Surprise..?

hehe… he… *clears throat*

Onwards!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. /Disclaimer

Flitwick wore a pleased smile as mister Potter packed up his bag and prepared to leave. In the last month the kid had improved by leaps and bounds. He almost suspects that he practises on his own. But that's unlikely, he leaves here in bruises almost every Friday. It is… unlikely, that he practices again before he's had a week's rest.

"Mister Potter." Flitwick called out, stopping the boy from leaving.

"Professor?"

"You have come far in the last month. And I think it's time to move on to the next stage of your training." At Harry's non reaction he continued. "We shall be working on your aim as well as a handful of low level curses, starting next week. We shall continue your evasion exercises, of course." His smile left him as Harry's face remained blank. Normally his students would be overjoyed that the evasion exercises would be over - or atleast supplemented with other training - and that they were being thought some real magic. Not mister Potter though. He hadn't uttered a single complaint since his training began.

"Of course, professor." The boy never offered more than the absolute minimum anymore. Never spoke much anymore either, now that he thought about it. Never spoke up in class, or in the hallways. With the exception of mister Longbottom, and even then they are mostly one sided conversations. Not that Neville seems to mind, the kid seems thrilled to have someone to talk too.

"Then I will see you next Thursday, mister Potter. Same time, same place." Mister Potter left after a small bow, always the picture of polite these days. Ever since Miss Granger. It made Flitwick have to suppress a shudder, thinking about that tragedy. But no child should behave like that, no matter how much he and the other teacher complained about unruly students. A sigh left him as he sat down on his chair, he was getting too old to be worrying like this. Much too old.

I had to suppress a smile as Neville stood outside, some leftovers wrapped in a napkin waiting for me. I took the offered food and nodded my head in thanks, munching on it the second the napkin released it's goodies. Practice always had me hunger afterwards. We walked for a bit before we came to a 'our' empty classroom.

"Rozy?" A telltale pop was heard, and the classroom lost its content. Rozy was nothing if not efficient. "Thank you Rozy." I said softly. Never knowing if she hears me or not. I'd like to think she does though, sue me.

"Well then, let's beg..." I fire a stinging hex in the middle of my sentence. I rarely catch Neville off guard with it anymore.

Since Flitwick has started training me, I always insist that Neville allows me to train my accuracy afterwards. It had the added benefit of training Neville in the same way Flitwick trains me. By dodging a lot of annoying jinxes and curses.

Neville got better at dodging, of course. And I had the nagging feeling that it also trains your sixth sense, so to speak. Just last week a third year 'claw and a second year 'puff had an argument that got a little heated. When the 'claw shot a spell and missed the 'puff, it flew right at the back of Neville's head. And he swerved to the right at the last second!

Based on his disbelieving look he didn't do it consciously.

After I was done with my 'accuracy training' – something that did actually help with my accuracy, even if it was just an excuse to train Neville. If he was going to hang around me I was going to make damm sure he knew how to survive. – we trudged back to the tower and had a quick shower before going to bed. Even though we came back way after curfew, nearing midnight, neither of our roommates said anyway. Mostly because they were asleep, but also because we ignored their protests and never got caught anyway.

Neville also stood up for himself more these days. Something that shocked quite a few people the first time Neville told someone to mind his own damm business when our housemates where getting too nosy about where we were all the time.

It was a corridor away from the library the next morning that thing went a little... wrong. Well, maybe not wrong exactly. But certainly more exciting.

Malfoy and his two lumbering trees were making a beeline straight for us, and not to wish us a good morning.

"Potter, I see you and Longbottom are going to the library again. Are you so stupid that you need the entire weekend to do your homework?"

That…. was kinda weak. Even for Malfoy. Staring blankly at him seems to unnerve him, or at least I hope so. There's no professor or other student in the hall, and I doubt that Neville will bother to pull me off him if he crosses the line again.

"Nothing to say, Potter?" He sneered. He out to provoke a reaction then. Sadly for him I'm actually quite good at controlling my emotions, in normal circumstances.

At my continued silence he switches targets. "And you Longbottom, not defending your half-blood friend? And here I thought Gryffindors where supposed to be brave."

Neville follows my lead though, and just stares silently at him. Ironically, not being able to make us angry made him angry. That kid has issues. Don't know what kind, but issues.

Did I just think of someone my age as a kid? Bigger problems, he's going for him wand.

Seeing him aim just makes it easy. I almost mockenly sidestep the jinx that comes towards me as Neville does the same for a couple of curses, courtesy from the lumbering trees.

Being able to see where the curses and jinxes come from, it was almost laughably easy to sidestep and dodge them. It was actually kinda funny to see him get more frustrated as we continue to dodge. My humor dries instantly when I see a cutting curse coming for my head. It was one of the weaker ones, but still. Neville sees it too. He's not happy, not even a little.

With a very wolf like sounding snarl Neville shoots two curses in rapid succession, catching one of the trees in the arm and they other in the leg. Both go down as their legs snap shut and they lose their balance, ending their participation in this little 'duel'.

I retract my hand from where it was resting on my own wand as both Snape and the librarian come storming towards us. Snape looked like he was stalking the distance, actually. That looks kinda cool. In a dramatic, cape billowing super villain kinda way.

"Potter, what are you doing?" Snape hissed as he cancels both leg-locking curses.

"No need to ask them, professor. I heard the whole thing." Madam Pince, the librarian, said with an annoyed scowl at the Slytherins. They never were her favorite students, always loud and not handling her books with the care they deserved. Ravenclaws, on the other hand. Now there's a house that handles her books with the reverence they deserve.

"I heard mister Malfoy here make some challenging and insulting remarks before I hear spell fire hitting the walls. Considering all the damage seems to be on the side of the gryffindor's, not counting the last two curses, it seems clear to me who started it." With that she twirled around and narrowed her eyes at Malfoy. "And don't think I didn't see you firing that cutting curse young man! If you had hit one of my books with that I'd have your blocked from the library before you could say my father will hear about this." She finished with a huff, waving her finger in his face for good measure.

Straightening her robe, she spoke; "Ten points from each of you for fighting in the hallways." Seeing Neville narrowing his eyes she adds. "Yes, even you two. Fighting in the hall is expressly forbidden."

Neville looks like he wants to argue, but I cut in before he can. "You have our deepest apologies, Madam. We will endeavor to never fight in these halls again."

I somehow said that without sounding sarcastic, I'm very proud of myself. Especially considering I didn't fire a single spell and we didn't start it.

Snape apparently wasn't willing to argue with the librarian because he and his three snakes left, capes billowing behind them. I just pick up our bags where we dropped them on the floor and walk inside the library, half throwing Neville's bag on his chair.

"Why didn't you let me defend us?!" Neville's huffs angrily as he grabs his bag and drops it on the floor before sitting down. "We didn't start it! It's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair, Neville." I speak softly, feeling the heavy atmosphere. Neville deflated almost instantly at my rebunk; "I know. Believe me, I know."

He hesitates for a moment before metaphorically squaring his shoulders. "My parents don't even recognize me when I visit them. There in St Mungo's." He answers my unasked question. "They lost their sanity when they were tortured at the end of the last war."

"Who tortured them?" He's uncharacteristically serious now, feels like this is something he's been living with for a long time. "A group of Death eaters led by Bellatrix Lestrange."

"Where is Bellatrix now?"

"Azkaban." That sounded bitter.

"She was convicted?" I ask, surprised. Isn't that supposed to be good?

Neville snorts loudly. "She loudly proclaimed that she was loyal to you-know-who and would wait faithfully until the day he returned. They had little choice but to sentence her. My parents were never even brought up at trail." Jesus, no wonder he's bitter.

We sit silently for a few minutes as i contemplate whether to speak up or not.

"This world is rotten, Neville. A student dies and it's not even mentioned in the daily prophet, let alone an investigation." At his raised eyebrow I add; "Believe me, I checked." I look out the window as I let my thoughts spill out. "House elves are mistreated or downright abused more often than not. Werewolves are so discriminated against that more than half kill themselves before they hit their first year, if they even make it that far. They are dangerous, yes, but shunning them will not help the problem. If anything, it makes it worse. And don't get me started on the difference in power between the muggleborns and the few elite that run this world."

Neville doesn't say anything as I ramble, just looking out the window. Watching some early risers enjoy a morning walk.

"Half-giants like Hagrid are scorned for being born. Corruption is so far ingrained in the government I'll bet you half my vault there's a few dozen running around with a mark still on their arm. Muggleborns can't rise to certain influential positions in the government, if they get hired at all. Hermione dies and this fucki…"

I forcefully snap my jaw shut before I can finish that sentence. That's more than I have said in the past month. I look at Neville to see him still staring out that damm window.

"You know alot about this. How?" He doesn't sound judgmental, just curious.

I snort in response. "I read, and listen. You'd be surprised what people talk about when they think there alone."

At Neville's glance I turn back to look outside. "So what are you going to do about it? This world I mean."

"Right now? Nothing." I evade his question easily enough, but he doesn't look convinced. At all.

Training, homework and classes blend together and before I knew it the Christmas holidays had arrived. Neville and I sat a little way apart from the others, nothing unusual. What was unusual was the letter that appeared on my lap with the words Don't open at the table written on it. Curious but never one to disregard sound advice, I tuck the letter safely in my bag before finishing my plate. Neville shot me a look, but I just shrug.

After the feast me and Neville duck into a storage room and I apply some basic privacy charms I have recently learned. One can never be too careful. Neville adds his own too, if only to practise. I open the letter to find two lines written on it.

2th floor girls bathroom, 9 pm. Bring Longbottom if you like.

"That's… suspicious." Neville says dryly as I burn the letter. "We going?"

I stare blankly at him for a moment before shrugging. "What's the wors-" Neville slaps a hand over my mouth before I can finish that sentence. After a second he pulls it away and cancels the privacy charms before walked out into the hallway. I chuckle before following him.

At 9 pm sharp we turn the last corner towards the bathroom and look around. "If this was Malfoy's idea to get us in trouble, it's horrible. It's not even after curfew." I deadpan as Neville cautiously opens the door, only to see a ghost crying its eyes out on the sink.

"Go inside then, we don't have all night." A blonde first year - or small second year, I suppose - said as she comes around the corner. I gave a small sigh when I saw a Slytherin badge on her robe.

She apparently notices and gives her own annoyed sigh. "We're not all Malfoy's you know. Now get inside, I'd rather not be caught talking to you two."

When I walk inside the bathroom I see Neville checking the stalls for uninvited guests and give him a small smile. He does a small mock bow, but I see the pleased grin on his face regardless.

"So what can I help you with Miss..?" I ask after she comes in behind us and we all apply our own privacy charms. Apparently we're all paranoid.

"Greengrass. Daphne Greengrass."

"This is Neville Longbottom. And as I'm sure you're aware my name is Harry potter. What can we help you with, Miss Greengrass?"

She looks uncertain for a split second before she adopts a cold look. "I want to make a deal."

"What kind of deal?" I say after she doesn't continue speaking. When she doesn't say anything again I will admit to getting slightly inpatient, before it's drowned out.

She notices. She's pretty sharp. "I can help you with that."

Fine, I'll play. "With what?"

"Occlumency, of course." She says, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. It's really not.

"What's Occlumency?"

"Exactly. I can help longbottom too, with his inconsistency problem." She looks almost happy that I fell for it. Don't know what I fell for, but she certainly thinks it's something.

"And what would you want in return for this… kindness?" I say slowly, putting a nice touch of dryness in my voice at the word kindness.

She looks uncertain again, gotta remember she only eleven. Just like us. Well, like Neville. I haven't felt like a child for years now.

"Protection." At Neville's snort she quickly adds. "Not for me, for my sister."

"And what makes you think I can protect your sister, or would even want to?" At my dismissive tone a flash of panic crosses her face.

"Like I said, I can you help and Longbottom."

I wave my hand dismissively. "Based on your reaction occlumency is some sort of mind magic. I can no doubt find all that I would need to know in the library. As for Neville's inconsistencies, we have a few running theories. The leading one is that Neville's not using a wand that's a good match. He is going to convince his grandmother to go to Ollivander's over the break."

Hearing me easily dismiss her bargaining power another flash of panic crosses her face. She opens her mouth to speak but I continue talking before she can; "The issue of my motivation aside, what makes you think I could even protect your sister?"

She has the audacity to snort. "You took Malfoy down a peg without firing a single spel. Longbottom managed to drop his bodyguards with a single curse each. Longbottom,of all people. And don't think no one noticed that you spend all your time in the library. Or that you purposely struggle in class when we learn a new charm or transfiguration."

My look of slight amusement at seeing her panicked drains of my face. Seeing this, Neville casually walks over and leans against the door. Effectively blocking the only route of escape. He's not looking all that amused anymore either.

"Have you been spying on us, Miss Greengrass?" I lean forwards slightly, my face carefully blank. She glances back to the door to see Neville blocking it. She gulps almost audibly before her face goes blank again.

"Yes." She admits. "After that incident with Malfoy I wanted to know what you have been hiding. I managed to see two of your 'training session', as you call them, before you put up privacy charms." She glances back to Neville again before continuing; "You learning privacy charms, even basic ones, is impressive but not all that strange. You're the boy-who-lived after all, you're supposed to be some super battle-mage or something." Her occlumency, as it is apparently called, couldn't contain what she thought of that notion. "But him," She gestures at Neville. "is another story all together. He moves differently, knows what he is doing in almost all his classes now and to top it off hasn't melted one of his couldrants in months."

She takes a deep breath and looks me straight in the eyes. "And that all began after he started hanging out with you. I don't have any allies in my house. A few non-aggression pacts that are worth the paper they aren't written on, yes. But no allies, let alone someone that would dare stand up to Malfoy."

At my 'go on' gesture she takes another deep breath and finally says what's actually troubling her "I can survive, if I have too. My sister won't. She too naive and not nearly ruthless enough to survive in the snake pit. I Wan..."

I cut her off before she can continue with her proposal; "You seek to make an alliance with us so that you can protect your sister. You would set aside your pride and risk harm from within your own house out of loyalty." I nod towards Neville and he steps away from the door, freeing the exit.

"You have yourself a deal, Miss Greengrass. Help me with my occlumency and tell us your suspicions about Neville's inconsistencies and I will protect your sister against any that would harm her."

If she was surprised with my abrupt decision she didn't show it. I offer my hand and she shakes it, sealing out alliance.

"Neville does indeed need a new wand. The one he has now is a decent match, he can still cast spells after all, but a perfect match will fix any problems he has."

I make a show of nodded thoughtfully. "As we suspected then, good. Will you return home over christmas?" She's shaking her head before I even finish speaking. "My mother and sister are going to Spain. I don't particularly like the heat, so I'm staying. I was going to spend my time studying or maybe convince you to make this… alliance. But that seems a moot point now."

"Indeed. If it is agreeable with you, shall we meet in the library tomorrow at 9 am? We can start on my occlumency lessons." When she looked hesitant for a moment and I had to withhold a sign.

"I'm not in the habit of going back on my word, Miss Greengrass. When your sister comes to hogwarts she will be under my protection." I mumble; "For all the good it will do her."

"Out of curiosity, has anyone else been paying… attention, to what me and Neville are doing?"

She actually blushes a little. "Truthfully? No. Although Malfoy's been talking with some of the upper years. I'll see what I can find out."

I give a small nod of thanks and walk towards the exit, canceling the privacy charms as I pass Neville. All of them. Seeing her eyes widened brought a grin to my face.

This turned out far better than I thought it would.

After eating a quick breakfast and saying goodby to Neville I made my way to the library. With only about twenty or so students choosing to remain at hogwarts, the library was predictable empty. I almost immediately see Daphne hanging around one of the tables.

I nod as a greeting and sit down, looking at her expectantly.

"Alright, let's get started." She takes a second to order her thoughts and dives right in. "The first thing you need to know is that occlumency mainly does three things. The first is that it protects your mind from being invaded and your thoughts read like a book. The second that it help control and regulate emotion. The final main use is that it can order your thought, making it easier to remember information that is properly 'sorted', so to speak."

With a nod to signal I understand she continues.

"The first step to learning occlumency is to call upon a haze. It's different for anyone, or so my teacher said. For some they simply picture nothingness, other feel like they are surrounded by an ocean. The point is to cast a protective layer over your thoughts and emotions. From what I have seen you can already do this." Another nod. "Good. This step usually takes the second longest. It took me nearly a year before i could call it up at all. This first barriers, as my teacher called it, does little to protect you from all but the weakest of mind attacks. Better known as legilimency. What it does do is drown out everything and make it feel like your seeing everything through a pane of glass."

At my puzzled look she shrugged. "Like i said, it's different for everyone. Now, the second step is to order your memories. This can be done in a number of ways. Whatever you can think of that makes them easily accessible to you and compact enough so that you can protect them."

She hesitates before continuing; "This means that you will have to go through all of your memories and order them. This will also help to increase your memory as information becomes easier to find and access. You can store them however you wish. Some picture a library with each book a memorie and each page a piece of information."

She wouldn't have gotten a stronger reaction if she had slapped me in the face. To relive everything, all those years in the darkness. All that pain, Hermione's dea…

No. I refuse!

I will not do it!

You cannot force me to do this!

You owe it to her. To all of them. The rational part of my mind supplied smoothly. If this gives you power, and thus influence, it must be done.

I have always hated arguing with myself, you never win. Or rather, you both win and lose. Waste of energy, really.

So, without as much of a by your leave and with a resigned sigh I sunk into my mind. Something that came so naturally I didn't even question how easy it was.

"em however you wish. Some picture a library with each book a memorie and each page a piece of information." Daphne finished, glad she took some time to prepare that opening speech last night.

When she look at her 'student' though, she saw Harry was busy displaying two dozen emotion on his face in rapid succession. Shock, anger, grief and finally resigned acceptance where all she could make out in the maelstrom that was his face. But that last one. That was an look she is so painfully familiar with she nearly gasped.

She saw it in the mirror each morning, after all.

That feeling of fear and resignation, but knowing all you can do is move forward with ever diminishing hope.

The feeling of knowing you have to do something, and hating yourself for it.

And that's when she realized - with all the subtlety of running into a brick wall - that Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived, was broken.

Maybe as broken as she was.

But she has he sister. Someone that can make her smile even on the worse of days. Who does Potter have?

Ron Weasley, was the answer that popped into her mind first. But Weasley is home. Home after sustaining grievous injuries failing to save Granger.

So who does that leave? Longbottom.

Better than nothing, Daphne supposed. Although to be fair, he's changed. More confident and self-assured.

And then there's Potter's mysterious home live. Speculation ran rampart on that front, so no actually factual information. But even she, with the limited information that she has, can she it probably wasn't a happy one.

When she looks back to Potter she sees him heave a sigh and than he has the telltale vacant look in his eyes that signal he's either souless or busy inside his own mind.

After her little epiphany, she felt the strong urge to look after his body. Empty as the castle was, with the students having left almost an hour ago, you never know.

She couldn't explain the surging feeling of fondness for the smaller than he should be boy in front of her. And she really would prefer not to look too closely into it, thank you very much.

It isn't everyday you find a kindred spirit, after all.

I really kinda suck in spelling but have an overactive imagination! Send help!

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