A/N: Not mine, the Harry Potter Universe as always belongs to J.K. Rowling and all the other affiliates.
Chapter Thirty-Five – Losses
Harry sat down alone on the Hogwarts Express. Ron and Hermione were away at their Prefects meeting and Fred, George, and Ginny were off sitting with their own friends. Harry should have been getting a head start on his reading, as he had only just gotten his books the day before, but he couldn't muster the energy.
Ron still wasn't talking to him, he hadn't seen Remus since the night of the Order meeting, and Sirius and Severus weren't all that happy with him. Harry wasn't happy with himself either.
Harry stood up to lock the door so he could be left alone for the train ride, but before he could there was a knock at the door. Harry hesitated but opened it. He didn't expect to see Draco Malfoy on the other side. Harry just blinked as Draco stood there in silence. "Is there something I can help you with?" he finally asked.
"Umm, can I sit with you?" he asked haltingly.
Harry stared at Draco for another moment and then stepped aside. "Sure," he said with a shrug.
Draco dragged his trunk in and then flicked his wand to get it up in the overhead compartment opposite to Harry's truck and then he sat down across from Harry. "Thanks for letting me sit here, everywhere else seems to be full," Draco said quietly. Harry only nodded, not commenting on why he wasn't sitting with the other Slytherins. "Are Granger and Weasley going to be joining us?" he asked after a few moments where neither said anything.
"Probably not Ron, but he and Hermione are Prefects anyways," Harry said with a frown and that was when he noticed that Draco didn't have a Prefect badge. "I thought you would have made Prefect too," Harry tried to say casually, but there was no disguising the obvious question.
Draco shook his head. "I was supposed to be, but I turned it down. I didn't want the added pressure during OWL's year." Harry was rather surprised by that, but he didn't comment. He didn't have any desire to be a Prefect either.
The two elapsed into silence again, but it was a comfortable silence. Harry looked out of their window as the scenery rolled passed and Draco pulled a book from his bag to read. Harry was just about to get one himself when another knock came at the door. Harry opened it to find several Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs on the other side, and it looked like Neville Longbottom was leading them all.
"Hello, Harry, can we come in? I-I mean if it's alright with – with you Draco," Neville stuttered after noticing the blond.
Draco looked at the large group of fifth years for a moment and then shrugged. "If you like," he said and moved over closer to the window as they all filed in.
There wasn't enough room on the benches for them all so some sat on the floor. Harry looked over the group curiously as everyone got situated and then he turned to Neville. "Was there just not enough compartments left?" Harry asked with amusement. Almost every fifth year Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw were jammed into the compartment.
"Actually, we, the Gryffindors anyways, heard about you moving up a year and wanted to know if it was true?" Neville asked.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, it's true, but that doesn't explain why you're all crammed like sardines into this compartment."
The group chuckled. "Actually, Neville was telling us how you helped him in Potions and with some of his other classes," Hannah Abbot said from the floor. "And we got talking and with some other people and…"
"Well we were wondering if you wouldn't mind tutoring us, as a group, if you have time," Lavender Brown finished for Hannah and the others nodded. Harry stared at the lot.
"He says you're a really good teacher, and it being OWL's year and all, we thought a bit of extra study wouldn't hurt," Padma Patil said from where she sat beside her twin.
"And maybe a little bit of extra Defense training, wouldn't go amiss," Dean Thomas said with a chuckle.
Harry continued to stare at the group, he hadn't thought of putting the DA or anything similar together at all. It hadn't even crossed his mind. But here they all were, perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea.
"I wouldn't mind getting in on this," Draco said, bringing Harry around from his thoughts. "If you're willing to teach us, I'm certainly willing to learn."
"I suppose we could start a group study session or something…" Harry said; the gears in his head turning, and then a small smile came to his lips. "Actually, I have a better idea. Meet me on the seventh floor, next to the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy right after dinner tomorrow night, and bring anyone who wants to learn."
"Anyone?" asked Seamus.
"Anyone, I don't care about year or house. If they want to learn, bring them," Harry said; a gleam coming into his eyes, almost a twinkle.
The compartment door suddenly opened and Hermione stared gaping at the large group before her. "Did I miss something? Are we trying to see how many of one class we can fit into a compartment?" she asked.
"Yes," Harry answered and everyone started laughing.
--
Harry sat down at the Welcome Feast next to Hermione; Ron was sitting further down by his sister, blatantly ignoring him. "Do you think he'll ever forgive me?" Harry asked quietly. Hermione looked at Harry with sympathy in her eyes.
"I don't know, Harry, he's still pretty angry. But I don't think it has to do with you moving up a year," Hermione said, bighting her lip.
Harry looked up to her. "Then why is he angry with me, what did I do?"
"Harry when you d-died, I think that scared him. It scared us all, but I think Ron's always assumed you'd be here and then you weren't and…"
"And now I'm moving up a year, and it's like I'm leaving him again," Harry whispered with understanding in his eyes. Hermione nodded sadly. "Maybe I should just ask Dumbledore to keep me with the fifth year class," Harry sighed.
"No, Harry, you need this, for yourself. I've seen how bored you are in class, and though I'm going to miss my study partner, you need to move on."
Harry smiled crookedly at Hermione. "I'll have your help with the club anyways, right?"
"Hell yes!" Harry snorted when Hermione suddenly clapped her hand over her mouth. "I mean, yes, of course," she giggled. "This is going to be so cool, and the Professors are going to be absolutely in shock when students start getting O's on their tests and stuff."
Harry chuckled. "I can't wait to see the look on Severus' face when students start brewing potions correctly on the first try," Harry chuckled.
"Do you think the seventh years will really help teach us?" Hermione asked.
"I think so, and it will help them review for their NEWT's. Besides I'm going to be teaching them some of the things, Severus' has been showing me, and I know of at least a handful of them that won't turn that down." Harry said quietly.
"We're not telling Dumbledore about this, right?" Hermione whispered.
"There's nothing in the rules about starting a study club, but I don't see the need to tell any of the professors, they'll find out eventually anyways, if the numbers I'm expecting come to the Room of Requirement tomorrow night."
Hermione smiled. "I can't wait to see the look on the Professors' faces when they see all the houses working together." Harry nodded in agreement.
Harry looked down the table at Ron, when he caught him looking in his and Hermione's direction. Ron sneered and turned away. Harry sighed. If Ron was so afraid of losing him, why was he trying to push him away? Harry's attention was diverted as the first years were led into the Hall.
Harry wasn't surprised when the sorting hat again gave it's warning about uniting the houses, and Hermione nudged him with a small smile on her lips. Harry just shrugged and he clapped for the hat. "Who knew?" Harry whispered.
While everyone else was busy talking about the Hat's new song, Harry was looking over the staff for their reactions. That was when he noticed something amiss; the addition to the staff table and the lack of Remus Lupin. "Hermione, where's Remus," Harry whispered as soon as he noticed him missing.
Hermione scanned over the staff table herself and shook her head. "I don't know, but who's that?" Hermione pointed to the women, sitting primly at the end of the staff table. They already knew about Hagrid being gone for a while, but no one had mentioned anything about a new staff member.
She was skinny and had a pale complexion, but her posture indicated no weakness. She looked out over the students with a stern blue-eyed glare. Her brown hair was tied into a neat bun at the base of her neck and her impeccable deep blue robes broke no argument that she was one for absolute perfection. Harry was a little intimidated by her.
"She can't be taking over for Remus, can she?" Hermione asked with a bit of concern in her voice.
Harry shook his head. "Why would she? Remus has been doing great at the job, and the governors all know about his condition. There wouldn't be a reason for him to step down."
"But if she's not here to take over Remus' job, where is he? And why is she here?" Hermione asked quietly.
"I'm sure we'll find out in a minute," Harry muttered as Dumbledore finally stood up, just as the last first year was sorted into Hufflepuff and the hat was taken away.
As the clapping came to an end at the Hufflepuff table, Dumbledore gave everyone a smile, but to Harry, who knew the man rather well, it was forced. "To our newcomers, welcome, and to our old hands, welcome back. I have a few announcements, but I'll leave those until our stomachs are full. Tuck in!"
"I was sure he would have told us before we ate," Harry muttered and then began to fill his plate. "It can't be that she's taking Remus' job though," Harry said to Hermione as they dug into their food. "I mean we've seen him nearly all summer, someone would have mentioned something, him or otherwise, if he wasn't going to be at Hogwarts this year."
Hermione nodded in agreement, but she had a worried look in her eyes. The look suddenly turned to disgust as she looked down the table at Ron, who was talking to Sir Nicholas with his mouth so full, bits of food were coming out.
"Will he ever grow up?" Hermione said hotly as she looked away. Harry shook his head and looked away himself as Nick floated off with an affronted look on his face. Harry was surprised when the ghost stopped next to him a few minutes later.
"Mr. Potter, how are you?" Nick asked.
"I'm doing okay, thank you, Sir Nicholas. Do you know why Remus Lupin isn't at the staff table?" Harry asked on a whim.
Nick looked up at the staff table and frowned slightly. "The ministry is trying to interfere with your education again," Nick said, shaking his head slightly.
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione.
"They are requiring certain subjects to be taught only by Masters or Mistresses of that subject. The last time this happened was during the reign of Gellert Grindelwald," Nick said still looking up at the staff table.
"Well that can't be so bad," Hermione said uncertainly but then she caught the look in Harry's eyes.
"Remus isn't a Master," Harry confirmed.
"It's all well in good to have more experienced individuals teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, and Charms," Nick said as he turned away from the staff table. "But the Ministry should keep their hands out of the school and allow the Headmaster and Governors to choose who they want to teach you all."
"Does that mean Remus isn't going to be teaching us anymore?" Hermione asked, but before Nick could answer, Dumbledore rose to his feet and the hall fell silent.
"Well now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," Dumbledore said as he looked out over the Hall. "First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students – and a few of our older students ought to know by now too."
Harry and Hermione shared a knowing smirk and then brought their attention back to the headmaster.
"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door. If the esteemed Weasley twins would allow Mr. Filch to see his office door before you head off to your dormitory tonight, it would be most appreciated."
Snickering came from the hall, much of it down the Gryffindor table where Fred and George were sitting, being congratulated on their prank well done and being given condolences on being caught out. The twins were eating it up.
"We have had a few changes in staffing this year," Dumbledore continued, once the hall had fallen quiet again. The amusement that had been on his face was now gone. "We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons until Professor Hagrid can return from his holiday."
A smattering of applause followed as Dumbledore paused, but the majority of the students remained silent, obviously wanting to know who this new teacher was and what she was going to be teaching. Harry himself was on the edge of his seat, even though he'd already figured out that she was obviously here to teach Defense, but he really wanted to know where Remus was, he had a sinking feeling in his stomach.
Dumbledore continued. "This has not been formally announced to the public as of yet, but the Ministry has decided to enact their Educational Decree Seventeen, in light of the recent developments with the Dark Lord and his followers. In accordance with the Decree, professors of Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfigurations, and Potions must hold a Mastery level in that field to teach at Hogwarts." Dumbledore let this information settle a moment before he continued.
"Unfortunately, Professor Lupin does not meet this standard, but do not worry, he's not left us, he will be staying on staff to help Professor Black with the Dueling class and assist with Defense Against the Dark Arts." Harry frowned, he hadn't said where Remus was, and Sirius was looking at the table in front of him and not at Dumbledore like the rest of the staff. "With that said, I would like to introduce Mistress Elena Mordant who will be taking over Potions."
There was a simultaneous shocked gasp from the students; even Harry had his mouth hanging open as Hermione tugged on his robe. "Did he just say what I think he said," she whispered, Harry could only stare up at the staff table as whispers went up and down the hall.
"Professor Severus Snape, as you all may have guessed, will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year." Even more whispered swept the hall at that announcement. Harry didn't know how to react. The last time Severus had been given the position, Harry had been incensed, but now he didn't know if he should be happy for his surrogate father or not, and the expression on Severus face didn't give away whether or not he was pleased himself.
A smattering of polite applause followed, but Harry just looked down at the table as Dumbledore finished his announcements about Quidditch tryouts and sent them off to bed. "Harry," Hermione whispered. "I have to go escort the first years, but Professor Dumbledore didn't say where Remus is, maybe you should ask him." She said and got up to usher the first years together.
Harry decided to do just that and made his way to the head table where the Professors were starting to leave themselves. He looked over the staff table as he walked, this time really taking them in. It was Sirius that gave it away, his complexion, the lost look in his eyes, and Harry knew. He stopped in his tracks.
"Where's Remus?" Harry interrupted Dumbledore who was talking quietly with Severus. He suddenly had a really bad feeling.
"Harry," Severus said quietly, reaching out to Harry. Harry took a step back and shook his head. By now several people had noticed and were looking on, stopping other people with their curiosity, who stopped others. "Harry, please," he said quietly.
"Just tell me. Is he dead?" Harry asked heavily, this got even more attention and the hall suddenly went silent as students stopped leaving.
Severus took a deep breath and looked out over the students staring at them. "We don't know, he's been captured by Death Eaters." The hall was even more silent at that.
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A/N: I know another cliffy, don't worry next chapter will be up as soon as I edit it.