Chapter 35

AN: I wouldn't normally do this, but, this chapter is dedicated to Madam Isa Palindrome; Thank you for pointing out what should have been obvious!

The common room in the Gryffindor Tower was busy. Busy and noisy. The Christmas holidays had long passed but they had not yet faded from memory and so much of the spirit spilt over into the term that no one, not even Hermione, had managed to become serious about homework. Even Snape was keeping off the ridiculous amount of essay lengths and points loss in Potions was decreasing significantly, for which everyone was thankful and several notes had been received on the matter by Sirius.

Happily full all of the Gryffindor's were gathered in the common room in a noisy bunch while the fire roared in the grate bathing them all in warms as the rain hammered at the windows unheard by the chattering and laughing students.

Hermione had made a half-hearted attempt to do some work but it had quickly been abandoned in favour of discussing laws and how the joke shop the twins ran kept within their boundaries. Ron had joined her and sat as the twins talked through how they set up and some of their ideas that failed. They were all enjoying an evening of friendship and laughter when Rasalas fought her way through the crowd of second years, apologising on the way, to their table in the corner.

"Hermione, I need you, O Brightest Witch of her age, to create a ward."

"A ward?" Hermione repeated bemused.

"Yes, one to repel morons, preferably so they stay away. I'm not bothered if they are harmed, perhaps the twins could help?"

"Repel-"Hermione's confused repetition was cut off as an enthusiastic 'Ras where are you!" sounded through the common room. Quickly the girl in question began to dig frantically through the bag slung on her shoulder muttering to herself loud enough for the others to hear her. The second year girls began looking around for the source of the shout recognising the voice and clearly wanting some attention.

"It's here, I know it is, I definitely put it in-Here it is!" Triumphantly she pulled out a fluid cloak. "James, I love you! None of you saw me." She vanished.

After a moment or two of silence Ron questioned his brothers and girlfriend before Harry arrived looking flustered after fighting through adoring fans.

"Do you think Charlie should be worried?"

"Don't worry little brother."

"It's just proof that she likes older men." Harry came across them all laughing and wanted to be in on the joke, quickly remembering one of Harry's deeds in the past they quickly picked one and told him they were feeling nostalgic, he quickly took a seat seeing his chance of hearing more and possibly being worshipped. He was disappointed when an hour later they had only talked about their own adventures without mentioning him.

The resident Potions Professor threw himself into the comfy chair behind the imposing desk in his office and put his head in his hands. After a few moments he sighed and, resting his chin on his interlocking fingers, he stared in silence at the notes he had taken in the staff meeting he had just come from.

Most of the talk had been about lessons and students who were struggling with their work or to fit in the social lives of their classmates, or those who needed more of a challenge. It was agreed that the only students who needed to be watched carefully were the Weasley twins, who made every teacher slightly nervous if not terrified.

After the newer teachers, Miss Evans and Mr Durrant the Defence teacher, had left the older teachers continued the meeting discussing the rules that they felt needed to be enforced etc. Towards the end of the meeting in the lull that had sprung up Minerva had made a point that she wished to speak to the other Heads of Houses to get some advice on homesick students. They all agreed to stay on after the end of the meeting and Severus had felt his stomach clench in anticipation and dread.

Once all of the other Professors had left the four Heads of Houses had gathered in seats closer to each other and Minerva had served them all with cups of tea a house-elf brought with a sheepish blush on her face.

"It was a slight counterfeit that I used. I have no homesick student to deal with but I do need your opinion. I'm not sure if you have noticed, I am amazed it has taken me just over a term, but have any of you spotted that Rasalas Black's handwriting is identical to the handwriting of Harry Potter in previous years or that Harry Potter's writing has totally changed?" The three Professors seemed deep in thought; Severus actually closed his eyes, as Minerva cast her eyes over her colleagues. If she was honest with herself she had expected Severus to have spotted the change first as he had a sharper eye than her.

Of course Severus had noticed, but he hadn't thought anything of it because, obviously, he knew that Rasalas and the Harry Potter of previous years were one and the same and that this years Harry Potter was a totally different person. However he hadn't realised that anyone else would notice or bring it up and so had not mentioned it to Rasalas, now that Minerva had brought it up he had little time to change anything and so would have to see where she stood and what her actions were.

"I have," began Filius "noticed over the last term that Harry Potter seems very different than before, I could easily claim that he seems happier in his fame now but still looks to be a child, in fact in maturity he may have regressed."

"I am with Filius, and I'm sure his next comment will be about Lady Black and how she acts in the same way Potter did before. There have been moments in my lessons when I have almost called her 'Mr Potter' in praise.

"Between the three of you," Severus began slowly, "you have enough evidence, which I could add to if I tried hared enough, to call an enquiry within the school, if not the Ministry, so why not bring this to Albus' attention, Minerva?"

Minerva flushed and looked at the half full tea-cup in her hands on her lap before looking at each of them, for only a moment, straight in the eye. She placed her cup on the table before them and straightened up.

"Albus would not looking into it, he would merely brush it off as my imagination and would not believe the accusations I am about to divulge to you. I believe that the Harry Potter we have before us this year was in hiding with his parents and so that is why he is so different." Silence met her idea and Severus felt oddly pleased that she had worked it out that far and was sure Rasalas would be pleased to know too. Pomona was the first to speak softly.

"What of Lady Black? How do you explain her actions?"

"She has confused me slightly, but I have an idea. What if she had been the Harry Potter we knew before? I'm not sure how she came to be revealed as Lady Black now, or even how she was Harry Potter before, but all of the signs point that way." There was a long pause of tense silence as they all thought over what was revealed.

"Is this possible? Don't you think it is slightly...far-fetched, Minerva?" Filius squeaked.

"I had at first thought that is was coincidence but Potter is so different from before; failing when in the past he would succeed, not to mention his abysmal flying. No matter what excuses he or Miss Weasley give, that is not he boy who I put on the team as a first year. Besides, Severus hasn't scoffed at the idea, so it must mean he has thought the same thing."

Severus groaned and let his head hang between his arms; he'd had no excuse and hadn't known what to say. So he agreed and asked what she thought the next course of action was. Should the Headmaster be told? To his surprise, and relief, Minerva had strongly opposed that. She said that if Albus was told he would attempt to exert control over Black as he had done Potter, she added that it would be best if Miss Black was left with her Uncle and that meant that Severus would have an eye on her too.

Pomona, feeling that the underhanded means of watching Rasalas Black should not be allowed, spoke up declaring that perhaps they should speak to the young lady and see if their ideas had any truth to them before spying on her and watching her to see if they were right. 'She's a bright girl, I doubt we'd fool her for long- if at all if she really was Mr Potter and therefore has gone through the War as him.."

Soon it was all agreed that Severus would approach her as he was part of her family after his Christmas marriage. Now he had to break the news to her. He was partly in disbelief that the Professors worked it out but also very annoyed that none of those on her side thought about her writing style. She hadn't changed that much and so something like writing wouldn't have been noticed if she hadn't needed to return to school where she was writing every day and essays were taken in by Professors who had been teaching her for the last six years.

Obviously, already knowing the story, Severus wouldn't have to ask for it but he would need to talk to her about what he could divulge. He sighed again, this one more relaxed, as he heard his floo alarm sound and his husband's magic wash over him, at least he didn't have to talk to her alone.