Chapter 2
A combination of nerves and excitement compelled Lexi to rise with the dawn, and despite her encounter with Snape the previous afternoon she felt decidedly chipper. She may not have been overly keen on returning to the castle, but spending an evening
nestled in the cocoon of familiarity that the walls of Hogwarts provided had gone some way to keeping the black dog at bay. Still, a lump had formed in her throat as she'd past her old haunts while on a preliminary patrol of the castle. Her vision
had been taunted with projections of times spent with those she had since lost. It had been hard to remain composed, particularly when Lexi walked past the spot by the lake where Lexi, Lily and the rest of the Marauders spent a sunny, carefree afternoon
after completing their final N.E.W.T exam.
Before these reflections could overwhelm her, Lexi rose to dress and begin her rather lengthy to-do list. She very rarely dressed formally, even while she worked at the Ministry for Magic. Something that had not gone unnoticed by her superiors, but Lexi
had amassed such a formidable reputation during her years at the Ministry that no one dared confront her. That coupled with her close friendship to celebrated Auror Alastor Moody cemented her status and allowed her somewhat of a free reign. That was
until Fudge had called Lexi into his office and informed her of the reassignment to Hogwarts. It appeared that Fudge's insistence to the Daily Prophet that Black would be swiftly re-captured was all a front. Truth was that the Auror Department had
very little if nothing to go on, and for some reason Fudge decided to pull a senior Auror from the search to provide undercover security in a location already equipped with a vast array of concealment and security charms.
Lexi dressed herself in light blue jeans and a well-worn t-shirt bearing the logo of American rock band Kiss. Then wrapped her rosy curls into a loose bun, and left her quarters in search of breakfast in the Great Hall. The castle was permeated with a
serene stillness that was broken only by the cheerful chirping of the nesting birds that flitted past the open windows. Upon entering the Great Hall, Lexi discovered she was not the only one who had risen with the dawn. Severus Snape looked up from
his plate and immediately tensed as he saw Lexi approach the staff table. Determined not to acknowledge his presence in the room, she sat on the opposite end and helped herself to some scrambled egg on toast. She could feel his cold stare on her,
but she did not give in and look up. The effect of looking into his eyes during the debrief yesterday had unnerved her somewhat, it was difficult to put her finger as to why that was but nonetheless it had got under her skin.
Five minutes or so later she heard the scraping of Snape's chair as he rose from the table, she breathed a small sigh of relief as the tension in the room was beginning to make her feel uncomfortable.
"McNaughton!" A voice barked from in front of her, and Lexi jumped in shock dropping her knife and fork on the floor.
"What?" She snapped, keeping her eyes from Snape as she stooped to pick up her cutlery.
"Speak to me in that tone again and I may not bother with what I am about to say." Snape warned venomously.
Lexi got to her feet and allowed her gaze to meet his, and much like their encounter the previous day she found herself momentarily mesmerized. "What's this? Severus Snape reprimanding me for rudeness?" Lexi bit back sardonically. "Pot calling the kettle
black, much!"
Snape took a deep breath, it seemed as though it was taking all of his resolve not to hex her on the spot. "If you would restrain your childish temper for just a moment," Snape said through gritted teeth. "I feel compelled to offer an apology for my words
to you yesterday."
"You … what?" Lexi responded in shock, letting her well-constructed guard down.
"Your past transgressions are by no means forgiven, but it was unprofessional of me to conduct myself in the manner that I did." Snape offered with obvious difficulty. "I offer my apologies in recompense."
Lexi stared at Snape with her mouth slightly open, not sure how to digest what he had just said. "I … well … thank you," Lexi stumbled after several seconds of trying to find her voice. "I appreciate it."
Snape inclined his head, turned on his heel and left the Great Hall hurriedly. Lexi felt herself smile at his retreating back, swiftly followed by an odd sensation in the pit of her stomach. Shaking her head as if to physically force thoughts from her
head, she too left the hall for the relative safety of her classroom.
After three hours sorting out the clutter in her new classroom, Lexi stood back to admire the fruits of her labour. She had cleared a large space down the middle of her classroom, with two rows of single chairs with desks either side. Perfect for practicing
and demonstrating dueling techniques, as well as taking notes on dueling theory – something she'd never thought existed until she began her Auror training. Her desk sat at the top of classroom behind which was a floor to ceiling window with a magnificent
view of the grounds and mountains on the horizon. The room reminded her of the Auror Academy, during which her and Sirius spent seven grueling hours a day in training as well as fighting for the Order.
Wiping her forehead on the back of her hand, she headed over to her desk to make a start on planning her curriculum. Lexi found this a calming task, something that her colleagues at the Academy couldn't get their heads round. It wasn't until the candles
in the wall brackets came on automatically did Lexi notice that the day had faded away into darkness. Checking her watch she realised that the students would be arriving soon, and that her appearance may be construed a less than professional. She
retreated to her quarters where she replaced her ankle-skimming jeans and t-shirt with her dark purple teaching robes and plaited her hair in a French braid.
As she made her way through the castle she could almost feel the buzz in the air, as though the sentient walls were anticipating the arrival of those who brought it to life. She found the staff gathered round the high table in the Great Hall, and even
though she had not spotted him she knew of Snape's presence by the penetrative feeling she felt of his eyes on her, so Lexi struck up a conversation with Filius.
A few moments later Lexi heard the large doors scrape open across the stone floor, she turned and felt a warmth erupt inside her chest as Remus Lupin beamed at her. With a grin plastered on her face, Lexi ran the length of the Great Hall and threw herself
at her old friend. He staggered backwards at the force of her embrace, but managed to steady himself before enveloping her with his arms.
"It's good to see you too, Lexi." He chuckled, his voice muffled by her robes. "You're as graceful as ever I see."
"I wasn't about to let a small thing like adulthood change me," Lexi grinned, relinquishing her hold. "You look –" She paused, eyeing the newly scratched wounds marring his young face. "- Chiseled."
"That's a nice way to say 'old'," he chuckled. "I can't believe it's all one colour!" He added, twirling a lock of Lexi's hair round his finger. "I like it, it brings out your smile."
"Oh you soppy sod!" Lexi exclaimed happily, flinging herself at him again. "God, I've missed your face."
"I'm glad someone has." Remus sighed, tightening hisgrip on Lexi. "I cannot tell you how good it feels to see your smile."
"Stop it, you're making me blush!" Lexi giggled. "I don't know about you, but it feels … odd to be back here."
"I must admit I felt the presence of many ghosts when I first crossed the threshold," Remus admitted, glancing up at the ceiling that mimicked the starry sky. "It is almost bittersweet, is it not?"
"Everywhere I look there's a memory, mainly of trivial things like Lily and I studying or us sitting by the lake after exams." Lexi sighed sorrowfully. "I almost refused the assignment, I wasn't sure how I'd react being back here."
She felt Remus put his arm round her shoulder. "I thought you'd like to know I saw Harry on the train," he said softly. "It was like James was back with me, he looks just like him."
"It was his eyes that always struck me," Lexi said mournfully. "They were just like hers …" she trailed off, feeling her voice catch in her throat.
"Oh, Master Lupin, there you are!" She heard McGonagall say from beside them.
Lexi shook off her melancholia, determined not to allow herself to be overcome with them. She left Remus to speak with Minerva and headed up to the top table, when she saw that Snape was watching her. She hadn't expected his apology to suddenly transform
them into amiable colleagues but the look he was giving her was one of pure loathing. Lexi had her suspicions that the public reunion with Remus hadn't helped, Snape had made it clear that he held as much contempt for the pair of them as he had for
James and Sirius. The staff had begun to take their seats at the high table and Lexi made her way along until she and Remus had taken the two empty spaces beside Filius. She observed Snape furtively, and saw that he was staring resolutely ahead of
him.
"I would very much appreciate it if you averted your gaze," he hissed from the corner of his mouth. "I abhor people staring at me as though I am some kind of zoo animal."
"I was not staring, I was observing." Lexi retorted shortly, turning to face the sea of students that had begun to fill the hall. "There is a subtle difference."
"Is it impossible for you to hold your tongue?" Snape asked curtly.
"As a matter of fact, yes." Lexi responded bluntly. "I find it prudent to get to the point one wishes to make regardless of the stubbornness of those around me."
Snape turned his narrowed towards her and Lexi, satisfied that she'd silenced his cantankerous diatribe, began to scan the hall for Harry.
"I think now it is time to expand our school! It is time for the sorting" Dumbledore exclaimed, beaming at the students before him who had just filled into the Great Hall in an excitable, chattering mass.
At that moment, the doors to the Great Hall opened and fifty pale and frightened looking eleven year olds walked towards the staff table in front of which stood the familiar three-legged stool upon which sat the aged sorting hat. Memories of her own sorting
flooded back to Lexi. She remembered being so nervous she shook from head to toe; if it weren't for Lily she wouldn't have been able to stand. The sorting lasted for ten minutes or so, with "Frost, Derik" becoming the newest member to Gryffindor.
Lexi scanned the Great Hall for Harry once again, and her curiosity piqued when she realised he hadn't entered. Lexi thought if he was anything like his Dad he was out somewhere getting into trouble. Lexi couldn't help but giggle slightly.
Just as the sorting ended and Professor Flitwick ran from the Great Hall to return the Sorting Hat to Dumbledore's office, Lexi caught sight of two students entering the hall looking slightly disappointed. The girl had long, bushy brown hair and an air
of authority about her. The boy beside her had jet-black hair, round glasses and shocking green eyes. Harry Potter indeed looked a lot like his father, but he carried himself just like his mother would have. She felt Remus grip her hand under the
table and stroked it gently with his thumb, as though sensing her smiled weakly back, and just managed to contain the rush of sadness that filled her heart.
Lexi noticed that Severus was also staring at Harry, likehe'd just seen his worst enemy enter the room; it was a look of pure loathing he had given her before the students had arrived. Harry and his friend sat on the Gryffindor table next to a boy
with shocking red hair they were about to engage in conversation when Dumbledore rose from his chair once more.
"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling behind his half moon glasses. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Before we start our delectable feast, I have a few start of term notices to say to you all. One of them is very serious so I will need your
complete attention …"
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued. "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, the school is presently in the company of the Dementors of Azkaban." He paused, a slight look of disgust on his face "They are stationed
at every entrance to the school, and I must make perfectly clear to you all that none of you should leave the school without permission. It is not the nature of a Dementor to understand excuses, so I am therefore warning you all to give them no reason
to harm you."
Dumbledore paused, and Lexi saw hundreds of frightened and concerned faces staring back at the staff table. She had never agreed with placing hundreds of terrifying Dementors round the school, but Fudge was insistent. Black had already slipped past the
Dementors once, what was there to say that he wouldn't do it again?
"On a lighter note," Dumbledore continued. "We have three new additions to the Hogwarts staff this year. Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has consented to fill the post the Defence against the Dark Arts teacher."
There was some quiet applause for Professor Lupin; only a small group of Gryffindor's seemed to be clapping the loudest.
"Our second new appointment is going to be assisting with Defence against the Dark Arts classes, she will be running dueling lessons as well a little wandless magic." Dumbledore continued over a rather enthusiastic out burst of whispering. "Please welcome,
Lexi McNaughton."
Lexi smiled as the students applauded. Deliberately catching Harry's eye she smiled and nodded in his direction, he looked back smiling but curious.
"As for our final new appointment," he said making the last of the chatter fade, "I am sorry to inform you that Professor Kettleburn, our resident Care of Magical Creatures teacher, has retired in order to spend time with his remaining limbs. I am delighted
to announce that none other than Rubeus Hagrid has agreed to fill the post, along with his present duties."
The applause for Hagrid was tumultuous, particularly at the Gryffindor table where Lexi saw Harry grinning broadly and clapping harder than most. Lexi turned to Hagrid who had turned ruby red and was staring at his hands with an enormous grin on his face.
Hagrid's applause took at least a minute to die down, with Harry and his friends being the last to stop clapping.
"Well I think that's everything," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"
The golden plates before then filled suddenly with the most delicious looking food, and Lexi who suddenly found herself to be ravenous, helped herself to everything within her reach. She'd forgotten how much of lavish feat Hogwarts laid out for the Welcoming
Feast.
"I cannot believe how much Harry looks like James," Lexi articulated to Remus through a mouthful of food before swallowing loudly. "It's like … it's like I'm looking at a ghost."
"I have it on good authority that he is very much like James as well," Remus smiled fondly. "McGonagall says that she almost had a heart attack when she'd clapped eyes on him. Flashbacks apparently."
"That doesn't surprise me," Lexi laughed. "We did give the poor woman the run around for seven years." Lexi paused, and something that had been bothering her for much of the day came bubbling to the surface. "Remus, do you think I should tell Harry?"
"About you being …" He started as Lexi nodded. "Well, I'd maybe wait a short while first. Maybe get to know him and judge the best time to speak up?"
Lexi nodded and watched as Harry and his companions left the Great Hall. She bade Remus goodnight and headed out of the Great Hall and to her quarters. Despite the fact that she had a long day tomorrow, Lexi didn't feel much like sleeping. Her brain seemed
far too active and she couldn't quite figure out why. Lexi was no stranger to insomnia; she'd spent much of the last decade unable to sleep. But this was different; something was keeping her brain occupied. Sighing to herself she grabbed a her tattered
copy of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe from the coffee table and headed up to astronomy tower.
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