I own nothing, J K Rowling IS Harry Potter. All my 'ideas' are basically ripped from stuff I enjoy; Harry Potter (duh!), Lord Of The Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dragonball, The Matrix, The Lion King, 24, and anything else that even remotely looks far too creative for me to just make up! Don't say I didn't warn you alright!

Ok, so I've updated this story too now (well, parts of it). It should read a bit better now, and (hopefully) I've got rid of any huge errors!

Er, since I am (apparently) one of the most 'popular' from our IMDb fanfic group…I will plug my fellow ficcers FFN addy's! We're all a big team, and generally help each other out when we get stuck with them, so…check out my C2 group.

Chapter 1 – An Unexpected Visit

Another rainy day was slowly drawing to close. The rain was almost therapeutic, as it washed away the leaves and litter that had been left lying around on Privet Drive. In the house of number four however, a skinny looking boy with messy black hair and glasses was scratching away furiously at his homework.

This homework was somewhat different though, as was the boy finishing it. But Harry Potter was no ordinary boy. For one, he was a wizard. For another he was the only known survivor of a curse that had killed his parents some fifteen years ago, and he had a lightening bolt shaped scar on his forehead to remind him of it.

Harry rubbed his right arm, as he had been writing all day. He looked out the window of his bedroom trying hard to forget all that had happened in his two previous years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He had only just begun to get over the events that unfolded during the triwizard tournament, during which time he had been an under aged participant, when something more horrible had happened.

'Sirius' Harry sighed, remembering his Godfather, and long-time friend of his father James Potter. Voldemort had figured out that Harry was able to see some of his thoughts. Knowing that Harry was not able to block them out, Voldemort had created a scene that had changed Harry's life for ever.

The image of Sirius being tortured by Voldemort was enough to convince Harry that he needed to get to the Ministry of Magic to save him. But the Dark Lord had a more sinister use for him. Voldemort had craved a prophecy that had been recorded shortly before Harry was born, and the only two people that could retrieve it were himself, and Harry.

Harry of course had no knowledge of this prophecy, until it was too late. The sight of Sirius falling through the veil, never to return, had replaced the vision that Voldemort had planted in Harry's mind.

Try as he might, Harry just couldn't forgive himself for being responsible for Sirius' death. Harry leaned back in his chair, and reminisced about the times he and Sirius had shared. From their first meeting in the Shrieking Shack, when it was thought that Sirius had wanted Harry dead, to the look on Sirius' face when Hermione and Harry had rescued him from the locked room just minutes before the Dementors were due in the tower. Harry remembered the help Sirius had given him for the triwizard tournament, and the laughs they shared at Number 12 Grimmauld Place only one year ago.

A sharp knock on the door snapped Harry's focus back to reality.

"There's someone here to see you" said the voice of Aunt Petunia, his Mother's sister.

Harry chuckled slightly to himself as he remembered the threats Mad Eye Moody had given to his Aunt and Uncle at the rail station, the day term finished.

The Dursley's had at least tried to be nicer, now they just ignored Harry totally. Harry didn't mind as it gave him time to do his school work, and also to practice some minor spells. He was now able to do this as the Ministry had lifted the restriction of underage magic, much to Harry's relief. Seeing as though the Ministry were finally convinced that Voldemort was really back, people were free to practice spells for their own safety. One of the first things he did was repair Sirius' mirror that he had shattered before he left school.

Harry got up and went downstairs, and was thinking about who it could be that was here. His first thoughts were of Ron or Hermione, his two best friends. He then thought of Remus Lupin, the sole remaining friend of Harry's father and his former Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor. He remembered that it was him that had come last year to pick him up. Well not just Lupin, but a number of wizards and witches, but he was the first and one of the only ones Harry recognised.

As Harry came to the bottom of the stairs, he couldn't help but notice the looks that his cousin Dudley, and his Uncle Vernon were giving him. It was one of pure shock, like the one they wore when the Weasley's had nearly destroyed the living room two years ago when they picked Harry up to go to the Quidditch World Cup.

He thought that maybe Mad Eye had shown up, his revolving eye was certainly enough to give anyone a shock. But as he entered the living room, he suddenly realised why his relatives had a shocked look on their faces. The person standing there was not one of his friends, or Lupin, or Mad Eye. It was in fact, the one person that Harry did not expect to see for quite some time; his Potions Professor, Severus Snape.

Snape turned and saw Harry's look and sneered. "Don't worry Potter, I'm just here to give you your OWL results," and sneered again as he saw Harry's face brighten a little.

"Is there somewhere private we can go?" he asked.

Harry nodded and they both walked up to Harry's bedroom. Upon entering Snape said "Silencio. Now Potter, you are probably wondering why I'm here just to give you your results."

Harry nodded again, as he had indeed been thinking it strange,

"Well, you're right, I have come for other reasons, but we will discuss that after you read this."

Harry took the envelope and opened it cautiously, he was rather nervous about seeing his OWL's now that they were here. He looked down the parchment:

Mr Harry James Potter,

Fifth Year OWL Results;
Grades possible –
Outstanding
Exceeds Expectations
Acceptable (does not count as an OWL)
Poor(does not count as an OWL)
Dreadful (does not count as an OWL)
Troll (does not count as an OWL)

Subject
Theory
Practical
Overall

Astronomy
E
A (v)
A

Care of Magical Creatures
E
O
O

Charms
E
E
E

Defence Against the Dark Arts
O
O (x)
O (x)

Divination
E
O
E

Herbology
A
n/a
A

History of Magic
P
n/a
P

Potions
O
E (z)
E (z)

Transfiguration
E
E
E

Pass marks received – 15

Overall Total OWL's received – 6

(v Note: all students received one higher grade due to unforeseen events that took place while this exam was in session)
(z Note: grade still under consideration)
(x Note: highest grade recorded this century)

Firstly, let me congratulate you on your OWL results. Professor McGonagall has informed me of your desire to be an Auror. You will already be aware of the necessary subjects you will be required to take to pursue this profession. It will be possible to take two further subjects. There are numerous subjects available to you for your final two years of education, of those, may I suggest the ones most likely to benefit you given your career of choice:

Advanced Care of Magical Creatures
Apparition
Duelling
Introduction to Healing
Introduction to Wandless Magic

It will of course be entirely your choice as to which subjects you wish to do, but these are the ones that I would suggest you choose from.

Kind regards,

Griselda Marchbanks
Head of Wizarding Examinations Authority

Harry looked up, a somewhat bemused look on his face. Snape noticed this and casually asked, "well, how did you go? Remember, I can't take points off you before school starts."

Harry chuckled at this and sighed as he replied "I got six, but I didn't get an Outstanding in Potions. So I can't be an Auror..."

"But it says it's still under consideration, correct?" Snape cut him off.

Harry wondered why he even cared, but answered, "it does, but I don't see why. I mean nothing happened to me during that exam, I got the vision of Sirius in History of Magic, not Potions."

"Fine, but you did receive an Outstanding for the theory part, much to my surprise I might add, which in some ways is more difficult than actually concocting the potion. Dumbledore has asked me to consider taking you into Advanced Potions, and I need to see your homework, before I make my final decision" Snape said.

Harry gave his Potions essay to Snape, which incidentally was about the Wolfsbane Potion, and watched as his Professor pocketed his report, and strode towards the door.

"Wait Professor!" Harry suddenly exclaimed.

Snape stopped and turned around, a look of boredom on his face. Something had been playing on Harry's mind ever since he saw that incident between Snape and his father in the pensieve, and now Harry had come to his conclusion,

"What, Potter?" he asked.

Harry replied "I'm sorry for what happened, sir."

The look on Snape's face told Harry that he had no idea what Harry was talking about.

"I'm sorry for looking in the pensieve that night, and I'm sorry that my father was always a git to you" Harry finished.

Snape arched an eyebrow, and said "while I thank you for your apology, it isn't yours that I wanted. But am I correct in assuming that you were reminded of something when you saw that?"

Harry nodded. He knew exactly how Snape felt, as Dudley had always done things like that to Harry, but without the use of magic.

"I suspected as much, I will give you an answer as to whether or not you are in my Potions class for the coming year" Snape said before removing the silencing charm and walked outside, his robes swishing behind him.

Harry stood in his room, not quite sure how to comprehend exactly what had just happened. Snape, easily the most hated Professor in Hogwarts, unless you were in Slytherin of course, had just been, well, nice.

'It doesn't make any sense at all!' Harry thought. 'First, he tells me I might still get the chance to do Potions, then when I thought he'd still be livid at me for looking in his pensieve, he just shrugs it off, weird!'

Harry just shook his head and decided to write to Ron and Hermione telling them his results, he decided against telling the two of them about the rest of it, figuring that he'd see them soon enough anyway. But Harry wasn't to know exactly how soon.