Author's Note: Aren't you proud? It took me less than a year to update this time. Just a month… Well, improvement is improvement. Enjoy.

Harry showed up at Dumbledore's office the next day a little wary. He rather suspected that the transfiguration professor had waited to offer to help with Harry's OWLs until Riddle had been present. The extra help was something Harry didn't at all mind, but the manipulation was a little off-putting, even if it had been directed at someone else.

"Good afternoon Harry," Dumbledore said as he opened the door, eyes twinkling merrily.

"Afternoon," Harry replied politely. He followed Dumbledore into the office and took his usual seat on the armchair in front of the giant desk.

"I am fairly certain you are already aware of this, but I did not ask you here for the sole purpose of helping you with your OWLs, although I am happy to assist," Dumbledore explained as he settled into his own armchair.

"Oh? Why else did you ask me here?" asked Harry.

"I wanted to thank you." Although the man's eyes were still twinkling, Dumbledore's expression grew more serious.

"For what?"

"What you said about Gellert Grindlewald. He was a dear friend and I have come to regret how things ended between the two of us over the last few years," Dumbledore confessed. He paused for a second, as though he was choosing his next words carefully. "I think you and I are very similar. We both walk a little too closely to darkness. It goes against logic to think that we can be surrounded by evils without being affected. There was a time in my life when I came very near to choosing the wrong path. I want to be certain I never come as close to that line again, especially when I am once again talking the man whom I was closest with at that time in my life."

"I don't understand, what exactly do you want me to do?"

"To keep me in check. I propose the two of us help each other stop not only this war, but the wars that came to pass in your lifetime. There may come a point when one of us needs to stop the other from going over the edge," answered Dumbledore. Harry snorted.

"You mean like a support group?" He asked.

"I suppose you could think of it that way. I think we would both use the outside perspective." The transfiguration gave Harry a half smile.

"But I'm not- I mean I'm not really in the same position as you are, I just…" Harry trailed off, unsure how to voice what he was thinking.

"I know we are not in the same situation, but I think you are under estimating how close you and Professor Riddle are and how much of an influence you could have on him." At Dumbledore's words, Harry finally thought he knew where the professor was going with this conversation.

"You think me and Riddle are like you and Grindlewald?" asked Harry, trying to think of a polite way to correct the assumption.

"Of course not. Gellert and I grew up together. We were friends long before we were enemies. You have known Tom as Lord Voldemort, while he met you for the first time in August. The circumstances are entirely unique, but I think you have the ability to get through to Tom, something that I had not thought possible before you arrived," explained Dumbledore.

"You want me to try and befriend him?" It sounded a little too much like espionage for Harry's comfort.

"No. Harry, this is not an assignment or a job, it is about you being the person you are and the natural effect that will have on others. I think the only way Tom Riddle can be changed is through genuine friendship and I think you are the only person in the world who is capable of becoming friends with him."

"I think you're wrong. He killed my parents, I've watched him murder innocent people, I just… I don't think I can be friends with him."

"Believe me Harry, I understand. But you see him for who he is. Professor Riddle is a master at manipulation. And you are already spending more time with him than any other student here. I think friendship is already well on its way for the two of you. Be honest, do you truly hate Professor Riddle?" Dumbledore asked. Harry's brow furrowed in thought.

"No, I suppose I don't. I still hate what he will become though." Harry finally answered.

"That is an important distinction. And perhaps the shadow of a person that he is in the future will cease to exist with your help."

"I guess I could try. No promises though."

"Of course not. And you should know I am here for whatever you need."

"So if this is a support group, how are things going with your dark lord?" Harry asked factiously. Dumbledore's eyes once again went to full twinkle.

"It is rather hard to tell, but we are exchanging letters. He seems more open to alternative opinions than I expected." Harry had to smile at the man's obvious suppressed eagerness.

"Is that what the owl was yesterday?"

"It was. Gellert told me he was going to start moving his cause back to Britain," Dumbledore explained.

"And that's a good thing?" Harry asked, confused.

"I believe it is better than his strategy before. The whole problem will be more contained that way. I am hopeful that it is the first step of eradicating the entire thing."

"You think Grindlewald is giving up his ideals?"

"Not that easily, no. I rather suspect it is a signal to me to come up with a convincing argument in favor of giving up his ideals," clarified Dumbledore.

"I guess it's a start…" Harry paused, trying to think of the appropriate thing to say. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," the professor beamed. "Now shall we get started on reviewing for your transfiguration OWL? Not to boast, but I am one of the foremost experts in that particular field." Harry nodded and they set to work outlining what to cover in the following weeks.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Defense Against the Dark Arts on Friday was rather subdued compared to the previous week. They spent the majority of class discussing the differences between dementors and lethifolds. Harry meanwhile spent most of the time reflecting on the different teaching styles of the multitude of defense professors he had known.

This particular lesson reminded him of first year. Quirrell had favored lecturing without much practical work. And although Harry hesitated to call whatever Lockhart had done teaching, he had been similar if a little more flamboyant. Defense had not become his favorite class until third year, when he finally had the chance to practice the spells they had learned about the previous two years. And although Harry still despised the younger Barty Crouch, he had been a decent teacher, even if that had only been a side effect of the masquerade he had been keeping up. Fifth year had been that whole Umbridge disaster. The year they did nothing but read the textbook. Harry's thoughts were interrupted by Riddle.

"If you turn to the appendix of your textbook," At this, Harry's eye twitched in disbelief. "You find descriptions of all the dark creatures we are covering this year. For the rest of the period, please use these descriptions to draw out a diagram comparing Dementors and Lethifolds," The DADA professor instructed.

Harry stared at Riddle in disbelief. This was busy work. Harry hated busy work. It was one of the reasons he hadn't done very well in astronomy. Most of the assignments in that class had been copying diagrams and listing things. Things that seemed so pointless, that were only done in order to fill the time students were required to be in class; it was maddening!

Harry crossed his arms and pointedly did not open his textbook. All around him students were pulling out extra sheets of parchment and pulling out their books. Riddle gave Harry a long stare, raising an eyebrow when this did not appear to get Harry to comply.

"Mr. Potter, what seems to be the problem?" the young defense professor asked. This drew attention to Harry's inactivity. Over thirty pairs of eyes flicked back and forth between Harry and Riddle.

"This assignment. Just reading about dementors won't help if you come across one." Harry replied, setting his jaw. Every other student turned to him in shock.

"I think you'll find that you need to understand dark creatures in order to defeat them Mr. Potter. Research is a necessary part of preparation."

"From what I understand, the only way to defeat a dementor is by casting a patronus, so from what I understand, the best way to prepare is to practice the patronus charm." Without realizing it, Harry had gotten louder as he spoke, so that by the time he finished speaking he was practically shouting.

"Class is dismissed. Mr. Potter, please stay here." Riddle requested with deceptive calmness. Harry watched as the rest of the class silently filed out, all giving him wide-eyed stares as they passed. When the door closed behind the last student, Riddle turned toward Harry, fixing him with another hard stare.

"Would you mind telling me what the problem is."

"The problem is that you're supposed to be preparing everyone for the real world, not just pretending to," Harry said, his voice back at a normal volume.

"You think that by having students complete an assignment about dark creatures I am just creating a façade of teaching?" Riddle had moved so that he was leaning against the desk directly in front of Harry.

"Yes. Reading and drawing diagrams are things we can do in our own time. Practicing spells is something that requires instruction. You should be using class time to be teaching, not supervising."

"Mr. Potter, perhaps you are unaware, but the patronus charm is something that very few wizards can accomplish." The patronizing tone made Harry grit his teeth. The man was less than two years older than him.

"It can't be that hard, I learned it in my third year." Although the expression was only visible for a micro-second, Harry could tell Riddle was surprised.

"The majority of wizards will never cast a patronus. You are a special case," The professor replied after a short pause.

"I'm not though, I've taught it to several other students in the last two years. Not everyone was able to get a corporal patronus, but most of them were at least able to get something that would slow a dementor down."

"You taught them?"

"Yeah. A bunch of us thought it was necessary to study defense on our own when our defense professor had us do nothing but read all through class." At this it was Harry's turn to give Riddle a pointed look. The man appeared thoughtful.

"You produced a fully corporal patronus at thirteen and then taught other students when you were fifteen," Riddle said, seemingly ignoring the last thing Harry had said.

"Yeah," Harry replied, a little confused at the direction of the conversation.

"Well Mr. Potter, I will admit you have a point about the use of class time today," Riddle said, not taking his eyes off of Harry's partronus, even as it disappeared.

"Yeah?" Harry asked, surprised.

"Yes. I am however, not in the position of being able to produce a patronus and so am unable to teach others." The admission surprised Harry for two reasons, the first was that Harry had not thought there was any spell too difficult for Riddle, especially one that Harry had learned so early on, and the second was that he admit such a thing.

"I- Really? Are you sure?" Harry immediately felt stupid for asking such a dumb question. One of Riddle's eyebrows rose. Whether it was in amusement or annoyance, Harry couldn't tell.

"Yes, I am sure. And I trust you will keep this information to yourself," Riddle said. There was no need for threats, they both knew Harry would regret it if he went around telling everyone that Riddle couldn't produce a patronus. "Now," Riddle continued briskly, "although you had a good point, you still were disruptive and disrespectful to a professor in class."

"Are you going to give me detention?"

"Tonight at seven."

"I have an OWL study session then. With you," Harry reminded him, bewildered.

"I know. Consider it cancelled in favor of detention."

"Can I ask what I will be doing for detention?"

"Studying for OWLs," Riddle replied. Harry wasn't entirely sure, but he thought he could see hints of mischievousness in Riddle's face

"I think…" Harry started to say, but trailed off. "Alright, I'll see you at seven professor." Harry shook his head, but was not about to argue in favor of an actual punishment. He picked up his bag and was halfway to the door when he heard Riddle speak. The man's tone was devoid of all emotion and Harry was reminded how dangerous Riddle could be.

"Don't let this happen again."

"Yes sir," Harry replied before he left the room. He turned the corridor to head to Charms, but was stopped when he nearly ran into Orion. Abraxas was there also, leaning against the wall.

"Hey… Were you guys waiting for me?"

"Not precisely," Abraxas replied and at the same time Orion answered "yes." Abraxas raised an eyebrow at his friend in disapproval. Orion just rolled his eyes.

"What were you thinking talking to Professor Riddle like that?" asked Orion. Harry suppressed the urge to groan. He really didn't feel like justifying himself to the two Slytherins.

"I was thinking that the assignment was a waste of time," Harry told them, but continued walking. Abraxas and Orion hurried to match his pace.

"So what? Most assignments are a waste of time. That doesn't mean you can tell off a teacher," Orion said.

"Particularly Professor Riddle. Have you no self preservation?" Abraxas chimed in.

"So what's your punishment?" asked Orion.

"Detention tonight."

"Is that all? I would have thought Professor Riddle to be more severe," Abraxas mused. He and Orion positioned themselves on either side of Harry as they made their way up a staircase.

"Yeah, you're pretty lucky. Did you hear about the third year who kept interrupting Professor Riddle? Apparently he nearly wet himself," Orion divulged with a sly smile. It was Harry's turn to roll his eyes. Slytherins were such busybodies.

"Stop gossiping, we're going to be late for Charms." Harry tried to tell his two companions, but Orion just snorted in amusement.

"Yeah right. Technically Defense doesn't end for another five minutes. Come on, spill. Why'd you go off at Professor Riddle like that?"

"I told you, the assignment was a waste of time."

"Please, if you're so against wasting class time, why didn't you tell off Professor Merriweather yesterday when he made everyone share three observations about the Porlocks? Really, there were only five or so observations to be made and then we were all repeating ourselves," Orion needled Harry. Much to his consternation, Harry realized that Orion had a point. Professors frequently assigned useless assignments. It never made Harry think twice in other classes, only in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"It's just… Knowing this stuff, defense I mean, it's going to be really important in a few years… More important than knowing what to do with a Porlock," Harry admitted. Truthfully he was a little biased, but it was the best answer he could come up with.

"Well, the all knowing time traveller has spoken. Abraxas, we'd better start paying attention in Defense," Orion said with false solemnity.

"Shut up," Harry mumbled as the three of them reached the top of the staircase.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Harry was unsure of how to act around Riddle during detention that night, or rather the renamed OWL review. On the one hand Harry had been reminded that messing with the future dark lord was a bad idea, on the other hand Harry had gotten away with questioning the man's teaching methods in front of the entire class without being punished.

"With how well you know Defense Against the Dark Arts, I think we should move on and focus on Charms today," said Riddle as soon as Harry walked through the door.

"Right. Sounds good," Harry replied nervously.

"I've prepared a list charms that you are likely to be tested on. I recommend reading up on the theory behind all of them, on your own time of course, so as not to waste our weekly instructional period." As Riddle handed Harry a sheet of parchment, Harry struggled not to roll his eyes. Who knew dark lords could be so passive aggressive.

"So should I practice casting all of these?" At Riddle's nod, Harry looked back down at the list of charms. It was written in meticulously neat handwriting. The first spell listed was the cheering charm.

"I thought the only way to tell if a cheering charm is cast correctly is to observe the effects," Harry said.

"It is. You will cast it on me." Riddle told him. Harry's eyes widened, the last time he had performed a cheering charm, Ron had had to go to another room to calm down.

"What if I get it wrong?"

"I trust you will not." From the way Riddle said it, Harry got the idea the man did not mean he trusted Harry to get the spell right, rather, he trusted that Harry knew the trouble that would befall Harry if the spell was cast incorrectly.

"Right," Harry said, trying to quell his nervousness. Being nervous while casting had never gone well for him. At least he would have until the charm wore off to run if it all went wrong.

"Hilarus Levo," Harry uttered, hesitantly pointing his wand at Riddle. A jet of yellow light hit the defense professor right in the chest. It took some effort not to take a step back at Riddle's sudden grin. Harry realized that he had never seen the other man smile genuinely. It was kind of terrifying, probably because Riddle smiled with all of his teeth.

"Er, right. So the next one is the color changing charm… I'll just cast that on the desk, shall I?" Harry asked. Riddle's response was to laugh. It came as a surprise to Harry that while Riddle's grin was a bit creepy, his laugh was not. It was nothing like the cold, high pitch laugh Voldemort had when he had done something particularly evil, it sounded… normal.

"Right… I must have overdone it a bit… I guess I'll just keep going then," Harry said, mostly to himself. Truthfully a part of him wanted to high tail it out of there in case Riddle became pissed when the cheering charm wore off, but another part of Harry rather liked the giggling version of the future dark lord.

"Colovaria." Harry pointed his wand at the desk. It changed from a rich mahogany to a bright blue. Harry smiled, he had always been pretty good at this particular charm.

"Colovaria," Harry heard Riddle repeat the charm. The desk went from blue to flashy sliver. Harry snorted.

"Colovaria," he said, and it turned a rich red color.

"Colovaria," Riddle repeated, this time pointing his wand at Harry. Harry looked down in time to watch his black robes turn a bright emerald green. Slytherin colors, of course.

"Rictusempra!" Harry cast the tickling charm at Riddle with a smirk. It was, after all, on the list. Although nearly hysterical laughter, the DADA professor managed to reverse the spell and hit Harry with a jet of water.

"Aqua Eructo!" Harry copied Riddle, and watched as the man dodged the stream of water by casting a version of an atmospheric charm Harry had never seen before. The water evaporated and then condensed into a cloud above Harry, who couldn't help but laugh when it started to rain.

"Meteolojinx Recanto," Harry cancelled the spell. Unfortunately this caused the cloud to transform back into water. Harry realized his mistake as soon as he said the incantation and was able to avoid most of the cascade. With a glance to make sure that Riddle was not about to cast another spell at him, Harry looked again at the list of charms.

"Calidum Aerem," Harry pointed his wand at himself. A gust of hot air hit him.

"Calidum Aerem," Riddle repeated. A much stronger gust of hot air hit Harry, causing drops of water to fly off his robes. Harry snorted. Competitive much?

"So that's how it's going to be?" Harry asked with a mischievous grin

"That's how it's going to be," Riddle said with a matching grin.

"Lumos Maxima!" The spell causes a blinding light for a fraction of a second. Shortly after a second blinding light appeared as Riddle repeated the spell. This one took a few seconds to dissipate.

It was well after curfew by the time Harry got back to the Slytherin common room. His hair was a bit damp and his left shoe was too big after numerous engorgement and shrinking charms, but he felt much lighter then he had in a while. It was only when Harry was changing into his pajamas that he noticed his robes were still a bright emerald green.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Sunday found Harry sitting in Dumbledore's office, practicing transformation. Specifically he was supposed to be transfiguring an armchair into a cat, but so far all he had managed was to give the back of the armchair a pair of very angry yellow eyes. Dumbledore seemed content to let Harry attempt transfiguring the thing over and over again, saying that Harry would get a feel for what he was doing wrong with a few more tries.

"Professor? How hard would you say the patronus charm is?" Harry asked, slightly disturbed by the way the armchair was hissing at him, given that it didn't have a mouth. He had been wondering about it since Friday. Even under a cheering charm, Riddle had managed to out-cast Harry in every charm. It made no sense that Harry could cast a patronus and Riddle not.

"Magically? I'd say it is equivalent to most seventh year spells," Dumbledore replied.

"Then why isn't it part of seventh year curriculum?" As far as Harry was concerned, the patronus was one of the most useful spells he had ever learned, as it not only defended against dementors and boggarts (in Harry's case) but could also be used to relay messages.
"The issue is not the magical difficulty of the spell, but the emotional aspect, which is a part of magic that most witches and wizards tend to ignore. Since this is more necessary for the patronus than many other spells, it if written off as too difficult."

"People don't attempt the patronus because of emotional difficulty?" Harry asked, thinking of the wonderful feeling his patronus brought and how anyone could describe that as difficult.

"In order to cast the spell you need to think of a happy memory, yes?"

"Yes…"

"But not just any happy memory."

"Yeah, it has to be powerful enough," Harry agreed, thinking of his first attempt at the spell.

"The memory is not the thing that is powerful, but the spell caster's emotional reaction to the memory. A patronus combats a thing that sucks out not just happiness, but hope and the will to live," Dumbledore explained. Harry smiled slightly at the man's transition into 'professor mode.'

"To be fully corporal," Dumbledore continued, "a patronus must be made of a reverence for living. The memory itself is not necessary, it is simply a tool to allow the castor be filled with hope and the understanding that although life is not always pleasant, it is worth fighting for."

Harry nodded. He had cast a patronus before without thinking of a specific memory, just of Ron and Hermione.

"But trying to get to that point isn't difficult, I mean it takes some work but if anything it's emotionally empowering," Harry said.

"I know, but many people give up and in order to justify it, they ignore the part they are failing and tell themselves it doesn't exist," explained Dumbledore. There was a pause as Harry once again attempted to transform an armchair into a cat. This attempt was marginally better. Fur covered the entire thing, and although one could not definitively say it was a cat or an armchair, Harry fancied that it seemed to be more cat than armchair this time.

"May I ask why you are interested in patronuses. I believe you are already capable of casting one," the transfiguration professor inquired.

"I can, but I found out Riddle can't," Harry told Dumbledore. The man set down his quill and Harry got an inkling that their little meeting had just changed from and OWL review session to a dark lord report session.

"I cannot say I am surprised, Professor Riddle has had a very hard life. I imagine there are very few happy memories," Dumbledore said. "I think it will take some time before he capable of a patronus."

"Yeah, I suppose so," Harry replied, unsure why he felt disappointed.