Harry Potter and the Shadow Cat

Chapter two; First Day of Classes

Hope you enjoy this story and would love some feedback. Sorry about and grammar and/or spelling errors, while I want to be a writer, grammar and spelling is my Achilles heel.

Disclaimer; I do not nor will I ever own Harry Potter.

(Start scene)

Harry woke up the next morning with his mother, in cat form, curled up in his lap. Scratching behind her ears causing her to wake up as well, "Does that really fell good?" asked Harry.

"It does when I'm a cat," said Lily stretching on his bed. "Now get dress and meet me in the Great hall."

And with that she hoped from the bed and out the door. Later in the great hall Harry noticed his mother was hit on the high table next to Dumbledore. As breakfast started Dumbledore stood up and addressed the school. "May I have your attention please? I have some interesting news." The great hall got quite fast. "For the first years and other students that don't know when Lord Voldemort (flinches were made all across the hall) was defeated over twelve years ago both James and Lily Potter lost their lives defending their son. It is until yesterday that we learn an unexpected and rather happy turn of events. Lily Potter is alive."

The great hall started talking to each other wondering if this was true or not. Dumbledore spoke again after it got quite. "Three days after her death she awakens in her animagus form, I have many theories of how this has happened, but 99 percent of them are unbelievable. Since then she has been trying to find a way back to her human body. She is able to now but only for a short while. In hopes of trying to return for good she has come here to do research. While she is here, other then spending time with her son, she will be helping Professor Snape in potion class. I won't tell you what form she is as so it will be a surprise for those first walking in potions this morning."

Dumbledore sat back down and began a conversation with Professor McGonagall. Lily jumped down form the high table and walked to her son. She remembered yesterday when this was decided.

(Flashback)

After Lily tucked her son in his bed, Lily went to the common room when she turned into a cat again in a poof of smoke and shadowed stepped into Dumbledore's office. There was Dumbledore, Remus and Snape sitting down, waiting for her. She leaped onto the desk and addressed the headmaster. "So you wanted to ask me something?"

"Yes," began Dumbledore, "you see Remus is this years defense against the dark arts teacher and_"

"His lycanthropy will not have him do any classes during the full moon." Seeing their shocked faces added, "Sissy and I figured it out while we were at Hogwarts. We didn't care, didn't stop Sissy from having a crush on Remus." She said this last part in, what the other men in the room could guess was a teasing smirk.

Dumbledore was taken aback at this news but continued anyway. "That makes it easier then to explain our plain. Our original plan was for Severus to take over for Remus saying that he is ill, which is not far from the truth as he will be recovering form his transformations. This no doubt would cause a little stress for Severus dealing with two different subjects at once however with you here we might avoid that." Lily noticed the slight annoyed looked on Severus's face. He must have felt like he could handle two class subjects at once. "Seeing as potions dose not need a wand to do and your time limit on being human you might help Severus with his classes. I know that Severus does not have need help in potions and you rather be with your son, but it would help lighten the load."

Lily just stared at Dumbledore thinking. "I'll start tomorrow but I'll be going to some of Harry's classes. I won't disrupt the lesson but I'll help him out. I'll help in some of the classes and Severus," she waited for him to look at her, "We are to work together on this; understand?"

At Snape's nodLily shadowed stepped back to Harry's bed hopping onto his lap and went to sleep.

(Flashback ends)

She sat back down near Harry's plate as McGonagall began passing out course schedules. "Why didn't you tell me you will be helping to teach potions? Why are you doing it anyway?" asked her son.

After lapping some milk from a saucer that appeared on the table answered, "Potions was one of my best subjects when I was in school, second only to charms. Besides I only will be helping Sev, not teach the whole class by myself."

"Sev?" asked Ron his eggs half way to his mouth.

"I didn't mention that before have I? Severus was my best friend when I grew up and at Hogwarts. He lived on the same street I grew up at. He was the first one to tell me I was a witch when I floated to the ground when I jumped of the swing set at the playground. We were friends for years until we had a huge fight in our fifth year.

"A few years later during the war he didn't see each other till one moment, and that was a weird chat. He did some stupid things in the past, most were hard to forgive but he is a good guy, you just have to know him; or look hard enough.

"So what's your first class?"

"We have this morning Divination, and Transfiguration before lunch. Care of magical Creatures is right after that. Who's teaching them?" said Harry looking at his timetable.

"Hagrid is teaching Care but I don't know about Divination" said Hermione.

"Really?" asked Harry as this was news to him.

"Oh yes," continue Hermione. "You and your mother didn't hear that at the beginning feast. The old one retired last year it seems and Professor Dumbledore made him the new one."

"Divination is not a class that you can learn from easy. If you have the gift you have no problem but if you are a logic thinker or not able to believe in anything you are in for a tough ride."

"Hermione," started Ron "Something's wrong with your schedule. You have three classes at once. You can't do that."

The three were looking at her confused while making her blush. "I got it all figured out Ron. Professor McGonagall has it all set up."

Lily just shook her head and headed off the table. "Well, I'm off to my first class. See you three at lunch."

"What will you be doing during the class?" Harry asked his mother.

"You'll see tomorrow when you have potions." said Lily as she left the hall. The three left heading to north tower for Divination.

(Scene change)

The three entered the great hall after Transfiguration trying to forget the first class of Divination. "I'm beginning to see what your mother meant Harry. That was one of the worst lessons I ever had."

Just then Fred and George sat down on either side of Harry. "Just had a lesson with your mum Harry.

"And what a lesson it was-

"Even as a cat-

"She shows that she knows-

"Just as much about potions as Snape." said the twins finishing each other sentences' making Harry fell like his head was in a tennis match.

"whfwispt lcpe?" asked Ron his mouth full of food.

"Not bad-

"Weird even-

"Snape was almost-

"Pleasant."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Harry.

"He didn't act like he usually does. Doesn't really favor his house nor was he really taking points for no reason for our house. Like we said it was weird."

At that moment Lily jumped on the table causing both Fred and George to stop talking. "Hi mum, how were your classes?"

"Not bad; for a bunch fifth years anyway. I could ask the same for you."

"You were right about Divination. that was the most unless class I have ever taken. That professor was a complete fraud and she even said she was some stupid omen that means that Harry was going to die."

"We should get down to Hagrid's our class with him is next." said Ron finishing his lunch.

The three students and one cat left the table and out of the main doors. One the way to Hagrid's Lily was asking her son how he met Hagrid. She likes the lovable giant like man even if he did have a strange love of beast.

It was only when Harry saw the back of three people didn't want to see today. Malfoy and the other Slytherin students were waiting for Hagrid. No one had to wait long and he came out of his hut and told them to follow him into the forest. They didn't go far as they reached a paddock, but it was empty. "Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin' up! Everyone here? Good. Gather 'round the fence here!" he called. "That's it — make sure yeh can see — now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books —"

"How?" said the cold, drawling voice of Draco Malfoy.

"Eh?" said Hagrid.

"How do we open our books?" Malfoy repeated. He took out his copy of The Monster Book of Monsters, which he had bound shut with a length of rope. Other people took theirs out too; some, like Harry, had belted their book shut; others had crammed them inside tight bags or clamped them together with binder clips.

"Hasn' — hasn' anyone bin able ter open their books?" said Hagrid, looking crestfallen.

The class all shook their heads.

"Yeh've got ter stroke 'em," said Hagrid, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. "Look —"

He took Hermione's copy and ripped off the Spellotape that bound it. The book tried to bite, but Hagrid ran a giant forefinger down its spine, and the book shivered, and then fell open and lay quiet in his hand.

"Very clever Hagrid, giving them a test for your class before they even got to school." Lily said to Hagrid. Harry though saw her wink at Hagrid and knew she was helping him out.

Hagrid caught on quickly, "Right, er, a test. In this class not all the creatures will listen right away so, I, er, wanted to see if yeh can handle something as small as they are easier then the big ones." Then he added as an afterthought, "Not that anything is wrong with small creatures, right Lily." Lily just chuckled. "Now, I'll go and get the creatures. Turn ter page ten and look it over. Get a heads up at wha' I bring."

And with that he left them and went around the bend. As soon as he was out of sight Malfoy voice cried out, "Well this place is going to the dogs, and that oaf being our teacher. When my father hears this…"

"That oaf happens to have the power to take points and give punishments out to you. You should know I also have that power, which reminds me, ten points from Slytherin for disrespecting a teacher."

Malfoy turned to see who was talking and just sneered at Lily. Lily just had a bored look on her face, at least which was what everyone thought she did. "And what will you tell you father, whom does not have any power here? That you are a little boy who comes running to him when thing doesn't go his way?"

Malfoy went pink as Hagrid came back with a dozen strange animals. "Hippogriffs!" Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at them. "Beau'iful, aren' they?"

Harry could sort of see what Hagrid meant. Once you got over the first shock of seeing something that was, half horse, half bird, you started to appreciate the hippogriffs' gleaming coats, changing smoothly from feather to hair, each of them a different colour: stormy grey, bronze, pinkish roan, gleaming chestnut, and inky black.

"Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud," said Hagrid. "Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do."

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle weren't listening; they were talking in an undertone until, "You three, pay attention and another ten points from Slytherin"

"Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move," Hagrid continued. "It's polite, see? Yeh walk toward him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed ter touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt.

"Right - who wants ter go first?"

No one seemed to want to. After a minute Harry cried out, "I will Hagrid."

Hagrid beamed, "Atta boy, Harry. Come have your luck with Buckbeak." He untied one of the chains, pulled the grey hippogriff away from its fellows, and slipped off its leather collar. The class on the other side of the paddock seemed to be holding its breath.

"Easy now, Harry," said Hagrid quietly. "Yeh've got eye contact, now try not ter blink... Hippogriffs don' trust yeh if yeh blink too much..."

Harry's eyes immediately began to water, but he didn't shut them. Buckbeak had turned his great, sharp head and was staring at Harry with one fierce orange eye.

"Tha's it," said Hagrid. "Tha's it, Harry... now, bow."

Harry didn't feel much like exposing the back of his neck to Buckbeak, but he did as he was told. He gave a short bow and then looked up. The hippogriff was still staring haughtily at him. It didn't move.

"Ah," said Hagrid, sounding worried. "Right - back away, now, Harry, easy does it."

But then, to Harry's enormous surprise, the hippogriff suddenly bent its scaly front knees and sank into what was an unmistakable bow.

"Well done, Harry!" said Hagrid, ecstatic. "Right - yeh can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!"

Harry then walked to Buckbeak and gently patted its beak. The hippogriffs closed its eye and seemed to enjoy this. Lily wanted into view and the two animals caught each other's eye. Lily gave a small bow and waited. Buckbeak turn its head and seemed to be wondering about the creature before it. Buckbeak then gave a short bow and Lilly jumped up and sat on the hippogriff's back.

"Well done, I think he might even let yeh ride him." said Hagrid walking nearer.

"Shouldn't you save that for a different lesson? Plus the other students need a chance to try their hippogriffs."

Hagrid stopped and seemed put out but recovered quickly. "Right- now if yeh'll all form groups."

Soon the class formed groups and Hagrid bringing over hippogriffs for them to try. The students were bowing and some hippogriffs bowing back. Malfoy tried his luck with Buckbeak after his two bodyguards had to back away from the hippogriff. "If Potter could do this it must be easy. Yeah, you not dangerous at all are you, you great, ugly, brute?"

It happen so fast and the next thing Malfoy knew, he was on the grass outside the paddock and Hagrid was grabbing Buckbeak stopping him from getting at Malfoy. "Mr. Malfoy, you could have gotten hurt from your stupidity. Come with me we are going to your head of house to talk about your punishment."

Malfoy almost sneered but caught the cat like glare she was shooting at him. It sent shiver down his spine. The two headed back to the castle and Hagrid addressed the class with a serious look. "And that is why yeh got ter respect these creatures. Not just hippogriffs bu' any animal. They not dumb animals, smart they are, some even smarter then us. They follow their instincts ter know what ter do. Yeh respect them they will respect yeh. Take hippogriffs, if yeh were insulted worst then what Malfoy did would yeh take that laying down. No yeh won't." the class was quite looking at Hagrid as if they never saw him before. He then smiled at them knowing they got the message. "Now who can tell me what yeh think hippogriffs eat?"

(Scene change)

Snape was surprise when Lily led his godson into his office. He could already feel the headache that was going to be. "Lily, Draco, what bring you here?"

"Your student was just causing problems in Care of Magical Creature. They were doing hippogriffs and this boy went and insults one. I was able to keep him from getting hurt but if I wasn't he most like be in the hospital wing."

He was right as the headache got bigger. "Draco, are you trying to get yourselfhurt in class?"

"But Sir, I-"started Malfoy but Snape cut him off

"That was not some charms class or Transfiguration where if you cause trouble and mess up the teacher can easily fix it. I expect you to treat it like a potions lesson, you mess up and you could cause harm to you or your class mates. I don't want to hear this again. You will have detention with Filch tonight. Now go clean your self up and get ready for dinner." As Malfoy left Snape sighed, "What am I going to do with that boy?"

"I take it you know him outside of school?"

"My godson," was Snape's only response.

"Really? I'm surprise to her that, seeing how much he acts so much like James did when we were at school."

Snape flinched at this reminder. He just sat there unable to speak. Even if his friend was alive again he still had trouble speaking to her without guilt. He stood up saying, "Excuse me Lily, I must have a word with Filch." And he started to leave the room

"Severus," Lily said quietly, causing the man to pause just past her, "I forgave you a long time ago. When are you going to forgive yourself?"

"When I feel that I've earned that forgiveness," Snape said without turning toward her. He then left lily alone worried about her friend.

Hope you like this story so far. I will try and make future chapters longer. If you like this story, then check out some of my other ones. Please review.