Chapter 16: Chapter 16 - Moving Forward
Freshly cleaned and back in the castle, Harry was currently working on a Blood-Replenishing Potion. He was currently up in the Headmaster Office for his lesson due to his apprenticeship under the careful eyes of Dumbledore. Well, figuratively as they were chatting as both worked on their separate projects.
"So, I noticed that you and Miss Bell were late this morning." Albus commented with a knowing look. "I do hope you two took precautions as I know how teenagers can get."
"Madam Pomfrey, already checked us over again and gave her a few potions...again. I don't know if I should be worried about dying again with the amount of potions she shoving down our throat." Harry answered. "Do you think if I asked she would tone down the potions a tad?"
"I'm sure she will if you asked but she just worried about you. A single slip up is all it takes after all."
As he just nodded accepting the statement as it is true, Harry sighed at the thought of his own children. While it was indeed a decade or two since he saw them before his death and they robbed him of his possessions. He still loved them as did Fleur who's pretended she didn't exist.
"So, I've been researching ways to end the mad basilisk. What if we took a rooster down and a large mirror." Harry asked, changing to a different topic. "I doubt a rooster call will kill it due to its age. So we could try reflecting its killing gaze back at it."
"That is an interesting idea, Harry. However, I must ask don't you think you're doing too much too soon?" Albus asked, receiving a deadpan look. "You aren't physically an adult even if your mind says otherwise Harry. Currently your schedule is packed without much of a break."
Harry blinked in surprise as he mentally pulled up his current goals and plans. Currently he is preparing to expand his friend circle, look into wandlore and crafting, creating a grimoire, animagus studies, finishing the ritual, keeping in touch with Fleur, schoolwork, and killing the mad basilisk. So he currently has a total of eight goals he wants to complete currently during the school year. Well except wand crafting and creating a grimoire as they will take longer.
"I don't think so as one is so I can live and one is to get rid of Riddle's horcruxes before his return. Not really rushing that either and wand crafting and the grimoire is more of a hobby and something to do. As for schoolwork, it is basically just review."
"If you say so Harry. Now I've been wondering about this but what about young Neville?"
A frown formed across Harry's lips as he grimaced a bit. As if sensing his discomfort Dumbledore tried to change topics.
"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."
"No, it's fine sir. It's just I try not to think of Neville as he and I had a falling out of sorts."
"Well, I am sure you two could have worked it out?" Albus said before watching Harry shake his head.
"It's kind of hard to rekindle our friendship after catching him screwing my wife at the time in the middle of a foursome." After hearing this Dumbledore looked as if he swallowed a lemon drop. "After the Battle of Hogwarts he began dating Hannah Abbot and married her a few years later. However with the bit of fame he gained and a confidence boost his ego inflated so different women came and went from his bed. Ginevra was some of the few that frequent it."
"I'm sorry for bringing up some bad memories."
"It alright sir, you didn't know. So, sir, I don't really have much care for Neville who formed a harem of sorts with married women."
Dumbledore just nodded but felt Harry was the pot calling the kettle black. Expressially since he knew the boy would probably have a harem by the time he left Hogwarts.
--
Knowing that last night was a full moon and Harry being up in his lessons with Dumbledore. Daphne was initiating the plan of expanding his friend group in a form of a study group. It was a relatively simple plan since it would allow her and Harry to chat without raising much suspicion. Not that a Slytherin and Gryffindor didn't raise it in itself, but hopefully removes the hostility.
"Hello Miss Bones."
A red hair very lightly tan twelve year old that could almost pass as a thirteen year old turned around. She was currently struggling on her Charms homework from what Daphne could see. Taking the opportunity to look the young girl over, she knew she made the right choice to start her plan.
While it was a bit embarrassing to look a girl over as young as Susan Bones for a potential partner for Harry. Daphne couldn't deny what was in front of her as the girl baby fat and childish features were fading faster than others. Her body has clearly begun taking on a more womanly shape as her robe did hide most but her bust was bigger than most and some fourth years.
"Greengrass, can I help you?" A shy and adobe voice in her opinion brought her back to her senses.
"Potter and I have decided to set up a study group. We were wondering if you were interested in joining?" Daphne asked and mentally grumbled calling her lover by his last name. It made it seem like they were so distant from each other.
"A Slytherin friendly with a Gryffindor and Harry Potter himself? I thought Harry didn't like Slytherin?" Susan asked, surprised.
"I know, but it turns out he only dislikes some of the people in Slytherin like Malfoy. Anyways do you want to join?"
Susan mind blanked for a moment as she wondered how Daphne and Harry met to set up this idea. While she heard some rumors that the two sat in the library together some days, doubts filled her mind.
"Can I bring my friend Hannah?"
Daphne hesitated for a moment which wasn't missed on the niece of the Head of the DMLE. She just didn't know what could cause this kind of hesitation.
"Yes, but we are going to try to keep this small. So, try not to invite others for the time being."
Susan just nodded and gave her thanks as she watched the blonde Slytherin walk off forgetting to ask when. Moments later she found a card in her pocket telling her the first meeting is saturday night in the library before dinner. Smiling at the invitation and sneakiness, she wondered why all the secrecy. In the end though she just chucked it up to Slytherin and Gryffindor rivalry.
--
When the afternoon class for the day came to a close alongside his lessons, Harry headed for the library. Since the transformation was still fresh in his mind, he wanted to review the basic and current process for becoming an animagus. It also didn't help if he had a certain blonde hair Slytherin waiting for him.
"Harry mate, what are you doing?" the voice that grated against his nerves just by sound alone called out to him.
"I believe I am heading to the Library."
"Why?"
"Animagus. I want to try to become one so clearly I need to research it." Harry explained slowly keeping his tone nice and even. It sent a shiver down his spine and Ron as it reminded them of a certain potion professor.
While Harry knew of the man's actions and sacrifice that helped end the war. He didn't feel all the torment and verbal abuse he endured was justified. It was true that Snape was in a dangerous position and did the best with his resources. However that didn't really excuse the torment he unleashed on him.
It was also a sad fate for his son who was named after both Albus and Severus when Harry was forcefully high on potions. No wonder it took awhile for the boy to learn to spell his name and had an identity crisis later on in his teens. One was someone many looked up to while the other many despised.
"Harry, don't you know that incredibly dangerous? Professor McGonagall said that was really advanced Transfiguration." Hermione commented as she came around the corner.
"You do know that I am apprenticed under the Headmaster who taught Professor McGonagall right? Anyways I need to pick a project to work on for the year and this year's theme is Transfiguration." Harry lied a bit to end the current conversation. He didn't really want to let the school know his current pursuit as he felt many will try to copy him. Which would give Poppy too much unnecessary work.
Biting her lower lip, Hermione clearly wasn't really pleased with his current idea or getting a lesson from Dumbledore. When he didn't hear her complain or say something about taking up time in the Headmaster busy schedule. Harry felt she was improving a bit faster than last time around.
"Cool, do you think I can learn?" Ron asked as a look formed in his eye. Luckily from years of experience and knowing the red head. The boy just wanted to learn it to show off and maybe to impress women in the future when he was older.
"Why not. Hermione, do you want to learn too. They say experience is worth a thousand books or something along that line."
"It's: Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Harry." Hermione corrected. "I do see your point though, but I rather read and travel."
"So are you joining or not?"
"Yes, Harry I want to learn." Hermione said clearly, trying to hide her joy in her voice.
"Well, I need to read up on the subject and pick Professor Dumbledore's mind. So we can begin in a week or two."
"Harry, I can help you research."
"Hermione, I think I can handle flipping through books. Besides you got your own project to complete or have you learned that Lockhart is a fraud."
"Fine, but my offer remains open." Hermione huffed before following him to the Library alongside Ron.
In the end, Harry didn't find a chance to chat with Daphne as she was studying up charms and grimoire creating. She did however pass him a note without either Hermione or Ron noticing telling him she would meet him after breakfast before they headed to Herbology. Which ended his day with a smile.
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