Deep Magic

by Lady Dragonmaster

This is an OC centric story where I have inserted a new character into the storyline. The story takes place primarily in the marauders era and will end in a three way relationship between my character, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Please see inside for full summary. Second attempt at posting because fanfiction destroyed my formatting.

11. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

A/N: These following chapters are going to be long ones. I'm not breaking them into years, only isolating the graphic stuff. Now for a bit of background on what's about to take place. As we know, this is the life Ashe would have had if she'd chosen power. The following events take place in Harry Potter's time, and Amber spends most of her time in the background, in the shadows watching and assisting where possible. When I was formulating the story, I noticed that in the movies there seemed to be massive gaps between things happening and I have used these gaps to fit Amber in. It is her that makes many of the things happen that seem, in the movies, to be the work of coincidence. Most of the interactions come from the movies with some embellishment from the books where the movies lacked the depth of story line. Enjoy.

P.S. This chapter will contain bouts of coarse language and implied Non-Con, Implied Minor.

The life of Amber Del Aqua – 1991/1992 School Year

My name was not important anymore, I had nothing left. My old life felt as if it was nothing more than a horrible dream. In my hand, a crumpled piece of parchment; a letter. A letter informing me that I was required to come to London, where I would meet with a man by the name of Elphias Doge. This man would bring me to a town called Hogsmeade and from there I would make my way to the school of Hogwarts. As I walked up the hill to the castle I was directed to in the letter, I could see the staff of the institution standing outside awaiting my arrival. I didn't really understand why I was there. I stood in front of the elderly man with the long white beard.

"You are the Headmaster." It wasn't a question.

He smiled "Welcome to Hogwarts, Miss." The Headmaster held his hand up as I went to introduce myself. "I do not need to know the name you used to have, your identity as you knew it before today is no more. What is your element?"

"I'm sorry; I don't know what you mean."

"You are an elemental, in corporeal form. We must learn your element before we are able to name you." I nodded and the Headmaster continued. "But first let's get you sorted." 'Sorted?'

The Headmaster walked back into the castle and an older lady in green robes and a pointed hat bade me to follow her. A dark-haired man, in black robes looked me up and down before turning away and following the Headmaster. The staff led me into the castle, turning right once they were through the doors and into the next room. It was a large room with a ceiling so high it could barely be seen and it looked very much like the sky outside. The room was set up as a large dining room, with four long tables running the length of the room and a fifth perpendicular to the four, along the far wall. In front of the table at the end of the room was a stool with a battered old hat sitting on top of it. The elderly lady, Professor McGonagall I'm told, indicated I should sit on the stool and so I did. The Hat was placed on my head.

"So you have returned?" The hat's voice in my mind startled me.

"You can talk?"

"Why yes, of course I can."

"And why do you say that I have returned; I have never seen this place before."

"Not in this life you haven't, but you will learn more of this in time. Now, I have sorted you before and I will place you in the same house as last time: SLYTHERIN!"

I looked up at the Headmaster, and he nodded, smiling. "Well, well, Miss. This is not unexpected at all. I would now like to introduce you to your Head of House, Severus Snape. Severus, I would like you to watch over this young lady during her time here."

"Of course, Headmaster, but perhaps we should organise a name for her."

"Yes, yes. Quite right, come along Miss, we must find out what your element is." I was taken by the Headmaster and Snape into a small room off the dining room where four bowls were set out. One held soil, the second barely restraining a very small whirling dervish, the third water and the last one was fire. "Miss I am going to ask you to place your hand in each of the bowls, the element you receive a response from is the element you will have the power of."

I bypassed the fire bowl, deciding that I would try the less damaging elements first. I placed my hand in the bowl with the soil, but felt only the grains of the earth between my fingers. Next was the dervish. I placed my hand inside the swirling wind and again I felt nothing but the air moving over my skin. I moved on to the water bowl, placing my hand into the liquid. Immediately I was gifted with secrets from around the room. I was able to converse with the water, and for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, a feeling of calm and oneness settled over my soul.

"Ambience of Water," I looked up at the Headmaster when he spoke and nodded my head once. "Is this pleasing to you, Miss Water?"

"Yes I think so, but I would like to change my name to something less conspicuous."

"What would you be called then?"

I thought, Ambience of Water. Water, Aqua. Of water, l'aqua. Amber Del Aqua. "I would like to be known as Amber Del Aqua."

XXXXX

"You will learn what you can while in this institution." Snape paced in his office while he spoke. "For the time being, you are to pay attention to the comings and goings of the castle. We do not yet know why you are here. Keep your eyes open and mind your tongue. This evening when the students arrive you will be seated at the teacher's table, off to the side with me. Now get dressed quickly."

I nodded at these instructions and, leaving the room, dressed myself in the robes I had been handed; as the jeans and shirt I had worn were not appropriate for the welcoming feast. Returning to the office, I followed Snape through the corridors and out of the dungeons, to the Great hall to await the students. Before long the returning students filed into the Great Hall and took their seats, shortly followed by the new students for the year led by Professor McGonagall.

The first years were led to the front of the room as a group and stood in front of the sorting hat. One by one their names were called and they were sorted, in much the same way as I was. Then the name "Harry Potter" was called. Snape sat up taller in his seat at this name, and the entire hall fell into silence. I made a mental note to ask the significance of this name later. Long moments passed in which the hat appeared to be debating with the boy, and then it rang out with "Gryffindor". On this announcement, the Gryffindor Table erupted into cheers. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a movement, and I glanced to the middle of the teachers table to see Dumbledore salute the boy by raising his goblet. He then stood and announced the beginning of the feast and I turned my attention back to the conversation between Snape and Quirrell. Snape briefly introduced me to him as a Teacher's Aid. I said nothing, but nodded in greeting to the nervous man and went back to observing the goings on in the hall.

"Professor," Snape and I had returned to his office after the welcoming feast. "Would you please tell me the significance of the name Harry Potter?"

He turned and looked at me slowly, his expression unreadable. "The Potters were murdered by the Dark Lord when the boy was barely a year old. He then turned his wand on the child and tried to kill him as well; however the curse rebounded and he killed himself instead. No one knows why, and now the boy is known as 'The Boy Who Lived'."

"I see," I said slowly. "Is there any connection between my arrival here and that of Potter, seeing as he is so...significant?"

"The thought has been considered," He said, folding his arms in front of him. "That is why you are to observe carefully your surroundings and those in them. Now go." I inclined my head and left the office, returning to my rooms for the night.

I spent the majority of my time shadowing the lower level subjects, years one to three, picking up on what I could. I stood in the corners of the room, simply observing and in doing this I developed skills in Transfiguration, Charms and Defence against the Dark Arts. I worked privately at night with Snape on potions. History of Magic, Astronomy and Herbology was considered to be unimportant, so when each of these classes were on, I shadowed the other classes in one of the other two years in the hope of learning what I would need later as quickly as possible. In doing this I was able to effectively gain three years worth of magical ability in just one.

The first sign of trouble this year came on the night of Halloween. The Great Hall was packed with students for the Halloween feast; treats, sweets and tarts adorning each of the tables. The feast had barely begun when the doors burst open and Quirrell came running into the room screaming that there was a troll in the dungeon, his eyes then rolling into the back of his head as he dropped to the floor. Pandemonium broke out amongst the students and they fled for the doors to the great hall. I felt a hand grasp my collar and Snape pulled me towards a side door, even as Dumbledore stood and bellowed for calm. We ran toward the third floor to check on the trap door under the three headed dog.

"A diversion I take it?" I asked as we ran.

"So it would seem," He said as he tested the door. "It has already been unlocked." After the break in at Gringotts, and now this, the possibility that someone was seeking to steal the philosopher's stone was becoming a reality. Underneath the trapdoor was a series of trials, designed to test the abilities of the any witch or wizard seeking the stone. A test that the professors were sure that no one person would be able to surmount on their own. I was beginning to doubt that the stone was as safe in this castle as the professors thought. For the time being however, I kept those thoughts to myself.

He opened the door to find that the dog had not been disturbed, but having heard the door open, it awakened and attacked, clawing at his leg and ripping through both fabric and flesh alike. Grabbing him by the robes and elbow, I pulled him from the room and together we managed to push the door shut again. I offered him my arm to help him, but he batted it away and strode back down towards the dungeons, albeit with a limp. We encountered a newly conscious Quirrell along the way, coming toward the direction we had just left.

"Never mind, Quirrell. It is safe." Snape said as he grasped his arm and pulled him along with us. Not far from him we could hear the sounds of students yelling and the roar of the troll coming from within the girls' bathroom. As a group the three of us ran towards the room and were soon joined by McGonagall. On the floor of the bathroom was an unconscious adult mountain troll, surrounded by the three young Gryffindors. McGonagall looked from the troll to each of the three students as she asked them to explain themselves.

"Well,...er W..What it is, is..." the boys stammered out.

Then the girl cut in. "It's my fault, Professor McGonagall."

Her shock was evident, as was the disbelief on the face of Snape. "Oh...Miss Granger."

The girl continued. "I went looking for the troll. I've read about them and thought I could handle it, but I was wrong. If Harry and Ron hadn't come and found me, I'd probably be dead." It was clearly bullshit, and I was certain Snape agreed with me.

"Be that as it may, it was an extremely foolish thing to do. I would've expected more rational behaviour on your part and I'm very disappointed in you Miss Granger. Five points will be taken from Gryffindor for your serious lack of judgement." McGonagall turned on the boys. "As for you two gentlemen, I just hope you realise how fortunate you are; not many first year students could take on a fully grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale. Five points ... will be awarded to each of you. For shear Dumb Luck!" and with that she swept out of the bathroom, Snape and I not far behind her.

Behind us I heard Quirrell say something to the students and then squeak when the troll snorted in its sleep. We made our way back down to the dungeons, and I noted that his leg would need some attention. "You're hurt. You should go to the nurse."

"I will fix it myself." He said as he reached his office.

"Don't be ridiculous, you can't bloody reach it." I followed him in and shut the door behind me. "If you won't go to the nurse then let me clean and bandage it for you."

"Absolutely NOT."

I stood in front of him with my arms crossed. "Your job is to keep an eye on me and help me in whatever it is I'm supposed to do here, right?"

"Yes."

"Well then how can you do that if you are injured?"

He drew a breath in and opened his mouth to speak. I drew my chin up even higher, daring him to dispute me. He deflated just a touch. "Fine, but you will work through my trousers." He led me through the door and into his chambers.

I inclined my head as I followed and began to prepare a bowl of warm water to clean the wound with. I pulled some healing potions and two clean washers from the cabinet; soaked one in the bowl and rinsed away the grime and saliva left behind by the dog, keeping my eyes firmly on the task. Once the wound was clean, I took the healing potions and dribbled the potion onto the wound. It fizzled and I heard him gasp above my head. I stole a glance up at his face to see it contorted with pain, and then I turned my gaze back to the wound in front of me, watching as it closed and the skin knitted back together again. I used the second washer to clean up the leg and then bandaged it as a precautionary measure. Once I had finished I looked at his face again. His expression had returned to its usual apathy, and his hair was hanging over his face. I stood and returned the items to the bathroom, then headed to the door of his chambers.

"Good night Professor." And with that I shut the door.

The next morning was the first Quidditch game of the season, and out of sheer curiosity I went to watch. I sat in the teachers stand next to Snape, who had yet to speak of the night before, and I had no desire to discuss it either. Shortly after the game had begun, the boy Potter's broom began to act up, tipping and bucking him wildly in mid air. Next to me I felt Snape shift position, leaning forward to watch the action. I snuck a look at him to see him not moving, not blinking, just staring at the boy's broom, muttering under his breath. I looked from Snape to the boy and back again. 'Was he doing this, or was someone else?' My question was short lived however, when his robes erupted into flames, breaking his concentration. He started backwards, knocking over Quirrell and I stood and helped the other people in the stand stamp out the flames. By the time the fire was smothered and everyone was put back to rights the broom had levelled out again and the game had been won by Gryffindor.

Slowly over time, Snape had begun to confide in me that he suspected Quirrell was up to something, and I was beginning to agree with him. I had begun to notice that Quirrell seemed to always be around when things happened, not at the heart of the action, but lurking in the background. I mentioned this to Snape, saying that he reminded me of the arsonist who would set the fire and then offer his assistance in putting it out.

"Perhaps setting you the task of observing your surroundings was an error. It may become necessary to change the passwords in the castle, lest we find you chasing shadows under the beds of the students." At this I shrugged. "Regardless of this, I will attempt to discover his intentions over the upcoming holidays."

"I think he's after the stone, Professor."

"I believe you are correct. However his reason is unclear. The philosopher's stone is a powerful object, coveted by many. But Quirrell does not seem the type to want eternal life." He went silent, lost in his thoughts.

It was only a few nights later that he was able to lure Quirrell into the forbidden forest for a discussion. While I was not present to hear what was said, the Professor filled me in on his thoughts the morning afterwards.

"He is absolutely after the stone, and he is certainly hiding something."

"What did he say?"

"Not a lot, it was mostly stuttering drivel. I simply reminded him to decide where his loyalties lie."

"My only issue with that is he could well have already decided and we won't like the answer."

Quirrell was very good at covering his tracks, I'll give him that. While his occasional disappearances did not go unnoticed, they were not frequent enough to cause any mistrust. I started to listen to what was being said about the situation amongst the students. It seems that most of the student body is largely unobservant of what the teachers are doing. I did notice, however, that Potter and his friends are very interested in anything about the philosopher's stone. I managed to pick up that they thought it was Snape trying to steal the stone, and this served only to make me all the more certain that Quirrell was up to something very serious. Unfortunately that wasn't the only disturbing act to come to my attention.

Silvery blood everywhere, and the smell of milk and metal. That was the scene that confronted the group of teachers when we were called into the forest by Hagrid. At the centre of the puddle, the lifeless form of a unicorn. In life, it would have been one of the most beautiful creatures I had ever seen, if not the most. In death, the image was heart-rending. I heard a sniffle to my right and I looked up into the face of Hagrid, dabbing at his eyes with a very large, white handkerchief. I felt my brow furrow at the sight, I remembered that despair.

"Do we know what happened, Hagrid?" I asked gently, looking back up at him.

He shook his head. "Don' know, poor beast. Wha' could do sucha thing?" I shook my head and looked at the form in the pool of blood. A hand grasped me around the elbow and I turned to see Snape pulling me away from the group. With a last look at the ghastly scene, I turned and followed Snape from the forest.

"For a unicorn to be murdered on school grounds is not a good omen for the school." He said quietly.

"What is the significance of the unicorn?" I asked.

"To kill one is a very dark deed, and those who do are usually only after one thing. The blood of a unicorn can sustain life almost indefinitely; even you are within the grasp of death. But it will be a cursed life from that point onwards."

"So we are looking for someone who is nearly dead, but not quite?"

"I believe so." He looked at me, and the look on his face was one of fear, yet determination.

"What are you not saying, Professor?" My eyes bored into his. He held my gaze.

"I think Quirrell is working for something very dark indeed."

Less than a month later, news had struck that another unicorn had been killed in the forest. This time the three Gryffindors who had been involved with the troll, as well as the Malfoy boy, had been serving detention with Hagrid when the beast was found. Snape and I were informed that there was a ghostly figure, cloaked in black found feeding on the blood of the beast by Potter and Malfoy. A dark figure indeed. I continued to watch the Defence against the Dark Arts Professor, as did the Headmaster. However from this point onwards nothing more was out of place in the castle. It was then that I began watching the actions of these three young Gryffindors.

I came across the three on their way back from Hagrid's hut one morning. They were very clearly in a hurry. I had been asked to keep an eye on the boy by Snape while the Headmaster was attending to business in London.

"Mr Potter, I presume?" I said, as I stepped out from around the corner.

"Yes, that's me. You're the teacher's aide."

"Correct, and these are your friends, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley."

"I've never heard of Hogwarts having Teachers aides before. Nowhere is it mentioned in 'Hogwarts: A History'." She said, with her nose in the air.

"Well, things change."

"Is there something you wanted?" asked Potter, eyeing me carefully.

"Only to meet you and introduce myself. My name is Amber Del Aqua, and I am here to assist where necessary and possible."

"Thanks for the offer, but we don't need any help." He said sharply, clearly not trusting my intentions.

"Very well, then. Good day, Mr Potter." I left then, to let him think on that. I returned to my dark corner and watched them continue on their way.

The news broke across the school two days later that the three first year Gryffindors had made their way as a collective through the challenges of the devil's snare, the flying keys, wizard chess, and the riddle of potions to the philosophers stone. Upon entering the room where the mirror of Erised was kept, young Potter encountered Quirrell seeking the stone. Seeking the stone for the being living off the back of his head like a parasite; Voldemort.

I turned to Severus once we were alone in his office. "He's coming back, isn't he? That's why I'm here isn't it?" He looked at me with a grave expression on his face and nodded once.

"One way or another, he's coming back."

XXXXX

1992/1993 School Year

I looked around my apartment one last time before closing the door. I had already checked my bag twice to make sure that I had not forgotten anything. Not that I needed much really. I locked the door and walked the short distance to Leyton Tube Station. I passed the rows of townhouses in a bit of a blur; I was not really seeing where I was going. As I stood on the platform, having paid for my ticket, I waited for the train and thinking about the year that had been and the year that was to come. I had not been in contact with anyone from Hogwarts over the break, choosing to sit in contemplation of my new life and the one I left behind. I felt nothing, and wondered if there was something wrong with me. The memories swam in front of my eyes, but I felt nothing. The train pulled up to the station, doors opening and I stepped through to the new year in my new life.

Kings Cross was alive with activity, reminding me that I was dead. Perhaps not in body, but certainly in spirit. A number of students whom I recognised from the school approached and I turned away, not willing to interact. I moved through to platform 9¾ and boarded the train to the school. In search of solitude, I had arrived at the station early so as to secure a compartment on the train in peace. I had been sitting in my compartment for only about fifteen minutes when the door opened suddenly and I looked up. Standing in the doorway were four redheads and the brunette Know-It-All from Gryffindor.

"Oh! I didn't realised there was anyone in here."

"Clearly. Otherwise you'd've knocked." I said and turned back to the window.

"Cheerful, isn't she Fred?" Came the whisper, and I took a deep breath, huffing it out again.

"If you're coming in then do so, if not then close the door." Much to my disgust they clambered in the door and sat down.

"Did anyone see where Harry and Ron got to?" The prattle started and I rolled my eyes as I took another breath. Clearly this was not going to be a peaceful ride.

"BLOODY FUCKING HELL!" Was the reception I received on stepping into Snape's Office.

"I take it I've missed something then?" He turned, not having heard me come in.

"Look at this!" He thrust The Evening Prophet into my hands.

I read "Dozens flock to Lockhart signing..." suppressing a smirk, knowing full well that was not what he was grumbling about.

"Not that, nitwit, the main article. The one about the flying car." I looked to the top of the page and began to read the article.

"Okay," I said after a few minutes of reading. "Just what do you plan to do about it?"

Before he could answer there was a knock at the door. The caretaker, Filch, was standing on the other side of the door with the two Gryffindor boys in tow. Apparently it was these boys in charge of the car, driving it all the way to the school using the train line as a guide before crashing it into the tree on the grounds.

I stood in the corner of the office and watched as Snape confronted the boys over their actions, just as Filch stood behind them stoking his cat.

"You were seen." Snape sat behind his desk shaking the paper in front of the boys' eyes as he spoke. "By no less than seven Muggles." He then slapped the paper down on the desk and leaned toward them. "Do you have any idea how serious this is? You have risked the exposure of our world. Not to mention the damage you inflicted on a Whomping Willow that's been on these grounds since before you were born."

"Honestly Professor Snape, I think it did more damage to us." Weasley offered and Potter nodded in agreement.

"Silence." Snape spat. He rose from his chair and edged his way around the desk. "I assure you that, were you in Slytherin and your fate rested with me, the both of you would be on the train home. Tonight." He leaned down, eyes level with the boys and his face barely inches from theirs. "As it is..."

"They are not." I looked to the direction of the voice just as Snape turned. Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall stood in the doorway of his office.

"Professor Dumbledore. Professor McGonagall." I heard Potter whisper, relieved.

"Headmaster," Snape straightened his spine, and thrust a long, thin finger at the boys in his office. "These boys have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry. As such..."

"I am well aware of our bylaws Severus, having written quite a few of them myself." The Headmaster raised his chin and looked down his nose at Snape. "However, as the Head of Gryffindor House it is for Professor McGonagall to determine the appropriate action."

"We'll go and get or stuff then." Weasley muttered, his eyes downcast.

"What are you talking about, Mr. Weasley?"

"You're going to expel us aren't you?" He looked up at the Professor.

"Not today, Mr Weasley. But I must impress on both of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be writing to your families tonight and you will both receive detention." Snape narrowed his eyes at the boys as she spoke. What was said after that I missed, as Snape and I were ushered from the office in the direction of the Great Hall. Something about a custard tart.

"Those boys deserve to be expelled for this." He hissed at me, so that the Headmaster would not hear him as he led us through the corridors. I, however, did not miss the slight straightening of the spine of the Headmaster. He'd heard alright.

"Do they?" I said. "Wow, I'd certainly hate for any stupid, and fairly innocuous, mistakes I made at twelve dictate my fortune for the rest of my life. And believe me, there were plenty of them, Professor. It was an innocent mistake, perhaps with serious repercussions, but these things happen."

A gentle chuckle came from the man walking in front of us. "Well said, Amber. Well said."

As we reached the head table, a man in lavender and gold robes stood and swaggered over to us. Or more correctly to me, as he had completely bypassed the Headmaster and Snape. "Ah, Gildroy, I would like to introduce to you our Teachers Aide, Miss Del Aqua. Amber, this is the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, Gildroy Lockhart."

"I'm sure you've heard of me already, Amber? May I call you Amber?" He flashed his very bright and very white teeth at me in what I suppose was meant to be a charming smile. I looked briefly at Snape.

"She prefers to be called Miss Del Aqua, Professor. Only the Headmaster refers to her by her first name."

"Very well, Miss Del Aqua." He smiled that smile again. "My name is, as the Headmaster said, Gildroy Lockhart. I'm sure you've heard great things about me and let me assure you the stories do not do me justice at all!"

"I can't say I have."

"Well," He said, stepping up beside me and placing his hand on the small of my back, trying to lead me to the dinner table. "Let me tell you all about it over dinner."

I dug the balls of my feet into the floor. "Perhaps another time."

"Of course," He said, and reached for my hand. As he tried to lift it to his lips, I wrenched it back and overtly wiped my palm on my robes. His smile faltered briefly and then regained its blinding brilliance. "Should I require anything during the year I'm sure you, as a Teacher's Aide, shall be all too happy to assist me in whatever I desire?" His meaning was more than clear, and as such not missed by Snape or the Headmaster.

"Her schedule is already spoken for, Professor. Perhaps you should direct your enquiries to the house elves instead. They are all too happy to assist where possible." And with that he grasped my elbow and drew me to the other end of the Head Table.

"Thank you." I said simply.

"You are to stay away from that man. Your role this year is to simply observe the actions of others."

"You sound like you're expecting trouble again."

"I always expect trouble."

"That's probably why you get it."

XXXXX

My words on the night of the Welcoming Feast reverberated through my mind as I approached the gathering of students in the corridor. I heard Filch trying to push his way through the throng, trying to find out what all the commotion was about.

"Mrs Norris? You've murdered my cat." His voice was dangerously low, and as I made my way with Snape to the centre of the crowd it was evident why. There was water all over the floor of the corridor and the cat was hanging by its tail from the candle arbour. On the wall was an inscription written in blood:

the chamber of secrets has been opened
enemies of the heir...beware

"No. No." The boy Potter was protesting against the accusation. I glanced at Snape, who was watching the exchange.

"I'll kill ya. I'll kill ya!" He grasped the boy's collar and I moved to intervene.

"Argus!" Snape and I turned at the sound of the Headmaster's voice as he moved to the centre of the crowd. "Argus I..." He stopped as he took in the scene in front of him. "Everyone will proceed to their dormitories immediately. Everyone, except you three." He pointed to the Gryffindor trio. The rest of the students moved away from the scene, back to their respective common rooms. "She's not dead Argus, she has been petrified."

"Ah thought so." Lockhart cut in. "So unlucky I wasn't there. I know exactly the counter-curse that could've spared her." I rolled my eyes and glanced at Snape once again. He had pursed his lips and was clenching his jaw.

"But how she's been petrified I cannot say." The Headmaster continued as if Lockhart had not spoken at all.

"Ask him, it's him that's done it. You saw what he wrote on the wall." Filch was still convinced that this is the boy's doing.

"It's not true Sir, I swear. I never touched Mrs. Norris."

"Rubbish!"

"If I might, Headmaster." Snape cut in. "Perhaps Potter and his friends were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time." The three shared an incredulous look, even as I raised an eyebrow. "However," 'Ah there it is.' "The circumstances are suspicious; I for one don't recall seeing Potter at dinner."

"I'm afraid that's my fault Severus. You see, Harry was helping me answer my fan mail." 'Oh I bet that was fun, you pompous fuck.'

"That's why Ron and I went looking for him, Professor." The girl spoke up. "We'd just found him when he said..." again the three shared a look.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" 'Yes indeed. I suppose you went looking for this troll too, then?'

"When I said I wasn't hungry." 'Sure.' "We were heading back to the common room when we found Mrs. Norris."

"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus."

"My cat has been petrified. I want to see some punishment!" While it was clear to me that they were hiding something, I believed them that they didn't do this. I looked towards Snape, he didn't look so sure.

"We will be able to cure her, Argus. As I understand it, Madame Sprout has a very healthy growth of mandrake." The dumpy lady from Hufflepuff stepped forward with a kind smile and a reassuring nod. "When matured, a potion will be made which will revive Mrs. Norris. And in the meantime...I strongly recommend caution...to all." With that the three students were dismissed and the other teachers dispersed to their relative offices. I looked at Snape.

"Strangely, I believe them."

"You cannot be serious. They are hiding something, I am sure of it."

"And I agree with you. But not this."

XXXXX

After last year I had decided that Quidditch would have to be one of the most boring games ever invented. Second only to cricket. But then I'd never really been one for sitting in the stands watching someone else have fun. And yet there I sat, once again, crammed into the teachers stand with Snape and the Father of one of his students, Malfoy Snr. His response to my introduction was the same as the Gryffindor Know-It-All's. Almost Verbatim actually. I suppressed the urge to first roll my eyes, and then inform him of this irony. I figured that would not be a helpful thing to do, especially with the conversation I had shared with Snape prior to the introduction.

"I will be introducing you to an old friend of mine today, however make no mistake; this man will not be a friend to you."

"Fine, then why are you introducing me to him?"

"Because he is Draco Malfoy's Father, and he is on the Board of Governors for the school. Lucius Malfoy was in the service of the Dark Lord in the first war; however he escaped conviction by pleading that he was held under the imperious curse." 'Because that's someone you want in charge of the welfare of children.'

"And what is the imperious curse?'

"It is one of the three Unforgivable Curses – Imperio is the mind control curse, when it is cast it will give the caster complete control over their victim. The other two are the torture curse, Crucio; and the killing curse, Avada Kedavra."

"Alright and how does one prove they were under imperio."

"It is impossible without veritaserum, the truth potion."

"Sounds like a great cop-out."

"Quite."

As I watched the game play out in front of me, I was bored out of my skull. A fact that was unhelped by my lack of understanding of the game. My boredom was soon replaced with concern and confusion when one of the targeting balls, Bludgers, began to chase exclusively after Potter. I heard a loud voice across the stadium claim that the bludger had been tampered with, a voice that I recognised as the game keeper Hagrid, and as I watched the action it appeared that he was right.

Malfoy and Potter battled for the snitch through the support beams and the seating stands of the stadium. Loud crashes could be heard over the crowd as the bludger trailed along behind Potter, smashing through any obstacles in the way. Out of the ditch sprang Malfoy, tossed off of his broom and landing on the Quidditch Pitch in a heap. I glanced at his father, expecting to see concern and was surprised to see only disappointment. I turned back to the action unfolding in front of the school population.

Potter was leaning forward, grasping for something. Just as his fist was about to close around the snitch, the rogue bludger lined up with his arm and smashed into it just above the wrist. I heard him yell in pain and he clasped the arm to his chest. A classic sign that the arm was broken. With the other arm, he reached for the snitch, and I felt a spark of admiration for his spirit. He gave one last lunge forward and tumbled off the broom, landing in the sand trap on the pitch. The bludger came down from the sky at a dead drop, slamming into the sand where the boy's head had been only a split second before. Once, then again. The next time it came down, it was aiming for his stomach and he shuffled up, the bludger landing between his splayed legs. As it was about to come down a third time, a shrill voice was heard and the bludger erupted into confetti, and settled as dust around Granger, still holding her wand out at the spot in the sky where it had been.

The morning after the game brought with it disturbing news. Professor McGonagall addressed the staff early before breakfast. "I regret to inform you all that one of the Gryffindor first years was petrified last night in the halls of the school. Colin Creevey was found frozen solid in the corridor still holding his camera. We do not know how these attacks are taking place, but I fear for the safety of the students."

"Professor," I asked slowly, the whole room turning their eyes on me. "Is the Chamber of Secrets real? I have heard rumours amongst the student body both in the affirmative and the negative. I would appreciate the issue being straightened out for me."

"Yes it is, Amber." The Headmaster looked at me levelly as he answered for Professor McGonagall. "While the school has been searched many times for the opening to the Chamber of Secrets and nothing has ever been found, it has been opened before. It seems that history is repeating itself."

"And only the heir of Slytherin can open it?"

"That is what the legend says. However the lineage of Salazar Slytherin is no longer known. The heir is, as yet, anonymous."

"I see. Thank you, Headmaster."

XXXXX

"Gather round. Gather round. Can everybody see me? Can you all hear me?" The peacock masquerading as a teacher strutted up and down the table he was using as a stage. "Excellent! In light of the dark events of recent weeks, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little duelling club to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves; as I myself have done on countless occasions. For full details, see my published works." He flashed one of those smiles at the girls in the crowd as he took off his cloak. Swishing it in the air and bundling it up in his arms, he then threw it to a group of older girls who clucked over it and palmed it as if it were precious. I rolled my eyes and huffed as I leant against the wall in the corner of the room.

"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape." The man himself climbed the stairs to the top of the table, clearly he was not willing in his role and I knew he openly detested the man. "He has sportingly agreed to help with a short demonstration." Perhaps he was more willing than he wanted to let on, then. I smirked at that thought; I dearly wanted to see this fop knocked on his arse. "Now I don't want any of you youngsters to worry, you'll still have your Potions Master when I'm through with him. Never fear." 'Actually, I think it's you who should fear, poppet.' I watched as the two men raised their wands in a salute and bowed to each other. They then turned and took ten paces away from the centre of the table.

Lockhart raised his wand to cast a spell, but Snape was quicker. "Expelliamus!" Lockhart was flung back the length of the table, landing flat on his back. The boys in the room laughed and the girls winced and oohed. I smirked as the pompous pansy hauled himself to his feet.

"An excellent idea to show them that Professor Snape, but if you don't mind me saying it was pretty obvious what you were about to do, and if I had've wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy." 'Uhuh, so why didn't you?'

"Perhaps it would be prudent to first teach the students to block unfriendly spells, Professor?"

"An excellent suggestion, Professor Snape. Er, let's have a volunteer pair." 'Because you have no idea what you're doing, do you?' "Potter, Weasley, how about you?"

"Weasley's wand causes devastation with the simplest of spells. We'll be sending Potter to the hospital wing in a matchbox." 'True.' "Might I suggest someone from my own house? Malfoy, perhaps?" He turns and points to the boy, ordering him to take the stage with a jab of his thumb over his shoulder.

Malfoy took the stage, only a minute after Potter. They faced off each other in the centre of the stage. Words were exchanged, but I couldn't hear what was being said. They then saluted each other, bowed and took ten paces each away from the centre. At the ready they stood as Lockhart spoke again.

"On the count of three, cast your charms to disarm your opponent, only to disarm. We don't want any accidents here. One, two.."

"Everte Statum!" Lockhart never made it to three, as Malfoy took a step forward with a half pivot and a thrust of his wand. Potter was thrown back, landing at the feet of Lockhart.

Pulling himself up quickly, he cast his answer at Malfoy. "Rictasempra!" The Slytherin boy was lifted into the air, spinning and landed at the feet of Snape, who hauled him to his feet by the collar and thrust him forward once more.

Lockhart was very quickly losing control of the situation. "I said disarm only!" He yelled over the commotion, just as Malfoy yelled "Serpensortia!"

Potter stepped back and lowered his wand. I stood up straighter, interested to see what he would do.

"Don't move Potter, I'll get rid of it for you." Snape began to move towards the snake, just as Lockhart drew his wand up.

"Allow me, Professor Snape. Alarte Ascendare!" I don't know what he thought that spell would do, but the snake flew into the air, doing a flip and landing back on the table. Not only was the snake not gone, it was now also very angry. Potter's face had a strange expression on it as his mouth opened and he began to make hissing noises.

"Ssssssai a hasssss a sssheeee." Calm down, it's all right. I was astounded to learn that I could hear the words. The snake appeared to ignore him. "Ssssai a husssss e hethhhh" Calm down and you will not be harmed. The snake turned and looked at him briefly, and then turned back to the boy it had been heading for. Potter repeated the sounds, harder this time, and ever so slightly shook his head.

"Vipera evanesce." Snape was staring at Potter as if he had two heads. As were the rest of the people in the hall. I decided not to mention that I too understood the exchange between snake and boy. At least for the time being.

"What are you playing at?" Came the shaky question from the Hufflepuff boy the snake had been heading for. The next night that boy was found petrified in the hall, along with one of the Ghosts. On learning this, I closed my eyes and wondered if I had been wrong about the Potter boy.

XXXXX

"Bloody Fucking Hell!" Came the curse from the potions cupboard, followed closely by a string of profanity and death threats to an as yet unnamed victim. 'Again?' I approached the open door of the closet and stood back a relatively safe distance.

"You know," I started and my words were echoed by an almighty bang and shout of pain as Snape jerked up and hit his head on the shelf above. I hid my smirk as I continued "If a student heard you, your language just might corrupt their innocent mind."

Snape pulled his head out from between the shelves and glared at me down the ladder. "What are you doing sneaking around in my office?" He glided back down the ladder and was barely two inches from my face by the time he was finished speaking.

"Firstly, I was looking for you. Secondly, if I was sneaking," I made a show of looking him up and down and then raised an eyebrow. "It can only be because I learned from the best."

"Flattery will do you no good." He quirked an eyebrow at me.

"Have no fear, Professor. I never said I learned from you." I smirked as he narrowed his eyes at me. A ghost of a smirk graced his own lips.

"What were you needing?"

"I have a message from the school nurse; one of the Gryffindor students has had a bit of a mishap. She's now lying in the hospital wing, part girl part cat." I watched as he rolled his eyes.

"And I suppose I am the one that must clean up the girl's mess."

"Something to that effect, although I think Madame Pomfrey may have been more diplomatic about it. May I ask what had you rehearsing the finer points of the English language just a minute ago?"

"My storeroom has been broken into." I turned my face to him sharply.

"Anything taken?"

"A few ingredients; Lacewing flies, boomslang skin and the like."

"And what do they do?"

"They are potions ingredients, and together they are indicative of polyjuice potion. The potion used to disguise oneself as another."

We walked the rest of the way to the hospital wing in silence. On reaching the doors to the infirmary, Snape grasped the handle and opened it, indicating that I should go through. He followed me through the door and closed it behind him.

"Ah Severus, thank Merlin you came. The girl is in quite a state." The woman bustled him over to one of the cots against the wall. As she drew back the curtain the girl dove under the sheet, but not fast enough for myself or Snape to miss the feline features and fur where there should have been a human face.

"Well, well, well. Miss Granger." I could hear the smirk in his voice as I suppressed my own. "What have you done to yourself?" No answer. "What's this? No hand shooting up, desperate to answer the question? How unlike you, Miss Granger." The body under the sheet visibly cringed. "Perhaps you are not the Know-It-All we all think you are. Perhaps if you were you would know that you may only transform within your own species when under the polyjuice potion." The sheet ripped down and the girl looked up as if struck. "Oh yes, I know how you have come to be in your current state. I know it was you, or your imbecilic friends who broke into my storeroom, and I know what it was that you did with your ill gotten gains. What I do not know is why?"

"I...I was...I was simply curious. I'd read about the potion and I wanted to try it for myself."

"Wrong answer." I said simply. I crossed to the wash basin in the corner of the room and dipped my fingers into the pool. From the water I learned the true reason for the girl's current state and what they were trying to find out. I turned back to the girl on the cot. She was watching me, the expression on her face the epitome of trepidation. Snape was watching me very closely with interest. "You are looking for the heir."

Snape's head swung around so fast that his hair fanned out around his head. "And just what did you require polyjuice potion for then?" The girl went grey.

"We...er, I mean I..."

"No, you said we." I cut her off. "The two boys as well, then?"

"Yes," she looked down at the sheet covering her. "We thought that Malfoy might know who the heir is, even if it wasn't him."

"Silly little girl." Snape spat. "You steal my supplies, brew a potion so complicated that most NEWT level wizards wouldn't attempt it and infiltrate the Slytherin common room all to question an ignorant boy too wrapped up in his own self importance to have any idea of the nature of the situation? For a girl who is touted as the brightest witch of her age, your stupidity at times astounds me. There is nothing that can be done to right this other than wait for the effects to wear off in time." And with that he swept out of the hospital wing.

I watched him go before I turned back to the girl on the cot. "Not a bad plan though, and given the fact that the boys aren't in here with you, I'd say not a bad effort at brewing either." She brightened up a bit at that. "However, your plan was doomed from the start. It seems that none of the teachers know who is behind these attacks. If, by chance, you do find out something, please keep me up to date; my offer from last year still stands, I am here to assist any way I can." She nodded, and I turned to follow Snape out the door.

XXXXX

Months went by and there were no more incidents in the school. I continued to observe the people around me. At least no more incidents that reached my ears. For a while there it seemed as if the danger had passed. I continued to observe the students and the teachers. Lockhart would occasionally send one of his blinding grins in my direction, but with a narrow of my eyes and a sneer I deflected any further attempt at flirtation.

The end of the school year was in sight and it appeared that we just might escape without further incident. Unfortunately this was not the case. One evening in May the school received a visit from both Lucius Malfoy and the Minister for Magic on the same night. The Minister of Magic had arrived to arrest Hagrid for the opening of the Chamber of secrets, as he had been blamed for it in the past. Malfoy, on the other hand, had come to remove Dumbledore of the position of Headmaster due to his inability to stop the attacks on the students. When the news of this had reached my ears, I went straight to Snape.

"Have you heard?" I asked as soon as he opened the door.

"Yes, Lucius proudly came and informed me immediately." He said once he had closed the door behind me.

"What do you propose we do now?"

"All we can do is observe and hope to put a stop to this as soon as possible. Before any more damage is done." The loss of the Headmaster, coupled with the petrifaction of two more students, one of them being the girl Granger had both the Staff and the Student population on edge from then on. It took less than three weeks for the situation to come to a head when an announcement echoed through the halls of the school.

"All students are to return to their house dormitories at once. All teachers to the second floor corridor immediately."

Snape did not spare me a glance as he ran through the castle to the second floor corridor, myself hot on his heels. The rest of the staff joined us at the stairs as we took them two at a time. Ahead we could see Professor McGonagall standing in the corridor, staring at the wall. Snape and I doubled our pace and came sliding to a halt at the writing on the wall.

her skeleton will lie in the chamber forever

"As you can see the Heir of Slytherin has left another message." Despite the set of her jaw and the backbone made of iron, I could see the fear in the woman's eyes. "Our worst fear has been realised. A student has been taken, by the monster, into the chamber itself. The students must be sent home. I'm afraid this is the end of Hogwarts."

Lockhart chose that moment to come swaggering around the corner, in no hurry at all. "So sorry, dozed off. What have I missed?" I clamped my lips together.

"A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Your moment has come at last." Snape said.

"My mo...moment?" The idiot stammered out. In an effort not to hit him I ran my right hand up and down the left side of my face and in doing so I caught sight of two students standing just around the corner. Potter and Weasley. They saw me and I saw them, but I elected not to alert the rest of the teachers.

I heard Snape continue, unaware that we were being watched. "Weren't you saying just last night that you've known all along where the entrance to the chamber of secrets is?"

"That's settled. Well leave you to deal with the monster, Gildroy. Your skills, after all, are legend."

"Very well, I'll just be in my office getting erm, getting ready." And with that he turned back towards the direction he had come from. I glanced at the boys hiding behind the corner, catching the eye of Potter.

"Who is it that the monster's taken, Minerva?" I heard the school nurse ask.

"Ginny Weasley." The worry in her voice was evident. I glanced back at the boys, catching Potter's eye again. With a quick nod of my head I indicated that the boys should follow Lockhart until I could get there myself. I saw them take off in the other direction.

"Come with me Amber, we need to lock down the Slytherins."

"Do you think we will be missing one?" I asked as we walked back to the dungeons.

"I don't know, but we still need to check."

By the time we had done a head count of the Slytherin students and I had found my way back to Lockhart's office, both he and the two boys were gone. I was standing in the hall when I heard Peeves come around the corner, singing something about Potty Potter.

"Peeves," I called out to the mischievous ghost. "Tell me where Potty is."

"Potty Potter's in the Ladies Lav
Staring down the sink.
Dropping poor old Gildypoo
Down into the Stink"

That was all I needed to know, I ran back down to the corridor to the second floor girl's bathroom just in time to see Potter jump down the hole in the floor. The opening to the Chamber of Secrets. Before I had a chance to join the boys, the opening had closed again over them. With no other option, I left the bathroom and made my way back to the Headmaster's Office. Climbing the stairs I informed Professor McGonagall of the scene I had just witnessed.

"What do you mean; Mr Potter and Mr Weasley are now in the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Yes, Peeves told me where they were, in his own way. I arrived just in time to see Potter jump down the entrance and the gate close again."

"Well, all we can do now is wait." She had barely finished speaking, when Fawkes lifted his head and took flight from his perch. Snatching the sorting hat on the way, he then flew out the window of the office and into the night. McGonagall and I both ran to the window and watched him fly over the grounds before banking to the right and diving into the darkness.

"I wonder where he's going?" I wondered out loud.

"I don't know."

XXXXX

A twelve year old boy killed a 60 foot long snake. With a sword he pulled from a hat. All of the trouble this year was caused by the girl in the chamber, who was being controlled by a diary. A diary that held the memory of Voldemort inside it like a poltergeist. Using this diary, she opened the chamber of secrets, setting the monster at the bottom of the chamber on the Muggle-born students in the school. I heard later from Snape that the diary was planted on the girl by Lucius Malfoy. His reasoning was to use the events that would follow to discredit the girl's father, have Dumbledore removed from office and rid himself of a dark item all at the same time. His plan was thwarted by a twelve year old boy. Within days, all of the students who had fallen victim of the monster were returned to their previous state and the Headmaster had returned to his rightful position. To celebrate this, a feast was held in the Great Hall and it was here that the student body and the staff were gathered. The doors to the hall opened again and Granger ran towards her friends. She threw her arms around Potter, the scene interrupted by a clinking sound as Professor McGonagall called for the attention of the room.

"Before we begin the feast let us have a round of applause for Professor Sprout and Madame Pomphrey whose mandrake juice has been so successfully administered to all who had been petrified." The Headmaster announced to the students. Applause broke out across the hall. "Also in light of the recent events, as a school treat all exams have been cancelled." More applause, this time with a few cheers around the room. The doors were then thrust open again and Hagrid came striding down the centre aisle.

"Sorry I'm late. The owl that delivered my release papers got all lost and confused. Some ruddy bird called Errol." He stopped in front of Potter and his friends. I couldn't hear what was said, but the boy then stood and embraced the half-giant. More applause broke out across the room, and soon the teachers all stood, clapping as well. I stood along with them, applauding the deeds done to put this year to rights once more.

XXXXX

1993/1994 School Year

The kettle clicked off just as I heard a fist bashing on my front door. I knew no one in London, and as such never received any visitors. I was shocked to open the door and find none other than Professor Snape on the other side of it. With no introduction whatsoever, he barged into my flat and shut the door.

"Do come in." I said with a raised eyebrow.

He narrowed his eyes at me, but did not reply to my comment. "We are to leave for Hogwarts as soon as possible. How soon before you are ready to depart?"

"I can be ready in five minutes."

"We shall leave then."

"Would you mind explaining to me the problem while I pack?" I said as I moved to my bedroom.

"Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban," He said as he followed me down the hall. "He is the traitor who led the Dark Lord to the Potters, allowing them to be murdered and the Boy orphaned."

"I see, and now that he's escaped you think he'll come after the boy?"

"Possibly, but he was always unpredictable and it's likely that Azkaban has only made him more so."

I simply nodded as I placed the last item in my bag and indicated that I was ready to go.

The walk from Hogsmeade was brisk, and being a little shorter than Snape I had to hurry to keep up with his long stride. We arrived at the castle and made our way to the Headmaster's office.

"Welcome Severus, Amber, I am pleased you could make it at such short notice."

"Greetings, Headmaster." Said Snape, and I inclined my head in greeting as well.

"I wanted to speak with the two of you privately before the remainder of the staff arrived for the year. Amber, I'm sure you have been informed of the situation with Sirius Black by Severus; however I wanted to explain the circumstances further. You see, Sirius Black was entrusted with the whereabouts of Harry's parents after the threat to them became known. We knew that Voldemort had a spy amongst our ranks, but we knew not who it was. Unfortunately it seems that Sirius was that spy, he divulged the location of Harry's parents to Voldemort, resulting in their murders by his hand. Peter Pettigrew went after Sirius with the intention of apprehending him, only to find himself destroyed along with twelve bystanders. All that was left of Peter was a finger. Sirius Black was arrested and incarcerated in Azkaban without trial, still screaming."

"I see, and the Boy was delivered..."

"To his mother's family by Hagrid and Myself. Also Severus, I thought perhaps you should be aware that I am appointing Remus Lupin to the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor." I saw Snape stiffen in the chair beside me.

"Headmaster, are you sure that is wise? Not only was he friends with Black in school but..."

"I am aware of the implications of the appointment Severus, and that is why I am asking for your help this year. Will you do this for me?"

"I..." he stopped and pursed his lips into a hard line at the look on the Headmaster's face. "Yes, Headmaster."

"Thank you Severus, now come. I would like to greet the rest of the Staff and tell them the happy news."

"Happy news indeed..." I heard him grumble under his breath.

As we entered the Great Hall, the Headmaster approached Snape and I, with another man in tow. He was pale and tired looking with two scars running diagonally down his face from the left to the right. He appeared to be a little unsure of himself as he approached us.

"Amber, I would like to introduce you to the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor and former student of mine, Remus Lupin. Remus, this is Amber Del Aqua our Teachers Aide."

"Hello there, Miss Del Aqua." He held his hand out to me, and I recoiled, memories of last year's introduction resurfacing. My eyes flicked from his hand to Snape and then to the Headmaster. Out of the corner of my eye I saw his hand drop ever so slightly.

"It's alright Amber, he's not Lockhart." I looked back at Lupin and he had averted his eyes away from me. I reached out slowly and took his hand, shaking it once.

"Pleased to meet you, Professor." I said quietly, and moved to my seat with Snape. I looked back to see the Headmaster say something quietly to Lupin, and his head snapped around to look at me. I quickly looked away and took my seat to the left of Snape. The rest of the staff sat at the table as the students filed into the hall. Once all students were sorted and seated, the choir began.

Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble, Double
Double, double, toil and trouble
Something wicked this way comes.

Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing.

Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble, Double
Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble

Something wicked this way comes!

As the Choir moved from the front of the room, the headmaster took to the lectern. "Welcome. Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Now I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. Firstly I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who has kindly consented to filling the post of Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, Professor." Lupin stood from his place beside me to bow graciously at the announcement. There was a smattering of applause throughout the hall, possibly the least enthusiastic coming from Snape on the other side of me. The Headmaster continued once the noise had died down. "I have also to announce that professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures professor for many years, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I am delighted to announce his place will be taken by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid." More applause and a few spots of cheering broke out across the hall. At the other end of the table Hagrid stood, accidentally knocking the entire table forward by about a foot.

The Headmaster waited for the noise in the hall to cease before continuing in a darker voice. "Finally, on a more disquieting note; at the request of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban. Until such a time as Sirius Black is captured, the dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now, whilst I have been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day to day activities, a word of caution; Dementors are vicious creatures, they will not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one that gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you; it is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times. If one only remembers to turn on the light." As he finished, I placed my index finger on my lips and felt my eyes drift to my plate, lost in thought.

"Of all the bloody stupid appointments to make this year, especially in light of the circumstances." Snape grumbled as we headed down the stairs toward the dungeons.

"I assume you are talking about Lupin?"

"The bloody Marauders were the bane of my existence during my school years and now I have to put up with one of them in my teaching years as well."

"What's the story with him? I saw the Headmaster say something to him as we walked toward the table and he nearly spun his head off of his shoulders turning to look at me."

"I'm assuming the Headmaster has seen fit to tell him your true role here. This year you will observe very closely the comings and goings of Lupin. As I mentioned to the Headmaster, he was once a friend to Black, and in school he turned a blind eye to the misdeeds of his friends, regardless of the severity of their actions. I want to know what he is up to, every minute of every day. I want him out of this school, and I am relying on you to find something I can use."

"Why? He seems...harmless. Do you think he will aid Black, regardless of his betrayal?"

"That's what I want you to find out."

XXXXX

I spent the first month of the year in the shadows watching Lupin. For the most part he seemed to be very dedicated to his work, and the comments I was hearing from around the school were that the students liked him and many of them thought he was the best DADA Professor they had had for a long time. Then about a month after the beginning of term, I was informed that Professor Snape was to take over his classes for a few days, as he was unwell. At first I thought nothing of it, until I saw him leave the castle during the time he was supposed to be unwell.

"Good Evening Professor, are you feeling better?" He spun on his heel, surprised at my voice behind him.

"Oh, er, good evening Miss Del Aqua. No, not really, I was just going out to get some fresh air." He appeared to me to be a little edgy.

"If you are not well, then the night air will only make you worse, not better. You should be in bed, not wandering the grounds." I eyed him as I spoke, and he appeared to fidget just a little more the longer I detained him.

"I assure you, I will be fine if I can just get some fresh air." He glanced nervously over his shoulder at the sky and started ever so slightly. Not so slightly for me to miss it though. "Now I really must be off, thank you for your concern." And with that he took off across the grounds. I stepped around the pillar and watched as he disappeared behind the Whomping Willow, just as the moon began to peak out from behind the clouds. Interesting. I turned back to the castle and headed inside, closing the door as the first howl echoed out over the night.

He was missing from classes for two days after that night, but I would see him walking around the corridors in the evening when everyone else was in the Great Hall, leaning heavily on a cane. In this time, he looked even paler than he had the first night I had met him and there were dark circles under his eyes. The evening after I had confronted him I saw him hobbling through the corridor when he stumbled and fell. I walked over to him as he struggled to get off the floor and held my hand out to him. Taking it, I hauled him to his feet and placed his arm over my shoulders, helping him back to his rooms. He spoke the password to his chambers and I helped him through the door, depositing him on the couch.

"Thank you," He said, not looking at me.

"Is there anything else I can do before I go?"

"No, thank you. You've done more than enough as it is. Thank you once again." I nodded and left the room, closing the door.

On the morning of his return to teaching, he sought me out to sit with him for breakfast. With a quick glance at Snape, who jerked his head indicating I should go, I followed him to a seat at the Head Table.

"Thank you once again for your help the other night."

"It was nothing."

"Not to me it wasn't." I glanced at him. "We live in a world, Miss Del Aqua, where some people are unwilling to help others. So it is always refreshing to meet someone who is willing to lend a hand wherever possible."

I looked away from him. "It's what I'm here for, so you can consider it my job."

His scrutiny of me was cut off by the arrival of the morning post. Picking up the news paper that was deposited in front of him, I heard him unfurl it and then choke. I looked at him quickly, to see his face drain of colour staring at the front page. I leaned in closer to see the title of the main report: 'Sirius Black Sighted!'. I glanced back at Lupins face to see his mouth set in a hard line as he read. The picture on the front page was one of a mad man. Screaming maniacally at the camera while being held back by at least two people, with another holding a prisoner number under his face.

"Professor Snape tells me he was once your friend?"

"Yes, and so were the people he murdered."

"Do you think he will come here?"

"It seems he's headed this way, I hope he does come here." I looked at him surprised.

"Why?"

"So I can kill him." And with that he stood and left the table.

XXXXX

"I KNEW IT WOULD ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN. BLOODY FUCKING MARAUDERS." I watched as Snape picked up a jar of something and hurled it at the wall, shattering as it hit and knocking several shelves and books down into the mess created.

"Something like what?"

"BLOODY FUCKING BOGGART," He roared, hurling another jar. "IN A BLOODY FUCKING DRESS." Another jar shattered against the wall. "LAUGHING STOCK OF THE BLOODY FUCKING SCHOOL" Another jar. I reached out and placed my hand on his arm before he had a chance to throw it.

"Are you done destroying your potions supplies, and your books I might add?" He shook my hand off his arm.

"He has made a fool of me." He hissed darkly.

"And you are doing a smashing job of proving him right." Pun intended. He stopped, but I could see he was still fuming. "Pull yourself together, Professor. You are not a teenager anymore, act like the man you are." I turned and left the room, leaving him to think about that.

Remus Lupin was not the marauder he should have been concerned with. It was only two days after the incident with the boggart that Snape and I were informed Black had infiltrated the castle. We were asked to do a sweep of the castle. As Snape searched the dungeons, I patrolled the first and second floor. I found nothing and reported this back to Snape. As he left for the Great hall to report back to the Headmaster, I thought it wise to drop in on Lupin, as he was once again unwell. I was beginning to notice that his illnesses were always at a certain time of the month. I knocked on his door.

"Enter." Came the muffled reply. I opened the door and walked into the room. He was propped up on the couch, looking very tired and pale. "Oh hello, Miss Del Aqua. What can I do for you?"

"I thought it might be wise to inform you, Professor, that Sirius Black has been spotted inside the castle."

"Yes I know, the Headmaster informed me of that just a few hours ago. He was going to have the castle searched for any trace of him."

"It seems that he has moved on, but I still wanted you to be aware. Are you recovering well then?"

"Oh, yes. I simply need to rest for the time being."

"Very well. If I find out any more, I will keep you informed."

"Thank you." I left the room for the Great hall to help watch the students.

XXXXX

The weather turned cold as the snow began to fall. Christmas was only a week away and the majority of the students had left for the holidays. I was walking through the grounds watching as the snow fell, when I heard footsteps crunching behind me. I turned to see Lupin approaching me.

"Good Morning Professor."

"Good Morning Miss Del Aqua, how are you today?"

"Fine, you?"

"Oh, I'm feeling much better, I was wondering if you would join me for a drink in my office?" I stopped. "Just a drink, I thought it might be nice to get to know each other." He smiled a small, kind smile. I took a long slow breath.

"Just a drink. Alright." I followed him back into the castle to his office.

"What can I get you?" he asked as he indicated for me to take a seat.

I wanted to know his intentions. "Just water please." Knowing that the water would tell me if there was anything I needed to know. He conjured a glass and filled it, and then a tea cup for himself. I lifted the glass to my lips, eyeing him and as the water made contact with my skin I felt the word 'Werewolf' flick through my mind. Now the illnesses made sense. I took another sip and the word 'friendship' entered my consciousness. Relief that he was not a danger flooded me, and I realised that he had started talking.

"...the snow. What do you think?"

"I'm sorry?" He smiled.

"I said I've always loved the snow, do you?"

"I suppose, it's not like my homeland. Christmas is always hot, so it's a nice change."

"Where are you from originally?"

"Australia, but my career took me all over the world. My favourite places are Africa, Antarctica and South America."

"What was your career?"

"I was an environmental scientist."

"Interesting, what was it about those places that you loved so much?"

"The shape of the land, the colours and the animals. Africa has some of the most majestic animals; elephants, lions and giraffes."

"I have always wanted to see a lion in real life. Not one of those ones in a zoo, mind, but one in the wild. And it has nothing to do with the lion being my house mascot, I simply admire them." He turned and looked directly at me, and as he spoke again his brow furrowed. "Miss Del Aqua, when I was in school I was a bit of a book worm. Still am, really. But I am well aware of the necessary steps for a person to become an elemental."

"How did..."

"The Headmaster informed me. I know that you have suffered some kind of trauma and he had been hoping that you would heal on your own with space and time. But he is very concerned that you seem to be still very withdrawn. I realise that you may not be ready right now, but I want you to know that if you wish to talk, I have been told that I am a very good listener." I turned away from him, looking at the floor. The sound came of a chair scraping across the floor, and then I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Miss Del Aqua, I'm sorry if I have moved too fast, but I thought it important to say something while there were less students clamouring for my time." I looked up at him, and again I heard the word friendship. Maybe it was time to talk.

"Not...not right now. Can I come to you tonight?"

"Of course, come to my sitting room after dinner. I believe that will be more comfortable than across a desk." He smiled down at me, and I nodded, looking away.

"Tonight."

The few hours to dinner seemed to take forever, and then suddenly dinner was over and I was heading for Professor Lupin's chambers on the third floor, just behind the DADA classroom. I knocked on the door and it swung open.

"Hello Miss Del Aqua. Are you ready?" He smiled at me kindly as he stepped back and guided me to the sitting room.

I nodded shakily. "Yes, and my name is Amber."

"Very Well Amber, then please call me Remus." I nodded, biting my bottom lip.

"I don't know where to start."

"Tell me about your life before you came here." He said as he sat beside me.

"I was a scientist; I worked all over the world. I worked in some of the most beautiful places you can imagine. I met my husband through my work, and he was a wonderful man. Very soon we grew close, and eventually we got married. Within a few months of being married I was pregnant with our first child. We ended up having two beautiful girls, and we planned to take them with us around the world as we worked. We both believed in being educated by experience. The both of us had never travelled before our work, and neither of us wanted the kids to grow up like that. So when the time came we were going to home school them on the road. We knew that it might be lonely for them, but we had hoped that they would learn to make friends quickly to make up for it."

"You were married once and you had children, where are they now?" I felt my face crumple and tears sting my eyes. I buried my face in my hands, and I felt his arm come around my shoulders.

"They're gone, all of them. They were killed by militia in Somalia. I still don't know why. We were dragged from our car at a checkpoint. Nick was pleading with them, that we were not connected with the government but they wouldn't listen. They forced him to his knees, his hands bound behind his back, and then they pulled out a machete. I screamed at them to stop, but they smiled at me as they brought it on his neck. They beheaded him, right in front of me and the girls." I sobbed into my hands, and I felt his arm on my shoulders tighten. "They tossed his body to the side and then rounded on my girls, I screamed at them again to leave them alone. Greta, my youngest; she was only four years old and she was screaming for me as they dragged her and her older sister Ivy into the guard house. I tried to go after them, but I was hit from behind and knocked unconscious. I woke up, I don't know how long afterwards, to find what they'd done to my girls...what they'd done to me. I saw my daughters lying in their own blood, their little bodies battered, bruised and torn. After they'd finished with them, they'd shot them both once in the head." I burst into a fresh set of tears and he pulled me into his arms rocking me gently. He tucked my head under his chin and I fisted his cardigan in my hands as I sobbed into his neck. I cried for what felt like hours while he rubbed my back. The tears came and with each hacking sob, with each river flowing down my face, I felt my life begin again. The pain of losing my family, my husband, my girls would always be there, but I was no longer swallowed by it. I let go of his cardigan and moved my arms around his torso, gradually my tears and sobs began to slow. He stroked my hair as my breathing returned to normal.

"I'm sorry Amber, I truly am. When did you become the elemental?"

"It felt like a dream, what had happened, and I asked the nurse in the hospital where my family was. I was told later that as she relayed what had happened, the memories came back and I slipped into a state of catatonia. They say I was unresponsive for three weeks, and then it felt like I was unfrozen. I saw a purple light and I heard...I don't know. It felt like someone was speaking but I couldn't understand what was happening. When I regained consciousness, there was a letter waiting for me, directing me to London and that's how I ended up here." I looked up at him as I finished my story.

"May I ask one more question?" I nodded. "Would you tell me your name?" I blinked at him.

"The Headmaster said that it was not important."

"It is for me, I want to know who my friend is. If you like it can be something we keep between us?" again I nodded, and then I smiled at being referred to as friend.

"My name is Ashlee, Ashlee Foster. That is my married name. My maiden name was Towery."

"Would you like me to keep calling you Amber?"

"Only in public, you can call me Ashe when it's just us if you like."

"Alright, then Ashe," I heard the smile in his voice as he pressed his lips to my forehead. "How do you feel now?"

"A little sad, but like a great weight has been lifted off of me." I looked up at him, just as he looked down. Lifting my hand to his cheek, I pulled his face down for a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Remus."

"Happy to help." He said as he kissed my forehead again.

"Remus," I began gently, the bond between us still only very fresh and fragile. "Tell me about your illnesses." I felt him stiffen under me briefly, so I continued in my explanation. "I know that you are a werewolf." He pushed me back to look into my eyes.

"How did you find out?" His expression was closed, and I thought for a moment that I had destroyed the trust we'd only just developed.

"The Water told me; I'm a water elemental and I didn't know what your intentions were today when you approached me, so when I took water it told me about you and that your intentions were honourable." I touched his cheek again and he shrunk back, almost like he expected me to strike him. "I won't hurt you, I promise."He relaxed and hung his head.

"I was bitten when I was four years old, by a wolf called Fenrir Greyback. It was in retaliation for something my father said about him. To teach him a lesson. My parents tried so hard to find a cure, but unfortunately the condition is incurable. When it came time for me to attend school, they were reluctant to send me, as they were concerned that I would harm the other students. Professor Dumbledore assured them that this would not prevent me from gaining an education. I owe so very much to him. I soon became friends with James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. They became animagi to keep me company during the full moons, as a werewolf will only seek human victims. Through them, for the first time in my life, I was accepted unconditionally. You don't understand what it is like for my species, we aren't allowed to work, we are spat on and shunned in the street. I have grown used to it again, but I do miss my friends." He had looked away towards the floor as he finished.

I turned his face towards me and kissed his cheek again. "Why do you say 'species' Remus? You look human enough to me."

He gave me a watery smile. "You haven't seen me on the full moon. James called it my 'furry little problem'; most of my classmates were under the impression that I had a badly behaved rabbit." At that I threw my head back and let go of the first laugh to pass my lips in a very long time, and he chuckled beside me. "It's good to hear you laugh, I'd like to hear it more." I smiled at him and wrapped my arms around his neck, tucking my head under his chin again.

XXXXX