Start With Something Easy

Harry woke with a start. He lay as still as he could manage. His heart was racing, pounding a tattoo in his chest. His eyes skittered around taking in his surroundings, but all he saw was darkness and shadows. Slowly the teen slipped his hand under his pillow to find his wand. Once the warmth of the eleven inches of holly was safely in the palm of his hand, Harry slowed his breathing: inhaled through his nose, exhaled through his mouth and repeated.

His eyes adjusted to the lack of light within the curtains that surrounded his dorm room bed. Harry still saw only darkness and shadows, but there was a comfort there in knowing his wards had held. Sitting up, Harry countered his silencing and impenetrable wards allowing them to gently drop, but didn't move to leave the comfort of his bed opting to listen to the silence of the room.

Sounds of soft breathing came from one of the two occupied beds. Silence came from the other. Blaise's wards must have held, but the teen found it odd that the prefect hadn't warded his as well.

With a quick tempus, Harry frowned at the red numbers that floated innocently in the air before him. Zero three twenty-one. He raised a shaky hand and wiped the sweat from his brow. It was a bad dream that had woke him. Harry flicked the numbers away and flopped back onto his pillow with a soft groan. He hated nightmares.


The first class of the school year came and went. It moved at a snail's pace and was just as interesting as watching blades of grass grow. History of Magic was a tedious class at the best of times and having it first thing every Monday was just cruel. Harry stood in the dungeon hallway with his best friend and leaned against the wall for a moment to gather his wits about him. The next class was to begin in ten minutes, Potions with Gryffindor, and he could hear the approaching chatter.

Harry pushed away from the wall before he could be seen being lazy by anyone other than a House mate and watched as students lined up on either side of the dungeon hallway: one side was rather verbose, while the other stood quietly. The fifth year adjusted his bag on his shoulder and listened in silence as Ron and Seamus droned on about how horrible potions class was and how 'unfair the greasy git was to anyone in Gryffindor'.

The weasel foolishly ignored the glares he received for the disparaging remarks against the Head of Slytherin House, but Neville noticed and attempted to diffuse the growing hostile situation, "You should probably shut it, Ron."

"Why should I? Everyone knows Snape likes his snakes more." Ron spouted off, "At least this year our DADA professor is a Gryffindor. So now we have someone on our side."

Harry turned his head to hide his smirk, but Seamus saw him. The Gryffindor screwed up his face in indignation and raised his chin, "Think tha's funny, do ya?"

"Yes, I do actually," Harry admitted. Ron's head snapped in the Slytherin's direction and he scowled. Harry ignored the irate teen and continued, "You conveniently forgot that Professor Lupin, our third year DADA professor, was a Gryffindor and so is your Head of House, our Transfiguration professor. Neither play favorites. And while you're right about Black having also been a Gryffindor, you overlooked one bit of information that trumps your idea of favoritism. Black happens to be my godfather."

Both Ron and Seamus stepped out of line towards Harry. The Slytherin simply watched them carefully knowing full well that Blaise was beside him and would have his back if the other two were stupid enough to try and start a fight. Neville sighed, "Put away your wand, Ron."

Before the annoyed Gryffindor could retaliate, the classroom door was flung open with a bang. Each Slytherin eased away from the confrontation. Snape took in the sight before him noting that two of the students had their wands in hand. "Is there a problem, Mr. Weasley?"

Ron growled out his response, "No." Seamus tugged at his arm and spoke to him in hushed tones to calm his housemate, but the damage had been done.

"Five points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley." The potions master stepped out of the doorway and motioned the students inside. The Slytherins moved swiftly and found their seats while the Gryffindors had to work at keeping Ron's temper from flaring further. Snape added insult to injury as the redheaded Gryffindor passed him, "Any more cheek and I'll add a week's detention."

The classroom was buzzing with low conversations while the students pulled out their textbooks and summer homework. The door clicked closed as Snape walked to the front of the room. With a sweep of his wand, their essays flew to the front of the class and landed gently in a neat pile on the professor's desk.

Snape spoke to the class in his slow baritone cadence, each word clipped and enunciated in order to avoid any confusion. "I think it appropriate to remind you that next June you will be sitting an important examination, your Ordinary Wizarding Level potions exams, during which you will prove how much you have learned about the composition and use of magical potions.

"I expect at least half of the students to be utter failures, proving what dunderheads you truly are. Others will be acceptable with only a smattering handful showing any sign of talent and understanding." Snape's black eyes traveled around the room as he continued speaking, "That said… we come to today's lesson.

"For those that have correctly completed the summer's assignment, you will be familiar with today's potion." The potions master flicked his wand towards the blackboard and his familiar spidery scrawl soon appeared, listing the needed ingredients as well as the steps to take in order to properly make the potion. "Follow the directions carefully. One mistake can have drastic consequences."

Harry read over the directions on the board and noted it was verbatim from the textbook. That meant the all-important last step had been left off. Anyone that had done the summer reading and homework would have found the last step mentioned in detail in the description summary, but it was mistakenly left off the listed step-by-step directions that were now written on the chalkboard.

A small grin tugged at Harry's lips when he realized what the man was doing. Snape was ensuring his students had done their summer assignment without having to read their essays. Harry's eyes flicked towards his professor. The potions master stood at the front of the room with his arms crossed watching his students carefully. When their eyes met, Snape gave the teen a small nod of acknowledgement before turning his attention back to the other students.

The majority of the Gryffindors had made a beeline towards the supply closet to grab their ingredients. The Slytherins had more decorum and calmly formed a queue to await their turn in order to take what ingredients they required. Harry set up two cauldrons on the desk, adding water to each and starting the fires beneath them.

Once Blaise had returned from the supply closet, the two sorted through the bounty and the teens began their work. Harry started grinding moonstones in order to get them to the proper powdery consistency, while Blaise commenced crushing the porcupine quills.

The friends worked silently together - yet separately - the entire hour: crushing, cutting and grinding the materials and sharing the ingredients. While Blaise's potion had turned orange first, Harry's was the first to turn white. It was at that crucial point that Harry stirred seven times, both clockwise and anticlockwise. Harry then added the final ingredient - syrup of hellebore - and lowered the temperature of the flames to allow the potion to simmer for seven minutes.

Once his potion was simmering, Harry finally allowed himself to look around the classroom to see how the others were doing. A number of Gryffindor students were having trouble: Neville huffed and added a tad more powdered unicorn horn, but the potion was far from pink (It was an angry violet); Ron's potion was a thick sludge that smoked and belched; and Seamus kept looking from the book to the blackboard to his cauldron while scratching his head at his hissing green concoction.

The only Slytherin that was having any difficulty with his potion was Gregory. Theodore stood beside him at the table in front of Harry and Blaise murmuring quietly to his classmate, but the young man seemed to panic as his potion attempted to boil over. Without a word, Harry pulled his wand and lowered his fellow beater's fire. The potion sputtered and calmed. Gregory sighed softly and nodded silently to something Theodore said.

A deep voice behind Harry almost startled him enough to drop his wand, but the teen managed to slip the eleven inches of holly back into its holster instead. The professor's soft spoken words - meant for his ears only - sent a warm tingle of pride through Harry when the potions master stated, "Five points to Slytherin for helping a fellow classmate."


Harry sat in the library with a few books about the giant wars lying open on the table for reference. He tapped his quill on the parchment distractedly as his mind wandered from the subject at hand. Sadly, even without the droning of Binns' lecturing, the subject didn't keep the teen's attention for long.

He looked at his other homework and debated starting the essay on hellebore instead of the one on the giant wars. Harry frowned in thought. Each year the classwork had become progressively more difficult which was to be expected. That year they would take their OWLs and the professors would take that into consideration when assigning homework. Harry had only taken two classes so far that first day, with Runes and double DADA coming after lunch and already he had homework in both.

The Slytherin moved a book closer. He flipped the page and began reading, but was soon distracted by his girlfriend who sat beside him. Harry watched Hermione from his peripheral vision as she bit her bottom lip, her expression was pensive. Even though he hadn't read a word, the boy turned the page and ran his finger down the text to appear to be doing his homework. He was idly curious how long Hermione would quietly sit there staring at him. Harry finally took pity on the witch, while still keeping up the farce of reading, and asked, "It's going to drive you barmy if you don't say what's on your mind, isn't it?"

Hermione gave a small laugh, but she nodded all the same, "Yes."

"Well then," Harry closed the book gratefully and gave her his full attention. He really didn't want to read about any giant wars, "What is it?"

"Do you think Siri… erm… I mean Professor Black… do you think he would agree to teach us to be animagus?"

"Possibly," Harry tapped a finger on the book he'd been pretending to read, "I hadn't thought to ask him. Professor McGonagall did say that not everyone can manage the transformation, but we could ask Black for assistance, I suppose."

"Will you?"

"Will I… what exactly?"

"Ask him!"

"Perhaps…" Harry fought back the grin that threatened to break across his features while Hermione squirmed in her seat. The wizard gave her a piercing look and asked, "What's in it for me?"

"You're such a Slytherin!"

"Thank you."

"That wasn't meant as a compliment." Hermione huffed when he simply shrugged at her. The Ravenclaw attempted a different approach, "I'm your girlfriend."

"Yes you are."

"You could ask because you like me."

"I suppose I could."

"You'd get to learn, too."

"If I wanted to learn, I could simply ask for myself without mentioning your wish to be included in the lessons."

Hermione's eyes narrowed and she leaned forward to threaten him, "If you want to remain my boyfriend, you'll not exclude me."

"Point," Harry grinned at her, leaned forward meeting the Ravenclaw's lips with a quick peck and whispered, "We meet with him in his classroom Friday after dinner."

"We do?!" Hermione squeaked rather loudly and was quickly reprimanded for her outburst by Madam Pince. The witch grimaced and mouthed 'sorry' to the librarian. The Ravenclaw then whipped her attention back to her boyfriend and scowled at him. She hissed, "You said you didn't think to ask him!"

"I didn't ask him. He offered."

"Why didn't you just tell me?"

Harry's grin bloomed, "Where's the fun in that?"


The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was set up, rather similarly to how Professor Lupin had decorated it while he was on staff. There were images of dark creatures lining the wall to the right, a large chalkboard stood behind the professor's desk in front of the students' desks and the left wall had various posters showing defensive spells along with their proper wand movements.

Harry slid into his seat beside his best friend and set his bag on the desk. As much as he looked forward to the experience of learning from Sirius, the class was once again with Gryffindor. The Slytherin removed his book, parchment, quill and ink from his bag before setting it on the floor out of the way.

Blaise took a long look around the room curiously, but kept any commentary statements to himself allowing a small nod to the professor to speak as his approval. Sirius grinned at what he apparently considered high praise from the Slytherin.

Sirius watched the last of the students take their seats. The wizard flicked his wand towards the back of the room and the door closed with a soft snick. Once everyone was settled he took roll and tossed the parchment onto his desk.

"Good afternoon, class." The man walked around his desk and leaned back against it. Sirius crossed his legs at the ankles, clasped his hands in front of him and looked at their faces as if to memorize each one. "As you are all aware, this year is your OWLs. That means we have a lot of work ahead of us. You've had four years of DADA with four different instructors. From what I've been told two of those were less than stellar, one was a death eater in disguise and the only decent professor was…" Sirius shrugged with a crooked grin, "Remus Lupin, my best friend and an all around great bloke."

Several students nodded in agreement, many Gryffindors were rather vocal with their opinions, while the majority of the Slytherins remained silent and kept their opinions to themselves. Sirius held out a hand to still the teens before continuing, "We have a lot to cover this year. Our first month, unfortunately, will be spent covering your first four years before we can move forward. I refuse to let you fail just because you had a few lame professors.

"Let's start with something easy. Your first year curriculum. Who can tell me about Doxies?" Sirius looked around at the class and sighed despondently when no one volunteered to answer his question, "Anyone?" No hands were forthcoming, so Sirius looked at his godson, "Harry?"

Harry frowned at his godfather. Sirius called on him by his first name only. Many faces were turned in his direction, a few were not encouraging. Ron and Seamus' looks were mocking. Then again, how was Sirius to know about their earlier conversation before potions. Harry called upon his Slytherin persona before responding in an even tone, "Doxies are considered class three creatures. They're a type of fairy: dark wings, dark coarse hair, two sets of arms, double rows of sharp teeth. Doxies are often found in draperies of old neglected houses. Their bite is poisonous, but treatable with an antidote."

Sirius nodded and elaborated with a personal aside when Harry stopped his description, "Unfortunately I had a nasty infestation when I took over the old family house in London. Thankfully doxycide can stun them. Just spray your drapes, stunning the ugly little blighters, and toss them out the window. It sounds easy, but the moment you begin spraying they swarm at you. Makes for an exciting time, so do be careful and have the antidote handy just in case one manages to get by and nips at you.

"A point for Slytherin." Sirius continued, "How about bowtruckles?"

Still no one raised their hand. Sirius sighed and snatched up the roll call before seemingly picking at random name, "Neville Longbottom."

Neville blinked in surprise, but answered shakily, "It's a small creature that looks very much like a stick. They're actually rather beneficial for greenhouses since they eat insects."

"Excellent," Sirius grinned exclaiming, "A point for Gryffindor."

"Gregory Goyle," Sirius gave up looking for volunteers and called out another name picked from the register, "The incantation and wand movement for the Wand-lighting charm."

Gregory picked up his wand and stared at it for a moment as if the thing would give him the answer. With his brows furrowed, Gregory simply said, "Lumos." The Slytherin's wand lit up appropriately and he looked up at Sirius in confusion. Gregory asked in all seriousness, "Is there a wand movement?"

Sirius grinned at the boy, "Nope. A point for Slytherin."

Looking at his wand again, Gregory frowned and softly said, "Nox."

"Ronald Weasley," Sirius called out only to be interrupted.

"Ron," Ron corrected.

Sirius smirked when the boy realized what he did. Ron blushed all the way to his ears while Sirius just asked him, "Incantation and wand movement for red sparks."

Ron grabbed hold of his wand and furrowed his brow in concentration, much like Gregory had done moments before. Ron flicked his wand in a elongated V and spoke, "Vermillious!"

Red smoke came from his wand that shot out towards Sirius who dodged the incoming spell and dispelled it before it could fill the room. "That's not the spell we're looking for Ron and, if you would be so kind, please don't point your wand at me again."

Ron was blushing even deeper and stuttered, "S-sorry!"

Sirius looked down at the roll and called out, "Parvati Patil, can you tell him which spell we were looking for?"

Parvati gripped her wand and held it upwards stating, "Periculum!" and shot red sparks into the ceiling.

"Well done. A point for Gryffindor." Sirius looked back to Ron who was sulking and asked, "Ron, can you tell me what the spell you did successfully is called and what it does?"

"Vermillious makes red smoke, not sparks." Ron said with a frown.

"And a point for Gryffindor." Sirius looked towards the Slytherins calling for Blaise to answer the next question. The class continued with Sirius asking for creature descriptions or a first year spell all the while calling out a student's name and awarding a point for correct answers. If a student didn't know the answer, he'd go to another from the same House in an effort to keep points balanced. He had gone through most of the students twice by the time the class was coming to the an end. Sirius called out, "Gytrash… Ron."

Ron stared blankly at the man, "What?"

"Gytrash…" Sirius frowned at the teen, "You have heard of them… right? This is still your first year curriculum."

"Oh… erm, sure…"

"Seamus, help him out."

The Irishman blinked and stammered, "Right, erm… gytrash… they're a… gytrash is a… is a creature…"

The two looked at each other in a panic and Sirius sighed, "Harry…"

"It's a dog." Harry ignored the dirty looks from the other side of the classroom, "Large, nocturnal, forked tail, pale white short fur… some think they're ghosts. They're said to be sensitive to light and found in wooded areas like the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid once mentioned that there are a few in there. There may be, but I've never seen them personally."

"Spent much time in the Forbidden Forest, have you?"

"Of course not, Professor. It's against the rules to go into the forest," Harry kept his Slytherin mask firmly in place which caused Sirius to grin stupidly. He couldn't decide if Harry was lying, but didn't push it.

"A point for Slytherin," When the bell rang, Sirius waved them off to their next class saying, "Study your first year curriculum. There's a quiz on Friday. We'll start second year next week. Harry, can you stay behind, please?"

Harry put away his things and waited until the class emptied before walking up to the instructor. As soon as the last student left, Sirius asked, "Well? How'd I do?" The man grinned and was bouncing on the balls of his feet in his excitement, but his smile faded when he saw that his godson wasn't smiling back. The animagus pouted, "What did I do wrong?"

"Nothing," Harry said, but ruined the effect when he laughed at his godfather. "You did fine. You didn't show favoritism and you kept the class involved and challenged."

"Right, so don't show favoritism. Keep them challenged and involved. Got it. That's pretty much what Remus said." Sirius scratched the back of his head and said rather apologetically, "I know I kind of put you on the spot in the beginning, but I was a bit desperate. I am going to have to call on you from time to time."

"I know that. They also know you're my godfather, so it's a fine line you'll have to walk." Harry grabbed his bag and hitched it on his shoulder before changing the subject. "I spoke with Hermione before lunch."

"She's up for the extra lessons?"

Harry chuckled, "She can't wait."

"I'm curious to see how things go."

"Me, too." Harry walked towards the door and paused. He turned back to Sirius and said, "You're a good teacher, Sirius."


AN: I feel as if I should apologize. I originally planned on posting a new chapter weekly. I started on a Thursday and intended to keep to that self imposed schedule. Unfortunately with all of this holiday hubbabaloo going on it has slipped to Fridays. I will do my best not to let the updates slip to Saturday or worse.

Beyondthesea16: A muzzle? Oh that had me laughing... and thinking...

sunset oasis: I'm not sure it matters what Blaise thinks. Those girls are pretty determined to play.

zraion, leonix2009: Welcome to the madness

Tariq Sofian: Egad. Hope you weren't disappointed! Yes, Sara is the jealous one. Her and Hermione are still friendly and apparently hang out together at times.