Chapter 15 Another Day Gone

Harry's POV

They were just about to finish lunch when Luna made the comment, "You know, Harry, Occlumency is a wonderful art to practice. It might even help you find your memories." She then gathered her books, kissed him on cheek and left with a skip.

"Occlumency?" he turned and asked Hermione.

"It is the art of shielding one's mind from invasion. You have to learn to do some deep meditation and organize your memories, which means you might have an easier time getting started, what with you only remembering the last week or so," she said, tapping her finger on her chin in thought. She came across the book in first year and had practiced it to help with her memory retention. Her mindscape was a non-magical library with an AI librarian, card references and computers. It aided her a lot when taking test. She didn't think the boys would sit still enough to practice, so she never told them. Well, she mentioned it to Harry once, but he had other things on his mind.

"Are there books?" Harry asked, thinking he could split his time between his mum's diary and that subject. If it could help him get his memory back all the better, but he was worried that he might revert to his former personality, which everyone said was shy and introverted. He liked this him and didn't want to go back. Well, maybe he could add a filter to his mouth, which seemed be like a sieve. It was something he was seriously going to have to ponder.

"I found a few in the library in our first year, since you are not attending class you should go and check them out," his bushy-haired friend said as she too gathered her bag and got up from the table.

"If you don't find what you need there, I'll ask Gran. I already know it, being an heir and all," Neville offered as he grabbed a muffin and stood.

"Alright. Thanks, Nev. I'll check out the library while you guys are in class," Harry said as he finished his afters and nodded to Fred and George and walked the other two out of the Hall. They separated at the stairs and Harry followed his map to the library.

The lady behind the desk, whose name was Irma Pince according to his map, took one look at him and pursed her lips. "Mr. Potter, what are you doing out of class?" she asked the boy. While he was not an unruly child, he did have a tendency to get into argument with his friends here in the library. That was not something she could overlook. He seemed to be alone today, so maybe it would be alright.

"I have amnesia and I've been excused to do self-study," Harry said with a charming smile, which was lost on the old woman.

"Keep yourself quiet and don't ruin my books," the possessive librarian said firmly.

"Right," our champion said, wondering what he had done to cause such disdain. "Could you please tell me where I can find books on Occlumency?" he asked politely.

"Fifth row, middle of the aisle," was the sharp answer that was accompanied with a pointed finger.

"Thanks," he said and went to the fifth aisle. He trailed his fingers along the titles to find what he was looking for. In the middle there were five books on the subject, so he pulled them all down and took them to a nearby table. He tried not to thump them, but they were heavy, so when they made what seemed like a large bang in the quiet room, he just sheepishly smiled at the old crow and sat.

It took a half an hour just to read a small part of one of those dry books, and then his brain felt like it would die of boredom, so he pulled his mum's diary out of his TARDIS pocket and started from the beginning. This went on for the rest of the afternoon, a half an hour between each subject.

The diary started when she was around nine, going on ten. She had just been told she was magical. He learned that his mum was a very happy girl, who loved everyone she ever met, even, much to his shock, that creepy Snape guy. She felt he was like a brother she never had and was her best friend for years. She loved both of her parents dearly. She spoke sadly of her sister, Petunia, and how they fell out when Snape told her she was a witch. She waxed poetic over all the things 'Sev' showed her and would go on and on about how she couldn't wait for her letter. There were a few passages about how she as worried about 'Sev'. She thought that he was being abused and would cry that there seemed to be nothing her family could do about it.

She talked about all the times her sister called her a freak. This made his brain jerk, like a memory that he couldn't quite grasp, so he put it aside and read more about his mum. Harry didn't get very far into the diary, it would take days to finish it, but that was enough to completely floor him for now.

It struck Harry as weird that when she was young, she and Snape had great control over their magic. They made flowers grow for pity's sake, but then they got a wand and couldn't do that anymore. That made him more determined to not attend classes if that was the result.

From the Occlumency books, he learned how to meditate and create a mindscape. He wondered if he could build the Enterprise in his mind and have a mishmash crew of the first two series. There was also the one that just came out, Deep Space Nine, but he really didn't know much about it. He did wonder how many shows they were going to make. But for right now, he would go with what he knew. He could have Picard for the captain, and Scotty for the engineer—yeah, he decided he like the guy— with Data and Spock to help keep him logical, and of course Uhura and Troi, for the hot babe effect. Oh, and Bones for a doctor. It would be cool.

It was getting close to dinner time, so he put the books away that he didn't need and checked out the three he hadn't read. His head rang with the warning the librarian gave him as he quickly walked through the halls to the Great Hall.

The girls and Neville were waiting for him and they all went in together. People still stopped talking and gawped at him, until he glared back. They went to the Gryffindor table again, this time sitting away from Ron. Harry didn't feel like fighting with the boy. As they ate, they talked about their day and what lessons they had. Harry brushed a bit on what he read but kept most of it private. He did let them know how much he admired his mum for the kind person she was.

"It's great that you are getting to know your mum, I don't know much about mine. Gran only talks about my dad," Neville commented sadly as he scooped up some vanilla ice cream and put blueberries on it. He did wonder if his mum left a diary in the family vault, it was something he was going to have to explore this summer, if he could get his grandmother to let him.

"Where are your parents, Neville?" Hermione asked kindly, but with a great deal of curiosity.

"Oh, well, you see, they're in the long-term care ward at St. Mungo's. They were cursed by some Death Eaters when I was the same age as Harry was when he lost his parents," the shy boy said, hanging his head. It wasn't that he was ashamed, like Gran accused him of being; he was more upset that they didn't seem to be getting better.

"Oh my, I am so sorry I asked," the bushy-haired witch said remorsefully, reaching out a hand and patting his arm.

"No, it is okay, Gran says I should talk about them," he waved it away as he pulled back his arm, but he didn't raise his head.

Harry laid a hand on his other arm and inquired, "Do you get to see them?"

"Yeah, they don't really know who I am, but I am determined to find a cure," Neville answered, lifting his head and showing his Gryffindor spirit. It was one of the reasons he was into Herbology. He lamented that he was pants in potions but figured that he could pay someone to do that part. His theory was good; it was the execution that held him back.

"I'll help make you a great wizard," our hero promised again, thinking it would be easy with such determination. All he had to do was get the boy to overcome years of intense teaching, sure easy.

Just then two owls came swooping by the table. One as a very tiny excitable thing that was carrying a red envelope, the other was a worn-out grey owl that looked to be on his last wing. The little guy went straight to Ron, and the twins quickly grabbed it and hustled their brother out of the room. They didn't need the whole school to know their brother might be a thief. They made it to the Entrance Hall and moved quickly to an empty greeting room.

"Drop it, you ruddy bird. Do you want to get hurt!?" Fred yelled, trying to get the poor owl to drop the offensive letter.

"What did you have to tell mum for?" the youngest whinged as he too desperately grabbed for the letter, not wanting Pig to get maimed by the Howler.

"We didn't, we told Dad," George said, finally getting the smoking envelope off the miniature owl. He dropped in on the floor and it flew up and formed lips and the melodious tone of Molly Weasley filled the air.

"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY! I HAVE NEVER IN ALL MY DAYS BEEN SO DISAPPOINTED IN ONE OF MY SONS. HOW DARE YOU GO INTO ANOTHER PERSON'S TRUNK WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION? I DON'T CARE IF YOU WERE HOLDING HARRY'S ITEMS OR NOT, YOU SHOULD HAVE NEVER GONE INTO HIS SPACE IN THE FIRST PLACE. YOU COULD HAVE WARDED HIS BELONGINGS, OR HAD THE TWINS DO IT. THE POOR BOY COULD HAVE BEEN LAID UP IN ST. MONGO'S, AND YOU WERE TAKING HIS THINGS. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED. HARRY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF HE TOOK YOUR THINGS? YOU WILL APOLOGIZE TO HIM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, OR YOU WILL FEEL THE END OF MY SPOON. HARRY POTTER IS A SWEET BOY WHO HAS DONE NOTHING TO WARRANT YOUR SCORN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU, BUT IT BETTER GET OUT BEFORE YOU GET HOME. Oh, and do tell Harry we will be more than happy to talk about this," the letter stated, and then simply shredded and the pieces fell to the floor.

"Well that was kind of hypocritical of her," Ron said, folding his arms in a pout. He hated that his mum blamed him automatically. She always did, well in his mind.

"What do you mean?" George asked as he banished the shredded red parchment.

"You two go through people's stuff all the time, and Ginny stole a book out of his trunk two years ago. I didn't hear any Howlers for those times," the youngest redhead snapped with an accusing finger. His mum always played favorites, and Percy and Ginny were hers. He would much rather a lecture from his dad, than a letter from his mum. It just pointed out how inadequate she thought her children were. He seemed to forget that the twins were always pushed to the side and punished for the littlest thing. "Plus, it was Harry's godfather that was trying to steal my rat. I didn't ruddy well hear her complain about that. He broke my leg for Merlin's sake. That didn't even warrant a visit."

"Wow, you really do need help," Fred said dumbstruck at just how far this jealousy went. He thought it was just Harry, but Ron really thought he was being put last in everything. He just couldn't understand where it was coming from, he and George also had a lot to live up to, but you didn't see them blaming the world for their plights. No, they were bound and determined to make names for themselves. They didn't really care that their mum could hardly tell them apart. They were their own men.

"I don't know where you get these ideas, we get Howlers for everything, but like today we simply leave the room with them. Unless we think it's going to be funny, or if there's a bet on what she says. That and Mum never knew about Ginny, heck we didn't know about Ginny. But even if we did, wasn't she controlled by an evil book? How can you want your baby sister to be punished for that?" George asked, just as flabbergasted at his twin.

"Right, plus we still don't know what went on last year, and you won't tell, so we can't defend you if we don't have all the facts," Fred stated, turning to leave now that the letter was over. "But wasn't this owl from Black?" he asked as he pulled open the door and went through.

"See, you still won't stick up for me, and I'm your brother," Ron grumbled as usual everyone thought he was in the wrong.

"That is because you're being a prat," George stated as he too left the room.

Ron stood silently; cursing the fact that Harry Potter ever came back. He snorted at the unfairness of it all and went back to his meal.

Harry's POV

"Oh, Errol, you poor thing," Hermione cooed at the poor old owl as it landed in front of Harry.

"Whose owl is this, then?" Harry asked, taking the letter from the exhausted bird, who hooted pitifully and seemed to fall asleep on the table. He looked at the envelope and noted it had his name, so he turned it around and broke the seal.

"This is the Weasleys' owl. They can't afford to get a new one and retire the poor thing," Luna said, petting the sleeping bird.

"He really is too old to carry post," added Hermione as she picked the owl up and cradled him in her arms. She tried to get it to eat a bit of ham, but the poor thing was just too tired. It was very sad to know that one day the post wouldn't be delivered, and they may never know what happened. Maybe she could give them one as a gift for Christmas; she would have to ask her parents.

"Read the letter, Harry, it could be important," Neville said, glancing at Hermione in a 'don't ask' manner.

She huffed and continued to pet the exhausted bird.

Harry took out the letter and silently read to himself:

Dear Harry,

Professor Dumbledore and the twins have informed me that you have lost your memories, so let me introduce myself. My name is Arthur Weasley and you have been friends to my children for a long time, and they have nothing but good things to say about you. You saved my daughter's life during her first year and I can never repay you for that. I believe you are a good, kind and brave person and hope that your condition gets better. My wife, Molly, also sends her best.

To the problem at hand, it hurts me to think that a child of mine would steal. I would like to believe that Ron is speaking the truth and was merely holding your belongings; however, the twins say it didn't stop at that. The only thing I, as a parent, can do is offer my sincerest apology. I raised them to know better. Ron is the youngest of our boys and is prone to fits of jealousy, but he is a good boy. I am sure that he would have returned your items to you given time.

I would like to speak to you at your earliest convenience. Perhaps, we can work out a solution.

Arthur Weasley

PS: Please use a school owl or Hedwig to deliver the response to give Errol some time to recover.

"Well, that was short and sweet," Harry said, folding the letter and putting it in his TARDIS pocket. "He just wants to meet," he added when Hermione opened her mouth to ask.

"Oh."

"Well, let's finish this and then go to the dorms. I have tons of books to read and I want to finish Mum's diary as soon as possible," Harry said as he took the last bite of his pumpkin pie.

"I have homework that needs to be done, but, Harry, I want you to tell me how your magic is coming along soon," Luna stated, put out that she was in a different House than her friends. Ever since she told Harry how to control his magic, she had been doing a bit of experimenting of her own. She still couldn't get her mind around the rules, but she could now pull off some wandless tricks to keep the girls in her dorm away from her things.

Just yesterday she vanished all their knickers with just a thought. They searched the whole dorm for an hour to find them. She had put them in the common room, and the girls were mortified when they went down the stairs and saw the boys playing with them. It was a start.

"The old man said that there is a Hogsmeade weekend coming up soon. We can all go, yes, you too, Neville, and I'll tell you all about it then," he said with a wink, knowing that she would know that he would hold back on some stuff.

"Oh, I would love to go," the little blonde squealed as she bounced in place and clapped her hands, making Harry and Neville watch her chest for a second, until Neville blushed and turned away, but Harry just smiled.

"Pervert."

"Teenager."

"Oh, Harry."

"What's this then?" an older female brunette asked from Harry's right.

"Is the great Harry Potter goggling girls?" inquired an older blonde girl next to her. There was a second brunette grinning at him.

"Well, yeah, I am a teenage boy. Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?" Harry asked as he looked them up and down and smirked at their figures like the teen he was. "And who might you lovely ladies be?"

"I'm Angelina Johnson, this is Katie Bell, and that is Alice Spinnet," the blonde introduced the three girls. "We're the chasers for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. We heard about your amnesia and wanted to say how sorry we were that something else happened to you. Seems like something new every year, yeah? Don't ogle too closely, we're spoken for," she warned with a mock wagging finger.

"Right," Harry said, making sure to keep his eyes up. "Nice to meet you all, sorry I don't remember you. I'm sure it'll all come back one day," he said, waving it off as unimportant.

"I'm sure," Katie agree as she got up from the table. "Well, we have to run. Even though there are no games this year, Oliver is making us run drills before curfew. Don't know why, he graduates this year," she grumbled.

"Did you want to join?" Alice asked, pushing her hair into a ponytail.

"Nay, better not, not until I've read up on it more," our champion stated, getting up and shaking hands with the three ladies.

"Well, when you're ready, there's always a spot for you, Harry," Angelina stated as she too pulled back her hair.

Harry's eyes strayed again; he just gave them a sloppy grin and wished them a good practice. They simply smiled and batted his head as they passed.

"You certainly have changed," Hermione commented when the trio left. "I don't think you even knew what girls were before," she added at his questioning look.

"Really? I must have been very dull," the amnesic stated, wondering how he could possibly have never noticed girls. They were bloody everywhere and in all sorts of glorious shapes, sizes and colors. What's not to notice?

"You were very shy," she said softly, getting up from her spot and joining him. Luna went to his other side, and Neville took the lead.

"Do you miss me? The other me, I mean," he asked just as softly as they walked to the doors. He put his arm around his two girls and guided them out.

"To tell the truth, yes, sometimes I do miss my shy friend. However, I like this guy too," the bushy-haired girl confessed and then giggled when he kissed her forehead.

"Perhaps, if my memory comes back, you'll get a mix of the two. Until then let's just take one day at a time," he said, giving her a squeeze.

"Let's," she agreed as they made it out the doors. They walked quietly thinking about the changes in Harry and how different he would be when, or if, he got his memory back, and they were just to the stairs when a snide comment stopped them.

"Oi, Potter, how could you hang out with such lowlife? A squib, and loon and a mudblood," the cultured voice asked, making the quartet turn and three of them reach for their wands. "Due to your… condition, I was going to offer to introduce you to more refined people, however if you insist on wallowing in mud, then there is little I can do to help you," Draco said maliciously.

"Papa's Little Bitch Boy, I thought I told you to leave me be," Harry said jovially as he took his arms from around the girls. "I see manners are not taught to the elite anymore," he added disappointedly, looking down his nose at the approaching boy. "I wouldn't be your friend if you gave me all the gold in Gringotts."

"You just wait until my father hears of this, you will be sorry you even denied my hand in friendship," Malfoy threatened as he came up to our group of heroes. Crabbe and Goyle following behind as usual.

"Really? Well then, I can't wait to meet him," Harry stated, still smiling like his friends weren't holding their wands.

"Wait, what?" that was not the answer Draco was expecting. Where was the wand drawing and the yelling? This new Harry didn't play by the rules. How was he supposed to get him in trouble if he was being so… happy?

"Yeah, I get to tell him that while I have two very lovely ladies on my arm, you hang out with… well, two ugly bruisers. How disappointed he'll be that his line will end with you," our hero stated as the smile fell from his face.

"What are you implying?" the blond asked as he glanced at his thugs, who looked just as confused.

"Well, think about it, I have women, you have men and…" Harry trailed off impishly and then he lashed out with his magic. Suddenly there was a cry of pain and blood was dripping down the blond boy's face. "Don't call my friends names again, you pounce," he said menacingly, never moving from his spot. He flinched a little when his mind went on Yellow Alert, there was an adult coming.

"What did you do, Potter?" came the silky voice of Severus Snape as he swooped down on the scene, making all those who had stopped to watch step back.

"Me? I never even pulled my tricorder," Harry said with a completely affronted look. He empty hands in plain view.

"It is a wand, you idiotic child. I will find out how you did that, and you will be expelled," the Potions Master stated ominously.

"Really? Great, then I won't have to deal with arseholes like you and the head one," the dark-haired wizard said excitedly, bouncing on his toes.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for disrespecting a teacher," Snape snarled, making a good majority of those watching cringe.

"Fifty points to me for making you look bad," Harry countered, and with a thought those jewels flew to the appropriate place. Not that anyone saw them, since they were all out of the Great Hall. "Tsk, tsk, picking on an ill child," he said, wagging is finger.

Snape sneered, took Malfoy by the shoulder and guided him away.

"I really don't know what my mother saw in you, you greasy-haired bastard," Harry called to his departing back. He shook his head sadly at the thought that his mother once loved this man like a brother. Oh, how disappointed she'd be if she could see him now. "It's no wonder my dad hated you, you are a slimy git," he added, making the man flinch and the crowd murmur. "What did you do? Wait until blows were thrown before you came swooping in like the bat you are?" he wouldn't put it past the man, who seem so have a hard on for wanting to get him in trouble.

"How did you know about my past?" Snape hissed as he whirled around to look at the boy's face, ignoring the accusation of waiting on the sidelines. Fear ran through his mind that the boy was starting to remember. He had no idea if the Obliviation worked on amnesiacs, the child might regain all his memories. Then he'd be done for. He started making plans to get out as soon as he could. The stress of too many secrets was getting to him. The Headmaster wanting a pet spy, the Dark Lord's return, that bloody ghost, others blackmailing him, and now this boy, who could ruin the good thing he had going here. No, it might be time to cut his losses.

"That is my business, and unless you are my guardian, lawyer or doctor it is none of yours," the teen stated firmly. All thoughts of confronting the man about the diary vanished at that point. There was no way he was going to let this bastard know his mum's good thoughts.

"Do not push me, child," the imposing man stated, pointing a finger at his most hated student.

"Professor Snape do we need to have another talk?" a voice interrupted, making the teacher cuss under his breath.

"Of course not, Baron, I am simply giving out punishment due. It is against the rules to fight, and Potter is not above those rules," Snape said in his most sincere tone, which didn't fool the ghost for one minute.

"And I said I didn't use my tricorder, so you have no proof I did anything. Heck, it could have been accidentally magic," Harry retorted as he looked that the ghost and wondered how he could get some time alone with the apparition. He knew the guy knew more than it was telling. And he could be the reason that when he was on the streets he looked up legends of blood covered ghosts.

The Bloody Baron seemed to read his thoughts and looked closely at the boy. He saw the narrow eyes and determined jaw, and just knew he was going to have to speak to the child. Now all he had to do was see what the teen would do with the information. Was he Slytherin enough to use it, or was he a Gryffindor at heart and go straight to the authorities? Only time will tell.

'Red Alert,' blared in Harry's brain and he looked around and groaned.