The classroom was pitch black, illuminated only by the moonlight streaming through the ceiling grilles. At the far end, the door to the Store cupboard for Potions was ajar. From where he was, Harry could just make out the figure of Snape. He seemed to have his arms around something, maybe a vat of Snizzle Grozzlers. Then Harry saw that this vat had indeed got arms, legs and a face - it was Miss Amatorres. Harry's eyes widened in amazement - His guess had been true! Snape had got a girlfriend! He turned round to run back to the Gryffindor common room where Ron and Hermione were waiting, his detention forgotton, but instead he found himself staring face to face with Mad Eye Moody.
"Potter." Moody rumbled, his magical eye wheeling around.
"Yes sir."
There was silence. Harry watched Moody, and followed his gaze to the wall of the store cupboard. Then it dawned upon Harry - Moody's magical eye could see through walls!
"I, erm" "Come along boy!" They both spoke at once.
Moody continued, "I think Professor Snape is rather...erm...preoccupied. You'll have to see him in the morning." he said, ushering Harry out into the Great Hall. "Get back to your common room, lights are out in ten minutes."
In reality, it was considerably longer before Harry, Ron and Hermione got to sleep. Hermione seemed distinctly superior when Harry told her about Snape's antics.
"Well, it's what people in love do" she said, as Ron desperately tried to get his head round the idea of a woman so absolutely gorgeous fancying Snape. Then he turned to look at her.
"And what would you know about it?" he asked suspiciously.
Hermione blushed slightly, and didn't reply. Both Harry and Ron got the message immediately. Unlike Harry, though, Ron pursued, "Hermione...where were you when I asked you to come round in the Summer Holidays? You WEREN'T in America visiting your grandmother at all were you? You were with...with..." Ron's face purpled. "...Krum." he finally managed.
"Well what if I was?" Hermione said lightly.
And that seemed the end of that conversation.
The next day, after breakfast, it was the Defence against the Dark Arts class with Professor Lupin. Although Harry had been miserable all week at the thought of Sirius' sudden departure. He soon cheered up when he walked into the classroom to find that Lupin was still the same as ever.
"Come along now, sit down." he said, smiling at the class. Halfway through their lesson on Wadiwasi spells, he disappeared into his office. Although he was in there a long time and shouldn't leave classes unattended, Harry didn't mind as he had just hit Malfoy on the back of the head with a red paintbrush, turning his blonde hair red, which was nothing compared to the state of his face - it must have been purple with rage!
A few minutes later, someone emerged from Lupin's office. To the class' surprise, it was not Lupin. Only Harry and Ron recognised her as the woman they had seen that day outside the DADA room. Arianwen looked decidedly a lot less cool than she had then. She stared round the class, who were all eying her with a mixture of interest and suspicion, then managed a weak smile. Lupin appeared behind her back, also smiling embarrassedly, then introduced her 'Arianwen is my DADA assistant, and will be helping you all with your spells from now on.'
He motioned for them to continue with their studies.
'Looks like she does a lot more than assist with spells' muttered Ron gloomily, 'Why can't I get someone like her or that Amatorres woman'
Hermione tutted loudly behind them, and Harry noticed, not for the first time, that when they looked at each other it was not with their usual stubbornness, but with fondness, He felt an overwhelming desire to run out of the room screaming, then throw up somewhere. What was with all the lust in this place at the moment?!
He was going down the stairs with this in mind when he bumped straight into Cho Chang, whose bag split, spilling work everywhere.
"I'm so sorry!" he gasped
Cho didn't even look at him as he knelt down to clear up the mess he'd made. How could he have made such a fool of himself in front of Cho?
"So...er...how are you?" he stammered, not even glancing at her.
"Fine." She replied shortly
"Good day?"
"No. Crap. Look Harry, I'd better be going." She managed a tight smile and hurried off, leaving Harry bewildered.
Ron arrived behind Harry and looked at him questioningly. Harry stared after her open mouthed.
"Aha." Said Ron, "Aha Aha!"
"What?" said Harry, turning to him.
"One of those."
"One of WHAT?"
"PMT" replied Ron, knowingly, and led Harry off to Divination.
Professor Trelawney was her usual self and a strange sort of mustiness followed her about the room. She was demonstrating how to use divining rods to the class when suddenly her own rods twisted and clattered to the floor, making her scream and the class jump.
"Gracious!" she whispered faintly as Lavender and Parvati helped her into a chair.
"What is it?" everyone was crowding round her.
"My dear," she said, turning her eyes on Harry, who groaned inwardly, "The rods turned downwards and fell at your feet. This means only one thing..." she trailed off, leaving him in no doubt of what the 'one thing' was, as it always was. "Now dear boy, to avoid this terrible fate, you must stay away from all types of water for at least six hours" Harry's brain went into overdrive - would that include Potions?
It did not, for in the next lesson, although Ron and Hermione tried to persuade him, Snape was having none of it:
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your insolence" he purred, then found ample excuse in Neville's Butterfly potion to remove another fifteen. The Harry had an idea:
"Professor?"
"What?" Snape snapped.
"Well, I did get 9 out of 10 for my homework last week and that's much better than I've ever got in Potions before."
"That's not saying much."
"Well..would you mind giving me some...say 30 housepoints. Only, I have seen something." Harry watched Snape's reaction closely. However, he did not have a chance to. Someone had tapped him on the shoulder.
"Would you mind if I had a word with Professor Snape, Harry?" said Albus Dumbledore. Harry was shocked, not only at this sudden appearance, but also at the look in his eyes. They were a steeled blue grey. Harry went back to his potion in deep thought. Looking around his cauldron, he could see Dumbledore talking to Snape, who was nodding in agreement. Dumbledore left the room and Harry watched Snape carefully as he crossed the room to tell Miss Amatorres something. There seemed to be something like alarm in her eyes, but he continued watching Snape who disappeared into his office, closely followed by Miss Amatorres. That was the last Harry saw of him, for five minutes later Miss Amatorres emerged to tutor the class, which was very attentive, even if this attention wasn't focused on what she was saying but on other things...
That evening at dinner, Professor Dumbledore stood up to bring the school to order; he had an announcement to make: "I am sorry to say that Professor Snape will not be taking lessons for a while. He has been called away by ...urgent business. Miss Amatorres will be taking Potions in the meanwhile. I ask you to respect her just as much as you did Professor Snape."
He sat down, but the silence that followed was intense. The Slytherins were trying to work out which was better: the biased Snape or his beautiful girlfriend. The rest of the school were trying not to burst into song.
The whole school suddenly began to enjoy their Potions classes and days went by when people found themselves actually wanting a Potions class, not dreading one. The Slytherins were now looking very smug as they now had the most popular housemistress, but as a consequence Miss Amatorres found herself lacking in sleep, because so many boys were having trouble sleeping, and using this as an excuse to get a chance to talk to her.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in a History of Magic class the following Tuesday. As usual, Hermione was taking notes, Ron was staring out of the window and Harry at the floor, whilst trying not to fall asleep.
"Psst..." Ron turned round to face Harry, "Psst...Harry!" he whispered.
Hermione looked round, out of the window, gasped and whispered "Harry! Look!" She poked him in the ribs with her wand, giving him something similar to an electric shock, "Look! Harry, look!"
Harry turned round and looked out of the window into the courtyard below. He could see Snape who was carrying a figure in his arms. He looked again and slid off his chair and almost shouted "Sirius!" But he only got as far as "Si..." before Ron stuffed his textbook into his mouth. Professor Binns was disturbed out of his usual drone,
"What is it boys? Miss Granger? I said..."
But the three of them had already run out of the classroom and along the corridor to find Professor Dumbledore.
They eventually reached the entrance to his office and after pausing to catch their breath, tried to guess the password. Their guessing was not needed, for striding down the corridor towards them was Professor Dumbledore himself, flanked by two wizened old wizards. Dumbledore seemed to be very preoccupied.
"Quick! He doesn't look as though he's going to be very talkative!" whispered Harry and they all hid behind a large statue near the entrance. Dumbledore muttered the password and the wall slid open. As soon as they had gone through, Harry Ron and Hermione dashed towards the closing gap. Harry got through first, only to find that the wall has slid shut behind him and he was left on his own.
He climbed the revolving stairs, then stopped outside the door. He could voices.
"So Severus, if you'd like to tell us what happened?"
Snape! Snape was there too! Harry put his ear to the door so he could hear fragments of his story.
"...yesterday...dark forest, like before...I managed to find Sirius Black...seemed to be an Avogadro curse...broke that, then brought him back...left for dead."
"But that's crazy!" a new voice was saying, "Everyone knows Sirius Black is an insane murderer after the Potter boy, what do you want him at Hogwarts for?"
"Mundungus!" Dumbledore's voice cut the air neatly, "Did you read the owl I sent you at the end of the last International Wizarding Summit?"
Harry decided he could wait no longer after having heard that Snape had saved Sirius' life, who had evidently come face to face with Lord Voldemort. He knocked on the door.
There was a sudden silence on the other side, then Dumbledore said sharply, "Come!"
Harry entered, "Professor, I..."
"Sirius is in the hospital wing. Professor Lupin is with him. Harry?"
"Yes Professor?"
"Who else saw Professor Snape and Sirius?"
"I don't know. Ron and Hermione I think sir."
"Very well. You may come down to the hospital wing with us. But it is important that no-one knows of Sirius' presence here."
"Yes Professor." Harry entered the hospital wing and was confronted by a rather vexed Madam Pomfrey.
"You again?" she scowled, "I suppose you've come to see Mr Black."
"Yes!" said Harry, rushing over to where Lupin was sitting by Sirius' bed.
"Harry?!" said Lupin. He seemed surprised.
"Hello! How is he?"
"Well, I don't know. Whatever put that curse on him wanted it to stay. Dumbledore's brought me up here to keep an anti curse on him. Every time Madam Pomfrey cures him of it, it returns within the hour."
Harry said nothing.
"It's hard to tell you this Harry, but this is the worst case I've ever seen and I've seen quite a few in the days of Voldemort's supreme power."
Harry felt his throat block up and he swallowed hurriedly. He wasn't going to cry in front of two strange wizards. He wasn't, he wasn't...
A few minutes later, Ron and Hermione entered the hospital wing to find Harry sobbing uncontrollably in Lupin's arms. Arianwen was standing behind them both looking unconcernedly at Sirius and Harry. Her hands rested on Lupin's shoulders.
"Harry?" asked Hermione nervously, "You OK?"
Harry looked up, nodded and burst into tears again. "He might...die!" he managed, gesturing towards the bed. They moved forwards and stopped suddenly, shocked at Sirius' appearance. He looked worse that he did when he came out of Azkaban. His eyes were shut and his face was twitching uncontrollably. Dumbledore came over, looked at him, tutted gently to himself and then addressed Harry.
"Come now, Harry" he said, "to my office. There is something I must tell you."
Harry took one last look at his godfather then followed Dumbledore back up the stairs to his office. He was rather shocked though to find Snape and Amatorres already there. She was fussing over him. He seemed to be enjoying the attention.
"Ah Severus! I trust Madam Pomfrey has checked you over?" Dumbledore said. "If you don't mind I need to have a quick word with Harry to fill him in on last weeks events.
"So?" Snape asked questioningly
"Well, I'm sorry to say that Mr Weasley, Mr Potter and Miss Granger also saw you."
"Ah. Did anyone else?" Snape was suddenly wary and alert.
"No."
"Good." There was a pause. "Very well, I'll see you in the staff room." With that Snape was gone, having first ushered Miss Amatorres out.
Dumbledore watched them leave, then turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"The summer holidays," he began, "were eventful at Hogwarts."
"Professor Snape was attacked with exactly the same curse as Sirius. The only difference was that we could remove the curse. This...is different. No one has ever heard of a curse which refused to leave when counteracted. We are all very shaken, but Madam Pomfrey has assured us that she is doing her utmost to remove it."
"Will he...be ok?" Harry choked.
Dumbledore looked grave, "I must be frank. Professor Snape took weeks to recover from the Avogadro curse and we managed to counter curse it within hours. It is very painful." His face showed a sudden pain that he had never seen before.
"So what are Miss Amatorres and Arianwen doing here?" asked Harry.
"I knew that I would be needing both Professor Snape's knowledge and experience in the fight against Lord Voldemort so I called upon my dear niece, Miss Amatorres, to assist in the day to day running and organisation of Slytherin house and Potions. As you already know, she has taken to her job with great" there was a pause, "gusto."
"As for Professor Lupin and Arianwen, they met after he left two years ago in Diagon Alley. She has travelled in Africa and the Far East, fighting the Dark Arts. This reason overcame my fear in inviting her to become the Defence Against the Dark Arts assistant. She has proved...invaluable to Professor Lupin."
"I cannot stress the importance of not saying anything to anybody, even those people you trust about Professor Snape's mission, unless you want to compromise our fight against Voldemort. I shall inform Professor Mc Gonagall as to why you missed lessons shortly, but I think you should keep a low profile in the school unless..." his voice tailed off.
"Unless?"
"I think we ought to be getting to the Great Hall. It's just about dinnertime."
After dinner, the three friends took a stroll in the dark. Walking around the lake, they discussed everything that Dumbledore had told them. They passed Hagrid's hut, dark now, since he too was away on 'urgent business', and turned to walk along the south shore of the lake alongside the Black Forest.
They sat down on a grassy bank beside the lake and looked at the school.
"I just don't understand it," said Ron, "Why is Snape but not Lupin going off all the time? Does Dumbledore not trust Lupin?"
"If you ask me I think he doesn't trust Arianwen." said Hermione, "Remember our last teacher to travel the world fighting the Dark Arts was Professor Quirrel. Look what happened to him."
"Look!" exclaimed Harry, pointing at the school, where it was possible to see that two figures had emerged from the main doors.
"Its..." Ron screwed up his eyes, "Arianwen and..."
"Amatorres!" said Hermione. "They're coming this way!"
"Quick!" said Harry and they looked around for a hiding place. All they could find was an ancient oak, which they quickly scaled and found a suitable resting branch, as the two figures had now drawn much closer. They were deep in conversation.
Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, but they were watching the two shadowy figures intently
"Yes, but surely Severus of all people should know more about it than even Dumbledore himself!" said Arianwen, frustrated.
"What makes you say that?" said Amatorres sharply.
"Nothin, but Snape is very close to Dumbledore isn't he?." Said Arianwen, then breezily changed the subject, "So what are you doing for the Christmas holidays?"
The figures moved off towards the main school and Harry, Ron and Hermione clambered down from their uncomfortable roost.
"What was all that about?" said Hermione
"Dunno, but it was strange." Replied Ron
"Snape's got something to do with this." Said Harry decidedly.
They sneaked back up to the castle and to their dormitory. Harry's head was spinning with confusion. The trouble was they had always thought that Snape was responsible for any disturbances at school and he never was in reality. But now? What did Arianwen know? Something. Something that Lupin, Snape and Arianwen knew, that Amatorres didn't. But as she was Dumbledore's niece, shouldn't it follow that she would know everything? Or maybe Lupin didn't know anything; maybe Arianwen had met Snape before, and knew this something. Well, one thing was certain - this something was so private that Snape wouldn't even tell his closest friend. Harry eventually fell asleep at one in the morning, after giving up on guessing what this something was.
The next day proved to be a very chaotic day as it was the end of term and most students were going home. In amongst the mess caused by overflowing trunks and escaped pets, Harry managed to catch up with Ron and Hermione.
"Lets go and see Hagrid."
"Good idea! Get us away from this!" said Ron, casting a look around the Gryffindor common room. They managed to escape into the grounds and to Hagrid's Hut.
Hagrid had returned the day before. They knew because he had stumbled into the Great Hall for breakfast that morning. As they approached the hut, they could feel the ground vibrating from the loud snores issuing from the hut.
"Lazy bugger must've gone back to sleep." Grunted Ron.
They hammered at the door, trying to make themselves heard over the deafening noise. It stopped suddenly and they heard someone making their way towards the door. Hagrid, bleary eyed, opened it and ushered them in. He looked sleepily pleased to see them. They stopped on the threshold, absorbing what they saw...
...To their right was the remains of dinner for two, to their left was Fang, sleeping in front of the fireplace but straight ahead of them was Madam Maxime, asleep in the bed.
Hagrid saw their shocked expressions and started to protest "It's not what yer think, `onest!"
Ron grinned, "Yeah right Hagrid. Always knew you'd get there in the end."
Hagrid blushed. "Come in, as long as you're quiet. What did yer want then?" He offered them some rock cakes. They politely declined.
"Just to see how you were, catch up on this 'classified business' you two were doing." Said Harry casually.
"Ah no Harry. I can't tell yer. Dumbledore's business yer see. If I'd tol' yer, he'd have me guts for garters."
"Yes, yes we know, but doesn't Harry have a right to know if it's to do with him?" protested Hermione gently.
"Look Harry" said Hagrid, fumbling around in the kitchenette to make Madam Maxime some breakfast, "Dumbledore said I shouldn't be tellin' yer anything, 'cos he said not to tell yer 'bout the giants" CRASH! There was a smash as Hagrid dropped the frying pan on the floor.
"What about the giants?" said Hermione sweetly.
Hagrid looked shifty, "Nowt. They know nowt. I know nowt. Now go on!"
The next few moments were a little ...hectic. They consisted of Hagrid trying to physically carry all three of them out of the Hut, and them all shouting at him to tell them about the giants. Finally he slammed the door on them.
Hermione screamed, "If you were a true friend to Harry you'd tell him!"
The door opened again and Hagrid stormed out, his face contorted with rage. Then he started shouting, "IF YER KNEW WHAT I'D DONE FER YER HARRY, NONE OF YER WOULD EVER ACCUSE ME OF NOT BEING A GOOD FRIEND TO YER. NEVER!" He turned round and stormed back into the Hut slamming the door behind him.
"What was all that about?" said Ron
"Dunno." Said Harry, but his facial expression betrayed him. Hermione was just about to ask Harry what was wrong when Malfoy came up and spat on the gound in front of Harry's feet. Harry had had enough. He ran off in the direction of the Lake.
"Harry!" called Hermione, "Wait!"
"But he didn't.
Harry almost fell over in his attempts to stop suddenly. He had reached the edge of the lake and had caught sight of Arianwen and Lupin. The last thing he wanted right now was to interrupt a meeting with Lupin and his girlfriend. He was just backing away when he caught a bit of their conversation and stopped, listening intently.
"They're picking us off one by one." Arianwen was crying, "And you're next, I just know it.
"They won't get me, don't worry." Comforted Lupin, "Don't worry." He repeated, "I'm safe, unlike others."
She glanced up at him, suddenly looking crafty, "If you would just tell me..."
"No."
"Oh please! I won't tell anyone, it'll be our secret, go on...I'll treat you!" she persisted.
Lupin looked hesitant, "All I know is that he won't get me next - he'll try Severus again."
"But why?"
"I do not know the full reason," he said, looking wistful, "but from my research several books in the library have been altered concerning the Dark Ancestry and the Dark Arts, and Severus himself was attacked in the summer while on a mission. Since then, Dumbledore and Severus have become a lot more dependent on each other, something has happened or of which they will tell me, the Dark Arts teacher, nothing."
Lupin continued, "It is...frustrating that they evidently don't trust me or Minerva. We're all on the same side after all."
Arianwen smiled at him reassuringly, "Of course we are. Don't worry about it. Now lets see about that 'treat' shall we?"
They walked away towards the castle. Harry however stayed. He sat down and dangled his feet in the lake. He stared into the water, remembering only too well the events of last year, which had culminated in the death of Cedric Diggory and his face-to-face battle with Voldemort. He had been so taken aback at the power of Voldemort; it was pure chance that the Priori Incantatem had taken place. If Snape was being pursued by Voldemort, what special bond did he have with Voldemort to stop him getting killed? None. Or maybe he did have one. He didn't know, he didn't care. What he wanted now was for Voldemort to never have existed, never have killed his parents, never have made life so difficult.
It began to rain and Harry returned to the school buildings, as there was just one more afternoon of lessons to get through before the Christmas Holidays - Transfiguration and Potions. So, after an exhausting Transfiguration lesson, Harry, Ron and Hermione trekked down to the dungeons for the dreaded Potions. To their unending pleasure they discovered that the Slytherins were allowed to sit at the desks and chat all lesson, while the Gryffindors were required to clean the classroom thoroughly. Great. Harry bent down to pick up some dragon liver from the floor, and suddenly felt his scar burn. He glanced up. Snape was staring at him with a look of utmost loathing. Harry frowned and continued his work, the intense pain growing in his head until he nearly screamed. Hermione and Ron were on either side of him, asking him what they should do, but all he could do was rock quietly backwards and forwards and moan softly to himself, trying to attract as little attention as possible. Then, suddenly, the pain vanished. He looked up, gasping for breath, to see that Snpae's attention had been distracted by Neville. He took a deep breath and told Hermione and Ron what had happened. Then a voice stopped him, "Potter, 10 points from Gryffindor- I expect you to do as you are told in a lesson, and not to distract fellow classmates with your idle gossip."
Malfoy smirked at Harry across the room, then contunued to kick a dead slug around the floor, leaving a slimy trail for Seamus Finnigan to clean up after him. And the pain returned. Just before he blacked out, Harry saw that Snape's eyes were again resting on him.
When Harry came round no-one seemed to have noticed that he had been unconscious. Snape was over another side of the classroom tormenting Ron and Hermione, who he seemed to have dragged away from Harry's side. Neville leant down over Harry. "Be quiet Harry- look I've got something to tell you, but close your eyes and pretend your still unconcious, and I'll just wipe the floor around where you're lying. Now," Neville continued as Harry did as he was told, "I don't know what to do, but that dog that follows Professor Lupin around- he's Sirius Black Harry. I thought I better tell you because he wants to attack you like he did a couple of years ago." Harry opened his eyes sharply and nearly sat up, but Neville pushed him down, "And I've seen Snape helping this dog- bandaging wounds and stuff. So Snape's joined the dark side- Harry what are we going to do?"
"Um, I'll think of something." Said Harry, trying to sound fearful, "Why don't you just continue cleaning up your patch, Neville?" As Harry watched Neville go back to scrubbing down the workbench, Dumbledore's words came floating back to him. He realised what he had to do, he had to see Professor Snape, he had to. He looked aroung for a distraction that he could cause. To his left was a jar of pickled Jamid Kidneys, something that belonged to Snape's private store. He went up to him, trying not to meet his stare, and asked him where he should put it.
"In my office, boy, where do you think?" said Snape irritably.
"Umm, Professor, I really need to talk to you."
"If you have a problem, you should talk to your housemistress, certainly not to me."
Harry took a deep breath, this wasn't getting him anywhere. His pain in his scar was so intense that he decided to tell him now. "Someone else saw you."
Very quietly and slowly, Snape said, "My office, now, if you please."
"Potter." Moody rumbled, his magical eye wheeling around.
"Yes sir."
There was silence. Harry watched Moody, and followed his gaze to the wall of the store cupboard. Then it dawned upon Harry - Moody's magical eye could see through walls!
"I, erm" "Come along boy!" They both spoke at once.
Moody continued, "I think Professor Snape is rather...erm...preoccupied. You'll have to see him in the morning." he said, ushering Harry out into the Great Hall. "Get back to your common room, lights are out in ten minutes."
In reality, it was considerably longer before Harry, Ron and Hermione got to sleep. Hermione seemed distinctly superior when Harry told her about Snape's antics.
"Well, it's what people in love do" she said, as Ron desperately tried to get his head round the idea of a woman so absolutely gorgeous fancying Snape. Then he turned to look at her.
"And what would you know about it?" he asked suspiciously.
Hermione blushed slightly, and didn't reply. Both Harry and Ron got the message immediately. Unlike Harry, though, Ron pursued, "Hermione...where were you when I asked you to come round in the Summer Holidays? You WEREN'T in America visiting your grandmother at all were you? You were with...with..." Ron's face purpled. "...Krum." he finally managed.
"Well what if I was?" Hermione said lightly.
And that seemed the end of that conversation.
The next day, after breakfast, it was the Defence against the Dark Arts class with Professor Lupin. Although Harry had been miserable all week at the thought of Sirius' sudden departure. He soon cheered up when he walked into the classroom to find that Lupin was still the same as ever.
"Come along now, sit down." he said, smiling at the class. Halfway through their lesson on Wadiwasi spells, he disappeared into his office. Although he was in there a long time and shouldn't leave classes unattended, Harry didn't mind as he had just hit Malfoy on the back of the head with a red paintbrush, turning his blonde hair red, which was nothing compared to the state of his face - it must have been purple with rage!
A few minutes later, someone emerged from Lupin's office. To the class' surprise, it was not Lupin. Only Harry and Ron recognised her as the woman they had seen that day outside the DADA room. Arianwen looked decidedly a lot less cool than she had then. She stared round the class, who were all eying her with a mixture of interest and suspicion, then managed a weak smile. Lupin appeared behind her back, also smiling embarrassedly, then introduced her 'Arianwen is my DADA assistant, and will be helping you all with your spells from now on.'
He motioned for them to continue with their studies.
'Looks like she does a lot more than assist with spells' muttered Ron gloomily, 'Why can't I get someone like her or that Amatorres woman'
Hermione tutted loudly behind them, and Harry noticed, not for the first time, that when they looked at each other it was not with their usual stubbornness, but with fondness, He felt an overwhelming desire to run out of the room screaming, then throw up somewhere. What was with all the lust in this place at the moment?!
He was going down the stairs with this in mind when he bumped straight into Cho Chang, whose bag split, spilling work everywhere.
"I'm so sorry!" he gasped
Cho didn't even look at him as he knelt down to clear up the mess he'd made. How could he have made such a fool of himself in front of Cho?
"So...er...how are you?" he stammered, not even glancing at her.
"Fine." She replied shortly
"Good day?"
"No. Crap. Look Harry, I'd better be going." She managed a tight smile and hurried off, leaving Harry bewildered.
Ron arrived behind Harry and looked at him questioningly. Harry stared after her open mouthed.
"Aha." Said Ron, "Aha Aha!"
"What?" said Harry, turning to him.
"One of those."
"One of WHAT?"
"PMT" replied Ron, knowingly, and led Harry off to Divination.
Professor Trelawney was her usual self and a strange sort of mustiness followed her about the room. She was demonstrating how to use divining rods to the class when suddenly her own rods twisted and clattered to the floor, making her scream and the class jump.
"Gracious!" she whispered faintly as Lavender and Parvati helped her into a chair.
"What is it?" everyone was crowding round her.
"My dear," she said, turning her eyes on Harry, who groaned inwardly, "The rods turned downwards and fell at your feet. This means only one thing..." she trailed off, leaving him in no doubt of what the 'one thing' was, as it always was. "Now dear boy, to avoid this terrible fate, you must stay away from all types of water for at least six hours" Harry's brain went into overdrive - would that include Potions?
It did not, for in the next lesson, although Ron and Hermione tried to persuade him, Snape was having none of it:
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your insolence" he purred, then found ample excuse in Neville's Butterfly potion to remove another fifteen. The Harry had an idea:
"Professor?"
"What?" Snape snapped.
"Well, I did get 9 out of 10 for my homework last week and that's much better than I've ever got in Potions before."
"That's not saying much."
"Well..would you mind giving me some...say 30 housepoints. Only, I have seen something." Harry watched Snape's reaction closely. However, he did not have a chance to. Someone had tapped him on the shoulder.
"Would you mind if I had a word with Professor Snape, Harry?" said Albus Dumbledore. Harry was shocked, not only at this sudden appearance, but also at the look in his eyes. They were a steeled blue grey. Harry went back to his potion in deep thought. Looking around his cauldron, he could see Dumbledore talking to Snape, who was nodding in agreement. Dumbledore left the room and Harry watched Snape carefully as he crossed the room to tell Miss Amatorres something. There seemed to be something like alarm in her eyes, but he continued watching Snape who disappeared into his office, closely followed by Miss Amatorres. That was the last Harry saw of him, for five minutes later Miss Amatorres emerged to tutor the class, which was very attentive, even if this attention wasn't focused on what she was saying but on other things...
That evening at dinner, Professor Dumbledore stood up to bring the school to order; he had an announcement to make: "I am sorry to say that Professor Snape will not be taking lessons for a while. He has been called away by ...urgent business. Miss Amatorres will be taking Potions in the meanwhile. I ask you to respect her just as much as you did Professor Snape."
He sat down, but the silence that followed was intense. The Slytherins were trying to work out which was better: the biased Snape or his beautiful girlfriend. The rest of the school were trying not to burst into song.
The whole school suddenly began to enjoy their Potions classes and days went by when people found themselves actually wanting a Potions class, not dreading one. The Slytherins were now looking very smug as they now had the most popular housemistress, but as a consequence Miss Amatorres found herself lacking in sleep, because so many boys were having trouble sleeping, and using this as an excuse to get a chance to talk to her.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in a History of Magic class the following Tuesday. As usual, Hermione was taking notes, Ron was staring out of the window and Harry at the floor, whilst trying not to fall asleep.
"Psst..." Ron turned round to face Harry, "Psst...Harry!" he whispered.
Hermione looked round, out of the window, gasped and whispered "Harry! Look!" She poked him in the ribs with her wand, giving him something similar to an electric shock, "Look! Harry, look!"
Harry turned round and looked out of the window into the courtyard below. He could see Snape who was carrying a figure in his arms. He looked again and slid off his chair and almost shouted "Sirius!" But he only got as far as "Si..." before Ron stuffed his textbook into his mouth. Professor Binns was disturbed out of his usual drone,
"What is it boys? Miss Granger? I said..."
But the three of them had already run out of the classroom and along the corridor to find Professor Dumbledore.
They eventually reached the entrance to his office and after pausing to catch their breath, tried to guess the password. Their guessing was not needed, for striding down the corridor towards them was Professor Dumbledore himself, flanked by two wizened old wizards. Dumbledore seemed to be very preoccupied.
"Quick! He doesn't look as though he's going to be very talkative!" whispered Harry and they all hid behind a large statue near the entrance. Dumbledore muttered the password and the wall slid open. As soon as they had gone through, Harry Ron and Hermione dashed towards the closing gap. Harry got through first, only to find that the wall has slid shut behind him and he was left on his own.
He climbed the revolving stairs, then stopped outside the door. He could voices.
"So Severus, if you'd like to tell us what happened?"
Snape! Snape was there too! Harry put his ear to the door so he could hear fragments of his story.
"...yesterday...dark forest, like before...I managed to find Sirius Black...seemed to be an Avogadro curse...broke that, then brought him back...left for dead."
"But that's crazy!" a new voice was saying, "Everyone knows Sirius Black is an insane murderer after the Potter boy, what do you want him at Hogwarts for?"
"Mundungus!" Dumbledore's voice cut the air neatly, "Did you read the owl I sent you at the end of the last International Wizarding Summit?"
Harry decided he could wait no longer after having heard that Snape had saved Sirius' life, who had evidently come face to face with Lord Voldemort. He knocked on the door.
There was a sudden silence on the other side, then Dumbledore said sharply, "Come!"
Harry entered, "Professor, I..."
"Sirius is in the hospital wing. Professor Lupin is with him. Harry?"
"Yes Professor?"
"Who else saw Professor Snape and Sirius?"
"I don't know. Ron and Hermione I think sir."
"Very well. You may come down to the hospital wing with us. But it is important that no-one knows of Sirius' presence here."
"Yes Professor." Harry entered the hospital wing and was confronted by a rather vexed Madam Pomfrey.
"You again?" she scowled, "I suppose you've come to see Mr Black."
"Yes!" said Harry, rushing over to where Lupin was sitting by Sirius' bed.
"Harry?!" said Lupin. He seemed surprised.
"Hello! How is he?"
"Well, I don't know. Whatever put that curse on him wanted it to stay. Dumbledore's brought me up here to keep an anti curse on him. Every time Madam Pomfrey cures him of it, it returns within the hour."
Harry said nothing.
"It's hard to tell you this Harry, but this is the worst case I've ever seen and I've seen quite a few in the days of Voldemort's supreme power."
Harry felt his throat block up and he swallowed hurriedly. He wasn't going to cry in front of two strange wizards. He wasn't, he wasn't...
A few minutes later, Ron and Hermione entered the hospital wing to find Harry sobbing uncontrollably in Lupin's arms. Arianwen was standing behind them both looking unconcernedly at Sirius and Harry. Her hands rested on Lupin's shoulders.
"Harry?" asked Hermione nervously, "You OK?"
Harry looked up, nodded and burst into tears again. "He might...die!" he managed, gesturing towards the bed. They moved forwards and stopped suddenly, shocked at Sirius' appearance. He looked worse that he did when he came out of Azkaban. His eyes were shut and his face was twitching uncontrollably. Dumbledore came over, looked at him, tutted gently to himself and then addressed Harry.
"Come now, Harry" he said, "to my office. There is something I must tell you."
Harry took one last look at his godfather then followed Dumbledore back up the stairs to his office. He was rather shocked though to find Snape and Amatorres already there. She was fussing over him. He seemed to be enjoying the attention.
"Ah Severus! I trust Madam Pomfrey has checked you over?" Dumbledore said. "If you don't mind I need to have a quick word with Harry to fill him in on last weeks events.
"So?" Snape asked questioningly
"Well, I'm sorry to say that Mr Weasley, Mr Potter and Miss Granger also saw you."
"Ah. Did anyone else?" Snape was suddenly wary and alert.
"No."
"Good." There was a pause. "Very well, I'll see you in the staff room." With that Snape was gone, having first ushered Miss Amatorres out.
Dumbledore watched them leave, then turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"The summer holidays," he began, "were eventful at Hogwarts."
"Professor Snape was attacked with exactly the same curse as Sirius. The only difference was that we could remove the curse. This...is different. No one has ever heard of a curse which refused to leave when counteracted. We are all very shaken, but Madam Pomfrey has assured us that she is doing her utmost to remove it."
"Will he...be ok?" Harry choked.
Dumbledore looked grave, "I must be frank. Professor Snape took weeks to recover from the Avogadro curse and we managed to counter curse it within hours. It is very painful." His face showed a sudden pain that he had never seen before.
"So what are Miss Amatorres and Arianwen doing here?" asked Harry.
"I knew that I would be needing both Professor Snape's knowledge and experience in the fight against Lord Voldemort so I called upon my dear niece, Miss Amatorres, to assist in the day to day running and organisation of Slytherin house and Potions. As you already know, she has taken to her job with great" there was a pause, "gusto."
"As for Professor Lupin and Arianwen, they met after he left two years ago in Diagon Alley. She has travelled in Africa and the Far East, fighting the Dark Arts. This reason overcame my fear in inviting her to become the Defence Against the Dark Arts assistant. She has proved...invaluable to Professor Lupin."
"I cannot stress the importance of not saying anything to anybody, even those people you trust about Professor Snape's mission, unless you want to compromise our fight against Voldemort. I shall inform Professor Mc Gonagall as to why you missed lessons shortly, but I think you should keep a low profile in the school unless..." his voice tailed off.
"Unless?"
"I think we ought to be getting to the Great Hall. It's just about dinnertime."
After dinner, the three friends took a stroll in the dark. Walking around the lake, they discussed everything that Dumbledore had told them. They passed Hagrid's hut, dark now, since he too was away on 'urgent business', and turned to walk along the south shore of the lake alongside the Black Forest.
They sat down on a grassy bank beside the lake and looked at the school.
"I just don't understand it," said Ron, "Why is Snape but not Lupin going off all the time? Does Dumbledore not trust Lupin?"
"If you ask me I think he doesn't trust Arianwen." said Hermione, "Remember our last teacher to travel the world fighting the Dark Arts was Professor Quirrel. Look what happened to him."
"Look!" exclaimed Harry, pointing at the school, where it was possible to see that two figures had emerged from the main doors.
"Its..." Ron screwed up his eyes, "Arianwen and..."
"Amatorres!" said Hermione. "They're coming this way!"
"Quick!" said Harry and they looked around for a hiding place. All they could find was an ancient oak, which they quickly scaled and found a suitable resting branch, as the two figures had now drawn much closer. They were deep in conversation.
Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, but they were watching the two shadowy figures intently
"Yes, but surely Severus of all people should know more about it than even Dumbledore himself!" said Arianwen, frustrated.
"What makes you say that?" said Amatorres sharply.
"Nothin, but Snape is very close to Dumbledore isn't he?." Said Arianwen, then breezily changed the subject, "So what are you doing for the Christmas holidays?"
The figures moved off towards the main school and Harry, Ron and Hermione clambered down from their uncomfortable roost.
"What was all that about?" said Hermione
"Dunno, but it was strange." Replied Ron
"Snape's got something to do with this." Said Harry decidedly.
They sneaked back up to the castle and to their dormitory. Harry's head was spinning with confusion. The trouble was they had always thought that Snape was responsible for any disturbances at school and he never was in reality. But now? What did Arianwen know? Something. Something that Lupin, Snape and Arianwen knew, that Amatorres didn't. But as she was Dumbledore's niece, shouldn't it follow that she would know everything? Or maybe Lupin didn't know anything; maybe Arianwen had met Snape before, and knew this something. Well, one thing was certain - this something was so private that Snape wouldn't even tell his closest friend. Harry eventually fell asleep at one in the morning, after giving up on guessing what this something was.
The next day proved to be a very chaotic day as it was the end of term and most students were going home. In amongst the mess caused by overflowing trunks and escaped pets, Harry managed to catch up with Ron and Hermione.
"Lets go and see Hagrid."
"Good idea! Get us away from this!" said Ron, casting a look around the Gryffindor common room. They managed to escape into the grounds and to Hagrid's Hut.
Hagrid had returned the day before. They knew because he had stumbled into the Great Hall for breakfast that morning. As they approached the hut, they could feel the ground vibrating from the loud snores issuing from the hut.
"Lazy bugger must've gone back to sleep." Grunted Ron.
They hammered at the door, trying to make themselves heard over the deafening noise. It stopped suddenly and they heard someone making their way towards the door. Hagrid, bleary eyed, opened it and ushered them in. He looked sleepily pleased to see them. They stopped on the threshold, absorbing what they saw...
...To their right was the remains of dinner for two, to their left was Fang, sleeping in front of the fireplace but straight ahead of them was Madam Maxime, asleep in the bed.
Hagrid saw their shocked expressions and started to protest "It's not what yer think, `onest!"
Ron grinned, "Yeah right Hagrid. Always knew you'd get there in the end."
Hagrid blushed. "Come in, as long as you're quiet. What did yer want then?" He offered them some rock cakes. They politely declined.
"Just to see how you were, catch up on this 'classified business' you two were doing." Said Harry casually.
"Ah no Harry. I can't tell yer. Dumbledore's business yer see. If I'd tol' yer, he'd have me guts for garters."
"Yes, yes we know, but doesn't Harry have a right to know if it's to do with him?" protested Hermione gently.
"Look Harry" said Hagrid, fumbling around in the kitchenette to make Madam Maxime some breakfast, "Dumbledore said I shouldn't be tellin' yer anything, 'cos he said not to tell yer 'bout the giants" CRASH! There was a smash as Hagrid dropped the frying pan on the floor.
"What about the giants?" said Hermione sweetly.
Hagrid looked shifty, "Nowt. They know nowt. I know nowt. Now go on!"
The next few moments were a little ...hectic. They consisted of Hagrid trying to physically carry all three of them out of the Hut, and them all shouting at him to tell them about the giants. Finally he slammed the door on them.
Hermione screamed, "If you were a true friend to Harry you'd tell him!"
The door opened again and Hagrid stormed out, his face contorted with rage. Then he started shouting, "IF YER KNEW WHAT I'D DONE FER YER HARRY, NONE OF YER WOULD EVER ACCUSE ME OF NOT BEING A GOOD FRIEND TO YER. NEVER!" He turned round and stormed back into the Hut slamming the door behind him.
"What was all that about?" said Ron
"Dunno." Said Harry, but his facial expression betrayed him. Hermione was just about to ask Harry what was wrong when Malfoy came up and spat on the gound in front of Harry's feet. Harry had had enough. He ran off in the direction of the Lake.
"Harry!" called Hermione, "Wait!"
"But he didn't.
Harry almost fell over in his attempts to stop suddenly. He had reached the edge of the lake and had caught sight of Arianwen and Lupin. The last thing he wanted right now was to interrupt a meeting with Lupin and his girlfriend. He was just backing away when he caught a bit of their conversation and stopped, listening intently.
"They're picking us off one by one." Arianwen was crying, "And you're next, I just know it.
"They won't get me, don't worry." Comforted Lupin, "Don't worry." He repeated, "I'm safe, unlike others."
She glanced up at him, suddenly looking crafty, "If you would just tell me..."
"No."
"Oh please! I won't tell anyone, it'll be our secret, go on...I'll treat you!" she persisted.
Lupin looked hesitant, "All I know is that he won't get me next - he'll try Severus again."
"But why?"
"I do not know the full reason," he said, looking wistful, "but from my research several books in the library have been altered concerning the Dark Ancestry and the Dark Arts, and Severus himself was attacked in the summer while on a mission. Since then, Dumbledore and Severus have become a lot more dependent on each other, something has happened or of which they will tell me, the Dark Arts teacher, nothing."
Lupin continued, "It is...frustrating that they evidently don't trust me or Minerva. We're all on the same side after all."
Arianwen smiled at him reassuringly, "Of course we are. Don't worry about it. Now lets see about that 'treat' shall we?"
They walked away towards the castle. Harry however stayed. He sat down and dangled his feet in the lake. He stared into the water, remembering only too well the events of last year, which had culminated in the death of Cedric Diggory and his face-to-face battle with Voldemort. He had been so taken aback at the power of Voldemort; it was pure chance that the Priori Incantatem had taken place. If Snape was being pursued by Voldemort, what special bond did he have with Voldemort to stop him getting killed? None. Or maybe he did have one. He didn't know, he didn't care. What he wanted now was for Voldemort to never have existed, never have killed his parents, never have made life so difficult.
It began to rain and Harry returned to the school buildings, as there was just one more afternoon of lessons to get through before the Christmas Holidays - Transfiguration and Potions. So, after an exhausting Transfiguration lesson, Harry, Ron and Hermione trekked down to the dungeons for the dreaded Potions. To their unending pleasure they discovered that the Slytherins were allowed to sit at the desks and chat all lesson, while the Gryffindors were required to clean the classroom thoroughly. Great. Harry bent down to pick up some dragon liver from the floor, and suddenly felt his scar burn. He glanced up. Snape was staring at him with a look of utmost loathing. Harry frowned and continued his work, the intense pain growing in his head until he nearly screamed. Hermione and Ron were on either side of him, asking him what they should do, but all he could do was rock quietly backwards and forwards and moan softly to himself, trying to attract as little attention as possible. Then, suddenly, the pain vanished. He looked up, gasping for breath, to see that Snpae's attention had been distracted by Neville. He took a deep breath and told Hermione and Ron what had happened. Then a voice stopped him, "Potter, 10 points from Gryffindor- I expect you to do as you are told in a lesson, and not to distract fellow classmates with your idle gossip."
Malfoy smirked at Harry across the room, then contunued to kick a dead slug around the floor, leaving a slimy trail for Seamus Finnigan to clean up after him. And the pain returned. Just before he blacked out, Harry saw that Snape's eyes were again resting on him.
When Harry came round no-one seemed to have noticed that he had been unconscious. Snape was over another side of the classroom tormenting Ron and Hermione, who he seemed to have dragged away from Harry's side. Neville leant down over Harry. "Be quiet Harry- look I've got something to tell you, but close your eyes and pretend your still unconcious, and I'll just wipe the floor around where you're lying. Now," Neville continued as Harry did as he was told, "I don't know what to do, but that dog that follows Professor Lupin around- he's Sirius Black Harry. I thought I better tell you because he wants to attack you like he did a couple of years ago." Harry opened his eyes sharply and nearly sat up, but Neville pushed him down, "And I've seen Snape helping this dog- bandaging wounds and stuff. So Snape's joined the dark side- Harry what are we going to do?"
"Um, I'll think of something." Said Harry, trying to sound fearful, "Why don't you just continue cleaning up your patch, Neville?" As Harry watched Neville go back to scrubbing down the workbench, Dumbledore's words came floating back to him. He realised what he had to do, he had to see Professor Snape, he had to. He looked aroung for a distraction that he could cause. To his left was a jar of pickled Jamid Kidneys, something that belonged to Snape's private store. He went up to him, trying not to meet his stare, and asked him where he should put it.
"In my office, boy, where do you think?" said Snape irritably.
"Umm, Professor, I really need to talk to you."
"If you have a problem, you should talk to your housemistress, certainly not to me."
Harry took a deep breath, this wasn't getting him anywhere. His pain in his scar was so intense that he decided to tell him now. "Someone else saw you."
Very quietly and slowly, Snape said, "My office, now, if you please."