"Alice, Severus, we need to have a chat," Remus informed the two at one of the many family gatherings held over Christmas hols. "I want to do this before there are any celebrations. I can't ruin the kids' Christmas like that."

"Remus, what's wrong? Are you ill?" Alice asked, concern evident in her tone.

"I assure you, Mrs. Longbottom, that Professor Lupin is perfectly fit," Severus assured the blond witch.

Alice and Severus followed Remus into a private study deep within the bowels of Potter Manor. Remus scrubbed furiously at his face, deciding how to broach the subject.

"We did boggart just before break," Remus started.

"Oh, and what was the problem with that?" Alice asked, remembering her own third year experience with the pests.

"They haven't done the lesson since the war. Incompetence, mostly, but there was some concern that the children would have fears based in reality, rather than imagination. Neville's year was the first deemed young enough during the war to have been too young to be be mentally scarred. It would seem, however, that our third years have more raw, realistic fears than previously assumed," Remus said, taking a breath.

"What do you mean, Remus?" Alice asked, concern giving a hard edge to her voice.

"And what does this have to do with me?" Severus added, bored.

"Neville went first, brave little Gryffindor that he is. I assumed it would be Marly or Olivia injured in some way or another," Remus said.

"A realistic fear," Alice nodded her head in allowance. "Given the amount of time he dedicates to caring for them."

"Still not clear as to my involvement here. If you could be so kind as to speed this tale up…" Severus demanded.

"It wasn't Marly or Olivia. It wasn't Ginny possessed or any one of a number of justifiable fears that came out of that wardrobe, Severus. It was you," Remus leveled a glare at Severus Snape. "You are that boy's biggest fear. The thing that haunts his nightmares is his professor. A person he has to see everyday. Care to explain what happens in the dungeons, Sev?"

"Severus Snape, what have you done to my son?" Alice rounded on her former classmate. "I have gone to bat for you so many times. Why?"

"The boy is completely incompetent at potions. I cannot have him causing explosions and making a mess about everything!" Severus defended.

"I believe Mr. Finnigan is the cause of the majority of explosions in all classrooms, including yours. D'you know what his fear is? The dark," Remus said, only partially fueling the fire.

"Seamus is a sweetheart, Merlin bless him. He spent time over last summer to work on impulse control," Alice murmured the half thought. "But that's not the point. The point is that he's far more destructive, but you take your anger out on Neville. He was just fine at potions before Hogwarts. Now the mere mention of dreamless sleep draught makes him panic. Explain."

"Oh, this is nonsense. I will not explain my teaching methods to parents. If I justify myself to you, Alice, I'll have to justify every Troll I give Johnnie and Susie," Severus said, rolling his eyes and turning towards the door.

"Oh no you don't, Severus! You owe me. You owe me an explanation," Alice demanded.

"I owe you no such thing," Severus said, haughtily.

"Yes you do. You don't know it, but you do," Alice demanded.

"Then, pray, what do I owe you?" Severus retorted.

"Lily and I had several long, long, talks about you. D'you know what she was gonna do, as soon as she was free? She was coming to see you, to reconcile with you. To ask you to be her child's godfather. And he killed her. Killed them both. And you're taking all that anger out on my son. Grow. The. Hell. Up. Severus," Alice demanded, tears of pain coursing down her cheeks.

Severus stopped, unsure what to do with that onslaught of information. Instead of responding, he slammed the door and left.

"How… How did Neville overcome that?" Alice asked, staring at the door.

"Augusta," was all Remus said, mouth quirking despite his warring emotions.

"Augusta! How on earth did she settle him down? That would've been worse!" Alice exclaimed, turning to Remus with wide eyes.

"I'm showing Sirius my memory tonight. You're welcome to join us in the pensieve. It's a real treat. Severus wears that buzzard hat almost as well as Augusta," Remus replied, a snicker in his voice.

That was all it took for Alice to lose her grief and start laughing. This would be good.

Christmas, 1993

"Wotcher, Siri!" a bubbly voice shouted, entering Potter Manor.

"Tonks!" Harry's glee was evident as he stood and ran out of the main sitting room. Adhara rolled her eyes at Harry's display. Rigel pushed his sister over in his rush to get to the Metamorphmagus.

"Nymphadora! What on earth are you doing here? I thought Moody still kept the Auror's in training over the hols?" Sirius greeted.

"Don't, call me Nymphadora!" Tonks demanded, poking Sirius in the chest, her hair turning bright red.

"YAY!" Rigel cheered as her changed back to bubble gum pink. "It's red! You owe me a chocolate frog, Harry! Her hair turned red first!"

"Yeah, I guess I do," Harry smiled indulgently at his god-brother.

"Sirius, have you given Har- oh, Nymphadora, you've arrived early, I see," Remus started, finding the group in the front hall. "Shall we just adjourn to the sitting room, then?"

Tonks smiled and pinched Remus on the bum, then led them all to the sitting room.

"Hestia! Adhara! How are my favorite ladies?" Tonks asked, hugging one, then the other.

"I'm well, how are you?" Adhara enunciated clearly.

"Aw, Dari, did Aunt Cissa rope you into pureblood lessons?" Tonks said with sympathy.

"Cousin Narcissa let's me join her and Atria. It's wonderful. I feel like a princess in a story when we go," Adhara said with stars in her eyes.

"That's… lovely," Tonks said, sounding like she didn't think it was lovely at all.

"Wait!" Harry said suddenly. "What was Padfoot supposed to give me?"

The group laughed as Harry started jumping up and down uncontrollably. "Whatisit?! Whatisit?! Whatisit?!"

"Harry, calm down! We'll tell you what it is!" Sirius laughed indulgently. "Here, to replace the old one."

Harry grabbed a package from Sirius and ripped it open with the viciousness of a 13 year old on Christmas.

"Oh wow! A Firebolt! Yes! I'll kick Draco's arse come spring with this!" Harry shouted, holding the broom aloft.

"Harry, can I have a ride, please!" Rigel badgered. "After you, 'course."

"Boys," Adhara huffed, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah," Dora agreed, staring at Remus' turned back. "Boys."

January, 1994

"Hermione, I'm stuck on this one part of the animagus spells. I was wondering if you could help," Harry said, cornering Hermione in an unused classroom one sunny afternoon just after term resumed.

"Hmm… Oh, I'm not doing that anymore. Other things to focus on. No time for silly family traditions when I have classes to study for," Hermione said dismissively.

"Oi, that's not fair, 'Mione," Ron defended.

"I believe it's perfectly fair, Ronald," Hermione said primly.

"D'you know why it's family tradition?" Ron asked, getting into Hermione's face.

"Yes. Harry's father started it with Mr. Black," Hermione answered, turning back to revisions.

"D'you know why Dad and Padfoot were animagi at such a young age?" Harry asked, joining Ron.

"No, and quite frankly, I don't care," Hermione retorted, never looking up from her papers.

"For Moony, Hermione. Wolfsbane wasn't invented when he was at Hogwarts. So, Dad and Padfoot- and the Rat Bastard- learned how to be animagi to help with his transformations. He couldn't be alone 'cause he hurt himself. A lot. And werewolves hunt human blood like other animals hunt prey. Animals, however, are safe from them. So, they figured out how to change into animals to help him," Harry said, passionately.

"I understand that. I understand your father and Mr. Black's need to help their friend. And that worked out well for them. The stag, or beast of nobility, and literally the black dog. And a rat; which, now that I understand these things, really should have been a red flag. And, if I were him, I would have begged off it. To let others know that your inner spirit animal is defined by a rodent? Not a chance," Hermione said, shaking her head.

"What. Did. You. See. Hermione?" Harry asked succinctly.

"It's none of your business. I'm never speaking of it again," Hermione dismissed them again.

"Fine. We'll never speak to you again," Harry threatened. Ron nodded his agreement, then the two teens stormed away.

Three weeks. It had been three weeks since term started. Fred hadn't seen Hermione outside of a few glimpses in the corridors between classes. Whatever had happened between Harry, Ron, and Hermione had really upset her. She was even avoiding Neville and Draco, choosing unused classrooms to study in over the library. Fred had been lucky enough to see her a few times on the Map, but she was always hidden away in some deserted corner of the castle.

Finally, late one Friday night, Fred slipped out of the common room and down a few corridors until he found the classroom she was taking sanctuary in at the moment. There were the requisite piles of books on every available flat surface. She was working on one assignment while an enchanted quill was proofing another one in the corner. Her quill was furiously scratching away, answering arithmancy proofs. She didn't even look up as he knocked on the door. He stared at her for a full minute before he was uncomfortable.

"Mione, what are you doing down here?" He asked, causing her to jump and spill ink everywhere.

"Fred, you frightened me. What are you doing here?" She asked, putting one hand to her heart and using the other to siphon ink off of her assignment and back into her ink pot.

"I just asked you the same question. You go first, then me," he said, leaning against a wall and crossing his arms.

"Homework," she replied simply, gesturing to her piles of homework.

"You've spent almost two full years doing work in the common room or the library. Why switch to abandoned classrooms now?" He asked incredulously.

"Because the work is getting more difficult and I find the silence refreshing," Hermione shrugged, turning back to her homework.

"That's fine and all, but the Map says you've been in here since classes let out. So, when are you getting supper?" He asked.

"When I have the time. If you're done interrogating me, why don't you go perfect those self-inking quills you and George were whispering about the other day. I could really use one right about now," Hermione said in clear dismissal. Fred let the conversation drop but vowed to keep an eye on her.

"Now, Harry, these patronus lessons are just between you and me. Sirius and Hestia are not aware that you saw a dementor. We didn't have time to discuss your boggart over the hols. Now, what is the charm?" Remus asked, one cold January Thursday.

"Expecto Patronum," Harry said dully. "Why am I learning this?"

"In case those bloody dementors get any bright ideas this Quidditch game. They stayed well enough away during the last one, but you weren't playing. That's odd, but those are the facts," Remus informed his godson of the way of things. Harry just nodded and they got to work.

February 1994

Ron lay in bed thinking over the day, as was his habit at night. Gryffindor had won the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. The dementors had all stayed away. Of course, Nott had thought it would be cute to spook Harry after the match. He and his cronies had dressed in all black and jumped out to scare him after the game. Harry, ever bloody impressive, sent a neat Patronus charm at them and knocked them all over. Exceptional at magic, his best friend. Maybe I could get Harry to teach me that, he thought as he dozed off.

He was woken up suddenly by the smell of fire and something scratching at his face. His eyes flew open and he saw a fat, balding rat scratching at his face. He panicked, screamed, and batted the thing across the room, noting that it was his bed that was on fire. Harry was up in an instant, wand out, searching the room.

"It was him! It was him!" Ron kept repeating, too shocked to say anything else. However, the rat had regained its senses and slithered away before anyone could catch it.

Alarms were sounded and Gryffindor Tower was evacuated. Minerva sent the girls to Ravenclaw and the boys to Hufflepuff. Ron thought, as he walk towards the hospital with Harry, that he would be very happy when the Rat Bastard was good and gone.

Fred had noticed that Hermione rarely showed up in the Great Hall, and when she did, she would nick a roll and be off again. He took to following her on the Map, noting that Hermione never went near the kitchens or the Great Hall. She was always in an abandoned classroom, the library, or class. He was getting angry and confused. Ron and Harry weren't speaking about the row and Neville and Draco couldn't seem to find her either. Ginny, he noticed, would be on the Map near her, so he assumed the older girl was helping his sister play catch up. He and his twin cornered their sister and confirmed their suspicions. The result was Ginny giving Hermione several self-inking quill prototypes.

It was almost Valentine's Day when Fred decided he'd had enough. There was no way that Hermione was getting enough to eat. So, he crept quietly down to her latest classroom. Again, she didn't notice him, and again, he stared for a full minute before clearing his throat.

"Goodness, Fred! We have to get a bell for you!" She exclaimed.

"Actually, it's you who needs the bell. You've been missing for the last several weeks. People are worried," he informed her.

"Oh, like who? Draco and Neville? They only want to copy my work. Ron and Harry? Doubtful, seeings as they are refusing to speak to me for at least the rest of the year. Ginny? I see her often enough to tutor. Thanks for the quills, by they way," she said, looking back to her assignment.

"When do you eat?" Fred asked bluntly.

"When I have time," she replied.

"The Map says that you don't have time. You're never in the Great Hall or the kitchens. So, when do you eat?" He asked again, making a point.

"Look, I don't understand when my eating habits became a topic of conversation amongst you wizards, but I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself. I have been for years," Hermione said, her wand sparking from its place on the floor next to her.

"Is that what you three are fighting about? You're eating habits? That seems ridiculous," Fred stated with a scoff.

"No, we are not fighting about my eating habits. We are fighting about something else entirely. Now, get out!" Hermione screeched, launching a textbook at him. Fred ran, unsure of what his next move would be.

"Aunt Minnie! Aunt Minnie!" Harry yelled, running down a corridor and into the Transfiguration professor's office.

"What on earth do you have on your head?" Minerva asked, dismissing the Gryffindor prefects from their Saturday afternoon meeting.

"I didn't mean to! I promise! But you have to help!" Harry pleaded, pulling a knit cap further down on his head.

"Harry, I cannot help you if you do not give me all the information," Minerva said tiredly.

"I tried! I tried and it worked, Aunt Minnie," Harry continued, panic making him run off at the mouth.

"What did you- Oh, this is ridiculous! Accio hat!" Minerva flicked her wand, wanting the babbling to stop. What she found caused her to stare for a full minute.

"This is good, right?" Harry asked, hands going to his head and rubbing the button antlers there. "This means I'm making progress, yeah?"

"It certainly does. I was not planning on this for several months more. Now, what seems to be the problem?" Minerva asked, regaining her composer.

"Um…. They won't go away," Harry muttered.

"Oh, honestly," Minerva scoffed. Then she flicked her wand and the offending protrusions were gone.

"Thanks, Aunt Minnie!" Harry said gleefully, hugging the professor tightly.

Minerva, for all her part, just smiled indulgently and patted him on the head before sending him back to his common room.

March 1994

Winter was trying to close as the Weasley twins snuck butterbeer into the Gryffindor common room. It was ickle Ronniekins' birthday and they were going to celebrate. If the 'Golden Trio' made up whatever little spat they were having, everyone would be the happier for it. Their little tiff wa succeeding in making everyone around them miserable. Draco didn't know who to side with, being very close with both Harry and Hermione. The twins were reserving judgement on the whole situation, since none of them would say why they were at each other's throats to begin with. Neville ducked his head and generally avoided eye-contact with anyone but Ginny.

Ginny, in fact, was the only one thriving. She was getting loads of one-on-one tutoring from Hermione, which succeeded in getting Harry to leave her alone. With Draco staying out of the fight and Harry perceiving her need to play catch-up as a sign of defection to 'the enemy camp,' she was free from their dumb competition for her affections. Ginny was even rising to the top of her class with her newfound dramaless life.

On this, the celebration of his thirteenth birthday, Ron didn't care anymore. He had calmed down enough to realize that Hermione wasn't telling them everything. Whatever animal she'd seen was enough to put her off the whole thing. Hopefully it wasn't a rat like she alluded to months ago. Harry wouldn't hear anything about it, it was his family tradition after all. Ron wouldn't begrudge him that, but Ron was also tired. He hated to admit just how much he relied on Hermione to help him understand what the hell some of his teachers were talking about. They'd been teaching too long, most of them, and had forgotten that not all students have deep seated knowledge of their subject area.

Those thoughts brought Ron down to the common room where Fred and George had set up a small party for him. Charlie had done it for the twins when they were first at Hogwarts, and it had been Percy's place to do this for the younger ones, but with N.E.W.T.s only three months away, he didn't have time for such frivolities. Or anything, really, other than studying. So much studying, all the time.

When the little group of Weasleys, Potters, and Longbottoms gathered, Ron wasn't surprised to see Hermione missing. Ginny tipped back a butterbeer, handed him a cream pie, and took off for another study session with Hermione. She grabbed up a bag of quills, then turned just in time to see Ron sprout wings and turn into a giant canary.

"Yeah! Go, Ginny!" The twins cheered. She smirked at them and went on her way, ready to tell Hermione what had happened. They were best friends, they deserved to have a laugh at the expense of each other's siblings, even if Hermione had none.

Once Ron turned back into a real boy, he decided several things. The twins were scary brilliant, even if they didn't apply themselves. Ginny was getting better, even if he was never going to trust her presents again. And finally, as the night wore on, he decided that it was time to make up with Hermione. That was how things would get better.

Kat: Well, there goes winter. I wish the cold would pass us this quickly. I miss flip-flops!

Gabs: But how would you know you were alive if you didn't feel your whole right foot go numb after being out in the cold for six hours?

Kat: How do you know you're alive if the soul crushing 30 mph wind isn't hitting your face when you start the car in the morning?

Gabs: Don't you just love that feeling? It's literally one of my favorite things. Reminds me of skiing when I was but a wee tot.

Kat: It reminds me of the 2001 ice storm where I was stuck inside with no power for 10 days, with my only company being my sisters.

Gabs: I think that missed us... But I wouldn't know. 2001 was a bit of blur.

Kat: Yeah… can't imagine why. We own nothing!

Gabs: Thanks so much for all the positive reviews! We love that you loved the basilisk scene. Look for a small one-shot where Remus and Hermione discuss it further sometime this week. Probably.

XOXO

Gabs & Kat