Title: Different House

Rating: K

Summary: Snape left on a Sabbatical the year that Harry Potter came to Hogwarts. This story covers Harry's first year at Hogwarts while Snape is away. Partly based on the Different House in Absentia on Potions and Snitches.

Disclaimer: I'm not making any money off of J.K Rowling's Harry Potter characters and I'm not making any money.

Chapter 10: June Endings

June came around and with it the final Quidditch match of the season, Slytherin vs. Ravenclaw. Harry had finally been dragged to watch the match but it held no interest for him. Slytherin won, of course, and there was a huge party in the Slytherin common room. Three days later the exams started and they were a lot harder then Harry thought they would be. The first one was in Charms, where they had to show that they could levitate a feather.

It was divided into two parts: written and practical. Harry knew that he had done well on both of them, even though Blaise and Theo were moaning about them. The next one was in Defense Against the Dark Arts, which was a nightmare. Quirrell was acting even odder then before and Theo said that it was a sign that they would be hunting for a new Professor during the summer. They had lunch and then it was time for their Herbology written, which was about Devil Snare.

The next day was Transfiguration, where they were changing mice into snuffboxes. Points were awarded depending on how pretty they were, but taken off if they had whiskers. It was then time for their Potions written and practical, which consisted of writing down the potions that they could remember, their effects, and what ingredients that they had. The practical was making the Forgetfulness Potion. Their Magical Theory written was a piece of cake for Harry, though Theo and Blaise both groaned. They had an exam in Magical Theory and their final exam was in History of Magic, two long hours of trying to remember old wizards that had invented self-stirring cauldrons and then they would be free for one wonderful week before they found out how badly they did.

"Do you think our Potions projects grade will be added?" Theo asked.

They had turned their projects in last month and Slughorn told them they would have to wait until the exams had been graded before finding out.

"I think so," Harry answered.

The next day held a surprise for Harry and everyone else. Professor Quirrell had been taken away. Apparently he tried to get his hands on the stone and was caught by Dumbledore. The Ministry did something that caused whatever was inside him to be kept there. Until the end of time Quirrell would be the forever host of Voldemort, the same man that had killed Harry's parents. This had shocked Harry more then anything and Slughorn told him that it must have been Voldemort's presence that caused Harry to have those headaches.

"I think we should have that scar checked out," Slughorn told him.

"Do you think that there might be a curse on it," Harry wondered.

"Don't know but St. Mungo should be able to tell."

Harry was all for it and so Slughorn set up a time right before term was to end. Harry decided not to tell Theo or Blaise about it. It was just too weird for even his limited understanding.

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 11111111111111111111111111111111111

Dear Minerva,

There is no way that I'm going to visit Potter's relatives. The only way that I would was if Potter was in my house, which he isn't. Also, good for Albus to suspend the three. I'm sure that Potter was involved somehow and, of course, Dumbledore wouldn't expel his Gryffindor golden boy.

Severus

"Personally this is the funniest thing that I've read," Slughorn told McGonagall when he read it.

"And the funniest thing is that the joke is on him," McGonagall said, grinning, "So when is the appointment?"

"This coming Monday," Slughorn answered. "I'm hoping that we get more answers as to why Potter was affected by the Dark Lord."

"Let me know what happens," McGonagall said to him.

"Of course," Slughorn promised.

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 11111111111111111111111111111111111

Harry woke up on Monday morning and got ready for his visit to St. Mungo. He was both excited and nervous at the idea that he might find out what's wrong with his scar. Slughorn was waiting on him when Harry arrived in the entrance hall and he motioned Harry to follow him. The grounds were empty due to the fact that people were enjoying the long break from classes and homework. Of course Harry heard that the students taking their O.W.L's or N.E.W.T's were being tested around this time.

Slughorn introduced Harry to side-along Apparition and even though the whole experience made Harry want to throw up, he managed to keep whatever food he managed to still have inside his intestines. The hospital was filled with people that had all sorts of problems and due to the fact that he had an appointment they didn't have to wait long before he was on a bed in a ward. Slughorn told him that he would be waiting outside until they were done with him.

A man walked in, who looked older then Uncle Vernon. And nicer too! He asked Harry general questions like how old he was, what house was he in, and what brought him in today.

"I got this headache when I was around Voldemort (the man flinched)," Harry told him.

"And Slughorn thinks that your scar might be the reason for the pain."

"Yes," Harry answered.

"Well then we're going to need to check it out," he said and out came the wand.

The whole thing took three hours to do and it was concluded that something was inside the scar, causing Harry to have the pain. Of course the doctor didn't conclude that, some witch that was from Spain concluded that. Apparently she was some famous dark witch that used her skills to identify dark objects, even if those objects were people.

"The only way to get rid of it is to curse it," she said, "Make the body not a nice place for it."

Harry frowned at that answer. Why did adults talk to children like that as though they were dumb?

"Will I have to stay here for long?" Harry asked.

"It should take a week," she answered.

Harry didn't like that. If he didn't show up when the Dursley's came to pick him up, if they did, then he wouldn't be allowed in.

"But if I don't show up at Kings Cross then I won't be allowed home."

She gave him a look as though he was nuts and then she said, "Of course they will allow you back home. What kind of muggles are they?"

Harry chose not to answer that question.

So that's where Harry spent the next week. The woman placed the curse on him and it turned into a week from hell. The curse was more terrible then Harry could imagine and the scar was burning like he was on fire. When the thing inside Harry was finally removed the doctor came back to check on him. Harry was busy eating his chicken sandwich when he walked in.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"Better," Harry answered.

"Good," he said, grinning at him, "I know that it was horrible but at least you don't have to worry about something happening to you."

"When can I leave?" Harry asked, thinking about the work that the Dursley's would have him do.

"In two days," the doctor answered, "We have to make sure that you're really better and then we can get you a ride home. Oh your results came back."

He handed Harry a piece of parchment that showed his grade. He grinned at the grade, figuring that he had done better then the others.

Astronomy: 432

Charms: 513

Defense Against the Dark Arts 409

Herbology: 590

History of Magic: 523

Magical Theory: 496

Potions: 610

Transfiguration: 619

Harry folded the parchment and put it on the table. Two days, two days before he had to return to his living nightmare called the Dursley's.

Two days later he was released from St. Mungo. Slughorn wasn't there to pick him up but Hagrid was. They took the train to Surry and he let Harry go.

"Write to me," Hagrid told him.

"I will," Harry promised.

"Oh Slughorn and McGonagall told me to tell you that if the damn Dursley's give you any problems then threaten them with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

"Will that work?" Harry asked him.

"It sure will," Hagrid answered and Harry turned and headed towards Privet Drive, glad to have a plan and he hoped a much better summer then before.

THE END

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 11111111111111111111111111111111111

A/N: Thanks for reading my story and sorry about ending it here. The story will continue in my sequel, which will have Snape returning and finding out that Harry is in Slytherin. Let's see what happens when the Dursley's threaten Harry. Giggles, their not going to like it.