Harry sat in the common room, around the table with the rest of the Slytherin "Firsties". All of whom were glaring at match sticks. One of the younger prefects was tutoring the first years on their upcoming Transfiguration lesson.

Jack was with them, as well, though he was attempting to get a feather to float... strangely even John was with the first years, practicing with a match stick. Yesterday, he had spent his morning studying with the third years.

That was part of the reason Snape didn't take the boys to see the med witch in the morning. He didn't want the boys to miss their morning tutoring session... and he certainly wasn't going to wake them up even earlier. Such young boys need their sleep after all.

"You best be mindful." Informed Marcus Flint, the 7th year's little brother. Apparently, prefects were strong in his family.

He lectured as the youngest Slytherins attempted to turn their matches into needles. Snape wanted them to have a leg up on their class, later that morning, that way they were more likely to earn points... and less likely to embarrass their house. Plus Snape was always trying to get a leg up on Mcgonagall. According to the older kids, Snape and the Transfiguration teacher had a huge rivalry.

Harry tried to listen to Flint give helpful advice on how to handle the class' teacher, while also working on the spell.

Yesterday, Professor Flitwick taught the first years how to feel their magic, and mold it into their wand. Today it seemed they would actually be using that new skill.

"McGonagall is a shrewd woman," Said Flint. "Who has no tolerance for any 'tomfoolery'. Especially between Slytherins and her Gryffindors. Though, you don't have to worry about her taking house prejudice out on us. She is a fair witch, and is just as likely to skin her lions if she catches them causing mischief. She actually tries to make sure the house rivalry doesn't spill past competitive Quidditch."

"I DID IT!" The Doctor exclaimed as he looked at his discolored needle. The red tip on the, otherwise perfect, needle... made it look a bit like it had been used to stab someone.

Flint nodded, "Very good Mister Lethbridge Stewart."

Blaise scowled, "Of course he did it! He already learned this stuff!"

"Actually." John grinned, "They didn't have Transfiguration when I first studied magic. The closest thing was Alteration, but that really isn't the same thing. Completely different mechanics." He suddenly giggled, "You lot went and invented an entirely new application of magic! In my day, nothing short of a master sage could form such acts of transmutation. Yet you humans found a way to simplify the spells to the point they could be taught at SECONDARY SCHOOL! Not even university but Secondary School!"

The Doctor hopped in his seat, as excited as... well a first year studying magic. All hints of the terrifying aura he was projecting last night gone... Harry couldn't help but wonder if he imagined that. He was really sleepy after all.

"How old are you!?" Draco suddenly yelped.

"How rude!" The Doctor huffed. "Never ask a lady her age."

"You're not a girl, Doctor." Jack was making his feather twitch, but that was it. Unlike the rest of them, he didn't use any incantations. He was merely trying to "will it" to float.

"I'm not." The Doctor looked down at his lap, as if to check. "Ah, I suppose it's fine then." though he didn't answer the question.

"Don't think acting silly will distract me!" Draco glared, and the Doctor's estimation of the boy rose. "Transfiguration has been taught at Hogwarts for over 700 years!"

The Doctor blinked, "Really? How time flies."

Draco glared, "Just how many times have you got yourself shrunk!"

The Doctor waved off, "Oh I find myself with a new face often enough. Though rarely one so young."

The Slytherins paled, as Blaise asked, "L-like necromancy?"

Before the Doctor could answer, Jack laugh, "Oh yes, The Doctor likes to creep into little boy's bedrooms and pour his soul into their body. He's quite the vengeful little wraith."

The Doctor just glared at him, but Jack seemed unphased as he laughed. By some of the children's expressions, it seemed they believed him. After all, they had been taught their whole lives that UNIT was just as evil as the Dark Lord himself.

Flint seemed less then impressed. "You best keep such ghost stories in house. I don't want the other houses getting the wrong idea. They are quick to believe any vile thing to do with a Slytherin." Then looked at the other kids, "Time Lords are like a humanoid version of Phoenixes. They are a human subspecies that just form a new body when they die. You'll learn all about them in Third Year, 'Care of Magical Creatures' class. When you go over the difference kinds of 'Beings' and Wizard Sub races."

The other first years just blushed that they had been made the fool. While Jack continued to laugh.

"It's not that funny." The Doctor chastised Jack, who appeared in hysterics.

"Right Right." Jack wiped a tear away. He was about to flick it when the wetness suddenly lept off his finger in went into a vial Snape was holding. Just where Snape came from was anyone's guess. It was like he could sense someone was being frivolous with potions ingredients.

"Honestly, I have never seen a Boekind so careless with their tears." He scolded, before attempting to hand the vial back to Jack.

"Errrr, you can keep it." Jack blushed at his tears being collected.

Snape's eyes buggered out of his head. Before instantly being replaced by a mask, "Mister Lethbridge Stewart." he got his lecturing teacher voice going, "Boekind tears can be used in some of the darkest, most vial potions imaginable. NEVER give your tears to ANYONE." He glared down the child disapprovingly. "The fact you don't know this, troubles me."

Jack hesitantly took the vial, not knowing what to say... or do with it, really.

Thankfully Draco spoke up. "He's a squib. Or was. Had to take the magic blesser just to come here. Maybe Boekind tears aren't as potent from their Squib children?"

Snape visibly relaxed, "They aren't, in fact. 5 points to Slytherin for your logical conclusion."

Draco smiled, puffing up his chess, "Thanks, Uncle Sev!"

Snape rolled his eyes, "Don't think I would reward you for something meaningless, godson or not. You earned those points." Then turned back to Jack, "You must be more mindful. As a fully realized Boekind, there are few things more dangerous then your tears or blood. They potentially hold great restorative abilities, but are also the primary ingredient in many necromancy related rituals and potions."

Jack studied the vial, before looking back at the other first years with a grin, "Any of you want to buy these?"

Snape immediately whacked the boy upside his head. "I swear, Jack, if I learn you actually sold any of your bodily fluids to ANYONE, I will skin your little hide to the point you'd WISH you could die. Then I'd call your guardian and you could explain to them why you were suspended and they need to pick you up."

Jack paled, "I was joking!" he insisted.

"This is not something to joke about!" Snape snapped. "Do you have any idea how many of your people were hunted and tortured, just in the hope they would shed a tear. It was worse then what they did to Mermaids, as Boekind can't actually die regardless of the worse tortures."

Jack folded in on himself, imagining what his descendants went through during the dark ages... back when Magical Beings were being hunted for their 'ingredients'.

"Have some respect!" Snape glared, then froze, as he saw John glaring back at him. It wasn't like Dumbledore's occasional flair ups. Or the Aura of any angry magical really... this was... something quieter... something... deadly...

Jack gently laid his hand on John's, and the change was immediate. The Time Lord instantly calmed. Regardless he looked at Snape and explained, "Jack has never even met another Boekind before. It is unfair of you to lay so much on him."

Snape considered this... was John not the only child stolen by Unit... He supposed it make sense that they would try to get their hands on a Boekind as well as a Time Lord (even if John was a hybrid). They might very well have other Magical Beings, they kidnapped as children... the ministry certainly wouldn't bat an eye at their disappearance. Their own government wouldn't kick up much of a fuss, either. Not for Hybrids, and certainly not Squibs. The families may be distraught, but the government would stop looking after a few days and not give it another thought... if they bothered to look at all.

Snape supposed he should be grateful the boy didn't know about the dangers of his blood or tears. That meant Unit likely didn't know, as if they had, they would have been harvesting them from the boy... or perhaps they didn't simply because he was a squib and he wasn't as potent for ingredients. He was much more useful as an undead soldier...

Snape had been so focused on John, he practically forgot he had another tortured soul in his care.

Snape put a compassionate hand on Jack's shoulder.

"If you want." Snape spoke gently, "I can get you some books on Boekind." he knew Madam Poppy had some. As a Master Healer, she was well trained in the biology and treatment of all magical beings. She even had a few books on their cultural norms and taboos.

Jack blinked, then smiled, "I'd like that... very much..."

Snape nodded, patting the boy's shoulder... perhaps it be best if Snape never informed their guardian of any mischief the boys got into... he had to remind himself that the man was most likely, not a concerned parent, but rather the children's handler for Unit.

He remembered back to the night before last. When Jack was complaining about how the "Brigadier" beat him to the point he'd "never sit again"... it's possible that wasn't the over exaggeration of a child...

Harry might not be the only abuse victim Snape had to save...

###

A/N:

For those that are confused, this is mostly Snape jumping to conclusions. The Brigadier may be a "crotchety old man" but he most certainly isn't abusive with the boys.

As for Unit, they really are the good guys, and don't go around kidnapping children, but because of the horrible things Torchwood has done, the magical world tends to think the worst of them. In reality Unit is a peace keeping organization that specializes in aliens and, in this fic, magic. They work for the Muggle UN, and are the bridge between the muggle and magical worlds... though this results in them being misunderstood by both sides.