the present

-- Marcus Aurelius

It being lunch time on a Sunday, the common room was deserted. Harry limped up the stairs to his dorm room, barely taking in the new 'Sixth Year' plaque on the wooden door before going in. The room was much the same as ever, the same five four poster beds lined the walls and, to Harry's relief, his trunk was at the bottom of his bed.

Harry lay down on the bed, resting his leg – he'd been on it too long and it had started to throb. He lay there thinking, thinking about the prophecy – about how it would be him and Voldemort at the end. Everything was just too much. He was a teenager. He was still in school for God's sake and yet he'd faced more danger and evil than most people and he knew more was coming...

Harry's thoughts strayed towards his parents and how any chance of a normal life had died when they did. At that moment he could not think of a single, honest happy thought. If there was another Dementor attack in his dorm room he was screwed.

About ten minutes later he decided he'd go get something to eat. Pulling on some robes, he made his way down to the Great Hall. The corridors were empty on the way down, and in no time at all he was standing in front of the doors of the Hall. Harry listened; from the sound of it the whole school was in there. He braced himself and opened the door.

As if on cue, the entire school turned their heads to look at him. There was a moment of silence and then the familiar whispers broke out.

"It's Harry Potter."

"Look at his hair."

"He looks so different, older – and that earring."

"Thirty Dementors, saved fifty people."

"Why's he using a cane?"

"Do you think he hurt his leg falling through the window?"

"I'm hungry, pass that cheese."

The walk to Ron and Hermione, halfway down the Gryffindor table, seemed to take forever. Harry walked with a thousand pairs of eyes on him. Finally he reached his friends, and sat down indifferently next to Ron.

"All right, mate?" asked Ron gently.

"Yeah... I'm fine," Harry replied automatically.

"How was... how was the funeral?"

"Oh... okay..." Harry didn't want to talk about it.

"By the way, did you do something to you hair?" asked Ron casually, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"Sod off! You can't think of any new jokes. I've heard them all from Remus," laughed Harry, pulling a plate of sausages towards himself. "And how are you, Hermione?"

"Oh I'm fine,” his bushy haired friend said from across the table. “But it seems we can't leave you alone for five minutes without you being attacked by some dark creature."

"You heard about the Dementors then," Harry mumbled.

"Everyone heard about them, Harry, it was all over the papers."

"You did a good job though," said Ron.

"No I didn't... there was a family that..."

"You still saved a lot of lives," Hermione whispered encouragingly.

"Yeah... Hey listen, has anyone asked about DA meetings?"

"Yes, almost everyone from last year has asked me if it's still on, except those who've left of course. They've all still got the fake galleons, so you just put the time and place on yours and we're all set."

"Good... tonight then."

"Tonight!" exclaimed Hermione, a little surprised. "Don't you want to rest? I mean you've done a lot this weekend-"

"No Hermione, tonight... we do it tonight. I want-"

Hermione didn't get to hear what Harry said, because at that moment a large, black eagle, with a blood red beak, flew into the Great Hall with an ear piercing screech. Every head in the room looked upwards as the eagle soared around the hall. Harry watched as it circled the tables, its eyes bouncing to and fro. He looked up at the staff table; Dumbledore had stood up and was watching the bird with a grave look on his face. Several other professors were also on their feet, wands at the ready.

The bird continued its flight around the hall, until its eyes connected with Harry's and it began its descent. The hall was silent as the eagle landed on Harry's shoulder and dropped a black envelope in his lap. With another screech the bird took flight, digging its talons painfully into Harry's shoulder as it went.

Most people in the hall had returned to their plates, thinking it no more than a normal delivery bird. Harry on the other hand knew what this bird meant and so did Dumbledore. Up at the staff table he was still standing, he raised his hands for silence, and the hall grew quiet.

"Harry," he began, looking directly at Harry, "I think it best if you accompany me to my office."

Harry nodded and stood up, pocketing the letter and grabbing his cane; he muttered a quick goodbye to Ron and Hermione and limped painfully out of the hall, again with a thousand pairs of eyes on him.

It was an effort to find even five Voldemort-free minutes for lunch.

Harry waited in the Entrance Hall for Dumbledore. After a few minutes curiosity got the better of him and he removed the letter from his pocket. The envelope was pure black and sealed with a crest in green wax. His name was inscribed on the front written in letters of fire. They seemed to burn into the paper. Harry broke the seal with his finger and removed the parchment from within.

Dear Harry,

First of all, I give you my congratulations. Thwarting that Dementor attack of mine was both irksome and impressive, well done. And second, Harry, I don't know if you know this, but I count you as one of the only worthy opponent's I have ever had. No one but Dumbledore has survived me for as long as you have, again my congratulations. I know this may seem uncharacteristic of me, giving you, of all people, congratulations. But I write to you today with an offer.

Do you remember, back in your first year, we met for the first time in a decade in front of the Mirror of Erised. We fought and I fled, but you were tempted by the power of the stone, by the power of immortality.. I ask you to join me now. Join my Death Eater's. You have proven yourself a wizard of such promise and growing power. You and I together, Harry, we will rule this world.

I am afraid that I don't give people a choice in this matter. Join me or watch those you hold dear die, one by one. I make good on my threats, Potter.

One week, Harry, I give you one week to reply.

Sincerely,

Lord Voldemort

Harry read and re-read the letter several times before the doors to the hall opened and out walked Dumbledore.

"Let's talk in my office, Harry," was all he said.

Harry nodded and followed Dumbledore up the stairs. They walked in silence through the corridors, Dumbledore pausing only once to allow Harry to catch up. Harry replayed the letter in his head all the way. He would have laughed at the offer if it hadn't been such a serious situation. Several flights of stairs later they were standing outside of the stone gargoyle that opened up to Dumbledore's office.

"Canary Cream."

The stone gargoyle sprang to life at the mention of Fred and George's most popular product. Harry and Dumbledore ascended the stairs and through the old door into his office. It was the same as ever, the walls were still hung with portraits of the previous headmasters, the tables were still lined with strange instruments and Fawkes, the golden and red phoenix, sat on his perch next to the desk. Apparently a lot of repair work had been done since his last visit. Everything was how it should be.

"Please sit down, Harry," Dumbledore said kindly.

Dumbledore was now sitting at his desk gesturing to Harry to take the seat opposite. Harry did.

"I believe you knew what was in that letter before you opened it, didn’t you?"

"Yeah... yeah I did."

"May I read it?"

Harry passed the letter to Dumbledore. While he was reading, Harry had another look around the office. His eyes fell on the sword of Gryffindor in the glass case near the stairs. His arm twitched, wanting to hold the blade. He seemed to be drawn to it, it was the same feeling he had when looking at his griffin earring. He shook his head to clear these thoughts.

Once he had finished, Dumbledore looked closely at Harry, who returned his gaze. "Well, Harry, it appears we have a problem." Harry said nothing. "This letter holds two problems actually."

"Two?"

"Yes, Harry, one of them is clear. Voldemort wants you to join him; I've feared this for some time."

"But, Professor... you know I would never join-" Harry began.

"Of course I know that, Harry, and Voldemort knows this to... which brings me to our second problem. His threat should you deny his offer."

Harry sighed. He'd realised what Dumbledore was getting at. If he didn't join Voldemort, Voldemort would kill the people he held most dear. Who would that be? Ron? Hermione? Remus? Yeah, there was no one else left.

"What can I do?"

"I believe that he will come after Ron and Hermione... I'm afraid that all we can do is trust in the safety of the wards at Hogwarts, and you will have to trust in me, Harry. He will not get to them here, I promise you that."

Harry didn't say anything; he was thinking about the trust he had put in Dumbledore to protect him at Privet Drive, and look what kind of hell that had turned in to. Could they really be safe here? Harry decided that Hogwarts was the safest place for them; they couldn't be safer anywhere else. But that still didn't mean his trust in Dumbledore was restored, if it ever would be. He had some questions that needed answering.

"Professor," Harry began quietly, "I've just come from the funeral of the last remaining family I had in the world. I've nearly died on three separate occasions in the last week. And I've broken more bones than I care to count. Now I want to know what I lived for!"

Harry raised his voice a little as he spoke these next words. "I'm sorry, sir, but my trust in you isn't what you think it is. You promised me safety at Privet Drive, and what I got was a massacre. Voldemort has ruined my life annually over the last six years and has always managed to sneak his way into Hogwarts some way or another. Whether it be on the back of a teachers head, or as a memory in a diary, he's always gotten in. I need some reassurances that Ron and Hermione will be safe here-" Harry faltered, he'd just realised he'd been shouting. He looked back at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore was silent for a moment. He removed his half moon spectacles and rubbed his eyes before replacing them. "Harry," began Dumbledore quietly, "I am truly sorry about Privet Drive. He beat me there and I still don't know how. You ask me to tell you what you lived for – I think I know the answer, as do you. Love for your friends." Dumbledore looked at Harry carefully before saying his next words, as if he were weighing him up. "There is one way that there safety can be guaranteed within these walls." Harry looked up at this. "The Fidelius Charm."

Harry let these words sink in. The Fidelius charm, the secret-keeper charm. This was the spell used to hide his parents. The spell that had failed because of Pettigrew. "I'll do it," said Harry, without a doubt.

Dumbledore nodded. "You must understand, Harry. They will only be guaranteed safety whilst at Hogwarts. If they take one step outside the gates then Voldemort can find them, and it will not be a full charm, I'm afraid. It will be a variant that will keep only your greatest enemy from seeing them, not his servants. Voldemort himself can never touch them, however."

"But whenever they're at Hogwarts he can't get to them?" Harry asked. Dumbledore nodded. "Then what are we waiting for?"

Dumbledore rose from his chair and removed his wand from within his robes, and motioned Harry to do the same. "This isn’t an ultimate solution,” he said. “Only Voldemort will not be able to find them. More thought will have to be given to this later. Now, Harry. I want you to think of your friends clearly. Imagine them being safe at Hogwart's, that they are hidden here. Also think of the one you want to keep them safe from." Harry did, he saw his friends faces clearly within the walls of the castle. "On three, Harry, Fidelius Exomus! One, two, three!"

In unison, Harry and Dumbledore shouted, "FIDELIUS EXOMUS!"

An enormous burst of white light issued from the end of both their wands. It met in the middle and started swirling around and around, forming a sphere of this white light. Within it Harry could see images of his friends, safe inside the walls of Hogwarts. It continued to swirl until it was about the size of a Bludger, and then it stopped. It hovered in the air for a moment, before slowly moving towards Harry. It came into contact with Harry's chest and for a brief moment he felt, that without a doubt, he was entirely and completely safe, that nothing in the world could hurt him, but in another moment it was gone, as was the orb of light.

Looking back later, Harry would realise that that feeling was the safest he would ever get in his entire life.

"Where?"

"It is in you, Harry. As long as you keep this secret, he can never touch them here. That I do promise you." Dumbledore's voice was sincere.

Harry nodded. He wouldn't betray his friends like Pettigrew had done his parents. He'd die before that happened. As Harry thought about this, his gaze had drifted back to the sword of Gryffindor. Dumbledore noticed this. "You feel drawn to that sword, don't you, Harry?"

Without turning his gaze from the sword, Harry spoke, "Yes. It's like when I saw this earring," he said, tapping the griffin. "I just find it hard to look away... or... not quite that... more like I've seen it somewhere before but can't for the life of me remember where. And I don't mean down in the Chamber."

Dumbledore surveyed Harry very closely before speaking. "I think that we may need to perform a test."

"A- a test?" said Harry, a little confused.

"Tell me, Harry. Have you ever performed any wandless magic?"

Harry thought hard before answering. "Well... yes, just little things though, like making glass disappear... growing hair..."

"Hmm... could you please stand in front of Godric's sword."

Harry got up and limped a few paces over to the sword case. "Stand about six feet away."

"Professor, what are-"

"You'll see, you'll see... now, which arm is your wand arm?"

"Right..."

"Very well, raise your left arm in front of the case, that's good; now call the sword to you."

Harry frowned and paused a moment. What does he mean? "Call to me?

"Just that, call it to you, command it to come. Think it, will it to come." Dumbledore’s eyes were sparkling.

Harry didn't understand what was going on, but he did it anyway. He bent all his thought towards the sword, trying to get it to appear in his outstretched hand. He didn't know how much time had passed, but eventually he thought he saw the sword start to shimmer.

After a few more minutes had passed Harry definitely saw the sword move. It had started to shake and the blade was glowing red and then a deep gold. There was a loud sound like a gun firing and the glass of the case exploded outwards in a haze of smoke.

This shocked Harry and he lost his concentration. Up until now he hadn't noticed how heavily he was panting. There was sweat on his brow and his legs felt very weak. He turned to Dumbledore.

"What... just... happened?" he panted.

"You have just confirmed something for me," he said, with a smile on his face. "Look back at the case."

Now that the smoke had cleared Harry could see that something was different. The sword, Godric Gryffindor’s sword, was gone. It was just gone, no longer there. It wasn't on the floor, behind the case or around it. It had vanished.

"I blew it up then.”

"Call for it again, Harry," the headmaster said kindly.

"But it's not there... It's-" Harry said flustered.

"Your left arm, does it feel different?"

Harry looked at his arm and there was no noticeable difference. He shook it up and down – and it did feel different, heavier maybe... but stronger.

"Call for it, Harry."

And Harry did. He called for the sword like he did before, except this time he knew it would come. A feeling surged through him, a feeling of power. He felt his left hand close around cold metal and there in his hand was the sword of Gryffindor.

"What- how?"

"Ah, magic,” Dumbledore said, removing his glasses and wiping at his eyes. “Most ancient magic. Put it away now, Harry. Think you can do it, and you will.”

Harry thought of the sword disappearing, thought of it returning, and, to his astonishment, it did. In the blink of an eye it was gone, but he could still feel the weight of it in his left arm.

"How? I... huh?"

"Do you remember when you first used the sword, Harry? It appeared in the hat, when you were in need of such a thing. I wasn't sure then, but I am now. You didn't know it but you were subconsciously calling for it."

Harry thought about this, some things didn't make sense. "But how would I know to call for the blade in the first place. I mean, I had never even heard of it... had I?"

Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled and he smiled as he said these next few words. "If Godric Gryffindor was famous for one thing besides co-founding Hogwarts, it was his ability to perform many complex spells without the use of a wand. Using this ability, he bound his sword to him and then to anyone in his direct bloodline."

Harry said nothing; a big piece of a puzzle he had never seen before fell into place. "But then... that means-"

"Yes, Harry, you are a direct descendent of Godric Gryffindor. You are in his bloodline. You are the heir of Gryffindor." A silence followed these words.

"Aw, Christ..." was all that Harry managed to say. This was big; he was related to Gryffindor and now had a sword at his beck and call. But it still meant he was once again anything but normal.

"The sword is yours now; it will always be there out of sight... just call for it at times of need. I trust I don't need to tell you about the safety rules at Hogwarts?" There was a small glint in Dumbledore's eyes as he said this. How many times had Harry disregarded his own safety within these walls?

Harry nodded. The sword was now part of him, and he was part of it. They were bound together forever. That would probably sink in eventually. "I understand. Is that all, Professor?" he asked. Everything was starting to sink in. It had been one hell of a week.

"Yes, Harry, you can go if you wish. Don't worry about the letter; you and your friends are safe at Hogwarts. I'll make sure that some extra protection is added, but it shouldn't be necessary with the altered Fidelius charm."

Harry nodded and looked back down at his arm, he realised he was just standing in the middle of the room doing nothing. He looked up and saw Dumbledore smiling at him. He said goodbye and left Dumbledore's office. There was a lot to take in. So much had happened over the last week that this actually came as a very little surprise. In no time at all he found himself outside the portrait of the Fat Lady. Harry stared at her for a moment, he didn't know the password.

"Em... I don't suppose you could just open up could you?" he asked.

She glared at him in annoyance and then, to Harry's surprise, the portrait swung open. It had been pushed open from the inside by the new Gryffindor first-years.

"Hello," said Harry, when they spotted him. "You must be the new first-years."

They looked too scared to say anything. After all this was Harry Potter, this was the bloke who a week ago had come crashing down from the sky all bloody and torn. Who spent his spare time duelling with Dark Lords and facing down Dementors. They mumbled a few words then took off at great speed, casting awe-filled glances over their shoulders at Harry.

The common room was mostly empty; the day had turned out quite warm and most people were out on the grounds in the sun. Ron and Hermione were there though, sitting in their favourite armchairs by the fireplace.

"Harry," called Hermione, "over here."

Harry limped over to the armchairs and sat down. He'd hardly had five minutes all day in which to sit down and his leg was most grateful.

"What happened, Harry?" asked Ron as soon as Harry was down.

Harry thought before answering. How was he going to tell them that they were now in danger because of him – true danger. That being his friend could cost them their lives. After a few moments he spoke. "That letter... that the eagle brought... was from Voldemort."

Ron jumped at the name but Hermione looked concerned. "What did he want?" she asked.

"He...er... wants me to join him... he wants me to be a Death Eater."

The silence that followed was most awkward. Harry couldn't tell what his best friends were thinking, their faces were blank.

"Harry," said Ron. "You did... you did say no?"

"Oh, of course I did you plonker," laughed Harry, slapping his best friend up the side of his head. A look of relief washed over Ron's face but Hermione was staring at Harry intently.

"There's something else though, isn't there?" she said.

Harry sighed. "Yeah... if I... refuse he might... might... come after you two."

The silence that followed this statement was the most awkward yet. Ron and Hermione stared at Harry for a few moments and then started speaking at the same time.

"That doesn't matter, Harry."

"We're your best friends, mate, we-"

"We'll be safe at Hogwarts."

"Yeah there's a lot of old magic protecting this place."

Harry sighed. "I know all that... but I've actually been thinking about this for some time, since last year in fact."

"About what?" asked Ron.

"About the price you may pay for being my friends... for being too close to me," said Harry quietly. “A war has begun, and... well let’s just say I’ll be fighting it.”

"Look, Harry," began Hermione, "we're friends! We have been friends since first year. You can't just push us away now."

"That's right, not after all the shit we've been through together. Sorry, mate, but you're stuck with us."

Harry smiled, and it felt good to smile. He didn't have a lot of things to smile about these days. This was one of those moments where he just felt glad to have such good friends. "Thanks you two..."

For some reason he didn't tell them about the other events that had just occurred in Dumbledore's office. His being Gryffindors heir, his new sword-arm, and his assumption that he was probably very gifted at wandless magic. He did tell them about the Fidelius charm, though.

"You'll be safe as long as you're at Hogwarts, by the way. He can't touch you here, I've seen to that." Ron and Hermione exchanged confused glances and asked Harry to go on. "I'm your secret-keeper. Dumbledore and I used the Fidelius charm to hide you here."

There was a moment of silence and then Hermione spoke. "Harry... thank you."

"Yeah, cheers, mate."

"It's okay. You're only safe at Hogwarts, though. You leave the grounds the charm doesn't work. He can find you then..."

"It's all right, Harry," said Hermione, frowning in thought. "It couldn’t have been a full charm though, just a variant...” Harry nodded and Hermione smiled. “Now, do you still want to have a DA meeting tonight?"

"Yeah... I think it best if we get down to some serious defence this year... and maybe some powerful curses and hexes."

Ron and Hermione exchanged a quick worried glance. There was a fire in Harry's eyes that they had never seen before and a look of grave determination on his face.

"Harry-"

"What?" he asked, his face returning to normal.

"Em... you're going to have to set the time and date on the galleon..." said Hermione.

"Oh right, I'll ju- Damn! I don't have it anymore, it was at Privet Drive."

"I thought that might have happened. Here, use mine." Hermione pulled a gold coin out of her robes and handed it to Harry. "As long as it's you who sets the time, then any of the galleons will work."

Harry nodded and pulled out his wand. "Let's see... how about seven o'clock." He set the time and handed the coin back to Hermione. "Right, what can we do for the next five hours then?"

"We could do some homework," said Hermione eagerly. "Harry, you missed a really good spell in charms lest week, come on, I'll teach it to you. Ron, you could probably do with some practice as well."

For the next few hours the three of them practiced the Gravatius Charm. A spell that allowed the user to float several feet off the ground. Though Ron thought the spell did more harm than good, when he cast a particularly strong one and went flying up into the air and hit his head on the vaulted ceiling.

"That's good, Harry, now cast the spell on yourself again to come back down," instructed Hermione.

"Gravios," said Harry with his wand pointed at his chest. He floated back down to the floor and into an armchair. "Well that was fun, what else have I missed?"

"Not a lot really, we've just been revising last year's work, you know, to get back into the swing of things."

"Oh, how's DADA?"

"That class is brilliant," said Ron. "Dumbledore really knows his stuff."

"When do we have it next?"

"Tomorrow afternoon, it's a double period."

"Sounds good," said Harry. Looking at his watch he realised it was 6:30. "Come on; let's get some dinner and then head to the DA room."

*~*~*~*

Dumbledore sat patiently by the fire in his office. He was waiting for Alastor Moody, who was expected any minute. As he was waiting, he thought about Harry and how much danger he'd been in last week. His thoughts were interrupted though when a small blaze ignited in the fireplace.

"Alastor," he said a moment later when the ex-Aurors head appeared. "It's good to see you well."

"You too," he growled.

"How's the search coming?"

"A lot better than it was last week. I've tracked him right through to America. He gave me the slip though when I tried to talk to him at his apartment." Moody said this last word as though it barely past for a living space. "He's very independent. A lot like Potter really. Disapparated somewhere."

"He can apparate!" said Dumbledore, slightly astounded.

"That's not all he can do. His place was full of magic books, and some pretty advanced ones at that. I'll tell you... he'd be something in a duel."

Dumbledore sat deep in thought for a moment. "I need you to keep trying, Alastor. If Voldemort finds him first, things are going to get a lot more... difficult. Though he may not know that he is still alive."

"That's not the only reason you want him, though... is it?"

"No it isn't. Voldemort is trying to recruit Harry, Alastor."

"Sweet Merlin..."

"Yes, I know..." sighed Dumbledore. At that moment Moody thought Dumbledore had never looked older. "Find him, Alastor; I need to talk to him."

"Don't worry, I'll get him..." And with that he was gone, leaving Dumbledore once again alone with his thoughts.

*~*~*~*

On the other side of the castle Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the Room of Requirement. It was exactly how they remembered it, how they required it. Cushions scattered across the floor, books piled high on shelves, and every type of dark detector imaginable along the back wall.

"What we doing tonight then, Harry?" asked Ron.

"Tonight we step away from defence and head into offence. Curses, hexes, and charms."

"Do you think that's wise?" asked Hermione.

"Why wouldn't it be?" countered Harry, turning to face her.

Hermione was shocked by the face she saw looking back at her. It was no longer the face of the Harry she had known all these years. It was the face of someone who had seen things that no one should have to see, the face of someone who had been through more than his fair share of evil. It was a Harry who had grown up to accept that he had something to do before he could rest. Hermione had suspected it since last year, that Harry was hiding a great burden from them, something Dumbledore had told him after he had returned from the Department of Mysteries.

"Harry... I..."

"What, Hermione? Do you think that Voldemort would spare you if you don't know how to fight back? Hell, he destroyed four people with that Dementor attack; two of them were just kids!"

Hermione heard the finality in his voice. The issue wasn't open for argument; they were going to do it his way.

Harry turned away and walked over to the defence books and pulled down a thick tome entitled, Advanced Curses. Ron, who had been silent during the argument, just shrugged his shoulders at Hermione. He had seen the same look on Harry's face that she had, and it had scared him.

Ten minutes later the first members of the DA started to arrive. Ginny Weasley, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnegan entered the room. They started to walk over to Harry but a quick glance at Ron and Hermione told them they should give him some room. Instead they sat near Hermione and shot her quizzical looks. Harry was on his own on the other side of the room, still reading the curse book. Soon other members started to pour in. Zacharias Smith, Neville Longbottom, Katie Bell, Lavender Brown and the Patil twins all arrived within five minutes. Next came Colin and Dennis Creevey, Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, Michael Corner, Luna Lovegood, Susan Bones, Anthony Goldstein and Terry Boot.

Once everyone was accounted for Harry stood up and started pacing the room. Every eye was on him. He continued pacing and glancing at the students before him. The only sound that could be heard was the dull thunk, thunk, thunk of Harry's cane on the stone floor. Eventually he stopped moving and turned to face his audience.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

No one said anything. There was a few nervous glances shared between the members, but still no one said anything.

"Why are you here?" Harry asked again.

"So we can learn some defence," said Ron.

Harry looked into the face of his best friend. "Wrong," he said quietly. "Anyone else want to take a stab at it? No? Good. That answer, Ron," he nodded to his best friend, "would have been correct last year, but now most of you know and believe that we are at war with Voldemort." Harry let these words hang for a moment before continuing. "You are no longer here to learn defence; you are here to learn offence. You are here to learn how to take the fight back to Voldemort. Now I'm not telling you to go out and look for a fight, but if it happens I want you to know how to fight back-"

"Lighten' up," interrupted Zacharias Smith.

Harry glared at Zacharias. "Do not interrupt me again, Smith." Harry said these words with such force that Zacharias looked down in shame. "Now where was I? Oh yeah, I want you to know how to fight back. You are here to learn and only to learn." Everyone was shocked by the sudden change that had come over Harry, none more so than his two best friends.

"Harry," said Hermione, "you expect everyone here to learn how to fight You-Know-Who?"

"No, Hermione, I don't. Voldemort is-" Harry faltered, "someone else's problem..."

In that instant Hermione thought she saw a shadow pass over Harry's face. What are you hiding from us? she thought, although she had begun to slowly guess. But the only answer she could come up with was too horrible to contemplate.

"I expect you to be able to fight his Death Eater's," finished Harry.

"Let's get to it then," said Ron happily, trying to break the gloom that had settled over the group since Harry's speech.

"Right," agreed Harry. "Now I need a volunteer, Ron?"

"Sure thing, mate." Ron got up and stood opposite Harry.

"Everyone watch this and then partner off and practice." Harry turned to face Ron; they were about three yards apart. "I don't want you to try and stop me, Ron, it won't hurt, no need to worry." Harry gave Ron a sly smile and summoned some cushions around him. "Now this charm could give you the advantage you need over an enemy. Ready, Ron?"

"Ready."

Harry pointed his wand at Ron and shouted "Constrictus amropa." Ropes shot out of Harry's wand and quickly wrapped themselves around Ron. He fell over backwards and landed softly on the pillows. "Now Ron is completely at my mercy," smiled Harry.

"I could still take you," said Ron levelly.

Harry laughed at his best friend struggling to even sit up. "Sure you could, mate, sure you could." Harry pointed his wand at Ron again. "Finite Incantatum." The bonds holding Ron down disappeared and he picked himself up. Harry turned back to the group. "Now everyone get to work."

For the next hour and a half Harry put the DA through its paces. Everything from the disarming charm to the Patronus was revised. At ten to nine Harry ended the meeting and the students left grumbling, many of them rubbing small wounds they had received over the course of the evening.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were the last to leave, as always they had stayed behind to straighten up the room. As they walked back through the castle to Gryffindor tower in silence, Hermione was working up the courage to ask Harry what he was hiding but she didn't want to get him angry again. Before she knew it though, they were saying goodnight at the foot of the dorm room stairs, having decided to have an early night.

Harry and Ron climbed the stairs and entered their room. They weren't the only ones who had decided to sleep early. Dean, Seamus, and Neville were all asleep and Seamus was snoring heavily. Apparently the DA meeting took a lot out of them. Harry quickly changed into his pyjamas, muttered goodnight to Ron and fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.

It didn't stay that way though. All through the night he kept waking up. His nightmares not allowing him a rest from Voldemort. At one point he woke up screaming, waking Ron in the process.

"HARRY!" shouted Ron. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing... nothing I'm fine, just a bad dream."

"Are you sure-"

"I'm fine, Ron, go back to sleep."

"Okay..." Ron was asleep in minutes, his other roommates hadn't even batted an eyelid, but Harry was awake long after that; looking into those deep, cold crimson eyes.

*~*~*~*

Breakfast Monday morning was much the same as it had always been. The tables filled up, the food magically appeared, and people stared half-heartedly at their porridge as they realised it was a good five days before the next weekend.

Harry on the other hand, was in danger of falling face down into his porridge. He had barely slept for four hours last night and he was knackered. After waking Ron up for the third time, he decided that he wasn't going to sleep that night and went down to the common room at 4:30. Two hours later he was the first into the hall for breakfast.

"Morning, Harry," said Ron, as he approached the table and sat opposite his best friend, pulling a plate of bacon towards him in the process.

"Mooorrrnninng..." Harry said, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.

"You look like you kept waking me up all night," said Ron. "What was the matter?"

"Nothing... jus- just had a bad dream – or three."

"Was it him?" whispered Ron.

"Yeah. Just another average 'Voldemort ruins my entire life' dream," Harry said bitterly.

Ron watched as his best friend’s eyes seemed to blaze with anger at the mention of the Dark Lord. "You- you wanna talk about it?"

"No... No, lets just have some breakfast."

Harry and Ron ate in silence for the next ten minutes, Ron casting worried looks towards Harry out of the corner of his eye, until Hermione emerged through the doors and swept her way up through the Hall towards her friends. "How are we this morning?" she asked them briskly, sitting herself next to Harry.

Harry remained silent, still staring into his porridge, so Ron answered. "We're good. Harry's a little tired though..." Ron looked into Hermione's eyes and quickly flicked his own towards Harry. She got the message and didn't ask what was wrong.

"By the way, Harry, I have your timetable here," said Hermione, removing the card from her robes and then passing it to Harry. "Transfiguration first up," she said happily.

Harry skimmed through his timetable.

Monday (Morning):

Double Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration room

Care of Magical Creatures, Professor Hagrid, the Grounds

Monday (Afternoon):

Double Defence Against the Dark Arts, Professor Dumbledore, DADA room 2

Divination, Professor Trelawney, The North Tower.

Tuesday (Morning):

Double Potions, Professor Snape, Potions Dungeon

Care of Magical Creatures, Professor Hagrid, the Grounds

Tuesday (Afternoon):

Double Charms, Professor Flitwick, Charms room 2.

Divination, Professor Firenze, Ground floor Room 11

Wednesday (Morning):

Double Care of Magical Creatures, Professor Hagrid, the Grounds

Charms, Professor Flitwick, Charms room 2.

Wednesday (Afternoon):

Double Potions, Professor Snape, Potions Dungeon.

Divination, Professor Trelawney, The North Tower.

Thursday (Morning):

Double Defence Against the Dark Arts, Professor Dumbledore, DADA room 2.

Charms, Professor Flitwick, Charms room 2.

Thursday (Afternoon):

Double Defence Against the Dark Arts, Professor Dumbledore, DADA room 2.

Divination, Professor Firenze, Ground floor Room 11.

Friday (Morning):

Double Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration room.

Care of Magical Creatures, Professor Hagrid, the Grounds

Friday (Afternoon):

Double Charms, Professor Flitwick, Charms room 2.

Divination, Professor Trelawney, the North Tower.

"We have DADA most of the day on Thursday," Harry said, slightly surprised.

"Yes, and we also have it with all the houses combined into one class of about sixty-five. It's the same with Charms as well."

"Why?" asked Harry.

"Depends on how many people chose a particular course for NEWT studies. Smaller amount of people doing DADA, so they merged it into one class with people from every house."

"Oh. Is Malfoy still in these classes?"

Hermione sighed and Ron mumbled something under his breath that made Hermione 'tsk'. "Sadly yes," she said. "He's in Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts.

"Still his usual unbearable self?"

"Actually he's been rather subdued with his insults of late. He keeps smirking at us though, like he knows something we don't."

"Stuff him; I really can't be bothered with that git anymore." Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Good for you, Harry."

As the three of them started to finish up their breakfast and began to leave, they heard a familiar swoosh as the post owls descended upon the Great Hall. Huge tawny owls, small brown owls and pathetic little golf ball size owls sought out their recipients. Harry, Ron and Hermione were at the door when a large owl, possibly the most impressive looking owl any of them had ever seen, landed on Harry's shoulder. "Hello," he said, "can I help you?"

The huge owl stook out one of its legs and Harry removed the envelope attached. The bird uttered a small hoot and then took off, back out into the sky. Harry watched it go and then shoved the letter into his pocket, whatever it was it could wait; they needed to get to Transfiguration.

The going was slow as Harry had trouble keeping up with his cane. He had started to develop an intense dislike for the cane. The three of them arrived at Transfiguration just as the bell went. Harry took a seat up the back next to Ron, who was next to Hermione; he wanted to be able to open his letter out of the way of McGonagall.

"Good morning everyone," began Professor McGonagall. "I trust you all had a good weekend. Now that we're all back into the habit of learning, it's time we started getting through the NEWT course. This term we will be studying the Animagus transformation more closely, and seeing if any of you possess the ability for this transfiguration."

Harry looked up at this. He had been thinking about becoming an animagus for some time now, practically since third year when he had discovered that his father had been one. He pocketed his still unopened, very official looking letter, and started paying attention.

"Now I don't expect all of you to be able to become animagi. In fact I'd be surprised if any of you could. But in light of recent events," her eyes flicked towards Harry's. "Professor Dumbledore and I have agreed that it will probably be best if you find out whether or not you are suited to this branch of Transfiguration sooner, rather than later."

Whispers broke out between the assembled Ravenclaws and Gryffindors. Animagi, they were going to see if they could become an Animagus. Harry remained silent after her statement; he had just come to a decision in his head, and would approach Professor McGonagall after class.

"Quiet down, quiet down," said Professor McGonagall. "Now open your textbooks to page 465 and start taking notes on the finer points of Animagus transformation."

As the class began reading, Harry placed his textbook up on the desk, to avoid anyone seeing what he was doing, and removed the letter from his pocket. It was possibly the finest parchment he had ever seen. It was silky to the touch and appeared to radiate a small glow. There was an emblem in the top right corner of the envelope, where the stamp would usually go on a Muggle letter, it was a picture of the British Isles with two wands crossed over the top, and beneath the logo were the words: From the Office of the Minister of Magic. 'What does Fudge want with me?' thought Harry. He opened the envelope to find the same quality parchment as from the envelope.

Dear Mr Potter,

Please allow me to be the first to congratulate you on receiving the Order of Merlin, Second Class, for your act of bravery and heroism last Saturday at Diagon Alley. You are one of youngest recipients of the Order of Merlin during its illustrious history. This is one of the greatest honours that the wizarding community can bestow, once again, my congratulations.

Harry groaned. That was both Voldemort and Fudge offering him their congratulations. He returned to the letter;

Also Harry, I would like to offer my apology for myself and the Ministry's behaviour over certain events that have occurred over the last two years. We were wrong, you were right, we apologise. This war will need people like you, Harry, and we hope you'll fight for us once you finish school.

The award ceremony for your Order of Merlin will be in two months time at the Ministry of Magic Formal Events Hall. You will be notified with all the details closer to the date.

Hope you are well,

Cornelius Fudge

Minister of Magic

Harry scoffed. Fudge was apologising, he thought, He didn't seem so apologetic last year at the hearing. He's not going to smooth everything over that easily. The anger Harry felt didn’t surprise him either. Lives had been lost for his stupidity... and he didn't even ask Harry if he wanted the blasted award. It was all publicity for Fudge anyway. Harry tossed the letter aside and gained himself a quizzical look from his friends. "Here," he said, "have a read of this." He passed the letter along to Ron, who read it and then passed it on to Hermione.

"This is a great honour, Harry," she said after reading the letter.

"Yeah," agreed Ron. "Looks like Fudge has finally pulled his head out of his arse."

"Too little, too late," said Harry. "It's practically his fault the Dementors are with Voldemort. If he'd just bloody listened to begin with, that family might still have their souls..."

He turned away from his friends as this memory pained him. He blamed himself for not being quick enough. Hermione guessed some of his feelings. "You can't keep beating yourself up over that, Harry," she said. "If anyone's to blame its Vol- Voldemort."

Harry turned and looked her straight in the eyes. For a brief second she saw the pain there, the pain he kept so well hidden just desperate to get out. He wanted to tell his friends something, to be comforted by someone, anyone.

The only problem with that she thought, was that he didn't really have anyone. He never got to know his parents and Sirius, the closest thing he'd ever had to a parent, had died last year. She thought of all the evil he'd fought through just to get where he is today, and the thought made her want to cry. A brief second later, Harry had hidden the pain again.

"You're right..." he sighed, "but that doesn't mean I won't make him pay."

He said this with such ferocity that Ron backed away, but Hermione saw this as her chance. "Harry... is there... is there something you're not telling us?" He looked at her again, and again she saw the brief flash of pain in his emerald eyes.

Harry hesitated. Could he tell them? The prophecy... Should they know? Voldemort might come after them if he knew they knew. He was already coming after them because he had refused to join his Death Eaters, but it would be such a relief to share this with someone. "No, Hermione... there's nothing..." he finally said. He saw the look of disbelief on her face and took this as a sign to start his work.

"Harry, yo-" Ron began.

"You three back there stop talking and get on with your work," said Professor McGonagall strictly. Harry was thankful for her interruption; he didn't want to continue this conversation.

The rest of the double period past in relative silence as Harry dodged his friend's whispered questions and worried looks. Won't they just accept that I can't tell them, he thought as he evaded Ron's third attempt. How am I supposed to tell them that I was born to die or murder? As this went on and on Harry wished the bell would go, and ten minutes later it did.

BBBBRRRRIIIINNNNGGGGG!

"Good day everyone," said Professor McGonagall. "Anybody who did not finish their notes will do so for homework. I will be checking them this Friday. Dismissed."

As the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors filed out, Harry hung back. "Come on, Harry," said Ron. "Magical Creatures, don't want to be late."

"It's all right, Ron, I'll catch up. Just got to ask McGonagall something..."

Ron and Hermione left the room, walking very close to each other. Harry wondered how long it would take for Ron to tell her how he felt. It was obvious, the looks Ron gave her when he thought no one was looking, the way he always sat next to her in class, and of course, his god damn hostility towards a certain Bulgarian Quidditch player. He must have been thinking about this for longer than he thought, because when he turned around Professor McGonagall was standing there.

"Yes, Potter?"

"Oh... Professor, I...em... I just wanted to ask you about becoming an Animagus..."

She stared at Harry intently, and then, to Harry's relief, a rare smile spread across her face. "I was beginning to wonder how long it would take you to ask me that, Harry."

Harry's relief increased at the use of his first name. That was always a good sign. "So you'll teach me?" Harry asked hopefully.

She regained her calm, strict exterior. "I'll have to ask the headmaster, but due to the -er- difficult circumstances surrounding your safety, I'm sure he'll agree."

Harry understood. Being an Animagus may help him greatly when Voldemort tried anything. He turned to leave but then stopped. "Professor."

"Yes, Potter?"

"Did you- did you know that my dad was an Animagus?"

She pursed her lips. "Yes... a stag, I believe," Harry nodded. "Your father never did set many standards to abide by the rules. He and Sirius Black lost more points for Gryffindor than the rest of the house combined. Still holds the record for most number of detentions ever. Though I do understand why he became an Animagus... Remus was lucky to have him as a friend..." Harry saw that her eyes had tears in them; he thought it was probably best if he left.

"Thank you, Professor," he said.

"You’re welcome, Potter. I'll speak to the headmaster at lunch."

Harry nodded and began to limp his way out of the room. He hadn't expected her to ask Dumbledore that soon.

Harry arrived at Hagrid's hut just as Hagrid himself emerged from it. He moved his way through the crowd of students towards Ron and Hermione, who were, whether they knew it or not, standing very close to each other. "What did you want to see McGonagall for?" asked Ron, as Harry limped up next to him.

"Oh... I ...em... just wanted to see if I missed anything important last week," he lied. Ron seemed to accept this. Harry thought to himself for a moment about just how much he was now keeping secret from his friends. He made a mental list: The Prophecy, his being the heir of Gryffindor and having a sword in his arm, and now the fact that he might be training to become an Animagus soon.

"Mornin' everyone," began Hagrid. "Nothin' new today I'm afraid. Jus' got some Krups tha' need lookin' after. A collective sigh of relief could be heard spreading through the group as they realised that Hagrid didn't have any new monsters. That they would be looking after some safe, normal Krups. A Krup was basically a Jack Russell Terrier with a forked tail.

"Now there's enough o' them for one between two, so I think we'll 'ave one Gryffindor and one Ravenclaw as partners. In the spirit of inter-house relationships and all. Now find yerself a partner from a different 'ouse.

Harry looked around. He'd just noticed that they were still with the Ravenclaws from Transfiguration. No one seemed to be moving, most people didn't really know people from other houses and things were getting very awkward. "Come on," said Hagrid. "Find yerself a partner or I'll pair yer up with someone like a bunch o' third years."

Still no one moved. Harry decided to make the first move. He limped through the crowd until he was up front where everyone could see him; he then walked around the inner rim of the circle until he came to Padma Patil. He stopped. "Would you like to be my partner, Padma," he asked. It was a spur of the moment thing, and Harry felt it useless to waste time on these little moments of life. He had much more important things to worry about than this, so he had taken the initiative.

She was somewhat taken back by this. "Oh... Harry... y- yes. I mean... of course, I- I'd love too." Harry saw her blush slightly and then caught himself smiling.

"Good man, Harry," said Hagrid. "See yer lot, it's not that hard." After Harry had 'broken the ice' people were moving about in the crowd meeting and talking to other people they wouldn't normally. Ron became partners with Terry Boot and Hermione ended up with Mandy Brocklehurst.

After Hagrid had handed out the Krups – released them from their enclosure, he told them to go off with their partners and walk them around the grounds. Harry and Padma set off along the edge of the Forest. Their Krup was a rather fat, scruffy male that walked with a limp. "It's an ugly little thing, isn't it," commented Harry once they were out of earshot of Hagrid.

"Oh, stop that," Padma laughed and hit his arm playfully. "I think he's gorgeous." She bent down and started patting the Krup.

"So you got a thing for guys with limps," said Harry, trying to sound charming and ease some of the tension they both felt, as he limped along with his cane but failing miserably when he started laughing. Padma just blushed and looked away.

They were approaching the edge of the Forest now and Harry didn't want to get any closer, not now he knew it was home to a giant, an unruly mob of centaurs, and about a thousand giant spiders, so he steered Padma and the Krup towards the lake. "What do you wanna call him?" she asked as they walked by the lake.

"Call? Call who?" Harry was lost.

"The Krup of course."

"Oh... well how about... Dexter."

She laughed. "That's a terrible name isn't it,” she said, once again kneeling down and talking to the Krup. "How about," she turned and smiled up at Harry. He thought she looked incredibly pretty. "How about, Little Harry."

"What?" it was Harry's turn to laugh now.

"Oh, come on, it's a good name, and it suits him. He's got a limp like you, and his hair is all scruffy like yours used to be." She was smiling again and Harry thought he couldn't say no to that smile.

"Fair enough," he laughed. "Little Harry it is."

They spent the rest of the walk around the lake talking about what they did over the summer. "Well Parvati and I went to France to visit some family. We spent most of the summer there. Paris is just beautiful, have you ever been? I had never been before..."

Harry just let her talk as they made their way back up to Hagrid's hut. It was good to be able to talk about something other than Voldemort. "What did you do over the summer, Harry?" She immediately looked sorry for asking this, as it was common knowledge his summer had been somewhat... difficult.

"I -er- I went to the gym a lot..." he said evasively.

"Hmm... It shows," Harry looked at her and saw she was once again blushing, and, he just realised, so was he. Two months of weight training would, of course, have left its mark.

They were the first back at Hagrid's; all the other partners were still out and about somewhere. "All righ', Harry," Hagrid said.

"Hey, Hagrid."

"Where's yer Krup, yer two?"

Harry looked around. Little Harry was nowhere to be seen. Padma took the matter into her own hands though. She whistled and then started calling, "LITTLE HARRY." Whistle. "LITTLE HARRY."

Harry was thankful they were the only people back. He looked at Hagrid, who was trying and failing to suppress a laugh as the Krup came out limping from behind a rock, its tongue hanging out and a smile on its face. "There yer ar'... Little Harry,' Hagrid said as the Krup limped over to him.

"He's just beautiful, isn't he," said Padma.

"Oh aye," said Hagrid, as small tears of laughter fell down his face and into his big, bushy beard. "Just beautiful."

Harry found himself smiling even though Hagrid's laughter was at his own expense. That was until Little Harry decided to mark his territory on Big Harry's robes. Harry looked down and saw what the Krup was doing. "Oh you little bug-"

"Harry," said Padma through her laughter, "leave poor Little Harry alone."

Harry looked up and saw that she was holding her sides as she continued to laugh. Hagrid had had to sit down as he was laughing so hard. Harry pulled out his wand and pointed it at the wet patch on his robes. "Scourgify," he said, his robes becoming clean.

As they waited for the rest of the class to return, Harry sat next to Padma on the grass and they just talked, talked about meaningless things. Harry would look back on this time later and realise he hadn't been this happy since before he'd touched that damned Triwizard cup back in his fourth year. He didn't know how long he sat there listening to her talk, but eventually he realised that she was looking at him strangely.

"I said are you okay, Harry, you don't look too well, are you tired?" He looked into her deep brown eyes and saw the concern there.

"I am a little tired... I don't sleep very well."

Padma looked like she wanted to ask why, but she didn't push the issue. Other groups had started to return now and Hagrid was putting the Krups back in their boxes. "It was nice talking to you, Harry," said Padma.

"You too.” Padma got up and walked over to her usual crowd of Ravenclaws, Harry watched her go. "It was really nice talking to you," he said to himself.

Harry, Ron and Hermione hung back after everyone else had left. They wanted to ask Hagrid something. "Hagrid," said Harry.

"Yer want somethin' Harry?"

"We were just wondering how your... brother was?"

"Oh, well he's fine. Still in the Forest, but Dumbledore was on abou’ moving him soon. Asks about yer sometimes," he said, turning to Hermione. "Asks fer Hermy."

"Well, that's... nice," stuttered Hermione, remembering her other experiences with Grawp all too well.

"You going up to the castle for lunch, Hagrid?" asked Ron.

"Yeah, how abou' we go then."

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Hagrid made their way up to the castle. The four long house tables in the Great Hall were filling up under the sunny blue ceiling, which was just like the sky they could glimpse through the high windows. The three of them took their usual place at the Gryffindor table and Hagrid said his goodbyes and walked up to the staff table.

Lunch was its usual uneventful affair, that is, until Ron and Hermione started asking what Harry was hiding from them again. "Its nothing..." he lied.

"Come on, Harry, we know you too well. You're hiding something," said Ron. Hermione nodded in agreement. "We're your best friends, you can tell us."

"If there was anything to tell I would-"

"We know-"

"LOOK," Harry rose from his chair, his temper getting the better of him. "Did you ever stop to think that there might be a reason why I wasn't telling you something, that it was for your own damn good? Please, for the love of god, stop pushing it." And with that he stormed out of the Hall and headed for his next class, thirty minutes early.

He arrived at DADA room 2, to find – and it wasn't much of a surprise – that he was the first one there. He opened the door and let himself in. Harry had never been in this room before. It was a lot larger than the other Defence room. Desks and chairs were placed against three of the walls (so if you leaned back you could rest your back on the wall) about seventy of them. This left a big empty space in the middle of the room. Against the fourth wall was a small raised platform with a teacher’s desk on it.

He took a seat against the back wall in the corner. He suddenly felt very tired and found himself with his head in his arms on the desk, as the world around him grew dark.

"Harry, Harry, HARRY!" He jerked up and looked around, his wand instantly in his hand. He was still in the DADA room but it was a little fuller now. Several of the desks were now occupied. "Harry."

He turned to his left and saw Padma Patil standing at the front of a group of Ravenclaw girls. "Hello again," he said sleepily, lowering his wand.

"Hi," she sat down next to him, her friends followed suit and filled up the row of desks. "You were sleeping?"

"I guess I was." Harry agreed with a yawn.

"You're lucky I came along and woke you up. What would Professor Dumbledore think if he found you asleep before his lesson had even started?"

"I think he would be highly amused, Miss Patil" said a familiar voice. Harry looked up and saw Dumbledore standing in front of their desk. "Are we rested now, Harry?" he asked. Harry nodded. "Good. Now Professor McGonagall had a word with me over lunch, could you remain behind after class?"

"Sure..." Harry had forgotten about McGonagall asking Dumbledore about the animagus transformation. Dumbledore nodded and moved towards his desk on the other side of the room.

"What was all that about?" asked Padma.

"Oh -er- haven't a clue." Harry didn't want to lie, but it was probably best if the number of people who knew about his becoming an animagus was kept to a minimum. The less she knew the better, thought Harry, looking at Padma. Don't want to put her in danger.

The room had been slowly filling up around them. Harry noticed Ron and Hermione looking at him from across the room. They were only worried about me, he thought; I'll make up with them later. He also saw Malfoy further down the row. This was the first time that Harry had seen him since last year. Malfoy caught Harry looking and gave him his patented Malfoy smirk before turning away and ignoring him. Every desk was full now and Harry turned towards Dumbledore, who was standing on the raised platform.

"Good Afternoon," he began. "I am afraid to say that you are still stuck with me as your teacher, as I have yet to find a replacement. Now, let us move on to this term’s work. I say this term’s because that is how long I intend to spend in this area of defence, a term. It will definitely appear on NEWT's." Harry saw Hermione quickly pull out a quill, poised to take notes. Dumbledore continued. "Has anyone here ever performed wandless magic?" Harry saw Dumbledore's gaze shift over his for a second.

"You can't do magic without a wand," said a Hufflepuff Harry didn't know.

Dumbledore smiled. "I beg to differ, maybe if I rephrase my question. Has anyone ever done magic without knowing they were doing magic? Have you done magic when you've not meant to?"

Hermione raised her hand. "Miss Granger."

"Well, when I was younger, before I got my Hogwarts letter. I was at home and I knocked over my mother's favourite china dish, it was her mothers before she died. I was so upset, my mother loved that dish. I remember the pieces they – they just fixed themselves, you know? The pieces snapped together and jumped back onto the shelf as good as new. I didn't know it then but I suppose that was some wandless magic."

"Very good, Miss Granger, that's a start," said Dumbledore. "Now emotions. Our emotions affect our abilities with magic. Miss Granger was so upset that she repaired that dish without even knowing she was magical. I want everyone to think about anytime they've been so angry, so upset, or so happy, that they've performed some type of wandless magic." Dumbledore paused to give people time to think. "I can see from the looks on most of your faces that at some time or another most of you have done some wandless magic."

Several people nodded in agreement. "Today I want you to concentrate on performing wandless magic while being aware that you are doing it. I want you to summon something to you without the use of a wand. Think of anytime you've been extremely happy, angry or upset. It is much like the Patronus charm, except that that only works with happy emotions."

"Have you ever done any wandless magic before?" Harry asked Padma.

"Not really, just little things. I lit a candle once without magic, just waved my hand over it and it lit. You?"

Harry shrugged. "Made some glass disappear once."

"You want to give it a try?" she asked. Harry nodded.

Harry placed his wand on the desk and Padma did the same. "What now?" asked Harry.

"Don't know. How about," she held out her hand, "Accio wand." Her wand didn't move. "Well that didn't go to well..."

"No..." Harry now held out his hand, he quickly looked at Padma and had a very happy thought. "Accio wand." It was as if he had been doing it his whole life. A warm tingle shot through his arm and his wand vibrated and moved a few centimetres towards his outstretched hand.

"Oh! Did you see that Harry? It moved. Try again." Harry looked at Padma again, she was really pretty. Everyone in the room was trying to summon something or other; he heard Accio book, Accio quill and even Accio Neville. Harry tried to block out the noise and concentrate on the task at hand.

"Accio wand," he repeated. This time his wand flew from the desk and into his hand. Well, damn, he thought. Dumbledore had said that Godric Gryffindor was famous for his wandless magic. It was still pretty amazing, he had hardly needed to concentrate at all.

Padma was clapping next to him. "Well done." Harry put his wand back on the desk.

"Thanks I-" His wand had started rolling down the desk and was about to fall when he reached out to grab it, at the same time Padma did. Her hand closed around Harry's wand and his hand closed around hers. They were frozen like that for a moment before Harry realised what he was doing and quickly removed his hand.

There was a moment of silence before... "He- Here's your wand, Harry," she said, passing him the wand. Harry noticed she was turning a deep scarlet.

"Listen, Padma, I-"

"Has anyone succeeded in performing wandless magic?" asked Dumbledore. The room grew silent.

"Harry has," said Padma quickly and before Harry could stop her.

"Mr. Potter," said Dumbledore, a knowing twinkle in his eyes. "A demonstration, if you will."

Harry nodded as Dumbledore magically made a cup appear in his hand, he then placed the cup on his palm. "Now, Harry, summon the cup to you."

Harry stood up and raised his arm, his hand outstretched. He concentrated and then... "Accio cup." The cup flew off Dumbledore's palm and landed neatly in Harry's hand.

There were many 'oohs' and 'ahhs' from the assembled students. People were clapping and, Harry noticed, Padma was clapping particularly loud. This made Harry very happy.

"Well done, Harry," said Dumbledore. "What emotion did you use?"

Harry sat back down. "Happiness," he said with a quick glance at Padma out of the corner of his eye. And a little bit of rage, he thought, picturing Voldemort.

"Ah yes, my favourite emotion. Very good." Dumbledore turned his attention back towards the rest of the class. "Now I want you all to keep practicing for the next hour, if you manage a summoning charm move on to something else."

Soon the commotion started up again as everyone tried to summon something to them. Harry turned to Padma to see that she was staring at him intently, like she was working up the courage to ask him something. "Harry?"

"What?"

"Wh- what was the... the happy thought you were thinking of when you summoned that cup?"

Harry was taken a back by this. He had been thinking about her and it looked like she knew. Damn, he thought. She's not in Ravenclaw for nothing. He thought of something quick. "Well... I- I was thinking about Little Harry..."

"Oh," she said, disappointment clearly etched on her face. She quickly recovered. "He was a cute little thing though, wasn't he?"

"Oh yeah, he was just great. Especially when he marked his territory on my robes."

Padma started laughing at this memory and Harry smiled. "Try and summon your wand now, Padma," he said.

"What? Ohh," she said through her laughter. "Accio w-," she laughed. "Em- Accio wand." Her wand vibrated and moved a few inches towards her hand, "Oh did you see that. Looks like Little Harry is a happy enough thought for the both of us."

Harry spent the next hour talking to Padma and practicing wandless magic. He was beginning to scare himself as he kept performing different spells without a wand. After the summoning charm he'd performed the banishing charm, the Incendio spell on some parchment (closely followed by a water charm), and the Reparo charm on a broken quill of Padma's.

It was the same feeling, he realised, as when he had cast the patronus for the first time in third year. He knew he could do it, because he already had. But I’ve never done this, he thought. And I shouldn’t be able too...

Perhaps the sword has something to do with it, perhaps the sword has turned my arm into a wand…

"You're really good at this, Harry," Padma said. "I can barely summon my wand."

"I guess I've just got a knack for it," he shrugged. He and Padma looked at each other for a moment. "Listen, Padma I-"

"How are we all fairing now?" asked Dumbledore.

Damn, thought Harry, that's the second time he's done that.

"Do not be discouraged if you haven't performed wandless magic yet, as we have a whole term to practice. Although, with that in mind I would like a show of hands as to who has done wandless magic."

Harry and Padma raised the hands, so did two of Padma's Ravenclaw friends, Ron and Hermione, Malfoy, the Hufflepuff Harry didn't know, and finally, to Harry's surprise, Neville.

"Very good," said Dumbledore. "Ten points to each house. Now for the remainder of the period could you please write notes on wandless magic from page 67 of your textbooks."

Harry pulled out his quill and began taking notes, Padma the same. He tried to think of something to talk about but nothing came to mind, so the rest of the lesson past in relative silence. When the bell went Harry said his goodbyes to Padma, collected his things, and approached Dumbledore's desk. The classroom was empty now.

"So Harry, Professor McGonagall tells me you wish to become an animagus."

"Yes, sir."

Dumbledore was silent for a moment. "I agree with you, it would certainly be useful considering how hard it has become protecting you from him of late."

"So, Professor McGonagall will teach me?"

"Yes, Harry, you will report to her office at eight o'clock this evening."

"That soon!"

Dumbledore nodded. As Harry was standing there it just struck him that he was nearly as tall as Dumbledore’s shoulder. When did that happen? he thought.

Dumbledore put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "I've not had a chance to ask you this yet Harry, but how are you keeping?"

Harry thought before answering. He had not been keeping well. He wasn't sleeping and he'd nearly had his leg blown off in the past week. Not to mention the prophecy that he couldn't go ten minutes without thinking about "As well as to be expected," he finally said.

Dumbledore's eyes pierced into him, seemingly seeing his thoughts. It wasn't legilimency, though. It was concern. "Okay, hurry along now, I believe you have Divination in the far north tower."

Harry nodded and turned to leave, limping all the way out into the hall and up to the north tower. When he got to the ladder at the bottom of the trap door though, he was stumped. He couldn't get up the silvery ladder with his leg. Everybody else was already up in the room. Harry thought for a moment and then he had an idea.

He pulled out his wand and pointed it at himself, he was about to say a spell... when he had another idea. Harry put his wand away and then pointed his hand at himself. He concentrated on a happy thought and... "Gravios." He felt and saw the beam of light come out of his hand and hit him in the chest. Harry slowly floated up to and through the trap door.

He finished the spell and landed on the floor of the Divination room. "Good day, Mr Potter," said Professor Trelawney. "How nice of you to join us."

"Sorry I'm late," Harry quickly said, limping over to a pouf and sitting next to Ron. "Had a little trouble getting up the ladder."

"Quite all right, dear, I knew you would be late anyway."

"Uh-huh," said Harry.

Trelawney turned her attention back to the group. "Today we will be revising the cards, my dears. Partner off and select a deck of cards from the back wall."

Harry turned to Ron. "Listen, mate," he said. "I -er- I'm sorry about shouting at you at lunch."

Ron didn't say anything for a moment. "It's okay, Harry, we just wish you'd let us in a little more. We're your friends, talk to us."

Harry sighed. "There is something I've not been telling you, but you have to believe me that it's for your own good. And- and I'm also not ready to tell anyone this..." Harry trailed off as the Prophecy interrupted his thoughts.

"Whatever it is," said Ron, "it's changed you. You used to be a lot more fun, you weren't always so serious."

"Things change, mate."

"Yeah I know. I just wish they’d change for the better now and again…”

Neither of them said anything. Harry wondered really how much the prophecy had changed him. "Do you want to go waste some time predicting my death?" asked Harry.

"Sure," laughed Ron.

Ron went and got a deck of cards as Harry pulled himself around to a table. Ron returned with the cards and began shuffling them. "Do you want to go first or should I?" he asked.

"I'll do you," said Harry. Ron handed him the cards and Harry shuffled them himself. Harry then removed the top five cards and placed them face down on the table. "All right," he turned the first card over, it was the destiny card. "Hmm..." The second card was a card with a goat on it. "I think it's your destiny to own a goat," he turned the third card over, a magician. "I really can't be bothered with this," he told Ron.

"Nah, me neither."

"Is something wrong, my dears?" asked Professor Trelawney.

"Er- no, I was just about to do a reading for, Harry."

Trelawney looked between the two of them. "Do you mind if I do Mr Potter's reading?"

"Be my guest," said Ron, who got up to allow Trelawney to sit down.

Harry offered her the deck but she pulled her own out of her pocket instead. Harry's opinion of Trelawney had changed slightly since he'd found out that she could, in fact, See every now and again. She began shuffling her deck and then placed the top five cards on the table. But he couldn't help but think that tales of death and misery were about to come from this reading.

The first card she flipped over was the Time card. "Hmm..." She didn't say anything but continued flipping the cards. Time was followed by the Morning card, and then the Magic card, the Death card, and finally the Warrior card.

"What does it say?" asked Harry.

"Well... the Morning card means these events will happen soon, within a year. But I..."

"What?"

"The other cards do not make any sense... unless..." Trelawney moved her hand over the deck of cards; she paused for a moment before removing the top card and placing it face down on the table, above the third card she drew previously. "A six card draw is extremely rare, Mr Potter," she said with her hand on top of the card that was face down. "If this card depicts a weapon then..." She flipped the card and, lo and behold, there was a picture of a sword.

Harry looked from the card on the desk to Trelawney in the chair. "Now what does it mean?" he asked.

She sighed. "I'm afraid these cards are quite clear in their meaning, they show that you will be present when someone dies, and it may be your own death."

Harry wasn't surprised but he was still a little edgy. He knew Trelawney could be right occasionally.

"You see Magic is next to Death," she pointed to the cards next to one another. "This means that magic will be involved in the death. Time magic will also play a part in this event."

"What about the Warrior and the Sword cards?" Harry thought that it was just too much of a coincidence that a sword had come into play.

"Well these three cards," she said, pointing to the Sword, Time, and Warrior cards, "form a triangle, which means they're connected. They create a Trinity. I can only read them like this; A warrior who carries a sword, I presume it's you because this is your reading, will be lost to time and space. I believe the complete reading is this: You and a friend will fight; one will die while the other, the sword wielding warrior, will be lost to some sort of time magic. These events will come to pass within one year; that was the Morning card." She looked sadly at Harry. "I'm sorry, my dear, things don't look good."

"When have they ever..." Harry grumbled to himself.

The rest of the period passed without incident, and soon Ron and Harry were walking down to the Great Hall for dinner. "What a day," Harry said as they took their seats at the Gryffindor table. "I thought it would never end."

Hermione arrived soon after and she and Harry exchanged apologies over the lunch incident. At quarter to eight, Harry looked up at the head table, Professor McGonagall gave him a small nod and then rose from her seat and walked over to him. "Potter, I need to have a word with you, please follow me."

Ron and Hermione raised their eyebrows, but Harry just shrugged. "I'll see you later back at the common room." They nodded and he followed McGonagall out of the Hall and up to her office. Harry entered the room and closed the door behind himself.

"Well," began McGonagall, "the Headmaster has given me permission to teach you how to become an animagus, Harry. Now I don't want you to have any illusions, this won't happen over night."

"I know – it took my dad and Sirius three years to become animagi."

"Oh, it won't take that long, not with proper instruction. You're looking at about six months, maximum."

Wow, thought Harry. I could be an animagus by March next year.

"First we have to see if you're suited to becoming an animagus."

"How do we do that?"

"Have you ever transformed yourself, Harry? Maybe made your limbs longer or your hair grow?" she asked.

Harry didn’t have to think very hard about that. "Yeah... yeah I made my hair grow once. I had it all shaved off and it grew back over night."

"That sounds like the right sort of thing. You may even have a few abilities that metamorphmagus’ possess. Now I want you to concentrate on doing it now, make your hair grow. Think about how it looks now, and then think about it being longer, a lot longer."

Harry closed his eyes and imagined how his hair looked in his mind's eye. He saw his new haircut, and then he imagined it how it used to be, all scruffy and unruly. He opened his eyes. "Has anything happened?"

"I'm afraid not," said McGonagall. "Concentrate for longer this time; try to imagine each hair, where it joins your head and where it ends. Take your time, don't try to make it grow right away, memorize how it looks now, before attempting to grow it."

Harry closed his eyes again. He didn't know how long he sat there imagining his hair, but when he thought he'd done it enough, he began to imagine that he wanted it longer, a lot longer. He felt a tingling all over his forehead and he opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Professor McGonagall smiling at him. "Well done, Harry. Here." She handed him a small, circular mirror.

Harry looked at himself. His hair, which he had had cut short only two days ago, was now shoulder length (he could tie it into a pony tail if he wanted). "Well I'm glad I had that haircut now," he said.

"You can return it to how it was. Think of it getting shorter and it will."

Harry closed his eyes a third time and this time it happened almost instantly. He felt his head tingling and he opened his eyes. Looking in to the mirror, he could see his hair was back to normal. "That's good, Potter. You've progressed further than I expected already.” She looked disturbed, and a little pale. “I think we'll call it a night at that. You look tired, Harry. Have you been sleeping well?"

"Yeah... sleeping fine. Goodnight, Professor," he said, making his way out of the door.

"Goodnight, Harry, be here at eight o'clock tomorrow night."

Harry left the office and began the quarter of an hour journey back to Gryffindor Tower. He wanted nothing more than to get into bed and sleep for a year. How much has happened over the last week, he thought, Death Eaters, Dementors, explosions, high speed broom chases, finding out I'm Gryffindor's heir, have a sword in my arm, and now training to become an animagus. Everything was happening too fast he thought. His magic was growing and becoming easier to use.

A helluva lot easier to use since he’d taken Gryffindor’s sword.

Once back in the common room he limped over to the fireplace and collapsed into his favourite armchair, next to Ron and Hermione. "What did McGonagall want?" asked Ron.

"She -er- just... wanted to see how I was doing... you know, after all that's happened this past week."

His friends nodded, but didn't seem convinced. Harry felt his eyelids dropping as he sat by the warm fire. He shook himself awake before he could fall asleep. "I think- I think I'll have an early night," he told his friends.

"Night, mate."

"Goodnight, Harry."

"'Night, you two."

Harry limped up the stairs and into his dorm. It was empty apart from him. He quickly changed into his pyjamas and climbed into bed, sleep coming as soon as his head hit the pillow.

*~*~*~*