AN: Another chapter! :O I wanted to make up for not posting for such a long time, so call this a 'I'm so sorry' gift! Now, let me just say I absolutely adore Snape even in all his bat-like greasy glory! Lol. He's such a deep, complicated character that I just HAD to put in his lesson with Harry! Forgive me for using mostly canon in these bits, but I have added my own stuff as well! I promise you, it's going mostly in its own direction, so it won't stay canon forever, but like I said, I really like Snape and his DADA lesson is funny.
Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change.
- Thomas Hardy
They made it to the school in tense silence after Snape had removed points from Gryffindor house for Harry's late arrival, he was unable to remove points from Sirius as he was not from their time and was therefore, apparently, immune from such things. Harry was forced to walk into the Great Hall without his cloak and he did so rapidly, Sirius on his heels. He reached the Gryffindor table and slid between Hermione and Ron, Sirius sat on their other side, ignoring the odd looks and mutters that surrounded them. Ron and Hermione tried to question Harry and Sirius on where they had been and why Harry was covered in blood, but he silenced them with a look.
Finally, after the pudding had been eaten, Dumbledore stood and smiled around at the now silent students. "Now, as everybody in this Hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining in strength."
The silence seemed to tauten and strain as Dumbledore spoke. Harry glanced at Malfoy. Malfoy was not looking at Dumbledore, but making his fork hover in midair with his wand, as though he found the Headmaster's words unworthy of his attention.
"I cannot emphasize strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them-in particular, the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and others' safety." Dumbledore's blue eyes swept over the students before he smiled once more. "But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be well-rested for your lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say good night. Pip pip!"
As the students stood, Harry, Sirius and Ron lagged behind and followed slowly. "So," Ron began slowly. "What happened?" Harry explained how he had followed Malfoy into the Slytherin compartment and overheard his conversation, then told Ron that Malfoy had Petrified him and broken his nose. "Yeah, I saw Malfoy miming something to do with a nose earlier." Ron muttered darkly as they followed the press of students trying to get into the Entrance Hall. "But I still don't reckon that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would take on Malfoy...he was probably just boasting to show off for Parkinson."
"How d'you know Voldemort doesn't need someone at Hogwarts? It wouldn't be the first -"
"I wish yeh'd stop sayin' tha name, Harry," said a reproachful voice behind them. Harry looked over his shoulder to see Hagrid shaking his head.
"Dumbledore uses that name," said Harry stubbornly.
"Yeah, well, tha's Dumbledore, innit?" said Hagrid mysteriously. "So how come yeh were late, Harry? I was worried."
"Got held up on the train," said Harry. "Why were you late?"
"I was with Grawp," said Hagrid happily. "Los' track o' the time. He's got a new home up in the mountains now, Dumbledore fixed it-nice big cave. He's much happier than he was in the forest. We were havin' a good chat."
"Really?" said Harry, taking care not to catch Ron's eye; the last time he had met Hagrid's half-brother, a vicious giant with a talent for ripping up trees by the roots, his vocabulary had comprised five words, two of which he was unable to pronounce properly.
"Oh yeah, he's really come on," said Hagrid proudly. "Yeh'll be amazed. I'm thinkin' o' trainin' him up as me assistant."
Ron snorted loudly, but managed to pass it off as a violent sneeze. They were now standing beside the oak front doors.
"Anyway, I'll see yeh tomorrow, firs' lesson's straight after lunch. Come early an' yeh can say hello ter Buck - I mean, Witherwings!" Raising an arm in cheery farewell, he headed out of the doors into the darkness.
Harry and Ron looked at each other. Harry could tell that Ron was experiencing the same sinking feeling as himself. "You're not taking Care of Magical Creatures, are you?"
Ron shook his head. "And you're not either, are you?"
Harry shook his head too.
"And Hermione," said Ron, "she's not, is she?"
Harry shook his head again. Exactly what Hagrid would say when he realized his three favourite students had given up his subject, he did not like to think. Sirius sneered slightly. "Care of Magical Creatures is a farce...Who wants to learn that rubbish anyway?"
Ron shrugged. "We thought it'd be a bit of a doss to be honest, mate."
"I suppose...but wouldn't you be better off learning something constructive? Like I dunno...Ancient Runes?" Sirius continued as they walked up the stairs.
"Sounds too much like hard work." Ron replied stiffly.
"Not really...it's just translations..." Sirius walked with them, ignoring the curious stares he was getting from both girls and boys alike, he was getting nearly as many looks as Harry was. "Hey, who's Grawp?" He asked suddenly, turning his piercing gaze to Harry.
"Hagrid's giant Half-brother." He replied.
Sirius froze. Ron walked into him and muttered a curse. "You what?" Sirius said slowly, his eyes widening.
"Yeah, he picked him up in the mountains last year...what's wrong?"
"There's...a giant on school grounds? And Dumbledore's allowing it?"
"Yeah, Grawp's alright I suppose...why?" Harry frowned as Sirius began moving again, he was frowning darkly.
"The Giants are brutal...They'd kill a Wizard as soon as look at them. It's ridiculously stupid having one so close to Hogwarts! Has Dumbledore gone senile? Trust me, Harry, there's nothing 'alright' about Giants..."
"Grawp's not violent though, he saved Hermione and me last year..." Harry insisted. "They're not all bad..."
Sirius glared darkly at him. "In my time the Giants are rampaging, murdering Muggle and Wizard indiscriminately, all working under Voldemort..." He ignored Ron's hiss of fear. "They murdered several of my friend's family members, ripping them apart like they were nothing! If one's nearby it could so easily crush the wall and kill hundreds..."
"I don't reckon Grawps that dangerous." Harry insisted as they stopped outside the Portrait of the Fat Lady.
"We'll see." Sirius said replied darkly as Ron gave the password and they crawled through into the common room.
When they reached the dormitory's the rest of the boys were already there and they were staring in confusion at the extra bed that had been placed by the door. When Harry entered with Ron and Sirius they all looked up, Dean Thomas smiled and Seamus looked about ready to burst with curiosity. Neville was unpacking his trunk slowly. "Who's this?" Seamus asked, his eyes on Sirius who was looking around with mild curiosity.
"My name is Sirius Black, and you are?" Sirius smiled and held out his hand, Seamus gazed at him as if he was insane.
"Sirius Black's dead, all the papers say so. And you're too young to be him." He said with a small frown.
Sirius dropped his hand. "Why would I lie?"
That stumped him. Neville spoke up from beside his trunk. "He had an accident and was sent forward in time and now he's here because Dumbledore wants to keep an eye on him."
"Don't be stupid! No one can travel forward in time!" Seamus said.
"Oh, and how do you know this?" Sirius replied coldly. "I am Sirius Black, whether you believe me or not, it hardly matters anyway." He moved to the extra bed and sat down on it.
Dean continued to put up his latest muggle poster of West Ham football team, Sirius watched him curiously. "The pictures don't move...are you a muggle-born?" He asked startling Dean.
"Not entirely sure...my dad left my mum when I was born, got no proof he was a Wizard." he replied slowly. "Why?"
"Just curious."
Silence fell as everyone began to get changed into their pyjama's Harry had changed into his own and climbed into his bed when he watched Sirius remove his robes, he had his back to Harry as he bent over his trunk and removed some new pyjama's he had brought from Diagon Alley. He gasped softly, eyes widening in horror. "Sirius! What happened to your back?" He exclaimed.
Sirius paused and turned around, hiding the horrible scars that scattered his back in a network of pale criss-crosses. His eyes were dark, the candle light flickering off his face and making his eyes look shadowed and haunted. "It's best you don't know, Prongslet...trust me." He said in a tight voice before slipping on his pyjama top.
"But..."
"No, Harry...I don't want to talk about it, alright?" He turned around and gave Harry a sad smile.
"Y-yeah...alright." Harry removed his glasses and put them on the side table before closing the curtains around his bed and lying still. He gazed up at the canopy of his bed with a small frown. The marks on Sirius' back had looked like whip marks, he wandered if his parents had created them or if he had got them from something else...
He woke suddenly. He wasn't sure what had woken him, but something seemed to tug at his attention. Slowly, Harry sat up, rubbing his eyes and groping blindly on his side table for his glasses. When his hand closed around them he heard something moving around, quickly he pushed open his curtains to see a dark figure moving about the room, his feet padding softly on the stone floor. "Sirius?" Harry whispered, watching the figure pause.
"Harry? I'm alright, go back to sleep." Sirius replied just as softly.
Harry climbed out of bed. "What's wrong? Can't you sleep?" He moved closer and saw Sirius was wearing a cloak over his pyjamas.
"Yeah, sorry for waking you."
"No problem...where are you going?"
Sirius shrugged. "A walk...Want to come? I want to see how much Hogwarts has changed." His smile was bright, even in the dimness of the quiet dorm. Harry consented and took out his Invisibility cloak, it covered them both easily enough if they crouched slightly beneath it.
They walked quite a way after managing to sneak past the Fat Lady. Sirius said nothing as he guided Harry through passages and secret doorways as if he hardly had to even think about it. Finally they found themselves outside the Trophy Room on the third floor. "Why are we here?" Harry asked in a confused whisper, Sirius shook his head and slipped from beneath the cloak. Harry followed him as he walked towards a plaque in one of the crystal glass cabinets, Sirius paused and gazed at it. Harry knew it contained the names of previous Head Boys and Head Girls and he realised why Sirius had wanted to see it, after discovering that James had eventually become Head Boy he had wanted to see it for himself.
Sirius stared at the name and the date at its side, he felt a pang of grief and he pressed his hand against the glass protecting the plaque from grubby fingers. "James...You git." He laughed bitterly. "We made a pact that we'd never get any position like that...and you go and break it." He sighed heavily, wandering, not for the first time, if he was missed at all...he wanted to be able to see him again, at least one last time. He wished he could at least pretend to feel happy about the thought that James had found his happiness, he wished he could let him go...
Harry watched Sirius' face, his eyes were dark and shadowed and his fingers lingered on the cold glass covering as he gazed at the names, at the proof that James Potter had never, and never would, have any feelings other than friendship for him. Harry turned away slightly, a frown on his face as he heard Sirius shift and stand up. "Did you ever...you-know, with my father?" He asked softly, his voice rough as it left his throat, he shot a glance at Sirius who was gazing at him through his fringe.
"And what would you say if I told you I had?" He asked.
"I-I..." Harry frowned even further, confused by the ache in his chest as he stumbled over his words. "I don't...I don't know." He finally tore his eyes away from his very own award for services to the school and green eyes met silver. "I guess I'd tell you that you were a bit stupid...that my dad was probably using you."
Sirius' smile was one he knew, a twisted, bitter thing that made him look like his older self. "I knew he was...I wasn't stupid enough to believe he had feelings for me, Prongslet...I just..." He sighed heavily and lowered his head. "I just held this stupid hope that there was a small chance he'd give up on Evans..."
"You're an idiot." Harry said slowly, taking a cautious step towards Sirius.
"You reckon?" Sirius chuckled and lifted his head, he was surprised to see how close Harry was as he found himself confronted by confused and curious green eyes. The silence stretched on until Harry felt like if he didn't do something he would explode from the pressure, it built up in his chest and, before his brain could catch up with his body he moved forwards, his face inches from the other boys. Sirius' eyes widened as Harry leaned in and pressed his lips against his own, they stood there, frozen like that before Harry felt Sirius smile and a strong hand slide up his back and pull him closer.
Harry let his eyes fall closed, he felt Sirius part his lips slightly and they shared a soft breath before they deepened the kiss. Their tongues met cautiously, slowly exploring each other. Harry, before he lost confidence, pushed his tongue fully into Sirius' mouth making him mutter a surprised gasp as he fell backwards into a glass case, which, to their horror smashed with an extremely loud crash. They pulled apart, Harry panting slightly harder than was entirely necessary and Sirius gazing down at the scattered trophies and awards with a raised eyebrow. As one they looked at each other, Sirius was grinning, "Filch!" They said together and Harry threw the invisibility cloak over them and they ran from the room, just in time to hear wheezing curses and mutters about students out of bed.
That morning at breakfast, when Ron asked them why Harry was looking so exhausted, their eyes met and Harry shrugged and, to avoid making an excuse, he began eating rapidly. Hermione, however, caught Sirius' smirk of satisfaction, she frowned but said nothing as they finished breakfast and McGonagall began walking down the table, handing out time-tables.
The distribution of class schedules was more complicated than usual this year, for Professor McGonagall needed first to confirm that everybody had achieved the necessary O.W.L. grades to continue with their chosen N.E.W.T.s.
Hermione was immediately cleared to continue with Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Potions, and shot off to a first period Ancient Runes class without further ado. Neville took a little longer to sort out, but after McGonagall had told him he would be better off studying Charms he ran off with his lesson plan clutched in his hand.
"So, Potter, Potter..." said Professor McGonagall, consulting her notes as she turned to Harry. "Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration ... all fine. I must say, I was pleased with your Transfiguration mark, Potter, very pleased. Now, why haven't you applied to continue with Potions? I thought it was your ambition to become an Auror?"
"It was, but you told me I had to get an 'Outstanding' in my O.W.L., Professor."
"And so you did when Professor Snape was teaching the subject. Professor Slughorn, however, is perfectly happy to accept N.E.W.T. students with 'Exceeds Expectations' at O.W.L. Do you wish to proceed with Potions?"
"Yes," said Harry, "but I didn't buy the books or any ingredients or anything-"
"I'm sure Professor Slughorn will be able to lend you some," said Professor McGonagall. "Very well, Potter, here is your schedule. Oh, by the way-twenty hopefuls have already put down their names for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. I shall pass the list to you in due course and you can fix up trials at your leisure."
A few minutes later, Ron was cleared to do the same subjects as Harry, Sirius was about to stand when McGonagall stopped him. "Mr. Black, the Headmaster wishes you to continue study as if these...strange circumstances...had not happened." She was looking at him with a strange nostalgic glint in her eyes, which became more prominent when Sirius grinned.
"Ok." Sirius said as McGonagall took out a blank piece of parchment.
"What were you studying again? Transfiguration, I remember...and Charms..."
Sirius nodded. "Ancient Runes and Potions, Defence and Astronomy."
"A strange group of lessons but, here we are." She handed him his time table and he took it. "And Mr. Black, if you are planning anymore...pranks...in this time I will be forced to put you in detention...yet again." Before she walked away she smiled slightly and Sirius chuckled.
"You chose some odd lessons...what do you want to be when you leave Hogwarts?" Ron asked Sirius as they made their way towards the Marble Staircase, he gazed at Sirius' timetable before handing it back.
"I didn't want to be anything." Sirius shrugged. "I'm rich, remember?"
"Oh...yeah..." Ron sighed slightly. "Wish I had a rich Uncle." He muttered miserably.
"Having rich family members is the curse of being a Black." Sirius smirked slightly. "Unfortunately when you realise that the only way to get a hold of that money is to have someone die on you, it takes the joy out of it somewhat."
"Sorry I..."
"Don't worry about it, Alphard was a great guy...if a bit mad...but he's gone, pointless crying over him every time he's mentioned. Anyway, catch up with you guys later...have fun with your free period...i'd make the most of it if I were you, because it's not going to last." He smirked and ran off up the stairs to the Ancient Runes classroom.
For their free period, Harry and Ron lazed about in the sun drenched common room with a few seventh years. Once their time was up they made their way back down to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom where they found Hermione and Sirius talking softly to each other in the corridor. Hermione had an armful of heavy books and a similar pile resided by Sirius' feet. When Ron and Harry approached Sirius smiled lazily, sweeping hair from his eyes. "Hi, hope you took full advantage of your only actual free period."
"Is it true then? Their not going to let up on the homework?" Ron asked nervously.
"You're NEWT students now, Mr. Weasley...time to put your back into it." Sirius laughed, gaining the attention of a few first and second years who were walking past.
"You seem confident you will pass your NEWTS, Sirius." Hermione said sternly.
"Of course I am, Miss Granger, I'm a genius." He grinned at her. "Siriusly though, sixth year is hard work...but, I can help you if you want."
Harry laughed at Sirius' pun but Hermione looked miffed. "I don't need help." She said as the door to the classroom opened to reveal Severus Snape, his sallow face framed as ever by two curtains of greasy black hair. Silence fell over the queue immediately.
"Inside," he said, sending Sirius a particularly hard glare as he strode confidently past, totally ignoring Snape.
Harry looked around as they entered. Snape had imposed his personality upon the room already; it was gloomier than usual, as curtains had been drawn over the windows, and was lit by candlelight. New pictures adorned the walls, many of them showing people who appeared to be in pain, sporting grisly injuries or strangely contorted body parts. Nobody spoke as they settled down, looking around at the shadowy, gruesome pictures. Sirius' eyes moved around the picture and his eyes hardened as he returned his gaze to Snape.
"I have not asked you to take out your books," said Snape, closing the door and moving to face the class from behind his desk; Hermione hastily dropped her copy of Confronting the Faceless back into her bag and stowed it under her chair. "I wish to speak to you, and I want your fullest attention." His black eyes roved over their upturned faces, lingering for a fraction of a second longer on Harry's than anyone else's. "You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe."
You believe... like you haven't watched them all come and go, hoping you'd be next, thought Harry scathingly. He glanced over to his side to see Sirius lounging in his chair, his expression one of haughty boredom, he had to look away to stop himself from laughing.
"Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with the N.E.W.T. work, which will be more advanced." Snape set off around the edge of the room, speaking now in a lower voice; the class craned their necks to keep him in view. "The Dark Arts," said Snape, "are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible."
Harry stared at Snape. It was surely one thing to respect the Dark Arts as a dangerous enemy, another to speak of them, as Snape was doing, with a loving caress in his voice?
Sirius put his hand in the air, forcing Snape to pause, everyone began looking at this strange new boy, including Malfoy. After a moment of soft mutters, Snape glared. "What?" He snapped.
"I was wandering if there was really any need to describe the Dark Arts like that?" Sirius asked in a tone of false innocence.
"You will address me properly, Black or I'll put you in detention." Snape hissed, his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Of course, Professor. What I meant, Sir, was why Dumbledore would ask a man who is well known to have...er...dabbled...in the Dark Arts to teach defence? It strikes me as a little suspect, if not outright dangerous." Sirius kept his face impassive as Snape was obviously seething.
"That, Black, is between the Headmaster and I, keep your nose out of where it does not belong or I will make sure you regret it. Now then, your defences," said Snape, a little louder to make himself heard over the mutters of astonishment, "must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. These pictures," he indicated a few of them as he swept past, "give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse" (he waved a hand toward a witch who was clearly shrieking in agony) "feel the Dementor's Kiss" (a wizard lying huddled and blank-eyed, slumped against a wall) "or provoke the aggression of the Inferius" (a bloody mass upon ground).
"Has an Inferius been seen, then?" said Parvati Patil in a high pitched voice. "Is it definite, is he using them?"
"The Dark Lord has used Inferi in the past," said Snape, "which means you would be well-advised to assume he might use them again. Now..." He set off again around the other side of the classroom toward his desk, and again, they watched him as he walked, his dark robes billowing behind him. "... you are, I believe, complete novices in the use of non-verbal spells." Once again, Sirius put his hand in the air, Snape glared at him, his face blotchy with fury. "What is it now?" He snapped.
"Just wanted you to know that I'm no novice in Non-verbal spellwork." Sirius smirked. "But of course, you should already know that...Professor."
"I remember full well your capabilities Black, I do not need to be reminded." He turned his back on Sirius and continued. "What is the advantage of a non-verbal spell?"
Both Hermione's and Sirius' hands shot into the air. Snape took his time looking around at everybody else, before saying curtly, "Very well-Miss Granger?"
"Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you're about to perform," said Hermione, "which gives you a split-second advantage."
"An answer copied almost word for word from The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six," said Snape dismissively (over in the corner, Malfoy sniggered).
"Sir, how else would you put it?" Sirius said from his place, he was now leaning his chair back on it's legs and watching Snape with eyes full of satisfaction as the man slowly became more infuriated.
"Why don't you answer, am I not the teacher here?"
"Very well..." Sirius slammed his chair back onto its legs and leaned forward. "During a duel, it is best to devise tactics involving, not only the speed of your spell-casting, but also surprise. The enemy will know exactly how to counter a spell if you speak aloud, therefore you must learn to act fast and silently...like a striking snake."
Snape merely sneered before continuing the lesson; Harry glanced at Sirius who looked pleased with himself as he doodled absently on a ragged piece of parchment, his hair falling across it as it spilled over his shoulder.
"Those who progress in using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course; it is a question of concentration and mind power which some, " his gaze lingered maliciously upon Harry once more, "lack." Harry knew Snape was thinking of their disastrous Occlumency lessons of the previous year. He refused to drop his gaze, but glowered at Snape until Snape looked away. "You will now divide," Snape went on, "into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on."
Although Snape did not know it, Harry had taught at least half the class (everyone who had been a member of the D.A.) how to perform a Shield Charm the previous year. None of them had ever cast the charm without speaking, however. A reasonable amount of cheating ensued; many people were merely whispering the incantation instead of saying it aloud. Typically, ten minutes into the lesson Hermione managed to repel Neville's muttered Jelly-Legs Jinx without uttering a single word, a feat that would surely have earned her twenty points for Gryffindor from any reasonable teacher, thought Harry bitterly, but which Snape ignored. Harry stood but before he could pair himself up with Ron Sirius tapped him on the shoulder, he was smiling and his eyes glittering. "Partner with me." He said and drew Harry gently away from Ron who looked slightly disappointed. "Remember, concentrate!" Sirius said as he moved away and waited for Harry to try and attack him.
Harry concentrated hard on what the Jinx, his eyes narrowed as he aimed his wand at Sirius who was stood, ready to deflect. He thought the spell in his head, trying desperately not to give into the temptation to speak it aloud. The whispers of the others were very distracting, and Sirius' small smile was even worse as it made him want to laugh.
"Come on, Potter! What's wrong?" Sirius taunted softly.
"Shut up!" Harry retorted, half smiling. "I can't bloody concentrate."
Sirius laughed. "Want to swap places? My arms aching."
"Fine." Harry watched Sirius' eyes narrowed and a split second later he was blasted backwards and hit a table with a small gasp.
"Shit! Sorry..." Sirius ran to his side and helped him to his feet. "I thought you'd block it." He looked guiltily down at Harry who chuckled. "I'll tell you a little tip, try and focus only on your opponent. Remember that you're trying to hurt them or prevent yourself from being hurt, try and imagine a real duel...there's only you and the enemy, got it?"
"Y-yeah..." Harry rubbed his backside where it had hit the table with a wince. "Let's try again."