Harry
"I wonder what we're going to learn this year!" chirped Hermione excitedly, as she walked with Harry and Ron to Transfiguration.
"I don't even know why we're coming to school this year" Ron grumbled. "Wasn't the war class enough?"
"Ronald, we have to graduate - we've come so far."
"Come on, Fred and George didn't graduate and look at them!"
As they walked in to McGonagall's classroom, Harry saw Anna sitting by herself. He left Ron and Hermione, who were now bickering, and sat in the empty chair next to her.
"How are you liking Hogwarts so far?" he asked.
Anna looked startled. "Um...it's…Ok" she said. Ter voice was so quiet that Harry had to lean in to hear her. "I've barely gotten to know anyone to be honest."
"You can come sit with us any time, we'd love to get to know you better" Harry assured her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Isabella walk in to the classroom. She had the same haughty expression she had at the welcoming feast and when her eyes met Harry's, she wrinkled her nose in distaste. Nevertheless, she sat in front of him and Anna.
"Hi Isabella" said Anna, her voice a little louder. Isabella turned to acknowledge her but said nothing, she turned to the front again.
"How are you finding Hogwarts" Harry asked. He decided he would not hold Isabella to her family's reputation. Maybe they could be friends too.
Isabella's shoulders slumped, as if exasperated, and she turned around with annoyed expression on her face. "Boring, I hate being here" she said, and with that she pushed her blonde hair to the side, turned around and didn't talk again for the rest of the class.
Severus
It was lunch time and Severus had already grown tiresome of his students. His students for first period were first year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff and then third year Slytherin and Gryffindor for second period. He had already handed out at least seven detentions. Walking at a steady pace to the Great Hall, he hoped he would not be bothered by anybody on his way to lunch. Unfortunately for him, Amaryllis had just stepped out of a classroom, not looking where she was going, as he found was a common occurrence for her, and she almost walked right in to him. She realised quickly this time but she dropped her books by surprise on Severus's feet.
"Sorry!" Amaryllis cried apologetically. She crouched to gather her books. "I'm such a klutz."
Severus said nothing with the hope that she would not try to further engage in conversation with him.
It was in vain.
"How's your morning been?" she asked while hurrying to keep in step with him as he continued to walk.
"How it has always been" replied Severus, not trying to hide the boredom dripping in his voice. "Yours?" he asked. He would at least attempt to be civil.
"It's been good!" she said in delight. "The students seem very interested. It's funny what seems normal to me is fascinating to them – they were so intrigued when I showed them a telephone!"
Severus, whose father was a Muggle, grew up in a household where muggle items were used frequently, and he was quite familiar with the telephone. "You find it normal, do you use one often?" he asked.
"Yeah, all the time. My phone bill can get pretty bad!"
Severus was surprised to hear she had close Muggle friends. He and Lily had also grown up around Muggles but neither were very close to them.
Amaryllis
Amaryllis was relieved to reach the staff table. Talking to Severus was awkward, and she had gotten the distinct impression after their first meeting that he wasn't interested in any sort of friendship with her. Still, Amaryllis tried.
"What are you having for lunch today?"
"A sandwich" Severus replied. He gestured to his plate his place as if it were obvious.
"What class do you have after lunch?"
"Fifth years Hufflepuff and Slytherin."
"What are you teaching them?"
"Blocking spells."
"What blocking spells?"
Severus turned to her with narrowed eyes.
"Sorry, you probably want to eat" she mumbled. Severus turned his attention to his lunch. Thankfully in that same moment Sirius arrived. Just in time to save me from further embarrassment, Amaryllis thought grimly. "How was your morning?" she asked him.
"Really good" answered Sirius, he looked at the lunch options with visible distaste. "I mean it's a hell of a lot better than being stuck in an attic all day, that's for sure." Severus scoffed loudly from his seat on the other side of Amaryllis. "Oh yeah, got something to say Sniv – Snape?"
"No" he sneered.
"So what are you doing after lunch, Sirius?" said Amaryllis abruptly, hoping to steer the conversation.
"Free period!" Sirius exclaimed happily. "Might go see Hagrid, he's always a lot of fun."
Amaryllis had been meaning to visit Hagrid, but she hadn't had the time yet, she wished she also had a free period so she and Sirius could go see Hagrid together.
"How about you?"
"Fourth years Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. I hope they like the class."
"I'm sure they will, Muggle things are odd" said Sirius.
"I'm sure that's what Muggles think of our things" retorted Amaryllis in amusement. "What do you do in the night time? I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing when class isn't on."
"I don't know" said Sirius, shrugging. "Up to you - prepare for your next class, I guess." He stopped suddenly, and raised his eyebrows suggestively at her. "Or you could have fun…" Amaryllis rolled her eyes. "Well you know where I am" he continued when she didn't reply. "Except for tonight, I've got a hot date."
Sirius
Sirius did not have a hot date. Instead, Dumbledore had organised for the members of the Order of the Phoenix to meet at Grimmauld Place to discuss the Death Eater situation. Sirius felt happy however to be seeing James, Remus, Lily, Tonks and Teddy who were all living there now. Only three years ago had he been living in an empty house, alone with a Hippogriff and a bitter house elf. Now, his best friends were back, and his house finally felt like a home. Harry also lived at Grimmauld Place and regularly invited the Weasley's and Hermione over, so the house was full almost every night.
"Sirius!"
Sirius spun around quickly recognizing Harry's voice.
"Harry! Ron!" he said cheerfully as they caught up to him. "How does it feel being back at Hogwarts?"
"Good…strange to be back to be honest" replied Harry thoughtfully. "Especially with Snape. Had him for Defence, it was sort of awkward."
"Yeah" agreed Ron. "Really awkward."
"Can't say I've had a different experience" said Sirius, he tried to keep bitterness out of his voice. "Where's Hermione?"
"Library probably" replied Ron. "You'd think after everything she'd want to relax a bit." He paused for a moment. "What's the new Muggle Studies professor like?"
"Amar – I mean Professor Swan?" Sirius quickly corrected himself. "She's alright, nice, kind of chatty." He contemplated for a moment on whether to tell Harry about the Order meeting. Choosing in favour of his godson, he dropped his voice so that only Harry and Ron could hear. "Dumbledore wants us all to meet tonight."
"What?" said Harry, now frowning. "We never heard about it."
"I'm sure he didn't want to bother you" Sirius reasoned at once, sensing Harry's annoyance.
"Right. Yeah, because it's not like I defeated Voldemort or anything" said Harry lowly. "Guess he doesn't have to include me anymore."
Ron looked from Harry and Sirius tentatively, "We should get going" he said to Harry. "Mione's probably waiting for us. We'll see you later, Sirius."
"Yeah" muttered Harry.
"I'll bring it up tonight, Harry" said Sirius solemnly. "I promise."
Severus
"Severus!" crowed the voice of Molly Weasley upon seeing him. "We just had dinner, would you like me to take you out a plate?"
"No thank you" replied Severus curtly.
"If you're sure" said Molly, her tone was laced with obvious disapproval. "Everybody is in the dining room."
Severus saw Lily straight away, his heart fluttered.
"You look tired, Sev" she joked when Severus sat down. He merely grinned at her in response. At the same time, James, who sat on her other side, turned to Severus and gave him a quick nod in greeting before turning back to Sirius, who seemed to be choking on his own laughter, and thumped his back.
"Thank God you're here now" said Lily lowly. "I've had to listen to this all night." She jerked her thumb at the group next to her. "How were classes today?
"Terrible" groaned Severus. "All the students are twits".
"I'm sure you're exaggerating" said Lily. She was silent after that, and Severus could tell she was having an internal debate with herself. "I saw Petunia today" she said finally.
"And?"
"It was…weird. I don't know how to act around her" explained Lily, she bit her lip. "I don't know whether to be happy to see her, grateful to her for keeping Harry under her roof or angry for the way she treated him…James and I only stayed for ten minutes."
Severus said nothing in response. His opinion of Petunia hadn't changed since the last time he saw her. Truthfully, he wanted to tell Lily to cut Petunia out of her life forever.
"Anyway." She shrugged, but then she inched closer to Severus. "How's things at school now that Sirius is there" she asked quietly so only he could hear her.
"I take no notice of him" Severus replied. "Especially now with the new Muggle Studies professor."
"Oh yes. I heard she's very attractive." She cocked an eyebrow at Severus.
Of course Severus thought Amaryllis was attractive, but he felt uncomfortable telling Lily that.
"She's young. Talks too much" he said instead, and it wasn't an exaggeration.
Dumbledore walked in to the dining room then and all noise ceased.
"Thank you all for coming" he said, taking a seat. "As you know, Voldemort's followers are still –"
"Sorry, I'm late" interrupted Bill Weasley, He and his wife Fleur walked to the dining room, he looked at Dumbledore bashfully and mumbled a small "Sorry" before taking a seat next to Molly.
"As I was saying" Dumbledore continued. "Voldemort's followers are still a risk. The Ministry are utilizing their every efforts to find them but it's proving difficult. We have reason to believe they are in gathering headed by Bellatrix Lestrange".
Sirius snorted. "Great, I'd love to see her again" he said vehemently. "So what's the plan?"
"We must remain vigilant" Dumbledore instructed.
There was a long stretch of silence.
"That's it?" Sirius asked incredulously. "Bloody hell, if we wanted that advice we could have just asked Mad Eye." He jerked his thumb in the mentioned wizard's direction. Severus noted that Nymphadora looked away at once and Bill seemed to be smothering a fit of laughter.
"This is all I have to say on the matter at this time" Dumbledore said calmly. Severus sensed that the Headmaster knew a great deal more but was concealing it from the members of the Order.
"Fine" snapped Sirius, as impatient as he was before. "What about Harry, why couldn't he be included in this meeting?"
"He's at school, Sirius" Molly cut in quickly, before Dumbledore could answer.
"He defeated Voldemort, Molly!" Sirius shot back just as quickly. "He should be included in all of this."
"I agree with Sirius" said James.
Sirius opened his mouth again to speak but Dumbledore had already stood up.
"For now this is my request" he said with finality, and he exited the dining room with nothing more.
"What was the point in this meeting?" asked Nymphadora, just as confused as everybody else.