A/N: Thank you to everyone who's reading and special thanks to those of you who've reviewed. If you have a second to tell me what you think, that would be awesome! I don't bite... much! ;)

As before, italics is a flashback.

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The Defence Against the Dark Arts classes had been split between Regina and Severus so that the witch would take the classes of the students in the first three years and the wizard would guide the older students through their O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. examinations. Regina found that she was happy with this arrangement as it meant the more complicated, often theoretical topics were taught by her friend and she was able to stick to more basic, practical ones.

Her very first lesson, beginning to study Vampires with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff third years, meant that she would be teaching her son. Regina wasn't sure whether she was more nervous about Henry's opinion on how she did or how he would react to possible negative comments and behaviour from his peers. Giving herself a final pep talk in front of the mirror in her chamber, she exited the room and began the long walk through the corridors towards her classroom.

Hearing a voice calling her, she turned quickly. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted Draco pushing his way through the crowded corridor to get to her. He was flanked by his friends – Regina vaguely remembered the names Crabbe and Goyle having been mentioned by her sister's son occasionally – while several other students in Slytherin robes followed behind.

"Aunt Regina… I wanted to wish you and Professor Snape luck. It'll be good to have Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers who know what they're talking about for one." The blonde boy said with a smirk.

"While I appreciate the sentiment, Draco, you will address me as Professor Mills." She replied coldly, her eyes flashing with irritation. Regina knew exactly what Draco was trying to do by associating himself with her.

He smiled smarmily. "Oh, of course, Professor."

"And I would be grateful if you remembered that we are related the next time you see my son." The witch snapped pointedly.

Draco flushed slightly, annoyed at being reprimanded in front of his friends. He usually acted as though Henry was nothing to do with him when they met at Hogwarts; unwilling to voluntarily be positively linked so closely to someone in a house other than Slytherin. Regina knew that his older cousin's behaviour upset Henry, who generally got on well with the blonde when they were out of school.

"I… yes, of course."

Shooting him a small smile, Regina motioned along the corridor. "I should get going. I wouldn't want to be late to my first lesson." She arched an eyebrow at the group of fifth years. "I doubt being late is on your agendas, either."

"No, Professor." Draco answered for all of them, before they scuttled off along the corridor.

Regina shook her head after them. Narcissa's son wasn't half as tough as he acted and, while she appreciated that it was mainly for show and to keep his position of superiority over the other Hogwarts students, there was no way she would tolerate Draco upsetting Henry. The blonde boy knew that and Regina knew that he knew; he had just been testing her to see how much he could get away with.

Finding herself in her classroom before the students arrived, Regina took a moment to compose herself before settling in the chair behind her desk and waiting for the class to enter the room. She didn't have long to wait before the door burst open and a loud chattering erupted through the calm. The witch was about to open her mouth to reprimand the thirteen and fourteen-year-olds when they caught sight of their new teacher and fell silent at once.

The students made their way to their seats quietly. Regina noticed that they were either sending her surreptitious, curious looks when they thought she wasn't looking or staring carefully at anything but her. Only Henry and his best friend Brandon, who had spent weeks at a time at their home during the summer holidays, looked relaxed about being in her classroom.

"Good morning." Regina began, at once feeling all the eyes in the room on her. "Welcome to Defence Against the Dark Arts. As you are aware, my name is Professor Mills." She took a deep breath, relaxing slightly as her hand closed around her copy of the text book they would be working from. "I hope you've all remembered to bring your copies of The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection?"

"Yes, Professor…" The class chorused quietly.

She smiled. "Good. Now, you can relax, for this lesson at least, and put your books away." Her smile broadened as the students complied, bewildered by the instruction. "I am aware that I am your third Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in as many years and I would like to know what your knowledge of the subject is, so that I can help you progress more effectively."

They stared at her for a moment, before one girl raised her hand slowly. She looked almost terrified as Regina turned to face her, but managed to stutter out some information they had been taught the year before. As the Professor smiled warmly and praised her on her knowledge of Red Caps, gently correcting her when she said that their skin was blue, rather than green.

"Excellent!" Regina nodded. "Five points to Hufflepuff."

After that, the lesson picked up pace, with almost all the students wanting to contribute something to the discussion. They made suggestions as to subjects they'd like to cover over the year and the Professor noted them down, promising to try and work them into her overall plans.

When the bell rang to signal the end of the lesson, a collective groan ran around the room and Regina smiled to herself. She did not set them any homework and the class grinned happily as they collected their things and left, calling goodbye to their teacher as they went. Once the door was closed, Regina collapsed into her chair and took a breath, pleased that her first ever lesson had been a success.

"Hey, Mom?" The woman looked up as her son poked his head back around the door and grinned at her. "Awesome lesson! Everyone thinks you're really cool!"

Then he was gone and the door closed behind him once more. Regina smiled, hoping that the rest of her classes would go just as smoothly. The toughest lesson she faced was the other third year class. The Slytherins seemed keen to get into her good books and the Gryffindors were reluctant to be seen to bow down to her authority without a fight. Gradually, though, Regina became more and more comfortable with her position and the lessons were, overall, a success.

Several weeks passed and the weather grew colder. Halloween was fast approaching and Henry was talking non-stop about the upcoming Hogsmeade trip. He had heard stories from the older students about Honeydukes and The Three Broomsticks and the Shrieking Shack and was keen to explore the village for himself. His mother smiled to herself as he theorised on whether the Shrieking Shack was actually haunted, as she knew full well the reason it had earned its name. She was loathed to tell Henry that, not only had his first Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher been a werewolf, but that one of his Care of Magical Creatures teachers, Lupin's cousin Professor Lucas, was also afflicted with the same condition. Knowing her son and his curious nature, Regina was sure he would attempt to follow the woman during the full moon or something equally dangerous.

"Mom!" Henry burst into her chambers the evening before the Hogsmeade trip, startling the brunette who managed to knock a stack of second year essays all over the floor. She sighed and began scooping them up as her son winced apologetically. "Sorry…"

"It's alright, dear." Regina smiled up at him, neatly returning the pile of parchments to the small table beside her armchair. Watching his face and seeing the smile that he was barely managing to contain, she chuckled. "I'm assuming you have something exciting to tell me about?"

"There's actually two things. The first thing is that I made the Ravenclaw Quidditch team!"

There was silence for a moment. Regina could see how proud Henry was of his achievements and she, too, was thrilled that he had managed to succeed at something that meant so much to him. On the other hand, she couldn't bear the thought of him playing such a violent and dangerous sport.

"Well done, dear." She praised with only a hint of reluctance. "What position will you be playing?"

"Chaser!" Henry began giving her a blow-by-blow account of the try outs, going into great detail about his exploits. Regina tried not to wince at certain parts of his story.

When he finally ran out of steam and his mother was able to get a word in edgeways, she smiled. "And the other thing you wanted to tell me?"

"Professor Slughorn invited me to join this club thing he's got. It's called the Slug Club or something. He said that it's only for an elite few." Henry grinned at her, pride blossoming in his chest that he had been singled out by the Potions Master. "Slughorn said that you and Grandmother were in his club when you were at school."

Regina nodded slowly. "We were, dear, as was your Uncle Severus and all three of your aunts."

"Are you happy that he wants me to go, too?"

"Of course dear, if you're happy." She told him with a smile, cupping his cheek gently. "But take most of what he says with a pinch of salt."

Henry screwed up his face in confusion. "What?"

"Professor Slughorn likes to collect students that he believes will be important or influential in the future. He throws parties and suppers for them and offers to introduce them to former members of his little club to help them on their way. He doesn't demand anything in return, but he will hint at and expect it." Seeing that Henry looked confused, she smiled wryly and pushed his hair away from his face. "Just don't let the attention go to your head, alright?"

"Alright." He agreed with a nod.

To Regina's amusement he proceeded to drop into the other armchair in front of her fireplace and drape one leg over the arm. Briefly, the woman considered ordering him to sit in the seat properly, but decided against it. She revelled in the domesticity as she settled herself in her own chair and resumed her marking, glancing over at him every now and again with an affectionate smile.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Henry?"

"Professor Swan told me that I pull exactly the same face as you do when I concentrate really hard on something."

Regina blinked at him in confusion. "Why would she say that, dear?"

Henry shrugged. "We were learning the Cheering Charm and I couldn't get it right. I was working with Brandon and he got like… hysterical. Professor Swan made him go to Madam Pomfrey…"

"Sounds like you overdid it a little, sweetheart. Is Brandon alright?"

"He's fine. He got to miss Care of Magical Creatures so he was happy."

"How are you enjoying the subject? What are Professor Nolan and Professor Lucas like as teachers?"

Henry shrugged again, picking up one of the essays from the table and examining it. "They're alright… Professor Nolan gets a bit soppy about the creatures though. I thought she was going to cry the other day when one of the Slytherins asked what would happen if you set a Bowtruckle on fire."

Chuckling to herself, Regina nodded slowly. "She's always been stupid about magical creatures. I remember she had a cat called Snow White when we were at school. The ridiculous thing was always wondering off and she was always crying about it. David, her husband now, was always promising her that he'd find it."

"Were you friends with Professor Swan the others when you were at school?" Henry asked curiously. He almost burst out laughing at the incredulous, almost disgusted, expression on his mother's face.

"No, dear, I was not. They were a year younger than Severus and I for a start. Added to that they were friends with those idiots who called themselves The Marauders. They also believed themselves to be exempt from the majority of the school's rules."

"So you didn't like them at all?"

"No, dear, I most certainly did not. They were… irritating at best."


Regina crossed the courtyard quickly. Her school bag was slung over one shoulder and weighed down heavily with books. More books were clutched in her arms and she was focused on reaching the Slytherin Common Room in time to deposit them before heading back up through the school to her Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson.

"Hey! Regina!"

She rolled her eyes at the voice that greeted her ears, but ignored it and carried on as though she had not been called. The voice came again and, when she still refused to acknowledge it, Regina found her path blocked by a tall, skinny boy in Slytherin robes who was grinning – or rather leering – at her in a way that was far too familiar for the girl's liking.

"You gone deaf or something, love?"

"No, Jones, I have not gone deaf." Regina snapped back. "I merely have no time for your childish antics today."

"Ah-ha! So you will have time for them at some point?" He persisted, leaning against the pillar and completely blocking her escape. "What d'you say you and I visit the Three Broomsticks during the next Hogsmeade trip? Just you and me and a couple of Butterbeers…"

"I would rather swim with the Giant Squid." Regina snapped as he winked at her.

Killian chuckled. "So skinny dipping is more your thing, eh?"

"Oh, leave her alone, Killian." A female voice ordered from somewhere behind them.

Almost against her will Regina turned her head towards the sound of the familiar voice jumping to her defence and saw the usual gang of fifth years crowded around one of the courtyard's tables. A tiny spark of jealousy flared up at how comfortable the group was with each other, although it was immediately replaced by intense irritation as she narrowed her eyes at the blonde who had spoken.

"Thank you, Swan, but I am perfectly capable of handling Jones by myself."

"Watch out, Em." A well-built boy in Hufflepuff robes warned, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he turned to look at Regina. "Prefect Mills will probably take points off Gryffindor for your attempt to help her."

"Shut up, Neal." Emma rolled her eyes at him and shoved him in the shoulder. Then she turned to look at Regina again. "I know you don't need my help, but every single girl at this table – hell, probably every single girl in the school – has fended Killian off numerous times and we know how annoying he is. I was just showing some female solidarity, you know?"

Killian feigned offence at her words, but then grinned and shrugged. "I just can't resist a pretty face, love."

"If it was our faces you were looking at we wouldn't mind quite so much!" Ruby retorted, throwing a scrunched up piece of parchment at him and narrowly avoiding hitting Regina.

"You're just a misogynist, Killian." Belle added, smirking at the confusion that appeared on his face at her words.

Mary Margaret laughed. "It means you're a pig."

The Slytherin boy pouted and glanced at the other males seated at the table for support. Neal, David, Philip and Graham all held up their hands, clearly not wanting to get involved in the dispute. Regina, who had almost been forgotten by this point, watched the interactions with the same kind of interest one would reserve for viewing a particularly nasty accident.

Killian Jones was the only Slytherin in the group. There were four Hufflepuffs – Neal Cassidy, David Nolan, Philip Pendragon and Aurora Rose – three Ravenclaws – Mary Margaret Blanchard, Belle French and Mulan Chen – and three Gryffindors – Graham Hunter, Emma Swan and Ruby Lucas. Regina didn't understand why the group felt the need to break the well-practised order of things and create such a gang, created of students from all four houses. Why couldn't they simply do as they were supposed to and stick within their own? It didn't make sense to her; it went against everything she had been taught by her family as a child.

"So, you gonna get out of her way or what, Killian?" Emma asked, breaking Regina from her reverie. It was only then that the brunette realised that the younger girl had left her friends at the table and was standing beside her. "If you're good, I'm sure Ruby will let you kiss her."

"Em!" Ruby squeaked in indignation.

Killian grinned. "I'm holding you to that, Rubes."

As he bounded back to the table and settled himself beside the tall brunette, draping one arm around her shoulders and receiving an irritated pout (which no one bought for a second), Emma turned to smile at Regina.

"Sorry about him… we shouldn't really let him out of his cage around other people." The blonde joked. Catching sight of one of the books in Regina's arms, Emma tugged it free and looked at it. She grinned. "You're doing Potions? You must be really good to be allowed to carry it on at N.E.W.T. level. Old Sluggy said he wished he didn't even have to teach me O.W.L. level!"

"For some reason I'm not the least bit surprised at that, Swan." Regina replied, snatching the book back and returning it to the pile. "Perhaps if you concentrated more on your lessons and less on… whatever it is you do… you'd be a better student."

Emma simply laughed. "Whatever, Regina. Have fun with your books."