Chapter 8: Back to Class
At breakfast the next morning, Snape handed out timetables as did the other heads of house. There were a few sullen looks from a couple of students he'd 'persuaded' to opt for different subject choices, but other than that, breakfast was a quiet affair at the Slytherin table. Unlike the Gryffindors who looked like they'd collectively been up until the early hours last night.
Harry looked at his timetable. Today was Thursday, as 1st September couldn't always fall on a Sunday. He was looking forward to Arithmancy first thing but was dismayed to find that his first day back contained Umbridge. At least there was Potions this afternoon.
First lesson went by far too fast for Harry's liking. Professor Vector was interesting and although the subject was introduced to them as 'hard', Harry couldn't see how it was any more demanding than Potions and Snape when he was having one of his pernickety days. As Arithmancy was an elective subject, there were fewer students doing it, so all four houses were represented in his class. To his delight it meant that he got to sit with Hermione. He spent the lesson taking copious notes and felt that he'd enjoy the subject.
After the lesson, Harry trudged down from the seventh floor classroom to DADA.
"Cheer up, Harry, it won't be that bad," said Hermione optimistically. Harry knew she wouldn't have said that if she knew the whole truth.
"Uh huh," he said noncommittally, as they parted ways at the bottom of the staircase.
When he got to the DADA classroom he found the room locked and the class waiting outside. Crabbe was stupidly trying the handle for at least the fourth time in the hope that it would suddenly open, much to the bemusement of Pansy and Theo. Crabbe just wasn't that bright but Harry knew that he really just wanted in the room first to sit at the back, out of the way.
At exactly the start of the lesson Umbridge opened the door and stepped into the corridor.
"Good morning, children," she said in probably what she thought was her most winsome voice. In actual fact it just sounded patronising. "Come in and stand along the nearest wall. When I call your name out, go sit where I say. This will be where you sit for the remainder of the year unless I move you."
"Assigned seat?!" said Draco quietly so Umbridge wouldn't hear, "What rot is this?" and he stalked into the room followed by the rest of the class. Draco headed towards the back of the room, although remained 'along the wall' so he couldn't get called down for disobeying instructions, but it was clear where he wanted to be. Harry tried to be as unobtrusive as possible and to not draw attention to himself.
Umbridge surveyed the students lined up against the wall and studied them carefully. She'd been told that this school year was smaller than the others due to effects on birth rate during the wizarding war, and sure enough there were only ten students in each house. Other years, especially the sixth and seventh years had two to three times the number of students. The year below this one had only one and a half times as many students, but the current first year had at least three times as many students as families after the end of the war had chosen to bring children into the world again. Delores disliked the unevenness of it and was dismissive of such reasoning by parents.
She surveyed the students in front of her. There was such a mix - sons and daughters of the rich and powerful like Malfoy and Greengrass, through to Parkinson and Potter, children of half-bloods and blood traitors.
Umbridge tutted as she consulted her class register.
"Malfoy, Draco." She pointed imperiously to the desk right in front of hers. Draco made a face that thankfully Umbridge didn't see as he made his way to the desk and threw his bag on it with contempt.
"Greengrass, Daphne." She put Daphne next to Draco. One of the girls he didn't know well at all, Nicola Farley, Gemma's younger sister, she put next to Daphne.
Crabbe, Goyle and Theo she placed on the row behind them. Oddly she then left a row empty and sat Blaize, Millicent and Tracey on the next row. Harry was placed at the back of the room next to Pansy. Harry was eternally grateful to be not under her nose, sitting at the back suited him just fine. There were lots of empty desks at the edges of the room, as Umbridge had only used the central set of desks. Harry thought it very strange that she'd left a row empty between six students at the front and five students at the back though. He mentally shrugged. Each to their own.
Umbridge took on a strange way of speaking when she then addressed the class, as if she were talking to children in a primary school class. Harry remembered that tone from when he was in his junior classes. It was odd hearing it after so many years. And she insisted on calling them children!
"Welcome to Defence Against the Dark Arts, children," she said in her high pitched voice. "This year we will be learning many new and exciting topics. I have been informed by the headmaster that there will be some topics from last year that we may need to cover again, but otherwise we will be studying the Third Year curriculum. This will include such exciting things as boggarts and hinky puffs, and spells such as the freezing spell."
"I assume you all have your copies of Dark Arts Defence: Basics for Beginners. This textbook will cover spells and topics suitable for Third Year through Fifth Year. Against my better judgment the headmaster requires a practical element to your study this year. However, you will be required to study the theory first before any 'wand waving' will happen in my lessons. We will start by covering the theory behind the boggart."
"Mr. Zabini! Pay attention! Ten points from Slytherin and detention this evening 7pm!"
"But I was only..." started Blaise when he was cut off by Umbridge, "I know what you were only 'doing'. You were not paying attention, day dreaming and looking out of the window. This will not continue in my lessons. I demand the utmost respect from you at all times, including no arguing or answering back. I'm sure Mr. Potter can supply you with the consequences of not heeding what I say."
As one, the class turned to look at Harry in shock. Harry wanted to disappear through the floor as he felt his face redden at the unwanted attention and concentrated hard on the quill in his hand. He briefly looked up and on seeing all his housemates staring at him, looked back down at his desk.
"Hem, hem, I see you haven't shared that episode with your friends, Mr. Potter. Does The-Boy-Who-Lived not want all that attention?" Umbridge asked nastily. "I think it's about time they were enlightened, we can't have them thinking you're special and above the rules, can we, Mr. Potter?" she said gleefully.
The class had been drawn back to looking at Umbridge standing at the front, but it didn't stop Harry wanting to disappear through the floor.
"Mr. Potter felt over the summer that the rules did not apply to him. As he was used to doing, he decided he needn't rein in his temper, and for some childish reason decided he could unleash his magic on an innocent bystander. A mere muggle no less. It took a great amount of ministry time and resources to rectify his petulant behaviour. I do not appreciate the pandering that has gone on with Mr. Potter in the past. Only last year he had the same problem that was swept under the carpet by the powers that be. I certainly wasn't about to let it slide this time."
Umbridge fixed her eyes suddenly on Draco. "Mr. Malfoy," she snapped, "What would your father consider a fair punishment if you hexed a muggle in front of other muggles because you were annoyed?"
Draco swallowed. "I wouldn't like to presume, Professor," said Draco carefully and politely, neatly avoiding the question, but not wishing to seem rude. Draco knew exactly what his father would do, and it wouldn't be a pleasant experience.
"I suspect you know exactly what he'd do, Mr. Malfoy. And I made sure Mr. Potter knows how things are dealt with in wizarding households. Mr. Potter received six of the best with the cane. As did his cousin for daring to draw his wand on a member of the ministry. I'm sure Mr. Potter and Mr. Dursley were suitably chastised after Professor Snape had concluded his visit to carry out their punishment."
Harry wanted to sink through the floor, his face flaming. He got a number of looks from his classmates that he didn't see while he carefully examined the feathering on his quill. A few were commiserative, but most others, like Draco, accusatory that he hadn't told them about Umbridge earlier.
Thankfully the lesson got underway and they learnt the theory of boggarts from the textbook. Umbridge ignored the back of the classroom and concentrated on engaging the six students on the first two rows. This suited Harry. He'd rather be consigned to the back and left out, than constantly under her eye. Blaize couldn't do anything right though. At one point, having not been picked to answer a question so far that lesson he made the mistake of calling out the answer. That lost him a further ten points. At the end of the lesson they were assigned a three foot essay for homework and Harry disappeared out of the class as fast as he could.
Harry ran up to the library as he had a study period before lunch and still wanting to avoid his housemates' stares he stayed up there during lunch until Hermione, Ron, Neville and Dudley came to find him after they'd eaten.
"Harry! You've missed lunch," admonished Hermione coming to sit down at the table with him. Ron and Neville made themselves comfortable but Dudley looked awkward. He'd arrived with them, but it was clear he wasn't 'with them' so to speak.
"I wasn't hungry," lied Harry, a lie that was found out immediately when his stomach betrayed him and rumbled loudly.
"Yeah, right," said Ron, hearing the noise. "I know you've not pissed Snape off because we've got him together this afternoon. Was Draco an arse on day one?"
"No. Draco wasn't an arse. He's, and I can't believe I'm going to say this, not that bad once you've worked him out. We can have a civil conversation together." At a raise of Ron's eyebrows Harry amended that to, "So long as we talk about school stuff."
"Did you have DADA?" asked Dudley quietly.
"Uh huh," replied Harry.
"Bummer," said Dudley. "At least you've still got twenty minutes before Potions, come on, I'll sneak with you down to the kitchens. No-one's likely to mind if we get caught anyway - it's lunchtime."
The pair left quickly before the Gryffindors could quiz Harry about DADA or Umbridge, receiving a dirty look from Ron as they left that neither of them noticed.
"So I'm screwed this afternoon when I've got DADA then?" surmised Dudley as they went down a quiet staircase towards the Hufflepuff common room and the kitchen entrance.
"Oh yes," replied Harry, "She took great delight in telling the whole of third year Slytherin the consequences for me blowing up your aunt and you pointing your wand at her," said Harry with an air of resignation.
"Wonderful," said Dudley sarcastically.
The house-elves plied Harry with food, or to be precise, one house elf did.
"Mister Harry Potter, sir," said Dobby, "It's a pleasure to serve the Boy-Who-Lived."
With an awkward grimace that Dobby took for a smile, Harry and Dudley legged it to a quiet corner of the castle while Harry ate a very tasty chicken salad and slice of treacle tart.
They made it down to the dungeons in time for the beginning of Potions and Harry waited outside the classroom with everyone else.
"House rules, Potter," hissed Malfoy nastily and tripped Harry up on his way past. Harry got a lot of dirty looks and the odd jostle from the other members of Slytherin which continued as they went into the classroom.
This did not go unnoticed by their head of house. The Slytherins, including Harry, were sent to the left side of the room while the Gryffindors were ushered towards the right. Snape stood in front of his Slytherins saying nothing, just meeting everyone's eye until they all felt uncomfortable. He then cast a muffilato over the Slytherin side including himself.
"Would any of you care to enlighten me?" he asked icily.
"Potter didn't warn us that Umbridge is a... er..." Draco trailed off, not wishing to finish that sentence, but he rallied, "Slytherin rules, sir, we stick together. He should have told us."
Harry was looking at the floor again, studying his shoes hard.
"I think, given what you probably found out, you should cut Mr. Potter some slack, don't you?" said Snape. "And I also think that pushing and shoving in the corridor in front of Gryffindor isn't exactly making your case with me, is it?" he asked in a deceptively mild, silky voice.
"So I'm going to end this for you," continued Snape, all business, "Mr. Potter apologies for not sharing certain amounts of information, clearly not everything, and will spend an hour of his evening cleaning the common room. Mr. Malfoy et al apologise for pushing and shoving in the corridor and will be cleaning the common room for an hour tomorrow evening."
"Bury the hatchet. Now!" he said in tones that suggested that not doing would not go well for anyone's continuing breathing privileges.
"Sorry," murmured Harry.
"Sorry," muttered Draco.
"And when I cancel this silencing charm, no-one is going to mention the incident again, and that includes comments towards Mr. Dursley," said Snape and with a wave of his wand began his lesson.
After the last lesson of the afternoon Harry went up to the library. He wanted just to hide in his dorm, and avoid the looks from his fellow Slytherins. There might be house rules about how they had a united front outside the walls of the common room, but Harry knew he'd get questioned or at least stared at if he went into Slytherin. He also knew being in the library meant that in a moment his friends and his cousin would be here and he'd get questioned by them about Umbridge and summer too. But at least if he was here he'd not be alone. There was no way Dudley would go back to the Gryffindor common room on his own after his DADA lesson if it was anything like his own.
Harry pondered the subject of Dudley until his friends arrived. Harry wished there was some way to explain to his friends that Dudley was different. Dudley wasn't too accepting of Harry's friends, and in fact it was only because they were Harry's friends that Dudley was making an effort. Harry knew that Dudley's attitude to Harry had changed, but not necessarily his attitude towards his friends. Harry knew they weren't the people that Dudley would naturally gravitate towards, but hopefully they'd come to some sort of agreement not to kill each other. He'd got to that point in his thoughts when he was interrupted.
"Why the hell didn't you say anything?!" demanded Ron. Harry could see that Ron was genuinely angry, and it was aimed at Harry. "You had access to your owl! Friends tell friends things."
"I'm sorry," said Harry, and attempted to bend the truth just slightly in his favour, "We were told not to discuss the issue. Snape was quite clear about that."
Harry hated lying to his friends, but he wasn't about to admit that he hadn't told them because he was too bloody embarrassed. At least Ron and the rest hadn't heard anything to contradict what he'd just said as Ron looked slightly mollified, but only enough not to tear a strip off him then and there.
"You could have said something to me when you both came to the Burrow. There were plenty of times you could have just whispered in my ear. At least enough to give us a heads up about her. She's a complete bitch. You should have seen how she treated Dean."
"It was very strange," agreed Hermione. "She had some bizarre seating arrangement. I had to sit at the back!" This was said in such scandalised tones that Harry had to concentrate on not laughing.
"What's a seating plan for anyway?" asked Fred as the twins had come up to the library with them, "Surely she knows who we all are. Well apart from Gred and myself anyway," he amended.
"Seating plans are quite common in muggle schools," Hermione informed him, "We had one in my last year there, we had a supply teacher and she used it to help learn our names. She seated us boy girl and in some vague alphabetical order of surname to help her learn who we were. Then when she knew who we were she changed it to ability groups. But I've no idea what Umbridge is doing with her seating plan."
"She did it with Slytherin too," said Harry, happy for the change in subject away from him and Dudley for a moment. "Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, Nicola, Daphne and Theo she put at the front, and the rest of us at the back. It's not like Crabbe and Goyle are the same ability level as Draco and Daphne though," said Harry.
"You'd be hard pushed to find an ability level the same as those two unless you put a chimp in the room," said George, "Although that's insulting the chimp."
"And there was a gap between the front and back," said Neville. "I thought it was so she could see those at the back and they couldn't hide, but she never left the front of the room."
"And I didn't get any points even though I knew all those things about boggarts," sulked Hermione.
"Well she didn't know that, because she didn't ask you," said Ron, "Although you probably pulled a muscle straining your arm so high," he added with a twitch of his lips.
"Well you can't have answered out of turn," said Harry, "Else the first thing you'd have said was that she took points off you. That happened to Blaize. He ended up in detention."
"We could just chalk her up as nuts," said Ron, "And evil. Not like Lockhart was an idiot, or Quirrell was possessed, just nasty." Ron looked at Harry for a moment, "I take it Snape has a mean arm with a cane," he said in tones of commiseration.
Harry coloured and shrugged. He didn't want to lie to Ron and tell him he wouldn't know as it hadn't happened, but he wasn't about to repeat any of what Snape had said before he'd sent him and his cousin upstairs either. Shrugging obviously wasn't what he should have done though.
"Merlin, I can't believe Snape did that for her. What a bastard!" said Ron, "We really have to work out how to get back at him."
"No!" said Harry, far too quickly and loudly. His friends looked surprised at his vehemence. "Just leave Snape alone. He's OK."
"He bloody isn't," said Ron. "He's supposed to defend the students in his house, summer holiday or not."
"Look, he wasn't like what you think," said Harry, itching to tell Ron the truth. Dudley coughed meaningfully and Harry sighed exasperatedly.
"If I can't help you get your own back, then what can I do?" demanded Ron.
Harry came to a decision. "Ron, come with me, and I'll answer your questions, I just don't want you all staring at me," said Harry.
"Harry!" exclaimed Dudley in warning.
"It's OK, I'm not going to talk about you," said Harry, and grabbed Ron's arm and pulled him out of the room before Dudley could say or do anything else. Harry felt Dudley staring at him as they left.
Harry pulled Ron into a quiet alcove away from everybody, but where he could see anyone approach. He could guarantee they weren't going to be overheard. There weren't any portraits nearby, nor ghosts. They were alone.
"Ron," began Harry, "I need you to promise not to repeat what I'm about to tell you to anyone. And I mean anyone. Not even Hermione."
"Sure, Harry, you can tell her yourself if you want to."
"You have to understand, Umbridge would go mental if she found out. It's a secret."
"Er. OK. Found out what? What's the big secret?" asked Ron, now very curious.
"I take it Umbridge told you what I did to Marge and said that she sent Snape round to Privet Drive?"
"Yes, she was quite happy about it. Ugh!" said Ron.
"Well, he didn't agree with her punishment," said Harry, "He didn't cane us." Ron's mouth dropped open. "He frightened the living daylights out of us. I have never been so scared." Harry paused, "Actually that's not true, but you know what I mean. He described what getting caned was like in vivid detail and then said he wasn't going to do it."
"You got away with blowing up your aunt?" demanded Ron incredulously. "And Dudley with blasting Umbridge into a wall? One day I might forgive that boy being a complete arse if he keeps things like that up, by the way."
"Er no. What are the chances of that? I mean it's Snape," replied Harry, "We both didn't sit comfortably the next day, but at least it wasn't as bad as it could have been," said Harry with a shudder. "Ron, you can't let anyone know what I said. Umbridge would go psycho if she found out."
Harry wasn't about to say to Ron that Snape had promised to enforce Umbridge's punishment if he told anyone, it was easier to make Umbridge out to be a complete and utter bitch instead.
"I promise, I won't tell a soul, not even Hermione."
"Thanks, Ron."
"Not much is going to stop the twins from getting revenge for you, you know," said Ron.
"They can't get caught, Ron," said Harry earnestly.
"Please, it's the twins!" said Ron, "Come on, we can go back up the library before Hermione starts to think too hard."
When they got back up to the library Hermione had been thinking, but not about what Harry was telling Ron.
"Harry, is Daphne a pure-blood?" she asked.
"Yes, I think so," said Harry, "So's Nicola and Theo, and Crabbe and Goyle are, obviously," said Harry.
"But Blaise isn't, and neither are you. And I'll bet that the others at the back of your DADA class aren't. See, in Gryffindor, Ron, Neville, Lavender and Eloise are, and they sat at the front of the room, but the rest of us aren't, and we were sitting at the back."
"Okaaay," said Ron slowly, "But why? Or what or whatever?"
"I have no idea, but let's pass it around the rest of the students and see what the gossip can pick up," replied Hermione. She hadn't liked not being allowed to answer much more than not getting house-points. To her, the ability to join in lessons was not to be trifled with.
That evening at dinner Dumbledore stood up before the food appeared on the tables and a hush fell over the room.
"Good evening everyone!" he said, "I hope you've all had a wonderful first day back. It is a pleasure for me to introduce to you Remus Lupin, he will be the teaching assistant here at Hogwarts for the year. You may see him in your classes occasionally if any of your regular teachers are sick. He will also be helping with writing your end of term assessments and marking. I'm sure I can prevail upon you to make him feel welcome."
There was polite applause from the students, and Harry looked at the man with interest as did many other students.
"He looks tired," said Theo, "I wonder if he's only just got here. I thought Dumbledore said we wouldn't see him 'til later in the week."
"Shame he can't teach DADA," said Blaise, who had his detention with Umbridge that evening still to come.
"He certainly can't be worse," agreed Harry.
Harry didn't notice as he ate his dinner that the new staff member spent a lot of dinner time just watching him.
It was much later that evening when Severus heard a knock at the door of his private quarters. He stood up to open the door, wand in hand, and was surprised to see Lupin at the threshold.
"May I come in?" asked Lupin politely.
Severus stepped back from the doorway and motioned for Lupin to enter. Severus accepted the bottle that Lupin proffered. He must have spoken to either Minerva or Dumbledore to be offering him a bottle of Islay single malt. It was Severus' favourite.
Severus indicated the armchair across from the couch he'd been sitting on and went to fetch two glasses without saying anything. He was curious about why the wolf was here. He'd have thought Lupin ought to have been sleeping early tonight as last night had been full moon.
Severus fetched glasses from the kitchen and poured two generous measures. He gave a glass to Lupin and cocked an eyebrow.
"Might I toast your good health, Severus?" asked Lupin. Severus' eyebrow climbed higher. "Do you have any idea how grateful I am right now? Last night I felt nearly human. For the first time ever I had little pain during the transformation and I just slept the whole night. Sir, your good health," with those words Lupin downed the glass in one.
Not as great a drinker, Severus just took a sip in acknowledgement of Lupin's thanks.
"And have you worked out why?" asked Severus, curious. Severus wanted to let Lupin work out why Severus had made him the potion,
"I was able to think last night, near morning, when I woke up," replied Lupin. "You have no reason to do anything nice for me, yet I am the recipient of the most genius Wolfsbane potion," Severus nodded.
"So far, so good," said the Potions master,
"So I wondered if you were doing it for me. Or whether the Potion's Master in you wanted a challenge. But then I thought that if that were the only reason, you would never have given it to me to test. You'd have found another guinea pig."
"Also true," acknowledged Severus, taking another sip from his glass.
"So something had to outweigh your dislike for me enough that you would allow me to test your work."
"I did not realise you had such a logical mind, Lupin," said Severus dryly.
"Then I remembered you had overheard me talking to Myrddin in the shop. You heard us talking about the creature laws and the sales restrictions. And then I worked it out - it's a combination of a number of things that add up to greater than your dislike for me. You don't like the lack of freedom, or trapped feeling that the laws will give, and you don't like Umbridge. Nor would you appreciate the monitoring of shopkeepers such as Myrddin that you yourself use. Am I right?" asked Lupin.
"Very good," said Severus, reaching for the bottle and pouring another drink for Lupin. "I would hate for you to think I did it just for you," he added. "Now, tell me why else you're here. I would happily have waited for your thanks another evening, if at all. You have an ulterior motive for being here."
"You are far too good at reading people, Severus," replied Lupin with a sigh. "I saw Harry today. I haven't seen him since he was a baby. He looks just like his father."
"He has his mother's eyes," responded Severus coldly.
"Yes, he does," said Lupin, not noticing the drop in temperature his last words had brought.
"He seems so happy. I spent some time last week talking with Minerva. She's surprised he's made friends in Slytherin, and managed to keep his old ones in Gryffindor."
"He is naturally likeable I suppose," said Severus, knowing how much he hated himself for admitting that after dealing with Harry how he did in the boy's first year.
"Just like his father," said Lupin suicidally.
"No, his father was arrogant, self-confident and obnoxious, with a love of showing off. Add to that his bullying, overbearing tendencies and I think you'll find they are about as far from each other as you can get."
"You never knew James well," said Lupin quietly, the sadness evident in his voice, "He had good qualities - loyal, brave, kind. I believe if they had lived you'd have got to know him better. Lily would never have ignored you forever."
Severus growled. The conversation had gone down a route he hadn't wanted it to take. But Lupin continued, as if to himself.
"I don't know where it all went wrong, Severus. There were four of us, inseparable. Seeing Harry and his friends at dinner and then leaving the great hall with another set of friends. We were like that, James, Peter, myself. Black." He said the last word darkly.
"You trusted the wrong man. We all have darkness in us somewhere. Black deliberately betrayed his friends to the Dark Lord," growled Severus. "What's your point, Lupin? This isn't a happy trip down memory lane for either of us."
"Then I'll be blunt," replied Lupin, "We are both alone. I lost James and Peter, and there is not a deep enough hole in which to bury Black. You lost Lily. I don't think you had many other friends. But Harry, Harry has his life and his friends. I am aware you may never forgive me, but I would like access to Harry to talk with him about his parents, and I'd like us to at least be amicable with each other around him. He needs support in his life, Severus. He can't have too many people looking out for him."
Severus thought for a moment, "That, I can manage. I will also add that there's an undercurrent amongst the staff that I hope you've picked up on. Umbridge isn't the flavour of the month, and I'm reasonably sure she isn't a fan of Harry. Keep your eyes and ears open around the students. You may hear things we don't as you're not a regular professor. I don't trust her around any of the students, never mind Potter."
"Of course, Severus," replied Lupin, rising to leave and returning his glass to the coffee table in front of the armchair. "Good night, Severus."
"Goodnight, Lupin," said Severus. Remus left, closing the door quietly behind him.
It was after lights out that Harry heard Blaise come up to the dorm. He hadn't returned to the common room from his detention before curfew, nor before they'd all gone up to bed. Harry heard Blaise move slowly and quietly to his bed and heard him sharply inhale and wince as he laid down on the bed.
"Blaise?" whispered Harry, keen not to wake anyone else in the dorm room. "Are you OK?"
"Umbridge is a bitch," was all Blaise said. Harry heard no further noise, not even the sound of him getting changed. He obviously had just fallen asleep where he'd collapsed.
It wasn't long after that Harry fell asleep himself.
Next day Harry had Charms with Professor Flitwick. Harry was surprised to see the teaching assistant, Mr. Lupin, in the classroom, but it meant that students could have extra help as there were two teachers in the room. Harry was a bit wary of Mr. Lupin, he seemed to always be watching Harry, and spent more than an average amount of time helping him when it was clear there were other students more in need of help. Blaise was having a bad day. Harry had his suspicions about how his detention the night before had gone as Blaise looked like he had trouble sitting comfortably in the morning's lessons, and he kept drifting away, thinking about something else. Harry was contemplating talking to Blaise about it when Mr. Lupin interrupted his thoughts.
"Well done, Harry!" said Lupin as Harry successfully accomplished the freezing charm. "Nice work!" Harry was shocked when he added in a whisper only Harry could hear, "Just as good as your mother's!"
Harry nearly dropped his wand in shock and he stared at Lupin, who smiled and went to help Blaise.
At the end of the lesson after they'd packed up and the rest of the class had left, Harry approached Flitwick and Lupin, "Sir?" Both teachers turned to look at him. "Sorry. Mr. Lupin?" asked Harry. Flitwick smiled a knowing smile and went into his office leaving Harry in the room with Lupin.
"You knew my mother?" he asked.
"I did. And your father," replied Lupin, "We were good friends. Please, Harry, when we're alone like this, call me Remus if you like. Mr. Lupin is far too formal and makes me think I'm my father."
Harry smiled. "Sure," he said. "Professor Snape knew my mother too. Were you all friends at school?" he asked innocently.
Lupin avoided directly answering the question. "We were all in the same year at school, Harry. But we weren't all in the same house. Your mother and father and I were in Gryffindor. Professsor Snape as you know was in Slytherin. It's not always easy to be friends when you're in different houses as I'm sure can appreciate."
"It seems to work for me," said Harry with a shrug.
"You'll be late for lunch if you don't go soon, Harry. Perhaps some time we can meet and I can tell you more about your parents?"
Harry grinned broadly, "Yes, please! That'd be great. Thanks, sir, um... Remus."
"It'll be my pleasure," replied Remus as he escorted Harry to the door of the classroom and shooed him out to lunch.
That evening in the common room Blaise was getting a series of looks from the rest of third year. They'd all noticed Blaise during classes today.
"Hey, Blaise," said Theo, "Can you give me a hand to search the dorm for my Transfiguration homework, I think it got lost in there?"
Seeing the obvious request for a more private conversation that he was unlikely to be able to avoid forever, Blaise assented and Theo and third year boys all trooped up to the dorm and shut the door behind them.
"So what happened with Umbridge last night?" demanded Draco, not beating about the bush.
Blaise took a breath and responded with an expression that said he'd kill anyone who made a mockery of him. "She smacked me with a ruler and had me scrubbing the floor of her classroom until after lights out." he said, his expression daring anyone to laugh.
"For answering out of turn in class?!" said Theo, shocked. "Tell Snape."
"You think Snape is going to be happy about me whining to him about another teacher. Can you imagine how that'd go?" retorted Blaise.
"But she wasn't fair," said Harry, "Snape is, although strict, fair. I only got the ruler off him for hexing my cousin," and he trailed off, a bit embarrassed at having admitted to that.
"You could have done a better job, Potter, the boy's still got all his limbs intact," said Draco, not missing the opportunity.
"Ha ha, funny," said Harry flatly, "He's been better since the end of last term. Cut him a bit of slack." Harry continued in more normal tones, "Blaise, go talk to Snape. If nothing else, you'll be telling him what's going on, and you know how he likes to know things."
"You could do that," said Theo, agreeing, "You could come out of it quite well if you just tell him. Not accusing her, not whining, just admitting that you'd answered back and tell him what your punishment was."
"You could go one better," said Draco in a calculating way, "You could tell him you hope that because she's Slytherin it hasn't damaged Snape's reputation of being of good head of house with her."
"Ooooh, that's nasty," said Theo, impressed.
"My father isn't where he is without learning about people," said Draco smugly, enjoying the moment.
"I don't know if I can say that with a straight face," said Blaise.
"Practise in the bathroom mirror," suggested Harry, "It will definitely be worth it."
A week later, Harry received a note at breakfast to go see Snape when he'd finished eating. Curious, and mentally checking he hadn't done anything wrong, Harry knocked on his head of house's office door at 8am.
"Come in," said Snape. Harry entered feeling slightly apprehensive. He didn't think he'd done anything wrong, but you never knew with Snape...
Snape indicated the chair across from his desk, "Sit down, Harry. You seem worried."
"Um, no, it's just I don't know why I'm here," replied Harry, honestly.
Snape's eyes showed humour, even if his mouth didn't, a trait Harry had learnt meant that Snape was genuinely amused, but was refusing to show it in front of the students, "Occasionally I'm sure you can manage to avoid trouble, Mr. Potter," he said.
"There are a number of things I wanted to discuss with you. First, last year you had regular mentor meetings with me. Unless you've any objection, I'd like to continue these fortnightly on Wednesdays." Snape looked inquiringly at Harry who nodded, and at getting a slight knitting of the eyebrows replied with a yes sir.
"Good. Second, I'm pleased you've stayed in Slytherin, I think you fit in well here. I said in the letter I sent you over summer that I would discuss arrangements if you stayed in Slytherin so that you have greater access to your Gryffindor friends. I have been talking with the Headmaster and the other heads of house and we have agreed that under the auspices of house unity, at weekends, and only weekends, all students can eat their meals at whatever table they wish."
Harry grinned and Snape continued, "This does not mean that you are allowed in each others' common rooms, although with the permission of both heads of house we will on a case by case basis allow students access to another common room at the invitation of a friend. This is limited to occasions such as birthdays et cetera, it is not carte blanche to wander around the Gryffindor common room, nor to bring the Weasley twins into the Slytherin domain. Understand?"
"Yes, sir, absolutely," said Harry, barely able to contain his happiness.
"Professor Dumbledore will announce these changes at lunchtime, but I thought you'd appreciate being told now," said Snape. "Not all the professors are pleased at this arrangement, so I wouldn't suggest cheering when the headmaster makes the announcement," said Snape with a tone that suggested he would enjoy watching a particular professor's expression at lunchtime.
"Third. Mr. Lupin is the new classroom assistant," Snape paused, wondering how best to phrase what he wanted to say. "He was very close friends with your parents. He will probably want to talk with you. He..." again Snape paused, "I was a friend of your mother as I said last year, but he was friends with your father." Snape broke off abruptly, refraining from saying more. He didn't want to get onto the subject of James Potter.
"He introduced himself to me in charms last week, sir. He said I could talk with him. He seems nice, but it was weird him hovering round me in class until he explained who he is. It made sense after that."
"Lupin was good friends with your parents. He knew them well. I'm sure he'll want to tell you all about them. I know you never knew them though, and Lupin has many, many stories, so if you ever feel that it's ever too much, you can always ask him to stop, or if you feel uncomfortable with the memories, don't hesitate to talk to me."
"Thank you, sir." said Harry, grateful that his head of house was looking after him.