Disclaimer: I do not own the character's that rightfully belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Twenty: Defense Against The Dark Arts

Snape had managed to convince the other two imbeciles: Bellatrix Lestrange and Antonin Dolohov to take a break from their search so they could gather more supplies and go out again after a good night's rest, a shower, gather food supplies and some family down time. Unfortunately, that meant Bellatrix & Antonin had to join Snape at Prince Manor, because returning to Malfoy Manor while Voldemort was residing there was out of the question. "Please Refrain from touching anything that doesn't belong to you Bella."

"Nothing belongs to me, Snape. Would you prefer it if I didn't touch the floor as well?" Bella snarled.

"Don't be a cheeky, Bella. Let me show you to your rooms. Each room has it's own lavatory. So you may use the soaps and things the bathroom provides."

"How kind of you Severus," Antonin popped in, as they followed him up the stairs.

"Why is it you never lived here before? This house is so much better than that little shack you have on Spinner's End." Bella asked curiously.

"I usually lived in the Hogwarts Castle throughout most of the year, I never felt the need to come to Prince Manor as the house does not rightfully belong to me."

"Oh that's right...your mother married that filthy muggle."

"Let's refrain from talking about it, Bella." Antonin spoke up, as he patted Snape's shoulder. "Lead us to our rooms Snape. I believe we all deserve a bath after that wild snitch chase in the woods, don't you think?"

"I believe we can all agree on that Antonin." Snape replied as he walked down the hallway, "This room is my daughters, the rooms on either side of it are vacant. So please feel free to use which ever room you prefer. I'll be going to my room which is at the end of the Hall. If you should need anything please feel free to ask, but knock first."

"Thank you Severus, I truly appreciate a good washing." Antonin said before he entered the first room nearest the staircase and disappeared behind a closed door.

"I suppose that leaves the other room for me..." Bella shook her head as she entered the other room Snape had pointed out. "See you in an hour Snape."

"Have a good washing, Bella. There is all kinds of soaps my daughter stocked the bathrooms herself."

"That's a relief. I imagine you wouldn't know what a woman washes her hair with..." Bellatrix stated as she disappeared into the room behind the closed door.

Snape sighed as he walked into the room he claimed as his own. Looking around for a Portrait his mother frequents he whispers to it. "Mother...if you can hear me I wish to speak to you."

"Severus...you're getting older...you know very well Eileen cannot hear you unless she is in the portrait you speak to, although...I'll go fetch her. I believe she is still at Malfoy Manor."

"Phineas, when did you get here?" Severus asked softly.

"You know I come to check on you and yours occasionally. Eileen was one of the only people who talked to me outside of the Headmasters-"

"That still doesn't explain why you are here? and not at the Malfoy's with mother?"

"I came here first..."

"Phineas, coming here first doesn't explain how you knew my mother would be at the Malfoys...so why did you come here first, if you assumed she would be at the Malfoy's?"

"Oh that's easy I saw your daughter come through the floo."

"Ah yes, today is her testing...but why didn't you go directly to the Malfoy's..."

"I assumed with Victoria at the Castle she would return home for a bit...but I was wrong."

"That doesn't explain why you are in my room?"

"Oh that's easy, I was checking all the portraits...then I heard you talking to the portrait also looking for Eileen. So I thought I would speak up."

"My apologies for my suspicions Phineas..."

"No need to worry, you weren't Sorted into Slytherin because of your gullibility. If I find Eileen, I'll let her know you are looking for her. Is there anything that needs to be said in case she doesn't return in time to correspond with you?"

"It's very difficult to say...but tell her to look after Victoria...and to watch out for young men who flock to her. Victoria needs to place her guard up. The...Dark Lord...now...appears to be a young man."

Phineas blinked. "Are you telling me...the Dark Lord showed interest in your daughter?"

"Yes...and he sent me on a mission, so I couldn't warn her. Please Phineas..."

"Wouldn't the Dark Lord be suspicious if your daughter was on edge around his new appearance?"

Snape gripped his nose. "That is why you must inform my mother, she has to be looking out for Victoria...as I cannot be there..."

"Don't be frustrated Severus...I'm sure Victoria can protect herself. I did overhear the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress talking about her OWLs..."

"OWLs...are a bit different than reality, don't you think?"

"Aye, that may be true but you can't jeapordize your position..."

Snape tightened the fist that was at his side. "I know...you're right...but I worry for my daughter's safety above my own."

"As you should, go take a shower Severus, I'll see what i can come up with...I'll talk to Eileen to see how she is doing..."

"Thank you Phineas..."

"You're welcome, now get going."

Severus sighed as dropped his hand from his nose and entered his bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Harry was getting more and more frustrated, ever since Dumbledore tried to interfere with his date. He really did have a good time making fun of himself in front of the muggle girl. Not that she knew he was talking about himself. It was nice just to act like a normal human being, despite everything else. However, before he could get a second date out of the girl... Mad "eye" Moody came confronted him on the train and dragged him to Grimmauld Place, the current base of the Order of the Phoenix. Of course that was a few days ago, but he was still dwelling on the might have beens...All I ever wanted was a normal life...i never asked to be this chosen one...i bet that girl would smack me if she learned I was Harry Potter. What name did I use...James...that's right. I didn't exactly lie..James is my middle name. Hope one day I'll be able to see her again...even if it's just to say Hello. It was nice pretending to be normal with her...normal? What is normal?...Was I being normal? I suppose I was pretending to be a Muggle...but does a muggle really classify as being normal? Huh...oh Ginny is talking.

"Harry...are you alright?" Ginny asked him for the 5th time as she sat next to him on the window sill.

"Sorry...was brooding inside my own mind...Did you finish your summer homework?" Harry asked her, as she made a yuck face. "You best finish Gin, you don't want to upset Hermione."

"Hermione...I miss her..." Ginny stated softly.

"We all do..." Ron stated as he entered the Black Library. "Did you finish your homework Harry?"

"In fact, I did. Did you need help with yours Ron? Gin?" Harry asked as he looked to both of them.

"The only assignment I have left is Potions...Hermione...would help me...if she was here." Ginny stated softly.

"Ron and I can help you Gin," Harry butted in.

"Hey! Don't involve me with her homework...I got enough as it is!" Ron rebuttled.

"Are you saying you didn't get any of it done?! Are you insane?" Harry asked him.

"I've been waiting for Hermione..."

SMACK!

"Gin!..." Ronald yelped.

"You moron! Hermione's gone! How could you wait for her..." Ginny's tears were streaming down her face as she smacked him.

"Is it so terrible I was hoping it was a lie and she lived?...I'm having a hard time...coping...without...her." Ron was now crying as well.

SMACK!

"We are all having a hard time coping, don't use her as an excuse!" Harry smacked him this time! Tears were falling down all their cheeks as they thought of their lost friend.

"Ron get all your books and you better start working on your homework, or I'll...I'll..." Harry growled...despite his tears.

Ron swallowed before fleeing to get his things.

"I can't believe him...how could he wait.." Ginny had her fists tightly clenched as the tears just wouldn't stop falling.

"I don't blame him...I managed to get mine done because I kept going to our meeting spot...where we would do out homework together...but instead of waiting for her, I did mine...did he love her, Gin? She was more of a big sister to me...but do you think his grieving is because he truly cannot cope...without her?" Harry asked as he wiped the tears on his sleeve, trying to act like a rock for Ginny and Ron.

"I think in his own way...he would have come around to dating Hermione...but I'm not sure she would accept him by the time he finally came around to acknowledging she was a girl..." Gin stated softly, "And I think he's regretting not noticing it sooner..."

Harry nodded, "Why don't you bring your Potions assignment in here as well, perhaps I can help you both."

"Alright, thanks Harry." She stood up and leaned into him, placing a chaste kiss on his cheek before retreating to her room to gather her assignment.

"I wish you were here Hermione...we are all having a hard time...believing that you are gone..." Harry stated as he leaned his forehead against the window.

Victoria was grueling over parchment answer the questions quickly and efficiently as possible. She answered only what was asked and did not go into a depth beyond what was asked. She focused on one question at a time, and zipping through them in mere moments. Her neat scrawl was nearly identical to her father's, with a slight difference that a feminine touch. She plowed through History of Magic with Headmaster Dumbledore in less than 30 minutes.

"Miss Prince...you have an hour left to recheck your answers if you like," Dumbledore stated as he looked down at the completed parchment.

"I double checked my answers Professor, I think they are sufficient," Victoria stated softly.

"If you are sure...you may go for a walk if you like...I believe your next test will be in Defense Against the Dark Arts, with Professor Lupin."

"Will it be in the Defense Classroom or will it be here in the Great Hall?"

"Defense Classroom, I'll come collect you when it's time Miss Prince. Go outside and get some fresh air." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he watched her leave the Great Hall.

Dumbledore looked down to the parchment she had finished and read over her answers. Dumbledore considered how fast she finished her test and expected her answers to be lacking intellect. However, each of her answers only proved to be concise and none of them proved to be false information. "Strange girl..." he said aloud as he marked her test O. He has no choice but to give her a perfect mark. "Checked it twice did you? You never cease to amaze me, Miss Prince."

Remus was surprised to say the least when he saw Miss Prince in the courtyard. He was walking down to the Great Hall to check on her progress and he caught a glimpse of her outside the window as he was heading down the stairs. It was still early, she had 45 minutes left to finish her test. So instead of heading outside to see why she was there he headed into the Great Hall to see the Headmaster sitting in the chair.

"Albus...Miss Prince finished?" Remus asked as he approached him at the Head Table.

"That she did, and scored higher than I expected considering it only took her 30 minutes to finish the test." Dumbledore nodded as he watched Remus approach.

"What do you mean Albus?" Remus could hardly believe what he just said.

"She scored a Perfect O, in less than 30 minutes, and when I told her to take this time to double check her answers she told me she already had." Dumbledore confirmed

Remus was taken aback. "How could she..."

"I have suspected that Mister Weasley and Mister Potter only served to slow her down. Without them as companions...she has no need to hold back her intelligence," Dumbledore stated calmly.

Remus fists tightened, "Why did you agree to kill Herm-"

"Don't speak of it, she made the decision Remus. She knew the consequences of her actions."

"Does she really, Albus? She's only-"

"No she's not!" Albus nearly shouted. Causing Remus to end his argument. "This is not up for discussion, we have had this argument before Remus. I will not discuss this again. Why don't you go out into the courtyard and talk with Miss Prince. I was going to escort her to your classroom, but I am sure you can manage to do that yourself. I'm going to talk with Horace, for a while. Walk her to the dungeons when she finishes her test, will you?" Albus stood up, as he rolled her test parchment and placed it in his pocket. "Please refrain from telling Miss Prince her score, she will receive her scores tomorrow after all her tests are finished. Not a second sooner."

"As you say Albus, I will not inform her. However, I believe she already knows from the ease of the test and how quickly she answered it." Remus responded.

"I imagine you are quite right," Albus smiled as his eyes twinkled. "She seemed rather confident when she handed me her parchment. No ounce of nerves like she had before she took the test."

"I'll lead her to the dungeons when I'm finished with her, I imagine if she was quick as she was with your test, I imagine I won't need to two hours alloted for the written and practical exam for Defense."

"I'll be warning Horace of this fact, of course." Albus said as he exited the Great Hall.

Remus shook his head as he left the Great Hall and walked into the courtyard. "Miss Prince."

"Hello Professor Lupin," Victoria stated as she turned to face him as he came into the courtyard.

"Albus told me you were out here, I've come to collect you for your test," Remus replied softly.

"I figured since you came, that was the case." Victoria smiled as she walked over to him.

"How do you feel you did on History of Magic?"

"I feel as though it was a breeze, I don't know why I have the fear of failing...it's illogical."

"Wasn't your boggart, Professor McGonagall telling you that you failed as a witch." Victoria smacked him.

"I imagine my fear has changed since then, Professor," Victoria stated calmly as they walked up the stairs and made their way to the Defense classroom with little delay from the moving staircases.

"I'm sure it has...how has Severus been treating you?" Remus asked more seriously.

"Like any father, I suppose. It's a new role for him, but he has dragged me from my studies on several occasions so that I would eat a wholesome meal." Victoria replied.

"I see, so he put his foot down about your eating habits. That's a good thing." Remus smiled, "Anything else?"

"Well, he tries to protect me from any boy that bats an eye at me, but lucky for him only a few seem to dare to try when he is around," Victoria stated softly.

"Oh and who dares?"

"Draco, Blaise, George...and..."

"And? who Victoria?" Remus asked softly.

Victoria grasped onto the pendant as she spoke, "The Dark Lord."

"THE WHAT!?" Remus gripped her arm and pulled her to face him right before the Defense Classroom.

Victoria held tightly to the pendant as she looked away, "You heard me correctly..."

"The Dark Lord showed an interest in you, Victoria...does...does Albus know?"

"I'm not sure what he knows...but my father knows, and is doing all he can to protect me from...that man."

"He is not a man, he is a monster!" Remus nearly growled.

"Man or monster, doesn't matter. He has shown interest...let's just get on with the test, Professor." Victoria entered the Defense classroom without another word.

"Take a seat Victoria," Remus stated as he walked passed her to his desk, and grabbed the test parchment from it. "The first part of this exam is written, the second part is practical. Then we'll head down to the Dungeons and you will have your potions exam with Professor Slughorn." He stated as he placed the parchment in front of her, as she had chosen to sit in the front row seat. "Take your time, Victoria there is no rush."

Victoria nodded as she looked to the test parchment her eyes scanning over the questions. "This shouldn't take too long, Professor."

"I imagine it won't...but do take your time and check over your answers," Remus stated as he watched her dive into the test.

She zoned into her parchment as she written out her answers as swiftly as she did for her History of Magic test. Nearly 35 minutes of laboring over the paper she had finished. She smirked when Remus jumped up when she placed her finished parchment before him at his desk.

"Merlin's pants! Victoria I didn't hear you approach...and i have a good sense of hearing...learned that from your father did you?" Remus stated as he looked up to her.

"Amongst other things, Professor." Victoria canted her head to the side as she watched him glance over her answers.

"I know you are the smartest witch of your age, but even this is...unreal..."

"Unreal?" Victoria blinked a few times.

Remus shook his head, "Right, sorry. I was thinking out loud...I'm not allowed to tell you anything about your score until tomorrow, but you have surpassed my expectations in your written test alone. I thought I would challenge you...but it seems not challenging enough." He laughed softly.

Remus stood up, "Have you tried the patronus charm since your change?"

"No...I feared it would be the same..." Victoria stated.

"Well you may need use of it, and it's part of this exam. So let's see it then, shall we?" Remus stated softly.

Victoria thought of her happiest memory..."Expecto Patronum!" A corporal form of a small animal shot out of her wand as it ran through the air, circling them. Victoria canted her head as she could see the form of her Patronus did in fact change. It was no longer the cute otter she had expected. But instead it was a sly looking fox that darted across the air circling them before stopping and taking a seat next to Victoria's feet.

"Great work, Victoria." Remus clapped. "What a sly looking fox."

Victoria smiled as she looked down to her creation, and it looked back up to her. "You may go now," she stated softly and soon after the fox lost it's corporal form.