Turn Back Time

Comments: e-mail at sstar_luna@yahoo.co.uk or Review button below.

Rating: PG-13 for now, may change later. Will be slash later in the story: HP/?, JP/LE

Spoilers: Books 1-5. Do not read unless you have FINISHED The Order of the Phoenix.

Disclaimer: I don\'t own anything except the plot. All Harry Potter™ characters and settings are the sole intellectual property of JK Rowling, Warner Bros. and various others who all aren\'t connected to me in any way. No money is being made with this fanfiction and no copyright infringement is intended.


Chapter 3: Four Weeks and a Full Moon Part 2


Harry was sitting on Ron\'s bed, reading his Potions coursebook for the upcoming year. It wasn\'t something he was enjoying and he had wondered whether any of it would eventually stick in his mind, but he didn\'t want to give Snape any extra opportunities to ridicule him more than necessary. Not that he needed any reason to, Harry thought sarcastically. His concentration was broken by Ron running back into the room, saying that the Order meeting was about to begin and that he and Ginny were going to try and listen in using the Extendable Ears. Harry waved him off but before he could start reading again, Neville coughed and flushed as he asked him, \"Harry, I was wondering, well … when did you start calling T-Tonks \'Sis\'?\"

\"Oh, that\'s okay Neville. I don\'t mind. It was only just last week, the night of the full moon in fact\" Harry answered with a soft smile.

\"Oh. I mean, I know you don\'t have any … well you\'re an only child like me. I suppose, it\'s just, why?\" Neville replied.

\"I\'m not sure, I just asked. It was something rolling around in my mind\" Harry started. He remembered that night, sitting in the firelight with Moony and Tonks. It was like the outside world didn\'t matter for one night. No pressure, no expectations. Remus, one of his Dad\'s best friends, who saw Harry for Harry, not the Boy-Who-Lived. Could empathise with the fact that both of them were marked by a curse that shaped people\'s views of them. Tonks? Well, Tonks was Tonks to Harry. She was funny and lively. She had a wonderful talent that some feared and she could be clumsy. She escaped from her family\'s history and her exuberance lifted Harry\'s spirit. She loved to tease him, yet seemed protective of him. \"Remus had fallen asleep, I don\'t think he was feeling upto this full moon because, well because Sirius was gone, but it\'s not like he had a choice. So Tonks and I just chatted some. It was a silly thing, but she thought it would be fun I guess. It\'s our \'thing\'. I can\'t explain it well, it just is\" he finished softly.

Neville smiled more as a response than understanding, but Hermione who had been listening silently spoke up, \"I thought you did quite well Harry. It\'s a nice thing\".

\"Yes. Yes it is. Was useful the next morning when Remus woke up!\" Harry remembered.

\"Wait a minute, what did you just say? Oh Harry, did you just say you spent the night with Professor Lupin, on the night of his transformation!\" she asked horrified while Neville turned white. \"That\'s incredibly dangerous! What if something were to go wrong, you could have been hurt, or worse!\"

\"Hermone! I\'m fine!\" shouted Harry, an angry expression on his face. \"Yes it could have been dangerous, but it\'s Remus, he was safe. You know the Potion makes him harmless! It was my choice and I didn\'t do anything wrong!\"

\"I know it was Professor Lupin, but oh Harry. I can\'t imagine he was happy about it either. I can\'t stop you, but please be careful. I\'m just worried about you\", sai said.

Ignoring the latter comment, Harry instead gave a dry chuckle. \"Not happy, try livid! Tonks and I were still sleeping when he woke up and remembered the night\'s events. He shouted at us for about 10 minutes, but his yelling was well, not as effective, as I\'m sure you can imagine, we were all still in bed. Then Tonks just confused the poor bloke by calling me Bro\". Harry snorted before carrying on, \"Remus just sat there watching Tonks and I wind each other up, before muttering something about a bad potion. I think he understood why we did it, even if he\'s not happy about it, besides I think it helped a bit. Hermione, you should have seen him, Moony\'s not a bad looking wolf, we just had some rather bad luck last time\".

\"If you want to call it that\" Hermione retorted, obviously remembering the events at the Shrieking Shack in their Third year.

As the three once again lapsed into silence, Ron stalked back into the room. \"Mom\'s put up warding spells again, Ginny\'s keeping watch though\" he sulked. \"Mind you, it looked like a full meeting. I think something big happened. McGonagall looked more tense than usual, Tonks seemed grim, and Snape just scowled at everyone as he rushed in. I wonder what happened?\"

Harry gave a pursed his lips before replying in a dark tone, \"Nothing nice I assure you\"

\"Do you know something?\" asked Ron eager for any information.

\"No, not really. I couldn\'t sleep for most of the night; my scar was burning quite badly. I woke Tonks so she could go to the Ministry and she stayed up with me for a while\" he answered.

Ron, Hermione and Neville looked at Harry, worry evident on their faces. Hermione asked \"You\'re not still getting visions from V-Voldemort are you?\"

Ron and Neville flinched at the Dark Lord\'s name but looked to Harry for an answer. \"No, I can block my mind from his now, no thanks to that greasy git!\" said Harry, but continued in a sad voice, green eyes shining with unshed tears, \"No, the scar hurt because of the other thing\".

\"The other thing?\" questioned Neville.

\"The scar hurts you when You-Know-Who\'s near you? But- but he couldn\'t have been near Headquarters, Dumbledore said it\'s safe!\" Ron rationalised.

\"Ron! Obviously, he doesn\'t mean that! He means … that there were…\" trailed off Hermione.

\"He was killing last night\" finished Harry in a dull tone. \"Lots of muggles I suppose\".

Ron paled, while Hermione chewed her lip, obviously thinking about what Harry just said. Neville, however, was trembling and Harry thought back to the Prophesy that had shaped both of their lives. Harry and the Headmaster to his knowledge, were the only ones who knew the entire thing, but Harry wondered whether Neville perhaps should know, to know why his parents were possibly tortured, why they were confined in St Mungos.

All four teenagers looked uneasily at each other and the air was thick with tension. Sometime later Ginny came in, saying the meeting had ended and the members of the Order were leaving the meeting, before leaving again with Ron to try and gain any information. Fred and George suddenly Apparated into the room with a loud crack!

\"Big business going down with You-Know-Who\" said Fred.

\"Yeah, you should see McGonagall, I think her lips disappeared, they were that thin\" George added.

\"Yeah. I wish we could join, but Mom\'s still stopping us somehow! I don\'t understand. We\'ve left school and we\'re of age!\" whined Fred.

\"I\'m sure we\'ll find out sooner or later. If Harry was right, it\'ll probably be in the Daily Prophet tomorrow\" Hermione stated.

Both Weasleys turned to face Harry, who flushed under their stares. \"What do you know that we don\'t? No offence Harry, but you\'re younger than us\" Fred complained.

Harry stayed silent. He couldn\'t tell the Twins, Ron and Hermione, Remus, Tonks, anyone, about what he knew. He just couldn\'t risk the information falling into Voldemort\'s hands. It was why he learnt Occumancy. It was his fault Sirius died; it was his burden, his guilt, and his secret.

\"Shut up Fred! It\'s Harry, of course he knows. Do you want to be in his shoes? It was probably his scar anyway, not the Order\" said George, admonishing a surprised Fred.

\"Yeah, sorry Harry. It\'s just annoying, not knowing a thing. Anyway, we noticed Snape down there, that greasy git. Hey, can you imagine his face if one of our Weasleys\' Wildfire Whiz-bangs went off in his lesson? Or the Portable Swamp?\" with gleaming eyes the Twins turned to face Harry. \"Dear Investor…\"

\"No!\" interrupted Harry. \"No, no, no! I am not doing that for you. I actually want to survive Potions! Besides, Snape will be looking for any reason to kick me out of his class, considering I didn\'t get an Outstanding in the Potions OWLs and Professor McGonagall had to get me into the class. Find some other sucker\".

Grinning, George began, \"Snape wouldn\'t take you in his NEWT level class because you didn\'t get an Outstanding?\"

\"McGonagall got you into the class\" added Fred.

\"What did Snape say about that?\" they asked in unison.

\"I wouldn\'t know, nothing good I imagine. McGonagall told me I was to attend Potions classes in my Hogwarts letter\" replied Harry.

\"Oh well Brother dear, we\'ll have to find someone else to help us prank Snape\", Fred said, before turning to face Neville.

\"Uhh … n-no\" stuttered Neville, turning deathly white at the thought of having to prank the intimidating Potions Master.

\"No, probably not\" said George kindly. The Twins looked each other in the eye before turning as one to face the only other person in the room, Hermione.

Hermione looked up from her Transfiguration coursebook and arched her eyebrow. \"You are asking me to prank a Professor?\"

\"No\" laughed George.

\"Not Little Miss Prefect\" Fred added.

\"Never would have considered it\" George finished.

\"Good\" answered Hermione in a dry voice.

\"Pity\" muttered Fred under his breath.

\"Maybe you could visit Ron and Ginny at school and do something then\" suggested Harry.

Fred and George considered the idea before identical evil grins appeared on their faces.

\"Oooo, I have such a good plan\" started George, but he never got to finish because the sounds of shouting voices drifted up the stairs, as Ron and Ginny ran into the room.

\"Harry!\" panted Ginny. \"What have you done?\"

\"What? I haven\'t done anything … at least I don\'t think so\" he replied bewildered.

\"You must have Harry. He\'s having a fit down there, I swear\" laughed Ron.

\"Who?\"

Ron and Ginny opened their mouths to reply, but were cut off by a very loud shout.

\"POTTER!\"

Ron and Ginny said in unison, \"Him\".

Neville paled further, while the Twins snickered.

\"Glad to see you\'re enjoying the fact that I\'m about to get yelled at for something I don\'t even know about!\" Harry said sarcastically.

\"Sorry mate! It\'s just, well, no-one can get him to shout like that except you. Seems like you have a skill there\", Fred gasped out between laughter.

\"POTTER! GET DOWN HERE AT ONCE!\"

\"Lucky me\" muttered Harry, getting off the bed and slowly making his way out of the room.

\"Come on George, we have to see this!\" shouted Fred as he foll Har Harry to the door. Behind them followed the others, all obviously wanting to see what Snape wanted this time. They stood at the top of the stairs, hidden by shadows, as Harry slowly made his way down, privately repeating the mantra, \'I have done nothing wrong. Don\'t lose your temper with Snape\'.

Reaching the bottom, Harry glanced at the empty frame where Mrs Black once stood. He was even more grateful now that he had got rid of the old cow, since having to put up with Snape and Mrs Black would have probably led to hearing loss. Looking for the Professor in question, Harry saw him, standing with Professor McGonagall and Remus.

Snape was his usual greasy self, with his black robes wrapped around him like a barrier. His face was contorted with anger, and two small spots of red were found high on his cheeks. Professor McGonagall looked quite flustered, though also quite disapproving at something or, more likely, someone. Harry\'s heart sank, maybe he had done something wrong he thought, and now Snape and McGonagall were going to tell him off. A quick glance at Remus gave him some hope and courage and with a deep breath to calm his thoughts, he looked Snape in the eye and asked quite politely, \"Yes Professor. You bellowed?\"

\"It seems that your Head of House had decided to play favourites again. After all, perfect Potter wants to be an Auror, so why don\'t we all bow to his whims!\" he sneered. Harry saw McGonagall\'s lips grow narrower, the frown deepening, while Remus made an aborted motion to move towards Snape.

\"Circumstances have been such that I will allow you into my classroom Potter, but if you make the slightest mistake, or if your grades start to fall, I will have no hesitation whatsoever in throwing you out of my class\" threatened Snape.

\"Understood sir!\" snapped Harry, having expected something similar anyway. Harry saw a small smile on Remus\' face and the glimmer of pride in McGonagall\'s eyes. He saw Tonks approach from behind Remus, a curious expression on her face. Seeing Harry and Snape, her face shifted to a look of concern.

Quietly, so to ato attract the attention of Snape, she whispered to Remus \"What in the name of Merlin is Snape shouting about?\"

\"Potions lessons. McGonagall had to bribe him so he\'d let Harry into his class. Draco Malfoy gets to do Transfiguration and Harry gets into Potions\".

\"McGonagall only asks for Exceed Expectations!\" came from an astonished Tonks.
musimusing isn\'t it\" replied Remus before returning his attention to Snape, who was still threatening Harry with regards to his behaviour in Potions.

\"… and the Headmaster has asked me to resume your Occumancy lessons. Yes Potter, Occumancy. Stop frowning boy, it\'s not like I want to teach you anymore than you want to have the lessons. Especially not after that incident last year. I have not forgotten that Potter!\"

\"Severus\", McGonagall reprimanded, looking slightly at unease. \"Back to business please\".

\"But sir-\" Harry started to say, before being interrupted by the angry Potions Master.

\"Shut up and listen Potter! You will attend these lessons and I should hope you actually try this time! I shall arrange for some remedial Potion lessons for you\" he snarled at the pale faced teenager.

Harry\'s self-control broke and he took several steps towards Snape. \"What do you mean remedial potions Professor?\" he sneered back. \"If I\'m taking that when I gained an \'Exceed Expectations\' in my Potions exams, what the hell do you call lessons with Crabbe and Goyle? \'Potions for Dimwits\'? Stuff your remedial potions and stuff your bloody Occumancy lessons. You were a pathetic teacher anyway\" he snapped back and turned around ready to go back upstairs.

Professor McGonagall, Remus and Tonks stood shocked at Harry\'s words. Upstairs, the small huddle of teenagers were divided between shock and awe, already being used to Harry\'s mood swings and hot temper.

Snape blinked. Once … twice … before sneering with a voice dripping with contempt, \"So, the Golden Boy of Gryffindor thinks so highly of himself that he doesn\'t need any help blocking his mind from the Dark Lord\'s influence. You somehow managed it once and now you think you\'re invincible? Pity about Black I suppose. But then again, like father, like son, arrogant to the end\".

With that, Snape raised his wand and aimed it at Harry, who was still within striking range. Harry felt a strange burning sensation at his throat and stiffened. Before the other adults could react, Snape had started the incantation, \"Legim-\"

Snape did not get a chance to finish his incantation, because Harry had fallen to the floor, before extending his right leg and using his foot to hook behind Snape\'s left knee. Harry jerked his leg causing Snape to fall onto his knees. Harry was running on instinct, one to protect himself. He did not hear the shouts of his friends or the horrified gasps of the adults above the pounding of heart, as his blood raced with adrenaline. Getting to his feet quickly, he grabbed Snape\'s wrist, the one holding the wand, and twisted slightly, causing the shocked Professor to drop his wand. At the back of his mind, Harry noted that he shouldn\'t be able to do this. He was only a teenager, one that had not been eating regularly, nor sleeping recently. Snape was an adult and had a larger build to him. It must be shock.

Quickly returning to reality, Harry found that he had manoeuvred Snape\'s arm behind his back. As Snape made to grab his wand with his free hand, Harry hissed in the older man\'s ear \"I wouldn\'t do that Snape!\" Releasing the arm, Harry moved away from Snape.

Green eyes bored into him, filled with a fire from deep within. \"You deserved that Snape. What made you think you can attack someone like that? An unarmed wizard who had his back to you? An underage wizard! One who can\'t perform magic during the holidays!\" he snarled. \"What kind of behaviour is that?

\"Do you really hate my father that much? Do you hate me that much? You know what? Yes, James Potter was a bully, he was arrogant, and yes he embarrassed you and many others who knows how many times! So what? You weren\'t perfect either!\" he carried on, voice increasing in volume. Seeing Snape\'s face grow paler, Harry continued on regardless.

\"Yes, I\'ve heard about what you did to my father, and to Sirius and Remus as well. You were never an innocent! The difference is that my Dad grew up and you haven\'t! Instead now, you terrorise students who aren\'t even half your age, while you let the Slytherins get away with near-murder! No wonder they think they can walk over anyone and anything, it\'s not like you stop them!

\"I may look like James Potter, but I am not my father as you remember him! Can you accept that? I\'ll tell you now, don\'t you ever dare attack me like that again\", he threatened in a lower harsher voice, \"and I still don\'t need your Occumancy lessons, Snivellus!\"

With that Harry turned around and stalked back up the stairs to his room, his face devoid of any emotion, green eyes cold and hard. The group of teenagers at the top did not try to stop Harry, all having a healthy respect for their lives. Instead, they focussed their attention back onto the four adults, who were staring dumbly after Harry\'s retreating figure.

\"You know Snape, you\'re lucky I\'m not going to curse you right now for that incredibly stupid stunt you just pulled!\" growled Remus, amber eyes glinting dangerously.

\"What about Potter? He physically attacked me!\" scowled Snape.

\"After you threatened, no, actually started to curse an unarmed opponent! A student!\" shouted Tonks, appalled. \"What were you thinking? Merlin! Were you thinking at all Snape!\"

\"What? He was arrogant enough to believe he had mastered Occumancy! The idiotic boy could hardly close his mind to me last year and with the demise of Black, well the evidence speak for itself!\" he sneered.

Tonks and McGonagall both had to hold back Remus, who had narrowed his eyes and curled his lips at Snape\'s words, looking very much like the wolf he transformed into once a month. \"You don\'t know Harry, Snape! You can\'t see past his looks\" Remus spat angrily at the sneering Potions Master. \"He didn\'t learn a damn thing from you last year. Did you even try to teach it to him properly? He\'s doesn\'t talk much about those lessons, but I can see it in his eyes.

\"He learnt how to shield his mind this summer. He knows the consequences of what happened Snape! He lives with it each day, from when he wakes up \'til he goes to sleep. And even then, it plagues him in his sleep! You\'ve never sat by his side, watching him cry out in his sleep, begging Sirius to forgive him! He knows dammit!\"

\"I\'m afraid I\'ll have to let the Headmaster know of what happened here tonight Professor Snape!\" snapped McGonagall. \"Mr Potter is not a Gryffindor Golden Boy as you describe him. He has the makings of an excellent Auror, and to do that, he needs Potions. I assure you now, he will be attending Potions whatever your feelings are on the matter. I will also keep to the terms of our agreement. I must say though, I have never seen such behaviour from a Professor\" she said angrily. \"You really must do something about your behaviour regarding Mr Potter, preferably before term starts\".

\"And what about Potter\'s behaviour tonight\" asked Snape. \"He insulted my teaching methods. What of his punishment?\"

\"Do you have any idea of what Harry has to go through? Do you know that he had no sleep whatsoever last night\" replied Tonks scathingly. \"He was up all night, his scar burning continuously. He told me each time Voldemort cast a Cruciatus curse, and every time he killed. Oh god, it was horrible! He was in so much pain. And then, tonight, you insult him and his father. You mock him about Sirius\' death. WHAT DID YOU EXPECT! Him to roll over and just take that kind of abuse? Harry\'s right, you\'re pathetic! I can\'t look- just go away! I\'m going to check on my little brother!\" and with that she hurried up the stairs.

Remus stared at Snape, who had finally put away his wand and had gathered his robe about him. \"I think you better leave Snape. You\'re not welcome here tonight. I can\'t guarantee your safety if you stay\" he ground out between gritted teeth.

\"Gladly\" snorted Snape, stalking out of the front door.

\"I\'m sorry Minerva to leave you, but I\'d like to check on Harry\" apologised Remus.

\"That\'s perfectly fine. Give him my apologies for Professor Snape\'s behaviour would you? I\'ll just check on Molly and assure her everything is, well, as well as it can be I suppose, before I floo back to Hogwarts\" replied McGonagall.

Remus walked up the stairs, ignoring the wide-eyed teenagers and walked over to Harry\'s door. Knocking, he called out \"It\'s Remus. Can I come in?\"

The door opened, and Remus entered. He found Harry sitting on the bed, obviously meditating. Tonks whispered that he\'d been like this ever since she came in, as Remus\' sharp eyes took in Harry\'s appearance. Even while performing the meditation exercises, tension radiated from Harry. With a sigh, the two of them settled down to wait for Harry to come out of his meditation, hoping that he wouldn\'t ignore them. \'Damn Snape\' thought Remus.

Over an hour later, Tonks left the room to go to the kitchen and get something for the three friends to eat. Harry had not yet come out of his meditation, although Remus noticed that Harry was aware of their presence. It wasn\'t until after Tonks had arrived, carrying food obviously provided by Molly that Harry stirred.

\"Harry\" exclaimed Remus.

\"Harry?\" asked Tonks in a soft voice.

\"Hi guys. Do you mind if we don\'t…\"

\"Nope, the less said the better. It means he might escape the next time we meet without me hexing him. Although, I was looking forward to doing something to that thing he calls hair. I swear that something is growing in there!\" exclaimed Tonks.

Remus snorted, \"I doubt it, the grease would kill anything off\".

\"What if there was something that fed on grease?\" asked Tonks.

\"You mean something like Dudley?\" said Harry, still slightly subdued.

Remus and Tonks coughed several times, before bursting out in laughter, pulling a smile out of Harry in response. \"Can you imagine your cousin living in Snape\'s hair!\" gasped out Tonks in between laughter.

\"I\'ve no idea who I\'d feel more sorry for, Snape or Dudley!\" replied Remus, tears in his eyes.

Tonks composed herself before sitting down next to Harry. \"Look Bro. I just want to say I\'m proud of you. Snape had no right to say what he did, so don\'t feel too bad about it\" she said, giving him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. \"Now, it\'s a Snape-free zone for the rest of the night!\"

\"Wait, wait!\" shouted Remus, wiping away the tears. He walked up to Harry and pulled him up into a fierce hug. Turning downcast eyes to his own, he told Harry, \"What Snape did was unacceptable Harry. You did the right thing, even though it would have been easier to let him give you the lessons. He didn\'t have any right to say those things to you, nor to humiliate you with any sort of remedial lessons, and he doesn\'t know you at all. He sees James, and he sees the Boy-Who-Lived. He doesn\'t see our Harry, okay?\"

Remus sat back down before saying, \"now it\'s a Snape-free zone\".

\"Yay!\" cheered Tonks, eliciting a smile from Harry. \"Food?\"

\"No thanks Sis. I\'m not hungry anymore\" replied Harry.

\"Oh well, I guess I won\'t be eating either\" said Remus in a falsely light tone.

\"Why?\" asked Harry, confused.

\"Our pact, remember?\" Seeing the confused look on Harry\'s face, Remus elaborated further. \"At the Dursleys? You don\'t eat, I won\'t eat?\"

\"Oh\", silence followed before Harry spoke again. \"I suppose I\'ll try to eat something then\".

Remus smiled and as he turned to serve the food, he heard a quietly muttered \"manipulative bastard\" but just chuckled.

**********

Harry stood on Platform 9¾. It was finally the end of summer, the start of his 6th Year at Hogwarts. His trunk had been packed and then repacked by Tonks. The scarlet train was already waiting at the platform, smoke billowing out of the engine compartment. Students and parents were milling around with last-minute checks and tearful goodbyes. This time last yeSiriSirius had cto wto wave him off, well more like wag Harry supposed. It seemed that Harry had less and less people to say goodbye to. Absently, he noticed that there were Aurors positioned in various spots in case of Death Eater troubles, although Harry doubted there would be an attack, what with several children of suspected Death Eaters on the Hogwarts Express. Even so, Remus had given Harry a portkey that morning before they had left Grimmald Place.

\"It\'s been specially made. You can activate it with a particular keyword, which is \'Lilyflower\'. Only you can activate it Harry. If you need to get the others out, they\'ve got to be in contact with you. The other feature is if there\'s a direct attack on you, the portkey will immediately activate. It will bring you to the Entrance Hall at Hogwarts. Now, I know you don\'t like portkeys, but it\'s for your safety\".

Harry had put it in his trouser pocket and he hoped that he wouldn\'t have to use it. An uneventful year would be nice, though deep inside, Harry knew there was no chance of that.

Remus\' voice jerked him from his thoughts. \"Shall we get your trunk onto the train then? Where did Ron and Hermione put their stuff?\" he asked.

\"Over there I think\" indicated Harry, leading the way. Finding the correct compartment, he saw that Ron and Hermione had indeed put their trunks and other luggage there. As had Neville and Ginny. Seeing there was not enough room for his trunk, he dragged it across the compartment, under the window. Not wanting to face the small group that had served as a \'guard\', Harry decided to remain in the compartment and wait for his friends to arrive.

He had ady sdy said his goodbyes to Remus. Harry realised that he was going to miss the gentle werewolf, his quiet assurance and confidence. He had promised to write often and Remus had fixed the mirror that Harry had broken at the end of last year, after he\'d found out that his godfather … that Sirius was dead.

There was a loud crash and a familiar voice muttering about stupid doors, that caught Harry\'s attention. \"Harry! Hey little Bro! Hey! Were you going to leave without saying goodbye to your Sis?\" she sniffed, affecting a mock hurt tone, with Remus grinning behind her.

Harry noticed that they were attracting a fair amount of attention, what with Tonk\'s bubblegum pink hair, Remus their ex-DADA Professor, and Harry standing in the compartment. Ushering them in, Harry looked over his glasses, pouting. \"Of course not Sis! I knew you wouldn\'t let me leave without a kiss so I just decided to wait for you\" he replied. \"Now you be safe doing that Auror-slash-Order-slash-dangerous things you do. I need my big Sis to tease me! Besides who else would I trust to look after Wolf-man here!\" he laughed.

\"Hey!\" retorted Remus, blushing. \"I\'m old enough to look after myself\"

\"And you have the grey hair to prove it I suppose, but you\'re a Maurader, trouble follows you. Besides, you have to stay safe Remus. You have to\" Harry begged.

\"I\'ll try Harry, the same for you too. Remember what I told you Harry, I know you can do it, that you can accept it\".

Harry spent the next few minutes talking to the two before both hugged him goodbye and wished him good luck. As they started to leave the train, Harry quickly ran through the students and yelled to Tonks, \"Hey Sis, don\'t I get a good luck kiss?\" Harry laughed, joined by the many Weasleys and Remus as Tonks ran back to Harry. She gave a show of puckering up and giving him a noisy kiss before actually giving Harry a small kiss on the cheek. \"Good luck Bro\" she whispered in his ear. \"I just know somehow that you\'ll need it. Remember, Remus and I love you\".

Harry words got caught in his throat before replying \"I love you two too. Thanks so much, for everything\". Another hug later, she ran back to Remus and Molly whilst Harry yelled at Ginny to get on the train or miss it. His green eyes were bright with unshed tears, happiness and sadness, as the train began to move away from the platform. He watched as Tonks and Remus disappeared from view, but took solace in the fact that he would see them soon.

Harry was sitting in the compartment with Neville. Ron and Hermione were at their Prefect\'s meeting, but would be back soon, while Ginny was visiting some of her friends. Neville seemed content in reading his new Herbology coursebook while Harry absently petted Hedwig as he watched the countryside pass through the window.

Some time later, the door to their compartment crashed open and Ron fell in, followed by Hermione and Ginny. Ron was complaining about Prefect duties while Hermione argued back regarding their importance, Harry had become so used to the bickering that he tuned it out. He was brought out of his trance-like state by a red faced Ginny.

\"Stop it you two. Just agree to disagree!\" she yelled.

\"Well said Ginny\" Harry agreed.

\"Hey!\" complained Ron as Hermione let out an unlady-like snort.

\"This\'ll keep your mouth occupied for a few minutes at least\" said Ginny, as she passed around what seemed to be a white gummy sweet. Harry, Ron, and Hermione took one while Neville politely declined. All four started to chew the sweet, which had a pleasant peppermint taste when Harry felt a strange sensation pass over his body. Looking down, he gasped. \"Umm, guys? Is this supposed to be happening?\"

Neville looked up and burst out into laughter, obviously pleased to have escaped a joke sweet. \"Ginny?\" he questioned.

\"Oooo, I am going to get Fred and George I swear! We look like ghosts!\" she cried out.

Ron just looked at himself and then his friends and burst out laughing. Soon the other three joined him, after all, it seemed rather harmless for the Twins. The compartment door opening again, however, cutting off their laughter. This time revealing Harry\'s nemesis, Draco Malfoy. Harry grabbed his wand instinctively, not liking the look on the blonde\'s face.

\"Potter\" he spat. \"It\'s all your fault my father\'s in Azkaban!\"

\"No, it\'s his fault for following an idiot like Voldemort\" replied Harrgnorgnoring the winces from the other purebloods as he said the Dark Lord\'s name.

\"He\'s more powerful than ever and he will kill you Potter\" Malfoy sneered, \"After you watch everyone you love die. The dog was the first\"

\"Shut up Malfoy! You don\'t know anything! Get out before we make you\", warned Harry, temper rising fast. He was aware that his friends had risen and were pointed their wands at Malfoy and his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, who were at their usual positions behind Malfoy.

\"This is for my father\" cried Malfoy and threw a curse at Harry. At the same time, Harry shouted a curse he had learnt over the summer, one that would cause Malfoy to be temporarily blinded. Time seemed to slow as various curses from his friends and Malfoy\'s cronies passed through the small space. He saw his curse head towards Malfoy, and Harry ducked trying to avoid the one sent his way, but he was not fast enough. Harry fell onto his trunk, Hedwig hooting as he came into contact with her. He wasn\'t aware of the curse hitting, but he felt the pull behind his navel as the portkey activated. A bright white light blinded him before fading away. Blinking several times, he made out the doors of the Entrance Hall at Hogwarts, before darkness claimed him. Seconds later, Harry lay unconscious, draped over his trunk, Hedwig hooting loudly as she tried to awaken her master.

**********

Now most of the foundations have been set, and there are some clues and hints everywhere. Feel free to guess! If you have any questions so far, e-mail or review and if I can I\'ll answer them. Any ideas you have are also welcome!

Thanks to Waywren Truesong and Smiigel for reviewing!
Waywren Truesong - Burn the portrait? I don\'t know, maybe. It\'s forgotten for the moment, but it may still make a comeback, but not for months. Than you, the RemusTonksHarry scene is so cute, but the next one is funny.
Smiigel - *blushes* I was never actually taught grammer at school so I kinda make it up as I go (especially since my English teacher told me I\'d fail my English and English Lit GCSEs! I was nowhere near a fail in the end!!) but I did pick up on it and you\'ll find later chapters better I hope.

I apologise in advance for any mistakes, spelling, grammatical or otherwise. It is all my fault since this is unbeta\'d. Please review (long is good!) and send any helpful comments, all will be appreciated. Any flames, however, will be, in all honesty, read then disregarded. Thank you for reading!

SStar