CHAPTER THREE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

It was relatively warm when he left the castle to make his way to Hagrid's hut. The grass glittered in the bright sun and the incident with the dementors the day before seemed like a distant memory.

He was confused, however, when he saw the previous class coming back up to the castle. He was pretty sure it was too early.

"They should fire him straight away!" cried Pansy loudly.

"It was Malfoy's fault!" roared Dean Thomas back at her. Icarus saw Crabbe and Goyle flex their muscles threateningly.

Icarus kept walking until he stood directly in front of Pansy. She froze, staring at him. The rest of the class stopped too, watching. A simple raised eyebrow later, she stared talking.

"Draco got hurt - the bloody bird attacked him -"

"Hippogriff," said Seamus angrily, "and Hagrid laid out the rules, not his fault you lot think you're above them."

Icarus broke eye contact with Pansy to look at him. Seamus met his glare with his own.

Madam Pomfrey had mended Draco up by the time Icarus made it to the hospital wing. It was only the fact that she was still in which stopped him from doing anything.

Draco paled when he saw him come in.

"If this effects Hagrid's career," Icarus said, his voice hoarse from disuse, his eyes conveying every warning they could possibly deliver, "I'll make sure yours goes down the drain before you get a chance to start. I don't give a shit if you're a Malfoy. Do you understand me?"

"I-" started Draco, before swallowing, "I didn't mean-"

"Do you understand me or not, Draco?"

Draco nodded hastily.

Icarus left before his temper got the better of him.

. . .

He frowned. Since when did he show up early for Defense Against the Dark Arts?

Slowly, he pushed the door open. Lupin looked up from arranging something at his desk and smiled at him.

"You're early," he said as Icarus came in.

Icarus nodded, claiming a desk near the front.

"Not much of a talker are you?" asked Lupin, finishing up and sitting in his chair.

"I've been mute for almost two months," Icarus said, "I'm working on it."

"Ah," he said, "can I ask what happened?"

"Yes," said Icarus, allowing a smirk to appear on his face. Lupin stared at him in surprise before laughing.

"What's your name?"

"Icarus."

"I look forward to having you in my class, Icarus," said Lupin.

For once, Icarus looked forward to being in that class. Fifteen minutes later, the rest of the class filed in and Icarus found that the seats to either side of him were left empty.

"You won't need your books today," said Lupin, who had stood up.

There was a rustling as those who had taken their books out put them away.

"Now, can someone tell me what you learned last year?"

"Nothing," called one student, to a roar of laughter.

"Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color is lilac," said another.

"I see," chuckled Lupin as the noise died, "alright then, if everyone would please stand. Today I'll be teaching you a relatively basic spell for blocking jinxes and hexes. Watch me closely, please."

He raised his hand and moved his wand downwards.

"Salvio Hexia," he said, "did everyone see that? Now, repeat after me, Salvio Hexia."

After a couple of minutes, he told the class to pair up and Icarus - not to his surprise - was left without a partner.

"You seem to have quite a reputation," Lupin said quietly, joining his side.

"I suppose," said Icarus, amused.

"Ok," said Lupin to the rest of the class, "I want you all to practice now - minor hexes only. Switch only once you've managed to block them successfully. You can begin."

He stepped away from Icarus, with a soft smile on his face.

"Titilando."

Icarus completely forgot he was supposed to use verbal spells. It bounced away from him immediately.

Lupin stared at him in amazement.

"Brilliant," he breathed.

Icarus felt his cheeks heat up a little.

Everyone was weak to compliments.

. . .

Icarus clutched his sides, roaring with laughter.

"I'm glad to see you're talking again," said Snape grumpily, "but it's really not that funny."

"-you- in a - in a dress -" sobbed Icarus, falling out of his chair.

After a couple of minutes, Icarus calmed down enough that he only hiccupped. He didn't bother getting back in the chair but sat on the floor, wiping away his tears. Snape rolled his eyes, an involuntary grin on his face.

Very few features separated the two of them when he removed his glamour - height, age and the color of the eyes.

He'd tied his hair back that day, not expecting any visitors other than Icarus.

"What's up with you and Malfoy, anyway?" he asked, "I thought you were getting along at the end of last year."

"He fucked Hagrid over," said Icarus leaning his head back on the seat of the chair, "so unless he fixes it I'm not planning on forgiving him."

Snape shook his head.

"It's going to be hard to fix it now," he said, "Lucius already received word. He's furious."

Icarus sighed.

"Then what am I supposed to do?" he asked, "I can't not be pissed at him."

"I'm not telling you to do anything," said Snape, shrugging, "I'm just saying. I doubt Hagrid will be fired though. Dumbledore likes him too much."

Icarus shrugged.

Still.

. . .