Hermione was strangely quiet the whole way back to Gryffindor tower. Ron was talking quietly with Harry up the steps, "I can't believe she showed us that; I mean a simple description would've done well, honestly." He'd been shaky since they'd returned to their classroom; everyone had. Novotny hadn't said a word merely motioned that they were dismissed and put away the pensieve. Hermione had been silent since.

As they walked into the Gryffindor common room, Ginny who'd been sitting in an armchair in front of the fire waiting ran over and grabbed Hermione by the sleeve, dragging her excitedly up the stairs to the girls' dormitory. Leaving Harry and Ron in a surprised stupor in the common room. "What d'you reckon that…"

"Just leave it…. Got enough to think about tonight Ron without trying to unravel girls on top of it." Ron nodded as they headed upstairs after Neville, Dean and Seamus. No one was much in the mood to speak for the rest of the night.

Three evenings later at dinner, everyone seemed to have regained their nerve. The Slytherins were sporting on the rest of the Great Hall as usual. And no one seemed to be paying much mind to the memories of their last class. Hermione was the only one who wouldn't let it drop. "I just don't understand it I mean I've heard horror stories and myths about werewolves but I always though it was kind of… I dunno propaganda or something. Professor Lupin…"

"Wotcher you lot." Hermione was interrupted by Tonks' arrival into the Hall. Her hair was green today with silver tips. "Lost a bet to Snape." She said offhandedly-noticing Harry's looks. Ginny laughed out loud as Tonks' nose changed into a perfect imitation of the Potion Master's hooked beak.

"What was the bet?" Ron asked through his third helping of tripe that evening.

"Whether or not Novotny was going to kill one of you three by the third week of class. I have to say I had you pegged a goner Ron." Hermione laughed that time; after all of the three of them she'd come the closest to winning Tonks her wager. Ron simply continued to eat though a little indignantly.

"So how's patrol with Nott going?" Ginny asked fighting Ron off of a last slice of pumpkin pie.

Tonks made a dismissive shrug, "You'd have to ask Dawlish, I've been paired off with Novotny for the wee hours of the morning and I have to tell you she's not particularly chipper after she's done with you."

"Is that why the classes are at night?" Hermione had nearly leapt from her seat for this question and Tonks gave her a bit of a look before replying.

"Nah I heard McGonagall and Flitwick saying she's off doing something or other for the Ministry during the day, that she's really only here at the school as lodging or something like that. Guess it could be true she doesn't exactly strike me as being much concerned with enlightening the next generation of wizarding kind."

Harry tuned out a bit as Ginny changed the subject to the upcoming Quidditch tryouts and Tonks made excuse to head to the table for dinner; promising to bring back information about their still mysterious teacher. He was focused intently on a figure in the entrance hall clad in a shabby decaying suit and sporting a bit more grey than usual. He got Ron and Hermione's attention and all three headed out to meet their favorite former Professor. "Professor Lupin!"

The man in the entrance hall started visibly at the sound of his name and turned with a small smile towards the excited sixth years trotting towards him, Ron carrying what appeared to be an entire tray of cauldron cakes. "Well I see your all doing well, appetites quite healthy I see." He said with a pointed look at Ron. Hermione was looking oddly hesitant as Harry and Ron got quickly into catching up with their friend. As Tonks noticed their group and came over to say hello as well, Hermione's hesitance did not go unnoticed.

"Hermione are you all right?" Lupin asked looking concerned. Harry gave an exasperated sigh.

"You're not still on about that stuff Novotny showed us are you?" He asked, drawing quizzical looks from Lupin and Tonks.

"I'm not on about anything!" she snapped, glancing quickly apologetic towards Lupin.

"It's just I was wondering, whether or not…Professor Lupin if you… could explain about…"

"What is it precisely that this Professor showed you Hermione that I would need to explain?" Lupin asked suddenly wary.

"Maybe Half-Breed; the Mudblood wants to know how many people you've killed." A slow drawling voice from the foot of the Grand Staircase caught the group's attention.

"Bugger off Malfoy." Was Ron's only reply, the food miraculously forgotten in favor of the opportunity to fight.

"Well I think that's a good sixty points from Slytherin for inappropriate comments towards a teacher and fellow student… ah hell since we're family and all I'll knock it down to fifty whatcha say?" said Tonks with a wicked grin; clearly enjoying her authority a great deal. Harry was enjoying it too as a small pile of emeralds drifted upwards from the Slytherin hourglass.

"And I'll give Slytherin fifty points for Mr. Malfoy's dedicated restraint in not retorting back to an obvious baited comment; as well as deducting fifty from Gryffindor for Mr. Weaseley's lacking the same." Came a silky contralto from behind them, Nott was also apparently having no difficulty disciplining those she felt deserved it. Malfoy smiled broadly as the Emeralds cascaded back to the bottom and a pile of rubies retreated.

"Don't get me wrong you little nit I don't like you either." She added quickly with a sharp look at a now very confused Draco.

"Well then you're just a big happy bundle of consistency and not at all ridiculous aren't you?" asked an exasperated Tonks. Lupin sensed an impending battle of wills and took the moment to dismiss Draco and give a reproachful glance at Ron who looked more than justifiably happy as the two Aurors rounded on each other hurling insults. His immediate efforts to diffuse the argument proved futile as a small crowd was forming around them, and people were quickly taking sides, by house naturally.

"Well if you would just get over yourself and…" began Tonks.

"Get over myself? Me? You're the one who went sobbing to Amelia when I busted that Goblin smuggler's ring, 'I was so close, she stole my informant…' boohoo you great bumbling lummox, maybe if you hadn't tripped all over yourself and made the Ministry look like a bunch of ruddy schoolchildren, I wouldn't have had to take your case. Typical Gryffindor…"

"That is quite enough I think." Dumbledore's soft but commanding voice had immediately ended the confrontation, much to the dismay of the on looking, very entertained crowd of students (and admittedly a few teachers), who now were focused on the top step of the Staircase, where the Headmaster, Deputy Headmistress and Kingsley Shacklebolt were standing looking anything but pleased.

The crowd took this as their cue to make a hurried and silent exit. A few of the more compromised teachers taking the time to deduct points for various offenses from their fellow rubber-neckers. Lupin guided his immediate group off to the side to finish their talk and save Tonks the embarrassment of being reprimanded in front of her friends. Unfortunately he didn't take them far enough as Harry was still focused intently on the scene he was supposed to be leaving, Ginny as well was paying rapt attention to precisely where she oughtn't.

"Downright childish!...most unprofessional...Of course Amelia shall hear of this the moment she steps foot in her office…I have never seen such a disgraceful display of petty disregard for the position you hold!" such things ran like water from Shacklebolt who looked as livid as anyone Harry had ever seen, Tonks was staring red faced at her boots, Nott looking off to the side sulkily. He wanted to shout that Tonks hadn't started it, that she was only reacting to Nott who'd butted in with no reason; but he was spared the trouble.

"Headmaster, if I may interrupt Master Shacklebolt's tirade for a moment, perhaps you are interested in how the disruption occurred?" It was as if Novotny had appeared out of thin air, for whatever reason no one had seen her standing quite plainly in front of the corridor, which lead to the dungeons; she had in the confusion gone unnoticed. She didn't look at all to Harry, as someone doing the right thing should. She didn't look scandalized or indignant at what was an unfairly harsh berating of Tonks; but rather amused like someone telling a joke with a particularly good punch line. But he did notice she was looking paler than usual.

Both Tonks and Nott brightened up considerably, each assuming they were going to be vindicated. But Harry wasn't entirely sure that was what Novotny had in mind. "Certainly Professor if you feel you can shed light on the situation." Dumbledore looked particularly pleased by this turn of events as if he'd been expecting it.

"It is my understanding Headmaster that the whole dispute has something to do vith a remark made to my replacement for this evening a Professor Lupin. Perhaps as I indicated earlier it vas not prudent for him to return to the school vhere his…condition is so vell known and justifiably vorrying?" She had said the word 'condition' with such a sickening tone of self-righteousness that Harry was quickly losing his ability to remain silent. Hermione may be questioning her position on werewolves but Harry most certainly was not. He was however not disappointed in Dumbledore's response.

"Professor Novotny while I appreciate your perspective, I believe we have already had this conversation and I have assured you of my complete trust in Remus. I realize with your background you find it difficult to trust someone in his position but I really must insist that you cease trying to change my mind. As one equally persuasive member of the faculty has found; one whom I believe you are on good terms with… (Harry thought he heard Professor McGonagall mutter something like 'bloody made for each other' but he couldn't be sure)…I am not so easily dissuaded."

Novotny looked less affronted than Harry would've expected, but after she bowed deeply to Dumbledore, as she headed towards the doorway to the grounds; she did not hide her distaste as she passed Lupin, giving him a decidedly shifty once over as she exited the castle. Harry was glad she was headed for assuredly bigger and better things to do that night. Harry smiled after her, satisfied that Dumbledore had put her in her place; it was ceasing to surprise him how similarly he reacted to her in comparison with Snape.

As Tonks and Nott took the opportunity to babble the word 'patrol' hurriedly and rush away from their fuming superior, (no doubt to continue their altercation a bit more privately) Harry followed Lupin and the rest of their small group back through the Great Hall and down the adjacent corridor to continue their own exchange without further excitement.

"So you'll be teaching us tonight then?" Ron asked as they moved down the hall; Lupin ignored him turning quickly on Hermione.

"Who is she? Dumbledore didn't tell me who he took in my place. What did she do last night that has everyone in an uproar?" Harry had never seen Lupin like this he seemed manically inquisitive. It reminded Harry a little too much of Filch when he was on to someone. Hermione too looked surprised by the usually docile Lupin's behavior, hesitating visibly before answering.

"She's a vampire hunter from Eastern Europe, she showed us a rather bloody example of some…attacks she tried to prevent. But it ended badly. Everyone was rather jarred." Harry was amazed at how unconvincing Hermione was when she omitted the truth. Lupin didn't seem particularly impressed either.

"Attacks by what?"

Hermione looked from Ron to Harry, where she would find no help; finally deciding to simply illumine the increasingly impatient Lupin. "Werewolves; two of them. Professor Lupin it was horrible I've never seen so much blood! You have to understand…"

"No need Hermione I understand perfectly." He said; though he certainly didn't seem to be particularly pleased with Hermione's attempt at sugarcoating her obvious hesitance around him. He paused for a moment; calming down before asking, "What's her name?"

Ron seizing an easy question jumped in before Hermione could start, "Valeria Novotny. Ever heard of her? Hermione says she's famous or something." Lupin like Hermione had started visibly at the mention of their new professor's name. But then he smiled.

"Yes Ron I've heard of her. See you all at eleven." And without another word Lupin turned on his heel and headed towards the classroom; leaving Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny to themselves in the hallway. Hermione looked more worried than was usual even for her.

"What do you think he's going to do? I mean Novotny obviously doesn't like him…" she began.

"Well not for nothing Hermione but he didn't look particularly fond of her either. And who could blame him? I mean she's pulling the same thing Snape did, trying to get him out of the school." Hermione tried to calm Harry down. Lupin was the last of the Marauders; the last link to his father he had and he wasn't about to back down from defending him.

"Harry you know perfectly well I want Lupin here. He's done far too much for all of us for any of us not to trust him. I'm more worried about what Novotny's going to do if she really wants him out of here. She just doesn't look like someone who's going to give up easily." Ginny who'd been oddly quiet decided this was the moment to make herself heard.

"Well you can understand it can't you?" she asked sounding frustrated. "I mean I know Lupin would never hurt anybody but she showed us that memory too the other night and I can certainly understand why she wouldn't trust someone she knows is a werewolf after that. I mean especially since…" Ginny seemed to realize that the others were staring at her as she searched around her, seemingly asking the walls for the right way to word what would follow, "it's just…"

Ron who seemed legitimately concerned about his sister for the first time that year (aside from griping about her ever changing male companionship she was up to three this year alone), was the first to break his sisters silence, "What Gin?"

"It was her village… the one she showed us… that was her family. Tonks asked her about it on patrol. Said she didn't even look upset about it, like she was just numb. I mean I know Lupin's not like that but I mean, Harry you of all people should understand why she doesn't want to trust him." Ginny looked really shaken up, so Harry didn't push the matter further. But he couldn't help but think that his situation and Novotny's were not nearly so similar as Ginny seemed to think.

"Hey Harry," began Ron smiling broadly, "You think if Dumbledore hadn't shown up we'd have seen a bit of hair pulling…y'know a bit of a catfight, bet Tonks gets awfully…"

"Oh for Merlin's sake Ron!" said Hermione in full rage, "Could you act your age for just a moment?"

"Hey it's not my fault… we're just hard wired that way when I see two girls going at…"

"Grow up idiot." Said Ginny walking disgustedly away. Ron gave Harry a plaintive look. Harry shrugged, as if he didn't know perfectly well what the girls were on about and followed his friends upstairs to prepare for that night's lesson. He wasn't like her; he reasoned, she'd had a chance to stop it.