Disclaimer: Guys, guys! If the Death Eaters ask, I was with you guys the entire time, okay? Phew...Oh, and I don't own Harry Potter, by the way...

Hogwarts for Levina had become not a home, but a prison no better than Azkaban. Hagrid, who she had run into before Care for Magical Creatures, told her that he was on probation by Umbridge, who would monitor all his classes. Levina couldn't visit Hagrid, write to Destiny, Lupin, and Sirius, had no Firebolt, and couldn't play Quidditch any longer.

The only thing that brightened her week were the D.A. lessons. After word had gotten out of the escape of ten Death Eaters from Azkaban, Neville had been on edge during the meetings. He worked harder than anyone else and hardly spoke to anyone, as though determined to learn every defensive spell he could to stop Bellatrix Lestrange, who was among the ones that escaped. Levina often wondered if the news had reached Destiny.

But the worst part of Levina's week was Occlumency. If anything, her attempts of keeping Snape out of her mind had gotten worse, and he'd seen more bad childhood memories than Levina cared for him to know about. The pain seemed to be getting worse every time she relived her father's torture; Levina wondered if the lessons with Snape were making things even worse for her.

One night, Hermione even caught Levina sitting upright in her bed at four in the morning. "Levina? What are you doing up?" she asked groggily.

"The Occlumency lessons are making my dreams more violent than before," said Levina, trembling slightly. "I'm afraid to go to sleep..."

Only Harry seemed to understand what Levina was going through every day; he shared in her pain and agreed that, if anything, the lessons were worsening his dreams.

"You two are just going to have to work a bit harder," said Hermione, who didn't seem to understand in the least.

"We are!" said Levina angrily. "If I worked any harder, the visions would kill me!:

"Yeah," said Harry, nettled, "you tru it sometime, Snape trying to get inside your head, it's not a bundle of laughs, you know!"

"I wish Dumbledore could teach us," said Levina. "It would be a lot easier and less uncomfortable."

"And we could control our anger," Harry added bitterly. "Snape gets me frustrated every time and I can't concentrate..."

Between shocking amounts of homework, D.A. meetings, and regular lessons with Snape, January passed by as quick as it had come. February replaced it without hesitation, and on the morning of the fourteenth, Levina awoke to the startling realization that it was Valentine's Day.

Levina could hardly control her emotions as she dug through her suitcase. What was she supposed to wear? She'd never been on an actual date before; was she supposed to dress casual or fancy? She threw on a silver sweater she particularly liked, curled her brown hair slightly into loose waves, and tugged the dragon bracelet Destiny had given her onto her arm.

She examined herself in the mirror, hoping she looked decent enough. Just as she had turned to go down to the common room, Hermione stopped her at the top of the stairs, holding a brown letter in her hands.

"Hi," she said quickly. "Are you going down to the Great Hall? If you have any time before breakfast, I'm going to the owl post, so-"

"Er, I can't," said Levina, stepping past her in a haste to get downstairs.

"Why not?" said Hermione, frowning. Then a look of understanding crossed her face. "It's Valentine's Day."

"Is it?" said Levina in a bad attempt to sound thoughtful.

"Levina, you don't need to fake anything with me," said Hermione, her mouth curving into a small smile. "You can tell me."

"All right, all right," said Levina, sighing. "Only if you'll leave me alone, then...I'm going to Hogsmeade with Fred."

"On a date?"

"...Yes."

"That's wonderful!" said Hermione cheerfully. "You'll have to tell me all about it. But listen, meet me in the Three Broomsticks later then, all right? I have something really important I need to tell you."

"I'll see if I have the time," said Levina, "but what do you need me f-?"

"I'll tell you later!" said Hermione brightly. "You look great, by the way. Enjoy your date!"

Levina met up with Fred at the gates to Hogsmeade once she had been allowed in by Filch. She found him standing near the entrance, wearing a casual outfit, looking around for her. When he caught her eye, he waved and beckoned her over to him.

"Hi," she said breathlessly.

"Hey," said Fred, grinning. "You look...really nice."

"Thanks," said Levina awkwardly. She was all too aware of her face going red, but she took a deep breath. "So...shall we?"

They headed down the street towards the various buildings, discussing their hatred towards Umbridge as they walked. Levina was glad that she was able to talk to Fred easily, as though she were on the Quidditch pitch. However, a large gang of Slytherins passed by them, one of which was Pansy Parkinson, who shrieked with glee at the sight of them.

"Weasel and Weed!" she screeched as the Slytherins behind her giggled snidely. "Ugh, I'd seriously re-consider your taste in girls, Weasel! At least find someone good-looking!"

Levina turned, wand out, to hex her, but Fred sped her up and away from them towards Dervish and Banges. They wandered past the windows, where pictures of the Death Eaters hung with rewards at the bottoms of them for thousands of Galleons. Levina thought back to when Sirius had been on the loose, and how there had been dozens of dementors searching. Now, there were ten death eaters escape, yet the only acknowledgement of it were signs.

They went into Honeydukes to check out the newer sweets in stock, and Fred bought Levina a large container of coconut ice, which they nibbled on outside while watching several first-years having a fake duel with each other, using made up spells. They walked around Hogsmeade, discussing the latest D.A. spells and their progress until there wasn't anything more to pursue on the subject.

"So, where do you want to go now?" said Levina, pulling her scarf more tightly around her neck. "Zonko's? I heard they got a new shipment of Fizzing Whizbees-"

"Nah, I was thinking we could go somewhere different for a change," said Fred. "Want to get a coffee?"

"Oh, all right," said Levina. "Um, would that be in the Three Broomsticks or-?"

"Lee Jordan says there's a shop up here called Madam Puddifoot's," said Fred. "I've never personally been there, but he says he's gone there on dates before-"

"That's fine," said Levina, still smiling like an idiot as she followed him up the street.

He led her up a side road towards a tea shop Levina had never noticed before. When they entered it, Levina regretted their decision instantly:

The inside was a cramped, steamy little shop with pink frills and bows everywhere. There were a number of golden cherubs hovering over the tables, throwing pink confetti over the small, round tables.

Fred muttered something incoherent under his breath that had the words "Kill" and "Lee" in it. He glanced down at her. "Is this fine?" he asked uncertaintly.

"Sure," said Levina. They found one of the two remaining tables near a steamy window and sat down across from each other. Roger Davies, the Quidditch Captain for the Ravenclaw team, was situated about a foot and a half away with a pretty blonde girl, and they were holding hands. The entire tea shop, Levina noted, was full of nothing but couples, all of whom were holding hands.

"Two coffees, please," said Fred to Madam Puddifoot, a very stout woman with shiny black hair pulled back in a bun.

Levina looked uncomfortably down at her hands, wondering if she was supposed to be holding Fred's. As they waited for their coffee, Levina absentmindedly reached out across the table for the sugar bowl and, to her surprise, Fred instantly reached out his own hand towards it and seized hers.

A dark red hue crossed Levina's face as his hand touched hers. It was very awkward, sitting with one hand on the table being held in Fred's. As though thinking the same thing, Fred brought up his other hand and took her other into it.

"S-so," said Levina, trying to act as though her hands were not being held captive on the table, "how have you been?"

Fred laughed. "Levina, you don't need to act casual. We are on a date, you know."

"Right," said Levina, feeling as though someone had hit her with a Bludger. What was she supposed to say? What did couples talk about on dates?

"Y'know, you don't know how cute you look when you're awkward," said Fred, looking incredibly amused.

Levina managed a very nervous smile. Was she supposed to say thanks? Or say something about him? "Uh...and you don't know how cute you look when...when..." she trailed off, unable to think of anything.

Thankfully, their coffees arrived before Fred could say anything, and she removed her right hand from his grip so she could grab the cup. She sipped it rather hurriedly, earning a painful burning sensation on her tongue.

"Hello, m'dears," said Madam Puddifoot as the door behind Levina opened and another couple walked in. Pretending to be interested in them, Levina looked over her shoulder to find, to her horror, that they were none other than Cho and Harry.

"Cute, isn't it?" said Cho happily.

"Er...yeah," said Harry, looking as though he thought quite the contrary.

Levina wondered if she should greet them, but she decided against it and grabbed her coffee back up, taking a large gulp of it. Harry and Cho sat down directly to the right of their table.

When Levina had re-placed her coffee on the table, Fred took them again. He accidently brushed her dragon bracelet, which Levina immediately used for conversation.

"Do you like it?" she asked. "Destiny gave that to me for Christmas last year, she knows how much I like drag-"

"Levina?"

Cho had spotted them. Next to her, Harry's expression reflected exactly the way Levina currently felt.

"Oh, hi!" said Levina in a very fakely surprised voice. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Same as you, we're getting some coffee," said Cho pleasantly. "How are you?"

"Great," said Levina in a strained voice. "Hi, Harry."

"Hey," said Harry, who looked mortified. Levina became all too aware of Fred's hands on her own and wondered if it was making Harry awkward.

"Er...should we order?" Cho asked. "Why don't we get two coffees?"

Returning her gaze back to Fred, she became all too aware of Roger Davies and his girlfriend at the table to their left, who had begun kissing over their sugar bowl.

Oh no, thought Levina, panicked. She and Fred had kissed once before at the Yule Ball, but that was different; it had been more like a rushed goodbye kiss. Now, they were stuck in a cramped, steamy little tea shop with dozens of people around. She looked towards the ceiling and earned a faceful of pink confetti from one of the hovering cherubs.

"How's your dad doing?" said Levina a bit too quickly.

Fred shook his head. "Probably well, but I wouldn't know. I can't send him any mail without it being watched, remember?"

"Oh, right," said Levina. She removed one of her hands again and took a sip of coffee, all too aware of Roger and his girlfriend, who were now passionately kissing so fiercly that their table was rattling.

"Levina, what would you say if I told you I really liked you?" said Fred cautiously. Levina nearly choked on the coffee she had been drinking.

"Uh," said Levina stupidly.

"Sorry, that was a bit straightforward," said Fred. "You don't have to answer that..."

"No, no it's fine," said Levina hurriedly. "I...er...I would say that I really liked you back..."

Fred leaned across the table so that his face was inches away from hers, their hands still locked together. Levina could hear her heart beating so loudly that she wondered if anyone else could. Almost subconciously, she began to move forward as well, so that they were just two inches away...one inch...

"I thought-I thought you'd u-u-understand!" said a loud voice suddenly, and Levina fell back against her chair in surprise. "I need to talk about it! Surely you n-need to talk about it t-too! I mean, you saw it happen, d-didn't you?"

Cho was openly crying, fat tears spilling down her cheeks onto the table. Roger Davies' girlfriends unglued herself to look and the others around them looked over their shoulders.

Harry looked horrified. He said something under his breath that Levina couldn't hear, but apparently it was the wrong thing, for Cho burst into more tears and said shrilly, "Oh, you'll talk to Hermione Granger! But you won't talk to me! P-perhaps it would be best if we just...just p-paid and you went and met up with Hermione G-Granger, like you obviously want to!"

That's when Levina realized what they were arguing about: She thought Harry liked Hermione.

"Cho," said Levina, turning to look at her, "Harry and Hermione aren't-"

"Go on, leave!" said Cho, crying into a frilly napkin. "I don't know why you asked me out in the first place if you're going to make other arrangements to meet other girls after me...How many are you meeting after Hermione? Is Levina next?" she said, gesturing to Levina.

"What!" said Levina. "Cho, are you really dragging me into this?"

"It's not like that!" said Harry, looking incredibly relieved; perhaps he'd finally realized what she was upset over. He laughed, and Cho sprang to her feet.

"I'll see you around, Harry," she said dramatically, and she dashed to the door, hurrying off outside, where it had begun to rain.

"Cho!" Harry called after her as the door swung shut.

The entire tea shop had gone quiet and everyone was staring at Harry.

"Harry?" said Levina tentatively.

Harry threw down a Galleon, shook confetti out of his hair, and ran to the door, where he vanished through it. Levina turned slowly back to Fred, who was still staring at the door.

"Er," said Levina, "why don't we go ahead and go? I have a top for my coffee so I can take it with me..."

"All right," said Fred, turning his gaze back at her. "Why don't we just have a look around at some of the shops?"

Fred insisted on paying and placed the change on the table. They capped their coffees with plastic tops and stepped outside, where it had begun to rain very heavily.

"Ooh, rain!" said Levina eagerly, running out into the street, sending splashes of water everywhere.

Fred grinned at her and ran out after her, sloshing through the rain. "Do you do this a lot?"

"No, actually," said Levina, frowning. "I used to run out in it as a kid, but Ashby didn't want me tracking mud in the house, so she made me stay inside."

"Well, there's a first for everything," said Fred, and he picked her up into the air, like they used to a lot in their earlier Hogwarts years, and ran through the rain with her, jumping in mud puddles and skidding through the slick streets.

"Put me down!" she laughed as her formerly-curled brown hair was soaked into long strands along her face.

Fred re-placed her on the ground and beamed at her as she kicked the water in the street on him, soaking his robes. After a few minutes, Levina began to get cold, even for a werewolf, and announced that she wanted to go to the Three Broomsticks to meet up with Hermione.

"All right," said Fred, nodding. "Well, I'm going to go meet up with George and Lee in Zonko's, then."

"Okay," said Levina, beaming through the pounding rain. "You know what, Fred? I had a lot of fun today. Thanks for inviting me out here."

"No problem," said Fred. "So, I'll see you later?"

"Of course," said Levina. She turned away and had just begun splashing her way towards the castle when Fred stopped her halfway and turned her around.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he said, and he leaned in before she could do anything and kissed her gently on the lips, in the middle of the street in the heavily pouring rain. He parted, winked, and ran off in the other direction towards Zonko's, leaving Levina rooted on the spot, her fingers touching her lips where his had been seconds before in shock.

In a dreamy daze, Levina wandered towards the Three Broomsticks, feeling incredibly content about how the day had gone. Shivering, she made her way down the watery street, where she was nearly four feet from the door to the pub when something dropped onto her head. Instinctively, she wheeled around and aimed a punch behind her to find Draco Malfoy standing there, his blonde hair wet. She mis-aimed and hit the air.

"What did you just put on me?" she demanded.

"Don't freak, it's just a towel," said Draco coolly.

Levina stared at him. "Oh no, don't tell me you're doing a repeat of last year? After the second task?"

"What, doing a good gesture?" said Draco, his grey eyes narrowed. "If you don't want it, don't take it."

"Why do you do this to me?" she asked. "You're so weird! I mean, you're like Yin and Yang or something!"

"Look, you're a Gryffindor," he said sharply.

"And what's that got to do with any-?"

"I'm a Slytherin!" said Draco, looking frustrated as though she should know what he was saying. He shook his head. "Just forget it."

He stalked off in the other direction through the rain, but she grabbed his arm. "Wait.

"Wait?"

"I-well, thanks," said Levina, pulling the towel around her shoulders. "You're seriously bi-polar sometimes, but my shoulders thank you for the towel."

Draco smirked. "Yeah. See you around, Snowpetal."

As he turned away and headed down the street, Levina put her hand on the door to the Three Broomsticks, hesitating. Her names from Draco had gone from Snowpetal to SnowWeed to simply just Weed, but just then he had called her Snowpetal again. Shrugging it off, she pushed the door open and made her way across the crowded pub. After a few minutes, she spotted Harry and Hermione sitting at table at the far corner of the room, accompanied by Luna Lovegood and none other than Rita Skeeter.

"Hello!" said Hermione, moving aside to give Levina more room. "Merlin, you're soaked! How did your date go?"

"A date?" repeated Rita Skeeter at once, twisting around in her seat to stare at Levina. "With a boy?"

"No, with a girl," said Levina sarcastically, rolling her eyes as she dried her hair with a towel. "And anyway, it's quite frankly none of your business, Skeeter."

Rita Skeeter placed her crocodile-skin handbag back down, looking very sour.

"So what are you lot up to?" said Levina. "Why's she here anyway?"

"We were discussing having Harry give Rita an interview, which she'll put in the Quibbler," said Hermione.

Rita snorted loudly. "I cannot believe you're going to put this story into that rubbish...no one will read it!"

"Some people won't," said Hermione, "but the Azkaban breakout story in the newspaper had a lot of holes in it, so if there's an alternative story available anywhere, people will be keen to read it."

"Daddy will be pleased," said Luna brightly as she sucked on a coctail onion.

"So, are you ready to tell the public the truth?" said Levina to Harry, who nodded.

"I suppose," said Harry as Rita took out her Quick-Quotes Quill.

"Fire away then, Rita," said Hermione.

...

"Quidditch," said Levina in a strained voice as she sat in the common room after the match against Hufflepuff. "I feel like jumping off the Astronomy Tower..."

"Don't," Hermione advised. "We only lost by ten points, anyway, which isn't that bad, right?"

"I suppose," said Levina, shrugging. "But we haven't heard the end of it from Zacharias Smith, the git..."

Ron was sitting in front of the fire, crumpled over in a heap. Angelina still refused to let him quit the team, which Levina respected in the sense that she had faith in him, but she worried for Ron, who had left the pitch to a loud chorus of "Weasley is our King."

"Well, with any luck, we'll be back on the team next year," said Levina.

"Levina," said Harry through clenched teeth, "d'you even know what a lifetime ban means?"

"Yeah, it's a ban for as long as Umbridge is here," said Levina. "She has the Defense Against the Dark Arts job; no teacher has ever lasted in it for more than a year. Now all we can do is hope it works on the old toad as well..."

Levina leaned back against her chair, sighing; during the match, Umbridge had been sitting a few rows below where she, Harry, and Hermione were, and every now and then she would turn squatly in her chair to shoot a gloating smile at them. The thought of it made Levina feel hot with anger, and she headed up into the dormitory early to go to sleep.

Snape had reminded her daily to clear her mind of emotion before going to sleep, but she found it impossible to do under the circumstances. After a few minutes, she pulled the covers up to her chin as Lilypad curled up in a ball at her feet and drifted off to sleep.

At first, she dreamed she was trying out for the the Order of the Phoenix, and Lupin was telling her she couldn't be in it because she was a werewolf, and she was telling him this was riddiculous since he himself was one. Then, she dreamed she was in the D.A. room, and Cho was accusing her of stealing Harry from her, which she said was mad, but she wouldn't listen. Then, the scene changed.

Two women were standing in the kitchen side-by-side, staring out the window, where a group of men were playing around with a Snitch. Both women were very round in a way that suggested they were with child.

"Reminds me of all our times at Hogwarts," said the woman with the red hair, and Levina realized she was Harry's mother from her eyes. "It's as though Rick and James are inseperable."

"Do you think Harry and Levina will be close like that someday?" said Nadia as she watched James and Rick fighting to grab the Snitch out of the air.

"Of course," said Lily, smiling slightly. "But Levina will be welcome here anytime she wants to see Harry, so why worry?"

The image faded and a new scene formed: Rick was a lot younger, probably a little older than Levina's age, and he was standing next to who Levina recognized as James, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, and Lupin. A beautiful woman Levina didn't know was sitting on a bench with a notebook and a quill wearing pale blue robes.

"Go away!" she said sharply in a thick French accent. "J'essaie de faire les études!"

"I'm just going to pretend I understood that," said James, smirking as the girl got to her feet. "What was gorgeous babe in French? I seem to have forgotten..."

"She said she's trying to study," said a stern voice, and Uncle Nick strode over to their group, fuming. He was wearing a Ravenclaw prefect badge. "Seeing as you're not in my House, I can't stop you, but I'll get your Head of House out here if you lot don't get lost."

"Come on, Nicky," said Rick, grinning. "We're just having a little fun-"

"Yeah, we're not hurting her or anything," said James.

"Well, I don't know about you lot," said Sirius, "but I'm already booked this week on detentions, so I don't think I can afford any more-"

"Exactly," said Nick. "Don't make me write home to mum and dad, Rick," he added to Rick.

Rick stiffened. "Fine, fine," he said, sighing. "Come on, guys..."

...

"Well, that's better than what I'm seeing," muttered Harry miserably at the table during breakfast on Monday morning. "You get to see your parents' memories while I get Voldemort's..."

"Hey, you forget that they're not always good!" said Levina sharply, putting her spoon down. "And I feel everything, remember? I'm really not looking forward to our next Occlumency lesson with Snape...I don't think I can take them anymore."

Celeste, Destiny's owl, fluttered down with the other post owls and landed in front of Levina, earning a dozen glances from people around them, some whispering things like, "Is that a Pernambuco owl?"

"I told her not to send me any more mail!" said Levina irritably as she tore open the letter.

"Well, if it doesn't have to do with anything like the D.A. or the Order, then it should be fine," said Hermione through her goblet of pumpkin juice.

"Huh?" said Harry; an owl had landed in front of him carrying a letter addressed to him, which he took with a frown.

"Who's that from?" said Levina as she sent off Celeste.

Before Harry could answer, several other owls fluttered down in front of him: three, four, five, six...

"What's going on?" said Ron in amazement as another seven owls flew down to land in front of him.

"Wait, I think I know what this is!" said Levina as she scanned the addresses. "I bet this is about the Quibbler article!"

Harry ripped open the first package to find a tightly rolled up copy of The Quibbler. He unrolled it to see a picture of himself grinning sheepishly up from the front cover, where below it large red letters said:

"Harry Potter speaks out at last: The truth about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and the night I saw him return."

"Ha!" said Levina. "I knew it!"

"It's good, isn't it?" said Luna, who had drifted over to their table. "It came out yesterday, I asked Dad to send you a free copy. I expect all thse letters are from the readers..."

"Yeah," said Hermione eagerly, "Harry, d'you mind if we-?"

"Help yourself," said Harry, looking bemused.

Levina grabbed the first envelope she could see and ripped it open. "This woman thinks you should try checking in to St. Mungo's," she announced.

"This bloke thinks you're off your rocker," said Ron. "Ah well..."

"Wait, this one believes me!" said Harry, scanning a letter.

"This one's two minds," said Fred, who had joined in. "Says you don't come across as a loon, but she doesn't want to believe he's really back...Blimey, what a waste of parchment!"

"Oh, here's another one you've convinced!" said Levina cheerfully. "This guy says he believes the Prophet is a piece of shit! Well, there's another one on your side..."

"And another!" said Hermione excitedly. "'I am forced to accept that you are telling the truth...' Oh, this is wonderful!"

"Are these all from the readers?" said Alex Ratcliff, looking over Levina's shoulder as she reached for one and examined it.

Levina nodded, grinning. "A lot of them seem convinced, it's amazing!"

"Another one thinks you're barking," said Ron, throwing down a crumpled letter.

"Hey, this one has a photograph," said Alex, "and she thinks you're a real hero!"

"What is going on here?" said a falsely sweet voice.

Levina looked up to see Umbridge standing behind Fred and Luna, her bulging eyes scanning the mess of owls and letters scattered about the table. Several students around here were watching.

"It's called 'mail'," said Levina, waving one of the letters for her to see.

"I wasn't addressing you, Miss Snowpetal," said Umbridge. "Why have you got all these letters, Mr. Potter?"

"Is getting mail a crime now?" said Fred loudly.

"Be careful, Mr. Weasley, or I shall have to put you in detention. Well, Mr. Potter?"

Harry hesitated for a moment. "People have written to me because I gave an interview," said Harry. "About what happened last June."

"An interview?" repeated Umbridge, her voice higher. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you see," said Levina sarcastically, "an interview is where someone asks a person certain things about a certain topic and-"

"Quiet!" said Umbridge sharply. "When did you do this?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Last Hogsmeade weekend. A reporter asked me questions and I answered them," said Harry, holding out a copy of the Quibbler for her to see.

Umbridge looked so filled with rage that she might burst. She held the magazine in her stubby fingers, shaking.

"There will be no more Hogsmeade trips for you, Mr. Potter. How dare you...how could you..." she took a deep breath. "I have tried again and again to teach you not to tell lies. The message, apparently, has not sunk in. Fifty points from Gryffindor and another week's worth of detentions."

By mid-morning, an enormous sign had been posted by the 'High Inquisitor' all over the walls of the school, reading: "Any student found in possession of the magazine the Quibbler will be expelled."

"Ha!" said Levina, shaking her head. "That's the best thing she could have ever done for us! Now everyone will want to read your interview!"

Throughout the rest of the day, Levina could indeed hear people discussing and quoting the interview in the hallways and during lunch, although she had not seen even one Quibbler anywhere. Some people from various Houses even approached her and asked her questions about Harry, which was a bit annoying after a while, but it seemed that they were all convinced.

Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle all shot Harry intense glares everywhere they went, since their father's had been named Death Eater's. They could not, however, confront them about it, for that would give away the fact that they had read the Quibbler article.

In the common room that night, Harry was considered a hero. Fred and George enlarged a photo of Harry from the front page of the article and hung it on the wall, enchanting it so that it occasionally said things like, "The Ministry are morons." Levina enjoyed a butterbeer with the twins by the fire, but by the time Harry had gone up to bed, the poster had begun to shout disconnected words in a high-pitched voice, so Levina announced she was also going to turn in. On her way up, Fred gave her a short kiss on her forehead and she flushed red all the way up the stairs.

"You look happy," said Hermione as they climbed into their beds.

"I could say the same to you," said Levina, grinning. "You've been beaming all day; I wish we'd had this idea sooner, did you see Umbridge's face?"

Hermione and Levina laughed and discussed the days events for a while before Levina turned over and lay against her pillow, but her smile was dissolving. Nearly everyone believed Harry now, but what was going to happen with Voldemort then? He had in fact returned, and he was in fact after something...She hoped the D.A. lessons would become more frequent, so she could learn more to be prepared for when he struck...

The week did not improve as it progressed, however, and Levina was non-stop working on homework for various classes. She found herself without any time to chat with anyone, let alone discuss Harry's nightmares. She herself had continued to have a few about her parents, waking up sweating and tangled in the covers. After about a couple of weeks had passed since the Quibbler incident, Levina could feel her energy draining.

"Get up, Miss Snowpetal."

Levina was lying on the floor in Snape's office with her eyes shut, trying to shake away her parents' memories. She hardly had any energy left and longed to removed her Werewolf necklace; would it help any if it were off? She hadn't removed it for the longest time and had forgotten the feeling of strength and power...

She got shakily to her feet, feeling as though she'd been clobbered upside the head. The idea of being allowed power, even if only a small surge of energy, was comforting. She knew she shouldn't be taking the necklace off, considering how it was dangerous according to Lupin, but she couldn't help it. Snape knew about it as well, however, and would also most likely advise against it.

When she looked up, Snape and Harry were arguing over something, one of Harry's memories...Levina took the opprotunity, since Snape was not looking, and unhooked her necklace, stowing it in her pocket hastily. Instantly, she felt ten times better and stronger, which was odd; when she was younger, she would merely get a small bit of energy after removing it. Was this because she had worn it for so long?

"Now, if you are ready," said Snape, who had turned back towards her, "then we will start again. One...two...three-Legilimens!"

Werewolf Lupin was advancing on her fast, snarling and howling angrily. If he reached her, would she feel the same pain she'd felt when he had attacked her? Levina concentrated hard, and to her surprise, Snape's office was slowly returning...Lupin was beginning to grow fainter as Snape, who was standing in front of her muttering under his breath, was becoming more clear.

She could feel Harry move forward beside her and vaguely she heard him shout something:

"Protego!"

Snape staggered and Lupin werewolf vanished; Levina's memories changed and suddenly she could see flashes ov visions that were not her own...a hook-nosed man was shouting at a cowering woman, while a small dark-haired boy was crying in a corner...A greasy-haired teenager was alone in a bedroom, shooting down flies on the ceiling with his wand...A girl was laughing as a scrawny boy tried to mount a broomstick-

"ENOUGH!"

Levina fell hard backwards and knocked into Harry, who staggered into a shelf and knocked down a jar, which shattered.

"Not again," Levina groaned, hoping the pain she felt in her arm was not glass. "Sorry, Harry," she added, climbing off of him.

"Reparo!" hissed Snape, and the jar sealed itself. "Well, Potter, Miss Snowpetal...that was certainly an improvement...I don't remember telling you to use a Shield Charm, but there is no doubt it was effective..."

Levina didn't say anything; she was too afraid that if she mentioned anything about Snape's childhood memories she'd seen, he might go off on her...It was strange to think the small crying boy was now the hated man standing in front of her, looking down at them with deep loathing.

"Let's try again, shall we?"

Levina nodded; for some reason, the previous memory had been much easier to prevent. Perhaps removing the necklace had indeed helped...

"Legilimens!"

Rick was trembling violently on the floor, his face contorted in pain, as Voldemort used the curse on him repeatedly.

"No," thought Levina as the pain began to consume her, "not again, no-"

To her surprise, she found herself back in Snape's office, standing upright as though nothing had happened. Did it work? she thought eagerly.

Snape, on the contrary, looked outraged. "POTTER! MISS SNOWPETAL!" he snarled.

Harry was lying flat on his back, panting.

"Explain yourselves!" said Snape angrily. "You-Potter-what happened?"

"I...I dunno," said Harry, standing up. "I've never seen that before. The door's never opened before..."

"What are you talking about?" said Levina.

"And you, Miss Snowpetal-" said Snape, turning on her. "Where is that necklace?"

"What necklace?" said Levina, hoping she sounded convincing.

Snape's mouth became a thin line. "Have you forgotten what you are? Have you let it slip your mind the fact that you are, in fact, a Werewolf?"

"But-" said Levina in protest. "But I did so much better that time! Without it, I have a lot more control over-"

"It does not matter!" said Snape furiously. "Without it, you are dangerous. You need to learn to take on Occlumency yourself and not rely on the Werewolf's strength!"

"You make it sound like it's not even a part of me!" said Levina hotly. "Shouldn't I be getting used to what I am?"

"Enough!" said Snape. "Put the necklace back on now. As for you, Potter-" he rounded on Harry. "You are not working hard enough! You are lazy and sloppy, it is small wonder that the Dark Lord-"

"Can you tell me something, sir?" said Harry as Levina re-clipped her necklace, frustrated. "Why do you call Voldemort the Dark Lors, I've only heard Death Eaters call him that-"

Snape opened his mouth in a snarl-but before he could speak, a woman screamed somewhere outside the room.

Levina stiffened and let out a groan; was she having another vision of her mother?

But Snape's head jerked upward and he gazed at the ceiling.

"What the-?" he muttered.

"Wait, you can hear that too?" said Levina, bemused.

"Of course I can," said Snape flatly. "Did either of you see anything unusual on your way down here?"

Levina and Harry shook their heads. Snape strode to the office door, wand still held at the ready, and swept out of sight.

"Should we follow him...?" said Levina uneasily.

Harry hesitated. "I suppose. What d'you reckon that was?"

"I thought it was my mum again," said Levina as they made their way out the door. The screams were coming from the entrance hall, where students had come flooding out of the Great Hall. There was a large ring of people formed around Professor Trelawney, who was standing in the middle of the room, holding an empty sherry bottle, looking utterly mad.

"What's going on?" said Levina.

Two large trunks lay beside her, both fallen in weird positions as though someone had thrown them down the stairs after her.

"No!" she shrieked. "NO! This cannot be happening...It cannot...I refuse to accept it!"

"You didn't realize this was coming?" said a high girlish voice, and Levina could barely see Umbridge standing at the foot of the stairs, looking amused. "Incapable though you are of predicting even tomorrow's weather, you must have surely known you would be soon sacked?"

"You c-can't!" howled Trelawney. "I've b-been here sixteen years! H-Hogwarts is m-my h-home!"

"It was your home," said Umbridge, and Levina could feel her anger rising even with the necklace back on, "until an hour ago. Now kindly remove yourself from this hall. You're embarrassing us."

There were footsteps and Levina saw Professor McGonagall make her way down to Trelawney, patting her firmly on the back while she sobbed into a handkerchief.

"There, there, Sibyll...Calm down...Blow your nose on this. It's not as bad as you think, now...You are not going to have to leave Hogwarts..."

"Oh, really?" said Umbridge in a deadly voice. "And your authority for that statement is...?"

"That would be mine," said a deep voice; Professor Dumbledore had swung the oak doors open and was making his way down to them.

"Yours?" said Umbridge. "I'm afraid you do not understand the position. I have here an Order of Dismissal signed by myself the the Minister of Magic. I have dismissed Professor Trelawney."

Dumbledore merely smiled. "You are quite right, of course. As High Inquisitor, you may dismiss my teachers, but you do not, however, have the authority to send them away from my castle. I am afraid," he went on, "that the power to do that still resides with the Headmaster. I wish that you remain, Sibyll."

"Ha," said Levina, grinning as Umbridge stood, petrified as she stared at him.

"Please escort her back upstairs, Professor McGonagal," said Dumbledore.

"And what," said Umbridge in a whisper, "are you going to do with her once I appoint a new Divination teacher?"

"Oh, no need," said Dumbledore pleasantly. "I already found a new teacher, who's lodgings will be on the ground floor."

Levina frowned; who had he gotten to replace her? Surely if Dumbledore had hired them, they must be at least semi-good...

At the front doors, there was the sound of hooves, and everyone turned to stare around the hall. Through the mist, a face Levina recognized from her first year appeared; a white-blond haired man with astonishing blue eyes, the head and torso of a man joined to the body of a horse.

"This is Firenze," said Dumbledore happily to a horrified Umbridge. "I think you'll find him suitable."

...

"Mark my words, Umbridge will find a way to get back at Dumbledore," said Hermione a few days later during breakfast. "Especially another part human. You saw the look on her face when she saw Firenze..."

Levina grit her teeth and slammed down her fork. "Well, of course," she said sarcastically, "I mean, filth like us don't deserve the same rights as wizards..."

"Don't take it too hard," said Fred, who had slid into a seat beside her. "She hates humans too...or any living being, for that matter..."

"We should get to Divination," said Harry as he finished off his eggs. They followed Parvati and Lavender out of the great hall, but to their surprise, they passed right by the marble staircase.

"Are we not going to the North Tower?" said Levina.

"How d'you expect Firenze to climb the ladder?" said Parvati, looking scornful. "We're in classroom eleven now."

Levina made her way to the classroom, which was on the ground-floor corridor, but when she pulled open the door, to her surprise, she found herself standing in the middle of a forest clearing.

"What the-?"

The classroom floor was very mossy and there were trees scattered everywhere, and the students already there were sitting on the earthy floor with their backs against tree trunks or boulders.

"Levina Snowpetal," said Firenze, his brilliantly blue eyes unblinking.

"Hi," said Levina, not bothering to ask how he knew her name. "Um, it's nice to meet you, sir."

"Same to you, madame," said Firenze. "You may take a seat anywhere you wish."

"Thank you." Levina sat down next to Harry on the grassy floor, leaning back against a boulder. Firenze stepped into the very middle of the clearing and gestured around the room.

"This classroom is arranged in imitation of my natural habitat," said Firenze, "although I would have prefered to teach you in the Forbidden Forest, which was, until Monday, my home. But this is not possible."

"Please-er-sir," said Parvati breathlessly as she gazed up at him, "but why can't we? We've been in there with Hagrid, we're not frightened!"

"It is not a question of bravery, but of my position. I can no longer return to the forest because my herd has banished me.

"Herd?" said Lavender blankly. "There are more of you?"

"Did Hagrid breed you like the thestrals?" said Dean eagerly.

Levina felt like punching Dean very hard in the ribs; clearly offended, Firenze turned ever-so-slowly to face him, looking offended.

"Er," said Dean, who seemed to have realized his mistake. "I didn't-I meant-sorry," he finished in a hushed voice, looking embarrassed.

"Centaurs are not the servants or playthings of humans," said Firenze quietly. There was a short pause and Parvati raised her hand again.

"Please, sir...why were you banished?"

"Because I agreed to work for Dumbledore, which they see as a betrayal of our kind. Now, let us begin..."

Firenze lifted his hand, waved it, and the room dimmed so much that to the point in which where they appeared to be in a forest at twilight, stars emerging upon the ceiling.

"Wow!" said Levina in awe as she gazed up at the stars.

"Lie back on the floor," said Firenze, "and observe the heavens. Here is written, for those who can see, the fortune of our races."

Levina inclined her self backwards so that she was flat on her back, staring up at the starry sky. Firenze continued to walk among them.

"Our findings teach us that the future may be glimpsed in the sky above us...I know that you have learned the names of the planets and their moons."

"Professor Trelawney did Astrology with us!" said Parvati excitedly. "Mars causes accidents and burns and things and-"

"That is human nonsense," said Firenze calmly.

Parvati dropped her hand limpy to her side.

"Trivial hurts, tiny human accidents," said Firenze. "These are no more significant than the scurry of ants to the wide universe."

"Professor Trelawney-" said Parvati in a hurt voice.

"-is a human, and is therefore blinkered and fettered by the limitations of your kind."

Levina looked over at Parvati, who looked rightfully offended. She herself had to wonder if they were learning Divination, or if the centaur was going to spend the entire time talking about his kind, all the while dissing their own.

It was the most unusual lesson Levina could ever recall attending. They burned sage and mallowsweet on the classroom floor, and they looked for shapes and symbols among the flames. Firenze spent the time discussing with them how not even Centaurs were certain on most things, and impressed upon them that nothing was foolproof.

"He's not very definite on anything, is he?" said Ron in a low voice after the bell had rung.

"I dunno," said Levina with a small shrug, "but the lesson was certainly more interesting than any I've everhad with Trelawney, that's for sure..."

...

I'm so sorry that this chapter was so late! I've been really busy, but I promise to get the next chapter up as soon as possible!

Review responses:

Flower gettin' Lady: Yup, they ran into Harry and Cho all right, haha (: I'm not sure how an Eric/Hermione thing could work out, considering how his age is around the early twenties, but we'll see ;) And thanks, it was fun typing her memories! P.s I know I can't wait for the parody!

Silvermoony77: I'm glad you liked the part with Alex, even if it was small, and I hope you enjoyed Levina's date, even if it was a bit short :) Also, you'll notice Alex was in here again for a small part (I keep working her in to small scenes here and there) and I'm looking forward to Levina's scene! And yes, I didn't mention much about Levina's past, but now you get to see a bit! Thanks for the review! :D

Flying werecats: If only, right? :) I'm really glad you like Levina's family, although I'm not sure I see Eric and Hermione as a couple, since his age is in the early twenties.

Things to come: Patronuses, The Inquisitorial Squad, and more!