Chapter 3

~ Nick ~

"There, Look."

"Where?"

"Next to the tall kid with red hair."

"Wearing the glasses?"

"Did you see his face?"

"Did you see his scar?"

I feel positively sorry for Harry as we tried to find our first class. Students wouldn't stop staring at him and would do double takes or would double back to get another glimpse. I mean, come on, he's another student at the school, sure he defeated the darkest wizard of our age when he was only a year old but he's not a freaking relic to stare at him.

Harry, Ron, and I desperately tried to find our first classroom, it didn't help that there was a hundred and forty-two fucking staircases at Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that led somewhere different on a Friday; some with a vanishing step halfway up that you had to remember to jump. And on top of that there was the doors. Good god the doors, they were just as aggravating as the stairs. There were those that wouldn't open unless you asked politely, or tickled them in exactly the right place, and then the doors that weren't really doors at all, but solid walls pretending.

It doesn't stop there, great, there's the ghosts. Of course there was the friendly ghosts like Nearly Headless Nick who were always happy to point the way for us first years. Then there was the ghosts that were less helpful. And then there was Peeves. Peeves was worth two locked doors and a trick staircase if you met him when you were late for class.

Speaking from personal experience here as I ran into him while trying to find the charms classroom. Here are some examples what he does to students are late, especially us first years. He would throw bits of chalk at us, pull rugs from under our feet, drop waste paper baskets on our heads or would sneak up on us, invisible of course, grab out nose and screech "GOT YOUR CONK!" It is positively torture.

After charms was finished and I finally escaped from Peeves I looked around and noticed that I was in an empty corridor. I huffed, trying to figure out which direction I should take to the Transfiguration room. Looking around again, to make sure no one was nearby, I transformed into my fox and sniffed the air. I caught a whiff of Professor McGonagall and hummed softly before grabbing my bag and bolting down the corridor, following my nose and avoiding any other students.

I stopped a little bit away from the classroom and transformed again, putting my bag on my shoulder and walking the rest of the way to the classroom. I blinked as I noticed that the classroom was empty besides a tabby cat sitting on the desk. I tilted my head in thought, many ideas as to why there was a tabby cat in the classroom swimming in my mind. But only one stuck to mind and I smiled, taking a guess and throwing in my token.

"Morning Professor" I said as I put my back down on a desk near the front of the room. The cat tilted its head for a second before crouching and then leaping off the desk. I watched as the cat transformed into Professor McGonagall in mid leap. She smiled slightly "I must say I'm surprised. Not many first years arrive this early or realize that I'm the tabby cat." she said

I shuffled my feet as I shrugged "well I've have experience with animagus' Professor" I said with a small smile. Professor McGonagall seemed intrigued "please continue Mr. Lupin" she prompted me. I let out a breath of air before transforming myself and jumping onto the desk, my fox form staring at the Professor with a wicked grin. The Professor chuckled "now that wasn't what I was suspecting" she said.

I transformed again once I jumped off the desk before speaking "well it does help when you live with my dad" I said simply, knowing she would understand. And she did, nodding to show that she did "that I'm sure of, but how did you manage it, very few are able to do so at a young age." She questioned, but stopped when she heard the rest of the students coming. "Speak to me after class Mr. Lupin" she said before going to stand in front of her desk.

I nodded and slipped into a seat as the rest of the class filed into the room. I made sure to get out my parchment and quills, placing them on my desk and waiting for class to begin. Everyone was silent as we sat down, for we all knew that Professor McGonagall wasn't a teacher to trifle with. She waited as everyone sat down before speaking.

"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts, anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." she said, her voice crisp and demanding attention. I listened with attention, I would have even if the teacher wasn't that great holding a class's attention, and because this class was the one I looked forward to the most, Transfiguration always intrigued me, the ability to transform one thing into another.

Professor McGonagall than watched as we jotted down notes about she was talking about, explaining Transfiguration and all the aspects. I watched in amazement as she transformed her desk into a pig and then back again. I smiled slightly before looking at the match she sent out to everyone. Now was to try and turn it into a needle.

I concentrated and tried all class period, but by the end of it, all it looked like was, it turned silver and looked a bit thinner in shape but that was all. Hermione Granger of course was the one got the match to look the most like a needle. I huffed as I looked at the weird match-like thing before putting it away, I waited as everyone filed out of the class before standing up.

Professor McGonagall looked up from where she stood looking at papers on her desk "ah Mr. Lupin, I'm still curious as to how you managed to become an animagus at such a young age?" She asked, her head tilted. I shuffled my feet "well, actually saying my father helped me with doing so. It took a few years and even then it was still hard but we managed" I said. Professor McGonagall nodded "now, it is my duty to remind you Mr. Lupin to not use this for any sort of mischief" she said.

I nodded, but we both knew that it was an empty promise, I mean come on, who wouldn't use it for mischief? Well maybe Hermione wouldn't but everyone else did. She nodded back "now, might want to hurry alone, Snape doesn't like tardies" she said. I nodded and bolted out of the classroom, unaware that McGonagall sent a note to Professor Snape that she had held be back to talk to class so I might be late.

I sighed as I couldn't find the dungeons and looked around, noticing that there was no one around I shifted before grabbing my bag and bolting through the corridors, following the overwhelming scent of the Gryffindors who had just left Transfiguration. Once I heard the noise of students I shifted again and quickly followed, slipping into the classroom just as the bell rang. I slid into the only available seat at the back of the class.

I jumped as the door slammed open and Snape stormed in. He started off class by taking roll, stopping when he reached Harry's name "Ah, yes" he said softly. "Harry Potter. Our new - celebrity." I saw Malfoy and his group of friends snicker at that but just rolled my eyes and listened as Snape finished roll call. He then started speaking, his voice soft and quiet, but everyone was catching his words, as he was just like McGonagall and was able to keep a class silent without effort.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids hat creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death - if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

There was a space of silent after Snape finished his speech, I had been listening with my head slightly tilted and was surprised when Snape spoke up again "Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" I noticed Hermione's hand shoot into the air but Snape didn't pay any attention, his attention was firmly fixed on Harry.

"I don't know, sir" Harry replied, I felt slight hatred as Snape's lip curled into a sneer "Tut, tut - fame clearly isn't everything." Once again he ignored Hermione's hand as he fired off another question at Harry "Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"

I watched with slight anger, I knew that Snape was the head of Slytherin but he seemed to have an intense hatred for Harry without any real reason for his intense dislike. But to keep myself out of the spotlight I stayed silent and watched as Malfoy and his gang continued to laugh. I narrowed my eyes as I thought of ways that would be fun to get back at that prick. My lip curling in amusement at the thought.

I returned my normal look and listened as Snape once again bantered at Harry "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" and nearly wanted to strangle Harry for being a complete idiot when he spoke up next "I don't know, I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?" I nearly groaned, Harry you idiot, don't provoke a teacher.

Snape was, of course, not pleased with the reply and snapped out at Hermione "sit down" before he turned to Harry once more "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"

Everyone set to copying down what he just said, I kept my eyes focused on my page but clenched my jaw as Snape spoke up once more "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter." For the rest of the potions lesson I focused on not being the attention of Snape's wrath, and actually managed for him to pass by my cauldron without making a snide comment.

I turned as a loud hissing noise sounded and blinked in surprise at the scene before me. Neville, being the poor clumsy fellow he is, somehow managed to melt Seamus's cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor. Not wanting to find out what the potion was capable of doing first hand I scrambled to crouch on my chair, the rest of the class following my example.

Snape flicked his wand, causing the potion to disappear as he turned on Neville, who was moaning in pain as angry red boils sprang up on his skin, since he was covered in the potion when the cauldron collapsed. "Idiot boy!" Snape snarled "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?" I winced as I heard Neville whimper in pain, glad I didn't stay on the floor, which I was now standing on since the potion was gone.

"Take him up to the hospital wing" Snape spat at Seamus, before he rounded on Harry and Ron, who were next to where Neville and Seamus had been working, it was a wonder neither of them had been hit by the potion either. "You - Potter - why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look food if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor."

Almost every Gryffindor gaped at Snape, and luckily for us Ron had stopped Harry from arguing. We then turned back to our potions, and continued till the end of the class, where we turned in a sample of our potions. I sighed quietly as I packed up my stuff after clearing away the potion. I was about to slip out the door when Snape called out "Mr. Lupin, hang on a minute"

I closed my eyes before opening them and turning around. "What is it Professor?" I asked him, confused on what this was about. Snape flicked a glance at me "I wondered why Professor McGonagall sent me a notice that you might be late for this class since she held you back but you appeared to have made it to class in time" he said. I shrugged "I moved quickly, not wanting to be late for Potions" I said, a bit uncomfortable, and glad that Potions was my last class.

Snape smirked "as much as I'd like to believe that, I find it hard to believe that a first year, with no knowledge of how to get down to the dungeons, found his way that quickly" he prompted. I sighed before looking at Snape, tilting my head and transforming, to where I stood in my fox form in a few moments. Snape raised an eyebrow "that explains it" he said simply. I transformed back, picking up my bag which had fallen "so I did move quickly, but was able to follow the scent of my fellow first years" I said.

Snape nodded before turning away "just be sure not to cause any havoc in my classroom Mr. Lupin" he warned, I nodded and turned and walked out of the dungeons. My brow furrowed as I wondered why Snape but emphasis on my last name. What did he have against me, or did he have something against my father? I sighed and shook my head "just forget it" I muttered to myself and made my way to Gryffindor Tower.

I spent the rest of the day looking over text books, I looked up as Harry and Ron came into the room, Harry grinned as he saw me "Nick! Wondered what happened to you after Potions?" he asked. I huffed "Snape decided to ask why McGonagall held be after class" I groaned. Harry chuckled "well that must have a conversation" he snickered. I snorted and stood up, closing the book with a snap and hitting Harry over the head with it, lightly.

"Don't remind me" I said. Harry snorted "come on, I'm going down to Hagrids for Tea" he said. I threw the book back on my bag and shrugged "okay" I said as we started out of the castle. Talking about random things till we reached Hagrid's hut. I heard movement behind the door as Harry knocked and then the booming bark of a dog.

"Back, Fang - Back."

Then Hagrids face appeared in the crack of the door as he pulled the door open. The three of us slipped into the hut and shut the door, looking around I spotted Hagrid struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound. My eyes went wide slightly but the moment the dog was released he just went up to Ron and started licking his ears.

I chuckled, Fang apparently was just like Hagrid in his looks and personality. I listened to the conversation, smiling and greeting Hagrid when Harry introduced me. "And this is Nick Lupin" he said. I was surprised when Hagrid's eyes snapped to me "Lupin's son eh?" he questioned. I nodded "ya, I'm his son" I said, slightly apprehensive on what he was going to say.

Hagrid smiled "hope your father's doing all right, haven't seen him in a while." he said. I nodded and smiled back as Hagrid then listened as Harry talked about what happened with Snape. I didn't really care, because it was Snape we're talking about. All three of us pretended to enjoy the rock cakes, which were shapeless lumps with raisins that almost broke our teeth, but so that we didn't hurt Hagrid's feelings we pretended to enjoy them.

I was glad to meet and get to know Hagrid, he was a good man to know. I listened as Harry talked about the vault that had been broken into at Gringotts and shrugged it away, I wasn't worried about it, my father had told me about the break in but hadn't seemed worried about it so I had just shrugged it off as well. And still did now.

Cause I'll say it once, we shouldn't meddle in other's affairs