Chapter 13 – Working Together

Three weeks into the term and Potions on a Wednesday had turned into a nightmare for half the class. Looking for the potion ingredients and methods was becoming exhausting as you only had two nights to find it. Also you were learning new methods to mix potions and it was becoming more important to use precise amounts of ingredients and specific tools. Snape was his usual sneering self, stalking between the desks marking all the houses down except Slytherin.

'Mr Potter. Why is your potion blue? It is supposed to be green.' Snape leans in close to Harry and sneers at him

'Maybe because I haven't added the newt tails yet.' Harry turns away from Snape and drops in the newt tails he had prepared instantly his potion turns blue. Snape glares at him.

'10 points from Gryffindor for back chat.' He stalks off to peer down at the Hufflepuffs potions. Hermione next to him breathes out deeply.

'He just gets worse, even on a Saturday! I can't imagine what he's like in Occlumency.' Harry understood what Hermione was on about. On Saturday mornings in Advanced Potions Snape was getting impatient that they all hadn't fixed the ingredients in their potions yet. Harry had completed on the Saturday just gone but the others were still working on it. He'd actually seen Malfoy in the library looking frantically through books in the Restricted Section hoping for inspiration. Harry pulled his mind back to the room and lesson and drops in the one puffskien feather the potion required that he pulled from Leo that morning. It had been quite a challenge to find his Puffskein as Crookshanks fondness of Leo hadn't diminished and Crookshanks was currently scratching anybody who went near his 'baby'. A yellow spiral of colour appears from where the feather had been dropped in giving the potion the duel colour it was supposed to be if done correctly. Harry then took his cauldron off the flame just as Hermione added her feather and watched the yellow spiral out. Once Hermione had taken her cauldron off the flame too, they both shared the clearing away and sit down with two vials of thier potion left. Hermione instantly pulls out a textbook for Potions and opens it up at a bookmark already in place whilst Harry pulls out some notes and begins to go through and highlight them.

'I thought you knew what ingredient you needed to fix your potion?' Harry asks quietly whilst Snape has his back turned from them yelling at some Hufflepuffs for managing to melt their cauldrons.

'Yes. But I just making sure.'

'Hermione. You know what potion it was supposed to be right?' Hermione nods 'Did you check through all the list of ingredients against your results from the Fateorion Revealer Charm and from the results of the Distinguo Tests?' Hermione nods again 'What did you discover?'

'It's the basic base, Elemetum, which can be used to make some poisons and medicinal potions. It is missing 3 drops of the Essence of Belladonna, once the Belladonna has been purified to 95 purity.'

'There. You have it. Why are you panicking? You are a very smart witch Hermione.'

Hermione blushes burying her head into her book to try and hide her red face from Harry.

'Lessons over. Bring a vial of your potions to the front desk.'

Harry picks up thier vials and takes them to the front, after putting an Indestructable Charm on the vials, carefully putting it in the holders available. Last week Malfoy had knocked his arm and his own potion had fallen on the floor, smashing the vial and spilling the potion over his robes, getting him zero points. He walks back and takes his bag from Hermione who is wating for him, before they both rush out of the classroom, back upto the main school and then head out of the school, across the lawns towards the greenhouse 5.

'What are we covering today?' Harry asks Hermione

'Plants that are used as active ingredients in poisons.' Hermione looks at Harry as he begins to smile.

'Excellent. Do you think Snape knows what every poison looks like?' Hermione thumps his arm playfully setting him off laughing. 'Ow Hermione. I really can't afford to be bruised. What if my adoring public found out. I can see the headlines now. Boy-Who-Lived beaten by Best Friend.' Hermione hits him again a little more forecfully causing Harry to laugh louder. Some of the students waiting outside the greenhouse turn in the direction of the laughter and watch as Harry wraps his arm around Hermiones shoulders pulling her closer, before she holds his hand that's around her and starts laughing with him. Neville, who is standing with Seamus and Parvati turns to them.

'Is Hermione supposed to be dating Ron?'

'She is. But those two have always been like that.' Parvati replies. Neville nods having faith in her words. She was the biggest gossip in the school. Seamus looks confused.

'Have they always been that friendly?'

'I think so.' Neville replies. Harry and Hermione join them cutting off any more conversation. Harry removes his arm from Hermiones shoulder and drops his bag on the floor sighing.

'How was potions?' Neville asks.

'Horrible. Snape is just the same as ever.'

'Harry. He never insulted your potion once.'

'Didn't you see him taking points off me then?'

'He took them off because you talked back.'

'He took them off because my potion was correct and there was nothing he could do about it.'

Madam Pomfrey cutting off Hermione's reply. They file in taking thier usual seats towards the front around a circular table.

'Now class. Quieten down. Today we are removing pollen from the Veriatasium Plant. Who can tell me the main potion this plant is used for?' Hermione raises her hand along with most people in the class apart from Harry who is trying to find his Dragon-hide gloves in his bag whilst slapping the Venomous Tentacula's feelers away from him. 'Mr Potter?' Harry quickly looks up and then at everybody's faces staring at him. Hermione whispers the question to him.

'Um, Veristium.' Madam Pomfrey smiles at him.

'Correct Mr Potter. Get into pairs and fill up a vial with the pollen please using the method you discovered for homework.' Everybody gets into pairs. Harry and Hermione slowly walk over to their plant carrying avial they had picked up from Madam Sprouts desk. Their plant has two large flowers on it which turn towards them as it feels them approching. Hermione looks around at everybody else who are eyeing thier plant warily, omitting Neville who seems to be quite happy getting the pollen.

'Harry. This is dangerous.' Hermione whispers. Harry rolls his eyes.

'Of course it is.' Harry walks forward like Snape showed him and gently strokes the top leaf. He transfigures his wand into a small brush and removes some of the pollen and then slowly steps back dropping the brush end into the vial fastening the stopper tightly. Hermione looks at him. 'It's easy. You have to stroke the top leaf closest to the plant head.'

'I know that Harry i did do the homework.' Harry shrugs clearly not offended by her outburts. Hermione slowly walks forwards and reaches forward to stroke the plant. Next second she jumps back into Harry. The flower head rapidly turns to wards her. Harry quickly grabs her and turns his back towards the plant, spinning Hermione away, as the poisonous pollen is spat out. It lands on the skin on the back of his neck. Madam Pomfrey comes rushing over.

'My dears. Are you okay? Did it touch your skin?' She frantically asks. Harry rubs the back of his neck starting to feel a little dizzy.

'I think it did.' Hermione twists out of Harry's arms in time to catch him as he sways on the spot. Madam Pomfrey rushes away and returns quickly tearing the sealed lid of a single vial and pushing it to Harry's mouth. Harry drinks it his face distorting with distaste.

'Dawsons Pollis Reversal' Harry mutters before his world goes black.

Harry slowly wakes up blinking at the sunlight in his face. Thankfully his glasses are placed onto his face as Hermione comes into view standing over him looking worried.

'Oh Harry. I'm sorry. The plant it…I...'

'It doesn't matter Mione.' Harry smiles at her and shakes his head.

'Madam Sprout was really worried, if Snape hadn't insisted she had the antidote you could of died.'

'Snape is sometimes useful isn't he?' Harry asks smiling at Hermione. Suddenly Hermione hugs him tightly, Harry awkwardly pats her on the back, relieved when he sees Ron enter the Hospital Wing over her shoulder.

'Do you have to always end up in here Harry?' Hermione, startled, lets go of Harry and stands back up. Harry drops his legs over the beds edge ready to flee.

'Unfortunately Ron, yes i do. Now lets get out of here before she arrives back.'

'Mr Potter, i hope you are not trying to escape?' Harry tuirns sheepishly to see Madam Pomfrey standing behind him, holding a vial and glaring at him.

'Of course not. You'd find me anyway.' Harry mutters the last part.

'I heard that.' Harry shrugs his shoulders and smiles weakly at her.

'Can't blame me for trying.'

'Hmmmm.' Refusing to argue anymore Madam Pomfrey hands Harry the vial. Without a moments hesitation Harry downs the potion trying not to taste it but failing.

'Why can't Snape make these things taste better?' Madam Pomfrey smiles at him. 'I'll be sure to pass your compliments onto him.' Harry grimances.

'Can i go now?'

'Yes Mr Potter, the Headmaster told me you could, but if there's any sign of dizzyness or Heart problems i want you straight back here.' Pomfrey looks sternly at harry who meekly nods. Satisfied, nodding, Madam Pomfrey bustles away leaving the Trio alone. Harry jumps down from the bed and picks up his bag the is next to the bedside table.

'Let's go.'

'Good. You can now help me with my Defence homework after dinner.'

'Haven't you done it yet Ronald, you have had 2 weeks to do that essay and you have more breaks then we do!'

'Sorry. I have been figuring out new moves for Quidditch matches this year. And it is taking me longer then I thought.'

'Ron. Not point in lying. Hermione and I both know you'd rather play at Quidditch then do your work.' Harry smiles at Ron. Ron blushes. 'Come on food.' Harry adds leading Ron and Hermione out of the Infirmary.

Hermione, Ron, Harry and Neville are sitting in front of the fire doing work later that evening. Neville is reading his Herbology textbook, Ron is doing his Defence essay accompanied by various moans, groans and curses whilst Harry and Hermione are reading over their Advanced Defence textbooks. Harry groans in frustration.

'She damn well knew that block wasn't in this book. We've spent all week so far trying to figure this one out and i bet it's sitting right now in the library. She's probably laughing at us you know.'

'I doubt that Harry. Professor Pentagon wouldn't laugh at her students.' Harry snorts in disbelief.

'I bet you she's sitting right now with Snape discussing us, over a boiling cauldron of poison.'

'Harry, did anybody tell you your imagination is far too wild?'

'Yup. My uncle when i talked about flying motorcycles. Wasn't imagination though, and neither is this.' Hermione shakes her head giving up.

'We can go look for the other block tomorrow morning after double Defence fist thing. We have a free period.'

'I'll go find it now.' Harry says standing up.

'Harry it's after 10. If you get caught you'll be dead. Especially if Snape catches you.'

'I'll make sure I'm not seen then.' Harry smiles before disappearing up to the boys dormitory. Hermione sighs and stands up going over to the portrait entrance. A few minutes later Hermione apparently walks out for no reason, only to return seconds later with a scolding from the Pink Lady.

Harry loved walking the castle at this time of night. There were no students around and the silence is only broken by the sound of Harry breathing. Carefully he makes his way down to the library only detouring into an empty classroom when he spies Filch coming his way. The library is in darkness, but Harry quickly makes his way over to the relevant section.

Having Hermione does give you the advantage of knowing the layout of the library like the back of your hand, Harry thought.

Dropping his cloak on a table in front of the Defence section Harry pulls over a ladder and climbs up to get a closer look at the books. A short while later, after finding a few relevant books, Harry hears a cry of frustration and a book hitting a solid object. Harry quickly closes the book he was reading, picks up his choices, whislt throwing the cloak back over him. Praying he hadn't been spotted he glances around trying to make out figures moving in the shadowns. Breathing out when he sees nobody. After a few minutes of standing still and no sign of a teacher or Mrs Norris coming to inspect the noise Harry makes his way towards it. In the far corner of the library hidden away from the entrance by a large bookcase is a single table where a lamp is lit. Books are covering it thrown haphazardly around the table. Draco Malfoy is walking backwards and forth wearing a hole in the carpet whilst running his hands through his hair in an agitated manor. Harry drops the cloak off his head.

'Evening Malfoy.' Malfoy's head snaps up as he stops turning to see Harry's head hanging in mid air. He looks confused then angry.

'What do you want Potter?'

'I heard a loud bang. I came to investigate.'

'And you heard it all the way to Gryffindor Tower!'

'No. I was looking for a book to help me in Advanced Defence.' Harry nods at Malfoy. 'See you around then.' Harry covers his head back up.

'Potter wait.' Harry uncovers his head and looks at Malfoy. 'You…you…it doesn't matter.' Harry walks over a few paces closer to the desk and reads one of the titles of the books Draco has out.

'Potions books. Problems in normal potions or advanced?'

'Who said I was having problems?' Draco says angrily.

'Well the definite clue is that you're in the Restricted Section of the library after hours, on pain of death if you are caught, tearing through potion books.' Draco begins to pace again. Harry drops his cloak on a chair, dumping his books on top before pulling one of Draco's selection of books towards him. Draco stops pacing and looks at Harry.

'I suppose you find it funny that I need help in potions?' Draco sneers.

'No. I need help all the time. Hermione generally helps me.' Harry picks up the book and glances over a few pages. 'So its advanced you're having problems with. What you need help with?' Draco seems to struggle with himself for a moment and then comes over and sits down.

'Just because you're helping doesn't mean we're best friends all of a sudden.' Malfoy looks at Harry with narrowed eyes, as if testing Harry.

'I wouldn't dream of thinking that Malfoy. I'm sure I can find it in myself to insult you if I happen to meet you in the corridors or classes and i wont expect a christmas present.' This seems to satisfy Malfoy. Harry sits down on a seat next to Malfoy and pulls over the parchment he was working on.

'How far you got? Have you identified the potion you have in your cauldron?' Harry looks at Draco. Draco shakes his head and then stands up again and begins pacing.

'No I haven't okay. I couldn't understand the textbook. Does that make you happy. Draco Malfoy cannot do potions. I bet you're going to go and brag to all your Gryffindor buddies that I am a failure. That Draco Malfoy only does well in potions as his father pays Professor Snape.'

'Sit down Malfoy and stop being so melodramatic.' Harry says loosing his patience. This stops Malfoy in his tracks. 'I am not a Slytherin. I do not help people to hold them in my debt. I help because somebody needs my help. It will go no further than me if that is what you wish.' Malfoy thinks for a moment and then sits back down. 'And for the record, no matter how much money your father has you can't pay the ministry to give you an O on you Potions N.E.W.T, so you must have recieved it yourself. That sort of means there's no need to pay Snape to give you good grades as you're excellant in Potions.' Malfoy looks at Harry surprised. 'Right, now we know you are capable of understanding this, the first thing we need to do is discover what type of potion you have.'

'I understand that Potter.' Malfoy sneers

'Be quiet for a moment. I'm trying to explain here. There are 9 different types of potions. They are Poisons, Antidotes, Metamorphosis, Medicinal, Dark, Animalia, Aspiration, Fundamental and Elemental.'

'There's that many?' Draco asks stunned. 'There's only 6 in our main textbook and i only found another mention of one other!'

'Yes. Some potions can be in more then one type. For example the Draught of the Living Death can be under Dark and Medicinal, as it can be used for severely injured patients to give their bodies time to heal without causing undue suffering to the witch or wizard or as you know, keep a wizard trapped without a way to escape.'

'Then how do I figure out which is which from just looking at the potion?' Draco sounds curious.

'Each type turns a different colour when the Revealous Charm is used, but potions belonging to two groups or more have a different colour also. For example a Medicinal Potion is light green, but when it can be Dark as well it is Moss Green, or it can be an antidote too, which means the colour is a very light green almost white.'

'I heard of that Charm. I thought it uncovered hidden text or objects?'

'This is a form of Revealous only used for potions. The incantation is Revellio Typus.' Malfoy rolls his eyes. 'Yeah i know, kinda obvious but it works. The wand movement is a wave over the top of your cauldron, left first, back and forth as you say each word.'

'That is a lot more complex then it explains in our books.'

'The book Snape gave us is good, but if you're just starting it's a bit rubbish as it doesn't cover the very basics. I got another textbook called, What They Don't Tell You About Potions by Clue. Less. Costs 10 galleons 17 sickles so you can order that tomorrow.' Draco nods. 'Now you know the charm you can go in tomorrow and figure out which type it is. We are going to need to have your potion to do the next bit of work though. Can you ask Snape if we can use the potions lab tomorrow evening after 9pm?'

'I do not want Snape to know you are helping me!'

'Then you are going to have to get a few vials of your potion and here...' Harry grabs a new piece of parchment and writes on it then hands it to Malfoy. 'We will also need these ingredients. Some of them are in our potion kits the rest you'll either have to steal or ask Snape for.'

Draco takes the list and reads it over.

'None of this is restricted for us. I can ask for them. Where and when are we going to meet up again?'

'Tomorrow. 9pm. Room of Requirement. You know where that is. You caught our illegal club in there last year.'

'Seventh floor outside the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy.'

'Yeah, that's it. It shouldn't be in use tomorrow night.' Malfoy nods then packs his bag clearing the table apart from a few textbooks.

'See you tomorrow.' Malfoy says as he goes to leave.

'What about these books?'

'If you want to play house-elf be my guest.' Malfoy smirks at Harry before disappearing around a bookshelf.

'Git.' Harry says to Malfoys retreating back.

The next day seemed to fly by and Harry soon found himself sitting nervously in the Duelling Room, Dumbledore had let them use for thier DA meetings. Professor Pentagon has already arrived and was seated at a small desk in a corner surrounded by paper and eagerly marking work. Hermione and Ron were sitting with Harry waiting for people to start to arrive.

'What if nobody turns up?'

'Harry. They are going to turn up. People have been talking about it since the notice went up last week.' As Hermione finishes, the members of DA from the previous year waltz in.

'Sorry. We all went to the Room of Requirement before we remembered we're not doing this illegally anymore.' Seamus quips as they all come over and sit on the cushions that had been conjured for them.

'Right. I do not know how many people are coming today so I prepared a few things. The main one though was Curse Deduction. I thought after the start of term we needed to learn this.'

'Did they catch who delivered those items Harry?'

'Don't know Justin.'

'Why would you-know-who want to curse people with magical items anyway?' Asks Hannah Abbot.

'To show us, that wherever we are he can get to us without us even knowing it. It undermines people's confidence that the Ministry are on top of things. Also it would panic parents of the students here enough that they might remove thier children. The more panic there is, the more chaos there is. Voldemort loves chaos. He can slip around unnoticed then.' People nod and agree with Harry on this.

'So then Harry, what we doing?' Neville asks.

'Well me, Hermione and Ron have created these boxes.' Harry picks up a square wooden box that was behind him and puts it on the floor in front of everybody. 'There is enough for you all to work in pairs, but if other people come along then the groups might have to be larger. On each one is 5 curses or hexes. Some are basic and others you will have to research.'

'You did all this?'

'We've had a few weeks to work on it. It was fun actually.'

'If we get cursed won't you get in trouble? ' Ernie asks curiously.

'No, i talked to Dumbledore about this. As long as the curses are not considered Dark or illegal i can use them and I have learnt the counter curses just in case you guys don't know them.' Harry waves a piece of parchment. 'I also wrote the counter curses down just in case others come and i am busy with them. The counters are in the books we brought, but if worse comes to the worse they're here too.'

'Cool. Give me a box then.' Alicia stands up. Harry, Ron and Hermione hand out the boxes to everybody and they break off into pairs. Just as the first few books are opened for help the door to the room opens and a few students wander in. Harry stands up nervously messing up his hair at the back and goes over.

'Hi. Welcome to the Defence Association. Come on in.' Hermione comes over to help out.

'Hi I'm Hermione Granger. If you could write your name and year on this piece of paper we'll get something for you to do.' A squeal and a shout of laughter comes from behind them and they all look round to see Terry Boot doing some sort of Irish Dance. The new comers start giggling. Harry waves his wand muttering something. Terry stops dancing.

'Thanks Harry.' Terry shouts before sitting back down as the others nudge and tease him. Harry turns back to the newcomers.

'Have you written your names down?' They all quickly crowd around Hermione and fight for the quill then come back over to Harry.

'They are all in fourth and third years Harry.' Says Hermione after she has scanned the list. Harry nods.

'Okay. This week I sorted something out for you but I will send around a piece of parchment asking for things you would like to cover as this is your school club and I will see what we can do. Right. Get in pairs.' They all pair up. Harry then leads them over to the centre of the room. 'We are going to do a simple block and use the Expeliarmus Charm today'

'That's kids stuff.' A tall guy with long black hair says looking in disgust at Harry as the others mumble.

'Well when we did this club last year I found that even though we were all fifth and sixth years hardly any of us could do this correctly.' They all fall silent. 'So in your pairs take it in turns to block and curse. Have a go.' Harry steps back and indicates for them to begin. The pairs step apart into two rows and start. Within seconds everybody who is supposed to be blocking is disarmed with their wands flying haphazardly around the room. One even hits Neville on the back of the head.

'Ouch.'

'Sorry Neville.' Harry calls as he summons the offending wand to him before passing it back to the fourth year.. 'Does anybody know what the incantation is for the block?' A small girl raises her hand. 'Yes Miss…'

'It's Sarah. The incantation is Protego.'

'Good. I'll demonstrate. Hermione send a curse at me will you.' Harry and Hermione face each other. Harry stands with one leg behind the other whilst Hermione points her wand ready. 'Look I have my leg behind me for balance. Even a good block will mean you move backwards if the spell is strong enough. I lift my wand up and hook it under my left thumb. To form the block you push your hand forward and say Protego.' Harry nods at Hermione.

'Expeliarmus' Hermione yells. Harry blocks it. They both them turn back to the students.

'Now you try.'

A short while later after more screams and yells from the original DA working on curses and a few bumps and bruises for the third and fourth years Harry calls an end to the session and hands around some pieces of parchment for people to write ideas for future clubs.

'I would like your ideas for future weeks as this is your school club. I could come up with tons of ideas but this way i get an idea of what you wish to learn. You can even put down some charms or Transfiguration spells if you think they could be used defensively. But remmeber i am not here to teach you your school work. This club will not cross over with your lessons as i talk to all Professors before finalising my plans.' A few minutes later the pieces of parchment are passed back to Harry who glances over them. 'There's some really good ideas here. I'll try and sort them out. So, i guess i'll see you all next week.' Harry smiles.

'Bye Harry. See you back in the Tower.'

'See you tomorrow in class.'

'Thanks Harry. See you next week.'

The door closes behind the last student as Harry drops onto a cushion to take a well-deserved rest. Summoning a cursed box he casually provides counter curses to all of the 5 curses. He then pulls out the Honeydukes chocolate bar that was inside breaking it into pieces. Hermione and Ron drop down next to Harry each pinching some chocolate as Professor Pentagon comes over.

'Well done Mr Potter, it was most enjoyable keeping an eye on events. I will be here the same time next week.'

'Thank you Professor.' Harry says. After Pentagon has left Harry turns to Hermione and Ron.

'Thanks guys, i couldn't of done it without you two.'

'Nonsense Harry. You did most of the work anyway.' Hermione points her wand up into the air and says.

'Hora.' Harry yells out when he sees the numbers 9:03.

'I'm late.' Harry runs to the door before turning back.

'Can you two clean up?' Laughing Ron and Hermione nod thier heads as Harry nods in relief before running fron the room.

Breathing heavily when he reaches the statue, a panted password 'Flying Whizbees' to the gargoyle, lets him through to the rising staircase. After knocking once Harry opens the door and enters the office for the first time that year. Looking around he sees that the objects he had destroyed are all working again and placed back on the shelves. Dumbledore looks up from his desk and smiles indicating for Harry to have a seat.

'I'm sorry sir. For breaking your objects, last time i was in here.'

'Nonsense Harry. You were very upset and objects can be repaired.' Harry smiles sheepishly and sits down on the indicated soft couch in front of the desk.

'How has your first DA meeting?' Dumbledore asks as he conjures up a tray of tea and biscuits.

'Good. A few new people turned up today. I worked on basic blocks and hexes with them whilst the rest worked on some cursed boxes me, Ron and Hermione made up.' Harry says as he takes a cup and dunks a few biscuits before sipping his tea.

'I'm sure a few others more will turn up next week.'

'I don't know. The Daily Prophet has been telling everybody how if I am the Chosen One I must be a pretty powerful Dark Lord myself to even contemplate beating Voldemort. I think they're scared to be around me.'

'I'm sure people will figure out that you are not going to jump out of the shadows and curse them soon enough. Just give it some time.' Harry shrugs.

'I wonder if they'll give me some other name with hyphons? I couldn't cope if i became the Boy-Who-Turned-Into-A-Dark-Lord or perhaps Boy-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.' Dumbledore chuckles at Harry.

'I doubt you would be called that. More likely to be Dark Lord Harry Potter.' Harry sighs but picks up some more biscuits. After a few minutes of silence drinking thier tea, Dumbledore puts down his cup and coughs to get Harry's attention that had wondered to his shelves of books and trinkets. 'So tonight we are going to discuss what I will be teaching you.' Harry shifts to sit more comfortably in his seat 'Now. Do you remember what we were discussing the day you spent with me during the summer holidays?'

'Yeah you told me that the power the Dark Lord knows not is love and that using love to create spells and to use in my spells makes them stronger as love doesn't need to be sustained.'

'Yes, that is true. For most people love like hate does need to be sustained. I cannot imagine Professor Snape being able to create spells with love. But for you Harry, who seems to love so many people, this is not a problem. You already use this as you primary emotion. It is what stopped Voldemort possessing you in the Ministry of Magic last summer.'

'So we are going to be learning spells using only love?' Asks a confused Harry.

'No. We are going to start by sorting out memories that create your feeling of love, comfort and warmth. This will help you get started. Once you can call these memories at will we can start using them when you are doing basic spells whilst occluding your mind to negative thoughts. This is very difficult Harry and will take a while to understand and accomplish. In fact it took me many years to be able to accomplish this. But i had no teacher as you have.'

'What about when I get angry?'

'That is going to be this weeks homework. I want you to create an emotion diary. In it I want you to write down every emotion you feel throughout the day and what was happening when you felt it. Even if you have to stop your studies to fill it out. The other Professors will be informed of this diary and not to stop you from writing in it. If you get angry this next week I want you to run through a relaxation exercise I am about to teach you. It will help channel your anger away into something more productive until we can channel it away completely.' Harry nods. 'Now Harry, i want you to close your eyes.' Harry places his tea cup onto Dumbledores desk before closeing his eyes and leans back in the chair.

'Focus on my voice Harry. Now calm your breathing. A deep breath in through your nose and out slowly through your mouth.' Dumbledore watches for a few minutes to see Harry do this. 'Now i wish for you to think of a memory, a happy memory, maybe the one you use for your patronus. Can you picture it?' Harry nods. 'Do not stop your deep breathing Harry.' Dumbledore adds when he notices harry stop breathing out through his mouth. 'Now see your memory. Focus on it. Look at the detail. See how bright the colours are, immerse yourself in how happy you were when this memory happened, live the memory Harry.' Harry's breathing slows down and a small smile forms on his face. 'Well done Harry. Just focus on the memory.'

Dumbledore sits there silently for a while watching harry's breathing deepen as he almost seems to fall asleep, with the faint smile on his lips never fading. Dumbledore leans forward and talks very softly as not to startle Harry.

'I would like you to produce your patronus for me. Do not forget to deep breathing.' Harry nods sleepily and raises his arm. 'Focus on the memory Harry. Focus!'

Harry raises his hand containing his wand and whispers.

'Expecto Patronum.' A blaze of white, lights the room and a white form of a stag appears standing beside Harry looking down at him proudly. Dumbledore sits back as the stag walks slowly around Harry's chair, never leaving the person he is meant to protect. Harry still has his eyes closed focusing on his memory.

'Okay Harry open your eyes.' Harry opens his eyes and sits up a little dazed by the bright light of his patronus.

'Prongs.' The stag disappears as Harry reaches out and touches the stagas head. Harry looks back at Dumbledore.

'There you are Harry. That spell requires love and happiness to produce a corporal patronus. I started with this spell, as I knew you could manage it. Do you see the power love has?' Harry nods still looking at the spot Prongs was standing. Dumbledore smiles. 'Off to your dormitory now Harry. Try calming yourself down with this exercise before you got to bed and see what happens.' Harry smiles and leaves. Dumbledore leans back in his chair and rest his face in his hands staring at the door Harry has just left out of. Fawkes lands on the desk in front of him and nudges his hand.

'I know old friend. But all I can do is put him on the correct path to control his power. I cannot force him to do anything. I tried that with Tom and look where it gt me.' Fawkes trills at Dumbledore. 'I know, Harry doesn't seem to have any ill feeling towards anybody. But he could still turn from the light path. He is going to need a lot of patience and love.' Dumbledore absentmindingly strokes Fawkes feathers, whilst Fawkes sings to calm him.

Whilst Dumbledore was worrying over past actions and wondering if he was doing the correct thing, his fears would probably have been put to rest had he seen Harry at that moment. Harry was currently setting up a cauldron with a flame under it in the Room of Requirement whilst waiting for his school enemy Draco Malfoy. When Draco arrived and shutt he door quickly behind him, Harry turns and waves his wand at the door. Draco looks alarmed and glances between the door and Harry.

'What did you do?'

'I locked the door. Do you want somebody walking in on us like you did to my club last year?' Draco nods and comes over with a large box. He puts it on a table the room has created and opens it. Inside are many vials containing potions and potion ingredients.

'I brought my set of books I have for advanced potions. I ordered these after our first lesson. You can find copies of these in Snapes lab or in the Potion section of the library. None of them are restricted.' Harry says pointing at a small pile of books in front of Draco.

'Thanks. So what do we do first?'

'Did you test your potion to see what is was yet?'

'Yes. It turned red. What does that mean?' Harry passes him a large thick book.

'Page 187.' Draco takes the book off him and turns to page 187. He snorts.

'Poison. I am not surprised.'

'Pour the sample of your potion into the cauldron.' Malfoy picks up 2 vials and pours them in. 'We have to figure out what ingredients are already in it. Then all you can do is search for a poison containing all of those ingredients.'

'Is that it?'

'No. Some poisons only have one ingredient that is different. I suggest you make a note of every potion that has those same ingredients and then note down what the missing one could be. Pick your favourite and add it making sure to put in your report why you chose that ingredient to add and not the others.'

'He really is a bastard.'

'He's your Head of House.'

'Doesn't mean he's not a bastard. Doesn't he realise we have other subjects too?'

'I'm sure he'd extend the deadline for you, the Prince of Slytherin' Draco smiles slyly at Harry.

'He probably would.' Harry rolls his eyes and picks up his wand. Malfoy automatically reaches for his and points it at Harry.

'Malfoy if I wanted to hex you, you'd already be in a body bind. You are far to slow at drawing your wand. But now you have your wand out do the Revealous Charm.'

'I already did that. I told you it turned red.'

'So? I want to make sure you didn't mess it up. If we're going to be looking through Poison textbooks I at least want to make sure it is a poison we are looking for.'

Draco sneers and moodily turns to the cauldron. He waves his wand over the cauldron muttering 'Revellio Typus'. The potion glows red and then goes back to colourless.

'See!' Draco says angrily. 'You can trust me'

'I do not trust anybody Malfoy until they have earned it. I trust my friends to help and protect me, I trust Dumbledore to protect me, I trust Snape to be sarcastic and give me crap potion marks and i trsut Voldemort to cheat, so I ignore what he is saying and look for someplace to hide instead.'

'Hide! The great Harry Potter, Chosen One, is hiding from the Dark Lord. At least you have some brains.'

'Better then dying.'

'Why don't you kill him then? Or are you too afraid too?'

'No I am not afraid of Voldemort. But I cannot kill him.' Harry adds simply.

'Why not?' Draco actually seems interested to know why.

'I could never do an Unforgivable Curse.'

'You did against Aunt Bella.' Harry raises an eyebrow.

'You know about that. I wondered if she had visited you.' Draco merely shrugs at the implication. 'Your aunt probably had great delight in telling you it didn't work then. You need to truly hate the person to get it to work and detest them to kill them. Even though Bella had just killed my godfather Sirius I could not even bring up enough hate to hurt her. How do you think I'll kill Voldemort?' Draco just looks at Harry 'Gonna go tell your dads boss now?'

'I might do'

'Do it. You'll become a Death Eater just like him. You'll be marked for life with a scar that isn't actually very attractive. It tells Voldemort where you are all the time, it hurts like hell when he calls you and hurts even more when he burns it onto your skin. It binds you to him. You will never be able to rule your own life again. He tells you were to go, what to do, even who you can befriend. It even allows him to punish you when he feels like it and trust me he feels like punishing you a lot.' Harry ignores how pale Draco is going.

'Have you ever felt the pain of Crucio?' Draco shakes his head. 'It feels like thousands of knifes are sticking in you, your skin feels tight and you'll do anything to tear it off, your bones feel like splinters and your heart pumps so badly it might break through your chest. And all the while you are wishing it would end. That maybe death isn't such a bad option after all.' Draco has turned white. 'Trust me Malfoy. I know.' Harry turns away and takes a few deep breathes trying to remmeber the lesson he just had with Dumbledore. Draco swallows hard and then turns back to the cauldron.

'Sorry Malfoy, i never meant to scare you.'

'You didn't. You're probably lying anyway.' Malfoy replies trying to sound sarcastic but failing miserably. Silence descends.

'How do I figure out what ingredients are in this?' Harry turns back. He picks up another textbook and opens it up to a book marked page.

'First…..'

Harry and Draco got together again on Friday night and early Saturday morning as well. Ron and Hermione had refrained from asking him where he was going at all hours of the night as his mood had been unpredictable for a few days and he was liable to either snap at you or walk away. Ever since his slip about his fighting with Voldemort with Draco Harry had been afraid. Afraid Draco might actually inform his dear aunt Bella what he had said. He knew Bella would have no problems passing this onto Voldemort quickly.

Harry need not have been worried. Draco had not even mentioned the conversation to his black Eagle Owl, Aeolus. His closest confidant since he started Hogwarts. The description of the Crutatius Curse had given Draco nightmares for the past two nights since Harry had let it slip.

Sluggish and tired Draco pulled on his school robes for his early morning Saturday lesson. He couldn't keep his mind off how his father kept saying that serving the Dark Lord was the greatest honour known to wizard kind. He never mentioned what happened when the Dark Lord was angry or what happened to Harry when he was captured. He also never mentioned how the Dark Mark kept you imprisoned. He really needed to talk to somebody about all of this, but the trouble was he didn't trust anybody who wouldn't immediately tell his father of his questions. Draco shuddered at the thought of what his father would do if he discovered him even thinking these thoughts.

Goyle snorted in his sleep knocking Draco out of his reverie. He picked up his wand and cast 'Hora' jumping when it read 7:05.

'Damn I'm late.' He grabs his school bag and quickly leaves his dormitory all the time wondering why he was rushing to meet Potter.

When he reached the potions classroom, Harry is already there. He has a large pile of toast resting on a napkin from the Great Hall in front of him where he is sitting at a table free from cauldrons and books with two cups and a jug of tea.

'I brought us some toast and tea. I figured you wouldn't of been up early enough to go and fetch yourself some.' Draco nods and picks up a piece of toast and then a cup Harry pours tea into for him.

'How far you got with your report?'

'Nearly finished. I just have to figure out which potion to choose and add the missing ingredient.' Harry nods picking up some more toast. They eat in silence until it is all gone and washed down with some more tea each. Harry moves the breakfast stuff to another desk and picks up Malfoys cauldron from a shelf on the side of the room to bring it over.

'Ever heard of Wingardium Leviosa, Potter?'

'Yup. But this way I know the potion wont be spilt all over the dungeon floor.' Malfoy rolls his eyes.

'Muggle ways.'

'Yup.' Says Harry not insulted in the slightest.

Malfoy opens his rolled up parchment to read it over for the ingredients.

'Which one do you think I should choose?'

'What's the easiest and quickest? Bearing in mind after you have added your ingredient, the poison might need boiling, brewing or simmering for a short amount of time.'

'Well adding Asphodel Juice to make it a poison called Silent Slumber means I only have to bring it to boil and simmer for half an hour.'

'Isn't Silent Slumber on the ministries list of illegal poisons? You cannot do that one!'

'What about adding sneezwort to make the poison Blood Reagent.'

'Malfoy, that's another illegal potion. Stop being a Slytherin for a moment and use your brain.'

'So Slytherins do not use their brains?'

'Not when it comes to inventive ways of killing people.' Malfoy pouts completely relxaed in Harry's presence.

'I could be insulted.'

'I am insulted.' They both jump at the souind of the voice. Turning around they see Snape standing in the doorway of his office, glaring at them both.

'When i said you could use the classroom anytime you wished, i have no desire to hear you two arguing before 8am on a Saturday.'

'Sorry, Professor.' Draco says silkily whilst Harry takes Malfoy report from his hand and scans it.

'How about just adding Belladonna? It only gives a poison that can kill you if ingested over a period of a few years. I know this one isn't banned, yet.'

'Potter. I think Mr Malfoy can figure out what he is allowed to create.' Draco takes his parchment back off Harry and smiles smugly at him. Harry scowls. 'The Belladonna is in the potions cupboard top shelf.' Snape says before turning around and disappearing back into his office shutting the door behind him. Draco looks at Harry. Harry stares back.

'Well get me the Belladonna then.' Draco says as though addressing a slave.

'No. It's your bloody potion. You do it.'

'I am not a house-elf!'

'Neither am I.'

'You're taller you can reach the top shelf.'

'It's called a chair Malfoy. You're sitting on one.'

'That's…that's undignified.' Draco looks disgusted at the thought.

'Look. I've helped you this far. I'm not going to do anything else for you.' Draco growls and gets up and goes over to the potions cabinet grabbing the Belladonna Root and bringing it back. Harry moves over so Draco can cut it up and pulls out some homework.

'What's that?' Draco asks starting to cut up the root.

'Advanced Defence. Pentagon gave us research on five different blocks to do by today and one of them wasn't in any of my textbooks.'

'So that's what you were doing in the library the other night.' Harry nods. 'Did you find it?'

'Yup. Right before I found you throwing a tantrum in the Restricted Section.'

'I was not having a tantrum!' Draco says as he adds the roots into the potion. He lights a flame underneath and leaves it to boil.

'Okay then a hissy fit.' They both sit in silence with Harry scribbling away on some parchment.

'You should do your homework at night you know.'

'I would love to. But my nights have been taken up preparing for DA and helping you if you've forgotten.'

'What do you do at DA?'

'Counter curses, curse detection, basic blocks and hexes, duelling against one partner only, that sort of stuff. I have to vary it as not all the years are at the same level.'

'Do you teach them or does Professor Pentagon teach them?'

'No me, Hermione, Ron and a few others from the original group, take it in turns to help the others. I do most of the helping, as I actually have to do the work before the others come to DA. That's why it takes so long to prepare. Dumbledore has to be informed of everything that happens, have an attendance list for each session and have monthly reports on each individual's progress and abilities. I also am responsible for reporting to Madam Pomfrey any injuries that might occur. If Dumbledore says I cannot cover something I have to plan something else. It's not easy.'

'Why do you do it them?'

'It's fun.'

'You call teaching little brats how to shield themselves fun!'

'Yup. I get a warm fuzzy feeling every time I do something nice.' Harry says sarcastically. Draco laughs.

'Saint Potter. Teacher extraordinaire.' Draco's potion begins to boil so he lowers the flame and leaves it to simmer.

In not time at all Hermione and Justin come in and take their potions over to a separate table. They add their ingredients and finish their potions too. Draco takes his off the flame and it has turned the pale blue colour it was supposed to. Snape comes out of his office and goes to the front of the room.

'Your reports please and a vial of your solution.' They all make their way to his desk and hand them in. Snape then waves his wand and their potions disappear and the cauldrons stack themselves into the corner. 'Well done. That was a very basic potion adjustment. All you had to do was find the correct potion in a textbook and make the necessary additions. It's going to get harder. The next step is to discover the exact amount of the ingredient you have to add. This is going to involve complicated Arithmancy. I trust you all know the basics.' Harry raises his hand. 'Yes Mr Potter'

'I have never done Arithmancy before, sir.' Snape smiles thinly.

'Then you are going to find this difficult. Now here are your new potions.' Snape takes out a wooden container holding 4 vials each a different colour. 'This is the same exercise. You will figure out what type of potion it is, then what exact potion it is. Do not be fooled. The exact amount of the ingredients contained in these vials is not those given in any textbook. They are standard for a cauldron full. This is only a vial full, so be careful. When you have discovered what potion it is and the exact amounts if the other ingredients then you can make the appropriate adjustment. Come and collect your potion, new textbook, and abacus'

They all walk back to the front. Snape hands Draco a green vial, a textbook called 'Potion Arithmancy from Basic to Complex' and an abacus, Hermione receives a gold vial, Justin a blue vial and Harry a black vial.

'You are to hand in your report on the 22nd of October. Begin.'

They take their new books back to their seats. Harry empties the vial into a very small cauldron and starts to figure out the type of potion and its ingredients. The lessons soon flies by and Snape is soon calling an end to the lesson. Harry and Hermione make their way quickly towards the Defence classroom for Advanced Defence.

'Hermione I am going to need help with the Arithmancy part.'

'Don't worry Harry it is not that hard. Perhaps you should arrange to go to some OWL Arithmancy lessons or see Professor Vector about some private lessons.'

'Good idea Hermione.' Harry says as they enter the classroom and see Ernie McMillan and Hannah Abbott already waiting for them. As soon as they enter Professor Pentagon comes out of her office and they sit down facing her.

'Can I have your reports on the 5 blocks I asked you to research.' They pass them to Susan who is closest and the Professor takes them and puts them onto her desk. 'Over the next few weeks we are going to practise these blocks. By the end of this year you will be very proficient in these. Now all of you stand up. We are going to practise the Variation Protego Block today. Who can tell me the point of this block? Yes Ms Granger?'

'It's so you don't use your strength up too quickly. If you can vary how much power you put into this block you can create a light block for a basic hex and a very strong block for a powerful curse.'

'How do we know how much power to put behind it?' Hannah asks.

'Practise. You have to discover what you need to put behind it. Some people have naturally stronger blocks so their weakest block might be the equivalent of your medium block. It all depends on the witch or wizard. So you all know the incantation is Protegem. It's slightly different to a normal Protego block. Okay before we start hexing each other practise bringing the block up.'

There is a collective shout of 'Protegem'. Hannah's block fails to appear, Hermiones block appears and then fails, Ernie's block shimmers extremely pale but Harry's block appears as a wall in front of him of pure golden light. The others look at it. Professor Pentagon comes over.

'Mr Potter. The Protego block is a sphere around the conjurer.' Harry nods and concentrates hard. The block slowly bends back and forms a complete circle. Harry starts to shake at the power it is taking. He drops the block panting heavily.

'Good Mr Potter. Now all of you try again.' This time Harry's block comes up as a circle first time, Hannah's and Hermione's comes up as a weak wall in front of them and Ernie manages to conjure a sphere for a few seconds before it disappears. They are all panting heavily when they end the blocks.

'A few moments rest I think, before we try again.'

'Professor why does it take so much out of us at the moment?' Susan asks.

'You are concentrating on pouring your magic behind the spell. When you do it often enough you automatically call up the power and no concentration is required.' Professor Pentagon looks at Harry.

'Up for a hex Mr Potter? I noticed you seem to work better if under attack.'

Harry smiles grimly

'Had more practise that way Professor.' This causes the other three students to smile.

'Get ready Mr Potter.' They stand apart from each other and raise their wands.

'Impedmenta.' Professor Pentagon shouts.

'Protegem.' Harry yells. His block comes up in a fluid circle bright gold. The hex bounces off with a gong and Harry lowers the shield.

'That was easier Professor.'

'Well done. Who's next?'

Professor Pentagon slowly walks towards the Teachers lounge. She enters slowly deep in thought and pours herself a coffee sitting down by the fire not noticing the other teachers in there watching her with interest.

'Problem Penny?' McGonagall asks. Professor Pentagons head comes up quickly and she looks shocked to see McGonagall, Flitwick and Snape sitting on other chairs in front of the fire.

'Sorry, Minerva. I was deep in thought.'

'Potter?' Severus asks

'What makes you say that?'

'You have just had Advanced Defence which I know Potter is in. He usually causes that reaction in most of his teachers.'

Penny sighs.

'I do not know what to do with him.'

'Is he misbehaving?' McGonagall asks

'No. He's been polite and doesn't seem to be causing too much trouble. There's a little ongoing war between him and Draco Malfoy but it only occasionally interrupts my teaching. Harmless banter really.'

'Yes. That's been there since the first day they arrived.' Flitwick adds.

'What is wrong with Potter?' Snape sneers.

'Nothing. That's it. We were learning a Variation Protego Block today...'

'Let me guess. He got it in a few tries.' Snape drops in

'Yes. I used a basic curse against him as I have noticed he learns better and quicker that way and he created it perfectly. Beyond perfectly. It shone so bright I thought I was going to have to cover my eyes.' There is silence as Penny looks at the three teachers helplessly. 'What do I do with him?'

'Set him harder essays and reports. Expect him to create a block first time and if he starts to complain tell him if the work is too hard perhaps he should quit.' Snape says. They all look at him. 'Works for me.'

'But you always hated Harry.' Flitwick replies. 'He does great in my class.' He adds proudly.

'Potter only does enough to keep up. He doesn't do anything extra. Today I started my advanced potions class on Arithmancy in potions. Potter I knew has never looked at an Arithmancy textbook in his life.'

'So what are you going to do? Give him extra help? Extend deadlines to give him time to work?' Penny asks curious.

'No. I told him to leave if he couldn't keep up.'

'Severus.' McGonagall scolds.

'Minerva, that boy is going to going to bend over backwards learning Arithmancy in the next few weeks. I wouldn't be surprised if her went to Arithmancy classes and got private tuition just to prove to me that he is quite capable of doing the work set. He hates to have anybody beat him at anything. Use it against him.' Penny leans back in thought.

'It might work. He gets bored very quickly once he's done the spell, although he does spend a lot of time helping his friends out too.'

'You say he has already got the Protego block?' Severus asks. Penny nods 'Then tell him he has to do it non-verbally. See what happens.'

'Severus. Not even some Aurors can do that!' Minerva puts in. Snape shrugs.

'Potter will. That dratted boy picks up spells like a sponge. Penny, tell Potter, that even wizards like Neville Longbottom could pick up the non-verbal Protego Block in their sleep. See what happens.' Snape puts down his empty cup. 'I'm off to mark Potters blasted report from this morning. I doubt I will find a thing wrong with it either.' Snape stalks out. Penny turns to Minerva.

'Do you think that will work?' Penny asks timidly.

'Unfortunately yes it will. Severus always seems to get the best out of Harry just by annoying him and telling him how useless he is.' Minerva sighs

'But I shouldn't be knocking his confidence down so much. He might loose all hope.'

'Do not worry Penny. He'll kick and scream and curse your name but that boy thrives on defying everybody. Besides, Albus, myself and the rest of the teachers coddle the boy so do not worry.' Minerva stands up. 'You have any problems with him, give him a detention and make him practise the same spell over and over again till he gets it. He if doesn't get it that detention give him another one. Leave his mental health up to me. I'll make sure he doesn't crack.' Minerva leaves the room. Flitwick goes over and pats Penny on the hand.

'He's very powerful Mr Potter is. He just needs to learn that. Show him Penny what a good wizard he really is.' Flitwick leaves the room leaving Penny contemplating and sipping her tea.