Chapter 2: Slug, Tonks and Snape…oh my!

After witnessing Malfoy in Knockturn Alley, I'm almost convinced that he's a Death Eater, even if Malfoy's recoil when Madame Malkin had tried to hem his left sleeve didn't convince me enough but seeing him in Borgin and Burke's after we snuck out of Fred and George's booming business (I was met with an enthusiastic welcome as I funded their whole operation) I reckon he's trying to fill his father's now-imprisoned shoes, and by the look on his face when he left, whatever he's up to — it's not good. I keep my opinions to myself, as Hermione and Ron would probably laugh at me.

The Girl Who Lived

When I find myself on the train after being unceremoniously handled by the Aurors (which didn't go without chastisement by the present Aaric Stanton) attached to my safety detail at the platform, Ginny and I travel through the different cabins, looking for compartments. I can feel the stares on me as I go, but I pay them no heed.

"Shannon!" I suddenly hear my name. I turn around to the source of the noise and find Neville and Luna behind me.

"Neville, Luna. Hi. How are you?"

"Very well, thank you," Luna replies dreamily.

"They're staring at us!" Neville exclaims. If only he knew that he could've been the Chosen One himself.

"Because you were at the Ministry and handled yourselves like professionals," I tell them both.

They just smile at me.

Just then a couple of girls show up at our compartment.

"Ask her," one of them asks. Clearly these are the trying-to-be-popular girls. It's amazing how even though we are at a School of Magic, we still have the woes of muggle schools.

"Hi, Shannon. We were just wondering if you'd like to join us in our compartment. So you won't have to sit with them," Romilda Vane says.

"They're friends of mine," I tell her as politely as possible.

She looks surprised and so does her friends. "Oh. Okay."

"People expect you to have cooler friends than us," Luna says dejectedly.

"But do I want them, that's the question."

I see Ron and Hermione pass the compartment on their patrols. All of a sudden a girl runs to our compartment and slides it open, looking at me.

"I'm supposed to deliver this to you," she says and hands me a roll of parchment.

Determining by the embellishment, I'm sensing it's from Slughorn.

Shannon,

I'd be delighted if you could join me for a bite of lunch in Compartment C.

Sincerely,

Professor Horace H.E.F Slughorn

"Who's professor Slughorn?" Neville asks me, clearing reading over my shoulder.

"New teacher," I answer and I don't feel the need to expand it unless asked.

It's a good thing I decided to dress a bit nicely today.

When I get to compartment C, I take immediate notice that I am not Slughorn's only invitee.

"Shannon, my girl!" Slughorn says, jumping up at the sight of me. "Good to see you, good to see you!"

Slughorn gestures that I should sit down and I do. I just happen to sit next to Ginny. I have no idea why she's here.

"Now do you know everyone? Blaise Zabini of your year, of course. Cormac McLaggen, Marcus Belby and this young lady tells me that she knows you!" Ginny just looks at me like she'd rather be cursed than have to sit here.

We aren't exactly greeted by the most enthusiasm I've ever seen.

As Slughorn tells us the stories of People's uncles, I take notice that Belby's uncle invented the Wolfsbane potion. The man is a lifesaver. But as he's doing this, it's my worst fear, that we are all here because they are connected to someone influential.

Slughorn suddenly turns towards me. "And now. Shannon Potter! Where to begin? I feel like I barely scratched the surface when we met over the summer! 'The Chosen One' they're calling you now!"

I see everyone staring at me and I unconsciously move my hand up to my fringe to make sure it's covering the scar.

"Of course, there have been rumors for years…I remember, well, when Lily and James died and you survived that word was you had powers beyond the ordinary—"

Zabini gives a cough, an obviously rude cough.

"Yeah, Zabini, you're so talented…at posing!" Ginny angrily states.

"You might want to be careful, Blaise. I saw this girl perform the most wonderful Bat-Bogey Hex. I wouldn't cross her."

We all settle back down before Slughorn starts again. "Anyway, such rumors. Of course, one doesn't know what to believe, but as it so happens for the ruckus at the Ministry, and the number of witnesses there, that you were in the thick of it!"

I couldn't do anything but nod.

"So modest, so modest! No wonder Dumbledore is so fond — you were there then? And then there's the prophecy."

"We never heard a prophecy," Ginny states. "I was there and all this 'Chosen One' rubbish is just the Prophet making up things as always."

"You were there, too?" Slughorn asks.

Suddenly, (though not so suddenly) Slughorn expresses his anxiety about the time and ushers us out of his compartment to go change into school robes. Oh, this isn't going to be pleasant. I'm going to force myself to bring back what I've learned about my mother and try to be her this year — for Slughorn. For Dumbledore. He wouldn't have brought Slughorn here, nor would he have taken me to him if I didn't have something to do with this.

I have the sense that I am forgetting something, so I go back to the compartment we had been sitting in and am relieved when I see my Transfiguration textbook on the seat. I pick it up and put it in my bag.

But as soon as I go to leave the compartment I hear, "Petrificus Totalus!" I had no reaction time what so ever; I hadn't even heard him. It is Malfoy. I see him bend down over me and grab my cloak out of my bag. He then kicks me in the face, breaking my nose. I sure felt it, but can't do anything about it, being in a full body bind. I feel the blood run down my face.

"That's for my father," he tells me, covering me up with my father's cloak that he got from my bag. If only he knows that we followed him when he went into Borgin & Burke's. It makes me concerned that he's now a Death Eater like his father. Well, at least he doesn't have to worry about fitting in.

"Enjoy your ride back to London, Potter," he says, getting off the train. I hear the engine roar to life.

And I just sit there, on the old, smelly carpet praying that someone would find me. All of a sudden, I feel the cloak fly off my body to see Tonks hovering over me, the cloak in her hands.

"We'd better hurry and get off here. We'll have to jump." We both hasten towards the doors and jump onto the platform before the train can gain too much momentum. The cold night feels good against my still-throbbing nose.

"What the hell happened, Anne?" she asks me. She looks more solemn than the last time I saw her. Her hair is still brown. She takes my face in her hands and rotates it around. "Who was it?" she asks me.

"Malfoy. He blames me for his father's imprisonment," I reply, wincing as her fingers make it close to my nose.

"Stand still," Tonks softly tells me, raising her wand to my face. "Episkey!" My nose feels warm, then cold. The pain is gone; she fixes it.

"Thanks," I tell her smiling, but she barely smiles in response.

There is something not right with her. She waves her wand and a patronus erupts from her wand. It is a giant four-legged creature that looks like a large canine. It runs towards the school. I guess that it is a wolf.

Remus, I mentally chastise him.

"How did you find me?" I ask her suddenly.

"I noticed that you hadn't left and that the blinds in that compartment were drawn, so I thought I'd better check. I'm stationed here now, so if something happens to you, everyone would have my head," she replies, attempting to lighten herself up a bit.

In response, her hair gains little pink streaks, but quickly changes back to brown. Last year I knew her to be easy-going, joking and very light. Now she seems older, (or at least trying to act like it) more serious and focused. I notice that while we are walking to the castle, she has not fallen once, a miracle when it comes to Tonks. We reached the gates. She was really trying. My guess: Remus is still being all doom and gloom.

"Extra security's been added to the school: Chains, locks, anti-intruder jinxes. Anything you can imagine, its here."

"I guess I'll just sleep out here," I tell her.

"Look, someone is coming for you," she announces, pointing towards the castle at a bobbling light in the distance.

As the person comes closer, it is easy to see that it is Snape. I just look at Tonks and she gives me the 'I'm sorry' look. Great, fantastic, just what I need…to be humiliated. I wouldn't be surprised if he talked to Malfoy and given him House Points for beating me up. I would rather deal with Filch's rants than this, and that, is saying something.

"Well, well, well," Snape sneers, unlocking the gates and they creak open. "Nice of you to turn up, Potter," he says, looking me up and down.

"There is no need to wait, Nymphadora, Potter is quite, ah, safe in my hands."

Safe? I'd rather have to deal with a ravenous and extremely irritated Fluffy.

"Hagrid was supposed to get my message," Tonks says, not even reacting to being called Nymphadora.

"Hagrid was late for the feast just like Miss Potter, here. And incidentally, I was interested to see your new patronus."

The only thing I know of that can change a patronus is an emotional tragedy. I read it in a book once while in Sirius' study. I immediately flinch as I think of my dead godfather. Remus has not allowed himself to try to make a relationship work with Tonks. She wouldn't be brooding unless she knew he felt the same. He and I might just have to have a little chat at the next opportunity.

"I think you're better off with the old one. The new one looks weak," Snape continues maliciously.

I just gasp. He can hate me all he wants, but he's not going to lash out at Tonks. I vow revenge.

I can see Tonks' shock and anger as Snape smiles his twisted triumphant smile.

"Tonks? Thanks for everything," I tell her while I hug her.

She hugs me back. "See you, Anne," she replies with sadness in her voice.

"Don't listen to him," I tell her in her ear.

I can almost feel the heat in my side, the hatred rolling off him as we walk to the castle. I am walking a little confidently, determined not to give him the satisfaction of reacting to anything he says.

Even though Snape is holding a lantern, I wordlessly produce a lumos charm and my wand tip lights.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor for lateness, I think. I don't think that any house has started out in negative figures. We haven't even started pudding; you might have set a record. I don't think you're father was this accomplished. I suppose you wanted to make an entrance, did you?" I know Snape intercepted Tonks' patronus so he could torment me in these few minutes without anyone around to watch or listen.

I don't listen to him. I get myself ready to play his game. I decide to use what Andrew told me last year as a weapon for revenge.

"So caring about someone makes you weak? Tell that to dementors. If Remus is denying himself, he might be a coward, but weak he is not. If he were, he would have never survived his transformation," I comment aloud, not really expecting him to say anything more. I'm playing his game. "What is that would let you be able to produce a patronus? Oh, wait. You don't even need to be able to produce one, the dementors have joined Voldemort."

"Do not use the Dark Lord's name!" Snape spits at me.

"Happy that you got the Defense post, are you? Got what you wanted. I would've had you in class anyway. I got an 'Outstanding' on my potions OWL. Good luck. Just remember that no teacher has lasted more than a year," I tell him as I lengthen my pace and march up the stairs.

I walk into the Great Hall and quickly walk over to the Gryffindor table and sit in the empty spot by Hermione; she clearly saved me a spot. I finally risk a glance around and everyone is staring.

"What happened?"

"Malfoy," I reply. "How's my nose looking?"

"The same," Ron supplies.

"Why shouldn't it?" Hermione asks me.

"I'll tell you later," I tell her.

"But —"

"Not now," I cut across. "This is going to be interesting," I whisper.

I could obviously care less how many people know about what happened. Malfoy ambushed me, cowardly brute.

"Snape said Hagrid was late for the feast," I comment.

"You've seen Snape?" Ron asks me.

"Yes," is all I say.

Dumbledore then rises to give us a speech. When he announces that Snape is teaching defense against the dark arts, I can hear the mutters, whispers, but the Slytherins cheer him on.

"Miss Potter, Miss Potter," McGonagall starts. "You are fine to continue on as you wish for Herbology, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic and Care of Magical Creatures," I take my schedule and begin my day.

NO DIVINATION OR ASTRONOMY! I rejoice.

I imagine many people won't accompany me, at the NEWT level in Care of Magical Creatures, but as it is my wish to work in the Office of Magical Law Enforcement, it might include understanding animals. If we ever get Voldemort taken care of, I hope to help take care of the corruption in our government.

A girl can dream.