Disclaimer: I own nothing…
Okay, I finally found out how to work fanfiction.net…and this is my first fic.
Well, I guess this is set after OotP, but in this story *********Sirius********** isn't dead. It's just easier that way. But Harry has all the knowledge that he has after OotP…hope you enjoy…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry woke up the next day with the sun shining in from the window. He looked around his dormitory and saw that Seamus and Dean had already left the room, probably on their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. He heard Neville's snores still going on from his bed.
"Oy. You wanna go down and get some breakfast?" asked Ron.
"Sure, okay," answered Harry.
They stood up, got dressed, and walked downstairs to the common room. They saw Hermione sitting in her chair, reading a book. Ron looked at her awestruck.
"It's the first day! We haven't even got our schedules, yet!" he exclaimed.
"I know I just want to get a head start, that's all," she replied.
Ron rolled his eyes and walked across the room to open the portrait. Hermione sighed and stood up to follow Ron. Harry walked after them to the Great Hall.
They followed some Hufflepuffs into the Great Hall, looking at the staff table as they walked to the Gryffindor table. They saw the new teacher, Professor Black, sitting next to Snape. She looked up from her plate and looked straight at Harry. Harry saw her cold, brown eyes staring at him and he looked away.
"Hey, Harry, here's your schedule," said Hermione as she passed it to him.
"Look, we get Defense Against the Dark Arts today," said Ron. "Now we can see how this new teacher is. Who wants to bet she's like Umbridge?"
"I'll take you up on that bet, mate," said Seamus. "Except I say she's like Lupin."
"No way! She doesn't look like a Lupin," replied Ron.
"Well, of course not. After all she is a lady," said Seamus, laughing.
"Whatever, I think she'll be like Moody," said Dean.
Harry looked up at him. Ron started laughing and said, "Moody? I don't see any wooden leg and messed up face!"
"What d'you reckon she'll be like, Harry?" asked Seamus.
Harry looked back at the staff table. He had a feeling that he had seen Professor Black before, somewhere, many times before.
"I dunno. Nobody could beat Umbridge as the worst teacher right now," said Harry.
"Well, in 20 minutes we could see how she is," said Hermione. "Defense is our first class today. Do you think she'll let us practice defensive spells?"
"I don't know, we'll just have to wait and see," replied Harry.
The sixth-year Gryffindors entered the Defense Against Dark Arts classroom and saw Professor Black sitting at her desk, eyeing every student who walked in the door. The class was walking in quietly, not even whispering as they took their seats around the room.
When all the students sat down, Professor Black stood up and walked around to the front of her desk. She looked at each of the students with her cold eyes, as if she were analyzing each of them for their strengths and weaknesses.
"Well, good morning, everyone," she said as she leaned back, against her desk.
"Oh no, another Umbridge," whispered Ron as the rest of the class replied, "Good morning, Professor Black." Seamus turned around and whispered back, "An American Umbridge!" with a smirk on his face.
Professor Black looked around the room with her eyebrow raised and the hint of a smile on her face.
After Professor Black finished taking roll, she cleared her throat and said, "Well, I hope this year will be very different from your previous years. I have conversed with Professor Dumbledore and one of your previous teachers and so I hope that I have caught up with what you've all been doing over the last five years. Now your last teacher taught –"
" – Nothing at all," Harry said under his breath.
Professor Black stopped talking and looked at Harry. "Sorry," mumbled Harry.
"As I was saying, your last teacher taught you about curses." Everyone in the room looked surprised that she didn't mention Umbridge. "This year," she continued, not noticing the surprise of her students, "we will go deeper in that subject and learn how to protect yourselves from certain dark creatures – human or not. But first I will tell you –" Professor Black looked at them meaningfully, as close to warm as her eyes could get. "Everything that is spoken in here will never leave this room."
Professor Black thinned her lips and stood up. She began walking around the room, between the desks.
"Now, to start the term off, does anyone have any questions?"
Hermione's hand shot straight up and waved a little. Professor Black looked at her and said, "Yes, Miss Granger?"
"Um, are we going to have practical lessons and be able to practice defensive spells?" asked Hermione.
Professor Black looked at her with surprise on her face. "Of course, Hermione. This is a class, a very important class, in which each and everyone of you will have to participate."
"Oh, okay, Professor. Thank you," replied Hermione with a big grin on her face.
Ron leaned toward Harry and whispered, "D'you think she's related to Snuffles?" Harry shrugged and tried to think of where he saw her face before. Professor Black turned toward Ron and said, "Yes, Ron. I am, in fact, related to Sirius Black, a question that I'm sure went through each of your minds." Ron looked at her with surprise in his face.
"You have really good hearing, Professor," said Ron, red in the face.
"I've been told, Ron," replied Professor Black with a tiny smile.
"Um, can I ask you how you're related to him?" asked Ron.
"I believe you just did, Ron. I am his cousin," she said coldly.
Harry's head jerked up and he looked at Professor Black. "Could she be in those pictures in Kreacher's room at headquarters?" he thought.
"Any more questions?" asked Professor Black, making her way to the front of the classroom. Taken aback by her sudden coldness when Sirius Black was mentioned, the class shook their heads. "Very well."
"As I was saying before, we will go deeper into studying curses and hexes." Professor Black stood before them. "In light of the events that have taken place last June, I will teach you more than defense, although you will very much need it. An inevitable war is coming; you might even say that it's already here. The same war that took place sixteen years ago. A war between good and evil, between the light and the dark. There is no doubt that Voldemort (everyone shuddered and gasped except Harry and Hermione) will try to claim as many followers as he can. But first, you must all get over your fear of saying 'Voldemort.'"
Everyone gasped again. Professor Black sighed. " A wise, old wizard told me many years ago, 'Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.' And I just told it to you. Now, I know many of you may fear Voldemort (many people gasped), but you are all Gryffindors and brave at heart. So my lesson today will be just to say the name 'Voldemort.'" Many people gasped and looked surprise.
"Voldemort!" yelled Harry. Ron nudged him in his ribs. Harry grinned at him.
"Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Potter. . . Harry, ten points to Gryffindor," said Professor Black. "Hermione?"
Hermione took a deep breath and said, "Voldemort," loud and clear. Professor Black smiled and gave Hermione ten points as well. She looked around the class at everyone who were avoiding her gaze so as not to be the next one to say 'Voldemort.'
"Everyone, look at me," said Professor Black. Everyone looked up. "I am not going to force you to say Voldemort (many people gasped), but be prepared, because in this class, I will not say 'You-Know-Who' or 'He-Who- Must-Not-Be-Named' so get used to at least hearing the name spoken aloud." She looked around. "Anyone else?" Everyone immediately looked away. Professor Black sighed.
"Okay. Can everyone repeat the name 'Tom Marvolo Riddle' to me?" she asked.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle," replied the class, slightly surprised at the change.
"Well, that's one step closer," said Professor Black. Harry looked at Hermione and winked. If the class were going to be like this, he'd pass it with no problem at all.
"Why, Professor?" asked Parvati, with her hand in the air.
Professor Black looked at them, surprised again. "Why, that's Voldemort's (many people gasped, though not as many as before) name before he turned into the Dark Lord. That was his name, here at Hogwarts." The class looked surprised save Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Alright, does everyone want to lay of the 'Voldemort' (still people gasped) stuff for now?" asked Professor Black. The majority of the class nodded. "Very well."
Professor Black looked up, thinking. "Okay, well, going back to our curses, I know Professor uh – 'Moody' taught you about the Unforgivables. Who can tell me what the three Unforgivable Curses are and what do they do?"
Several hands rose hesitantly in the air. Professor Black looked at Neville and said, "Yes? Neville Longbottom, is it?"
Neville nodded and said in a small voice, "The Imperius Curse. When someone has total control over you."
Professor Black nodded and said, "Can it be fought?"
Everyone nodded in the class and looked Harry. Harry looked down, uneasily, afraid that Professor Black would try the curse on him as 'Moody' did.
"Anything else, Neville?"
Neville nodded and said in a louder voice, "The Cruciatus Curse." He stopped for a moment and Professor Black nodded and raised an eyebrow. "It causes extreme pain and is used for torture. It can make you lose your mind," he continued.
Harry raised his hand. "Yes, Harry?" asked Professor Black.
"Can I add something to that, Professor?"
"Certainly."
"Um," Harry stopped for a moment and thought about the scene at the Ministry of Magic with Bellatrix Lestrange and wondered whether or not he should mention it. "When that curse is used, you have to want to cause pain and enjoy it. If you're angry, it won't work."
"Very true, Harry," replied Professor Black. Harry looked away, avoiding Hermione and Ron's gaze. "And what about the last curse, Neville?"
"The Killing Curse. . . Avada Kedavra. It kills . . . and you need powerful magic to do it," he replied, almost in a whisper.
"Yes, thank you Neville."
For the rest of the class period, Professor Black told them about different curses and hexes. But before the period ended, Neville raised his hand again. Harry looked at him surprised; this was probably the most that Neville has ever volunteered in any class besides Herbology. Professor Black raised an eyebrow.
Neville took a deep breath and whispered, "Voldemort."
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear that, Neville," said Professor Black.
Neville cleared his throat and said, "Vol – Voldemort," a bit louder. A true smile went across Professor Black's face. She awarded him ten points and promised everyone that the next class will be much more exciting.
Everyone talked excitedly as they packed up their stuff and walked outside the class. Harry hung back a little.
"What's wrong?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, nothing. I just want to ask Professor Black something," answered Harry. "Just wait for me outside the door, I'll be quick."
"Well, okay then," said Ron and he and Hermione walked out of the classroom.
Harry walked toward the front of the classroom and called for Professor Black.
"Yes?" she said as she walked out of her office. She looked at him with her eyes and said, "Harry Potter."
"Um, yeah. I was just wondering if you could answer a couple of questions for me."
"Yes, of course."
"Okay. Um, you're Sirius's cousin, right?"
"Yes, we established that during class."
Harry nodded and said, "How did you know that he's 'Snuffles'?"
Professor Black smiled and Harry saw the unnatural coldness leave her eyes. "Sirius and I are very close. He tells me many things and I, him."
"Oh. I feel like I've seen you before."
"Pictures, perhaps? I know that you've been in many places, seen many things. You probably saw my face in a picture of some sort. Perhaps, in the bedroom of a certain house-elf?"
"How d'you know about that?"
"He was always a crazy little thing."
"Um, are you on the tapestry?"
"Yes, I believe I am."
"But how come I didn't see your name it?"
"Do you remember what you saw?"
"Yeah. Sirius's name was burned off and so were Tonks and her mother. And Tonks's mother is sisters with Malfoy's mum and – "
"Yes. Have you looked beneath Narcissa's name?"
Harry couldn't recall if he did. "I, I don't think so. I just remember seeing Malfoy's name and I was surprised that he's related to scum like that."
Professor Black nodded.
"But. . . why are you American?"
"I was born and I lived there for the first few years of my life. Until I was nine years old."
"Oh. Why'd you live there and not in Britain, where your family was?"
"That is something that I would like to keep to myself, Harry."
"Oh, sorry."
"That's alright. Now going back to our lesson. . ." Harry thought about what he said about the Cruciatus Curse. "You seemed to know a lot about the Cruciatus Curse. I heard that you resisted the Imperius Curse when it was placed upon you and the Killing Curse. . . I don't think you need to hear that story again."
"Oh, yeah. I read a lot during the summer about the Cruciatus Curse."
Professor Black looked into his green eyes. "Eyes like Lily's," she thought. Harry felt like she was reading his soul.
"You used it."
"How did you – No – I didn't mean to, I thought he was de-"
"It's alright, Harry. Bellatrix. You used it on her."
Harry nodded looking down at his feet.
"She's your sister, isn't she?"
"You could say that."
Professor Black stood and walked toward the window. She looked out at the clear, blue sky.
"You should probably leave soon. Your friends are wondering what's taking you so long. You may be late for your next class."
Harry nodded and looked surprised at his teacher. He walked toward the door, but before he opened it, Professor Black said, "Harry?" Harry turned and looked at her. "In the next lesson, we will be starting to practice defensive spells. We'll start with the basics and work our way up. I heard that you were the leader of a certain 'army.'"
"How do you know about that?" asked Harry.
Professor Black smiled. A smile that reached up to her eyes. "Professor Dumbledore and Sirius informed me about it. Most of the people in this class were apart of the group, isn't that right?"
Harry nodded.
"Good. Then we may be able to work fast. I'm going to ask you to help me during the class. I don't think it will be too difficult because most of what I will teach are spells, jinxes, and hexes. Some things that you've already taught to your group, right?" Harry nodded again. "Good."
Harry turned the doorknob.
"And Harry?" He turned again. "Please don't mention anything about my being close with Sirius to anybody. It is better for everyone to believe that I would not associate with him. Draco is my nephew and he would go straight to his parents if he hears anything about my being friendly with him."
Harry nodded. "And please, don't say anything about me using the curse, you know."
"I won't," Professor Black promised.
Harry walked out of the classroom to Ron and Hermione, patiently waiting in the hall.
Okay, I finally found out how to work fanfiction.net…and this is my first fic.
Well, I guess this is set after OotP, but in this story *********Sirius********** isn't dead. It's just easier that way. But Harry has all the knowledge that he has after OotP…hope you enjoy…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry woke up the next day with the sun shining in from the window. He looked around his dormitory and saw that Seamus and Dean had already left the room, probably on their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. He heard Neville's snores still going on from his bed.
"Oy. You wanna go down and get some breakfast?" asked Ron.
"Sure, okay," answered Harry.
They stood up, got dressed, and walked downstairs to the common room. They saw Hermione sitting in her chair, reading a book. Ron looked at her awestruck.
"It's the first day! We haven't even got our schedules, yet!" he exclaimed.
"I know I just want to get a head start, that's all," she replied.
Ron rolled his eyes and walked across the room to open the portrait. Hermione sighed and stood up to follow Ron. Harry walked after them to the Great Hall.
They followed some Hufflepuffs into the Great Hall, looking at the staff table as they walked to the Gryffindor table. They saw the new teacher, Professor Black, sitting next to Snape. She looked up from her plate and looked straight at Harry. Harry saw her cold, brown eyes staring at him and he looked away.
"Hey, Harry, here's your schedule," said Hermione as she passed it to him.
"Look, we get Defense Against the Dark Arts today," said Ron. "Now we can see how this new teacher is. Who wants to bet she's like Umbridge?"
"I'll take you up on that bet, mate," said Seamus. "Except I say she's like Lupin."
"No way! She doesn't look like a Lupin," replied Ron.
"Well, of course not. After all she is a lady," said Seamus, laughing.
"Whatever, I think she'll be like Moody," said Dean.
Harry looked up at him. Ron started laughing and said, "Moody? I don't see any wooden leg and messed up face!"
"What d'you reckon she'll be like, Harry?" asked Seamus.
Harry looked back at the staff table. He had a feeling that he had seen Professor Black before, somewhere, many times before.
"I dunno. Nobody could beat Umbridge as the worst teacher right now," said Harry.
"Well, in 20 minutes we could see how she is," said Hermione. "Defense is our first class today. Do you think she'll let us practice defensive spells?"
"I don't know, we'll just have to wait and see," replied Harry.
The sixth-year Gryffindors entered the Defense Against Dark Arts classroom and saw Professor Black sitting at her desk, eyeing every student who walked in the door. The class was walking in quietly, not even whispering as they took their seats around the room.
When all the students sat down, Professor Black stood up and walked around to the front of her desk. She looked at each of the students with her cold eyes, as if she were analyzing each of them for their strengths and weaknesses.
"Well, good morning, everyone," she said as she leaned back, against her desk.
"Oh no, another Umbridge," whispered Ron as the rest of the class replied, "Good morning, Professor Black." Seamus turned around and whispered back, "An American Umbridge!" with a smirk on his face.
Professor Black looked around the room with her eyebrow raised and the hint of a smile on her face.
After Professor Black finished taking roll, she cleared her throat and said, "Well, I hope this year will be very different from your previous years. I have conversed with Professor Dumbledore and one of your previous teachers and so I hope that I have caught up with what you've all been doing over the last five years. Now your last teacher taught –"
" – Nothing at all," Harry said under his breath.
Professor Black stopped talking and looked at Harry. "Sorry," mumbled Harry.
"As I was saying, your last teacher taught you about curses." Everyone in the room looked surprised that she didn't mention Umbridge. "This year," she continued, not noticing the surprise of her students, "we will go deeper in that subject and learn how to protect yourselves from certain dark creatures – human or not. But first I will tell you –" Professor Black looked at them meaningfully, as close to warm as her eyes could get. "Everything that is spoken in here will never leave this room."
Professor Black thinned her lips and stood up. She began walking around the room, between the desks.
"Now, to start the term off, does anyone have any questions?"
Hermione's hand shot straight up and waved a little. Professor Black looked at her and said, "Yes, Miss Granger?"
"Um, are we going to have practical lessons and be able to practice defensive spells?" asked Hermione.
Professor Black looked at her with surprise on her face. "Of course, Hermione. This is a class, a very important class, in which each and everyone of you will have to participate."
"Oh, okay, Professor. Thank you," replied Hermione with a big grin on her face.
Ron leaned toward Harry and whispered, "D'you think she's related to Snuffles?" Harry shrugged and tried to think of where he saw her face before. Professor Black turned toward Ron and said, "Yes, Ron. I am, in fact, related to Sirius Black, a question that I'm sure went through each of your minds." Ron looked at her with surprise in his face.
"You have really good hearing, Professor," said Ron, red in the face.
"I've been told, Ron," replied Professor Black with a tiny smile.
"Um, can I ask you how you're related to him?" asked Ron.
"I believe you just did, Ron. I am his cousin," she said coldly.
Harry's head jerked up and he looked at Professor Black. "Could she be in those pictures in Kreacher's room at headquarters?" he thought.
"Any more questions?" asked Professor Black, making her way to the front of the classroom. Taken aback by her sudden coldness when Sirius Black was mentioned, the class shook their heads. "Very well."
"As I was saying before, we will go deeper into studying curses and hexes." Professor Black stood before them. "In light of the events that have taken place last June, I will teach you more than defense, although you will very much need it. An inevitable war is coming; you might even say that it's already here. The same war that took place sixteen years ago. A war between good and evil, between the light and the dark. There is no doubt that Voldemort (everyone shuddered and gasped except Harry and Hermione) will try to claim as many followers as he can. But first, you must all get over your fear of saying 'Voldemort.'"
Everyone gasped again. Professor Black sighed. " A wise, old wizard told me many years ago, 'Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.' And I just told it to you. Now, I know many of you may fear Voldemort (many people gasped), but you are all Gryffindors and brave at heart. So my lesson today will be just to say the name 'Voldemort.'" Many people gasped and looked surprise.
"Voldemort!" yelled Harry. Ron nudged him in his ribs. Harry grinned at him.
"Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Potter. . . Harry, ten points to Gryffindor," said Professor Black. "Hermione?"
Hermione took a deep breath and said, "Voldemort," loud and clear. Professor Black smiled and gave Hermione ten points as well. She looked around the class at everyone who were avoiding her gaze so as not to be the next one to say 'Voldemort.'
"Everyone, look at me," said Professor Black. Everyone looked up. "I am not going to force you to say Voldemort (many people gasped), but be prepared, because in this class, I will not say 'You-Know-Who' or 'He-Who- Must-Not-Be-Named' so get used to at least hearing the name spoken aloud." She looked around. "Anyone else?" Everyone immediately looked away. Professor Black sighed.
"Okay. Can everyone repeat the name 'Tom Marvolo Riddle' to me?" she asked.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle," replied the class, slightly surprised at the change.
"Well, that's one step closer," said Professor Black. Harry looked at Hermione and winked. If the class were going to be like this, he'd pass it with no problem at all.
"Why, Professor?" asked Parvati, with her hand in the air.
Professor Black looked at them, surprised again. "Why, that's Voldemort's (many people gasped, though not as many as before) name before he turned into the Dark Lord. That was his name, here at Hogwarts." The class looked surprised save Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Alright, does everyone want to lay of the 'Voldemort' (still people gasped) stuff for now?" asked Professor Black. The majority of the class nodded. "Very well."
Professor Black looked up, thinking. "Okay, well, going back to our curses, I know Professor uh – 'Moody' taught you about the Unforgivables. Who can tell me what the three Unforgivable Curses are and what do they do?"
Several hands rose hesitantly in the air. Professor Black looked at Neville and said, "Yes? Neville Longbottom, is it?"
Neville nodded and said in a small voice, "The Imperius Curse. When someone has total control over you."
Professor Black nodded and said, "Can it be fought?"
Everyone nodded in the class and looked Harry. Harry looked down, uneasily, afraid that Professor Black would try the curse on him as 'Moody' did.
"Anything else, Neville?"
Neville nodded and said in a louder voice, "The Cruciatus Curse." He stopped for a moment and Professor Black nodded and raised an eyebrow. "It causes extreme pain and is used for torture. It can make you lose your mind," he continued.
Harry raised his hand. "Yes, Harry?" asked Professor Black.
"Can I add something to that, Professor?"
"Certainly."
"Um," Harry stopped for a moment and thought about the scene at the Ministry of Magic with Bellatrix Lestrange and wondered whether or not he should mention it. "When that curse is used, you have to want to cause pain and enjoy it. If you're angry, it won't work."
"Very true, Harry," replied Professor Black. Harry looked away, avoiding Hermione and Ron's gaze. "And what about the last curse, Neville?"
"The Killing Curse. . . Avada Kedavra. It kills . . . and you need powerful magic to do it," he replied, almost in a whisper.
"Yes, thank you Neville."
For the rest of the class period, Professor Black told them about different curses and hexes. But before the period ended, Neville raised his hand again. Harry looked at him surprised; this was probably the most that Neville has ever volunteered in any class besides Herbology. Professor Black raised an eyebrow.
Neville took a deep breath and whispered, "Voldemort."
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear that, Neville," said Professor Black.
Neville cleared his throat and said, "Vol – Voldemort," a bit louder. A true smile went across Professor Black's face. She awarded him ten points and promised everyone that the next class will be much more exciting.
Everyone talked excitedly as they packed up their stuff and walked outside the class. Harry hung back a little.
"What's wrong?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, nothing. I just want to ask Professor Black something," answered Harry. "Just wait for me outside the door, I'll be quick."
"Well, okay then," said Ron and he and Hermione walked out of the classroom.
Harry walked toward the front of the classroom and called for Professor Black.
"Yes?" she said as she walked out of her office. She looked at him with her eyes and said, "Harry Potter."
"Um, yeah. I was just wondering if you could answer a couple of questions for me."
"Yes, of course."
"Okay. Um, you're Sirius's cousin, right?"
"Yes, we established that during class."
Harry nodded and said, "How did you know that he's 'Snuffles'?"
Professor Black smiled and Harry saw the unnatural coldness leave her eyes. "Sirius and I are very close. He tells me many things and I, him."
"Oh. I feel like I've seen you before."
"Pictures, perhaps? I know that you've been in many places, seen many things. You probably saw my face in a picture of some sort. Perhaps, in the bedroom of a certain house-elf?"
"How d'you know about that?"
"He was always a crazy little thing."
"Um, are you on the tapestry?"
"Yes, I believe I am."
"But how come I didn't see your name it?"
"Do you remember what you saw?"
"Yeah. Sirius's name was burned off and so were Tonks and her mother. And Tonks's mother is sisters with Malfoy's mum and – "
"Yes. Have you looked beneath Narcissa's name?"
Harry couldn't recall if he did. "I, I don't think so. I just remember seeing Malfoy's name and I was surprised that he's related to scum like that."
Professor Black nodded.
"But. . . why are you American?"
"I was born and I lived there for the first few years of my life. Until I was nine years old."
"Oh. Why'd you live there and not in Britain, where your family was?"
"That is something that I would like to keep to myself, Harry."
"Oh, sorry."
"That's alright. Now going back to our lesson. . ." Harry thought about what he said about the Cruciatus Curse. "You seemed to know a lot about the Cruciatus Curse. I heard that you resisted the Imperius Curse when it was placed upon you and the Killing Curse. . . I don't think you need to hear that story again."
"Oh, yeah. I read a lot during the summer about the Cruciatus Curse."
Professor Black looked into his green eyes. "Eyes like Lily's," she thought. Harry felt like she was reading his soul.
"You used it."
"How did you – No – I didn't mean to, I thought he was de-"
"It's alright, Harry. Bellatrix. You used it on her."
Harry nodded looking down at his feet.
"She's your sister, isn't she?"
"You could say that."
Professor Black stood and walked toward the window. She looked out at the clear, blue sky.
"You should probably leave soon. Your friends are wondering what's taking you so long. You may be late for your next class."
Harry nodded and looked surprised at his teacher. He walked toward the door, but before he opened it, Professor Black said, "Harry?" Harry turned and looked at her. "In the next lesson, we will be starting to practice defensive spells. We'll start with the basics and work our way up. I heard that you were the leader of a certain 'army.'"
"How do you know about that?" asked Harry.
Professor Black smiled. A smile that reached up to her eyes. "Professor Dumbledore and Sirius informed me about it. Most of the people in this class were apart of the group, isn't that right?"
Harry nodded.
"Good. Then we may be able to work fast. I'm going to ask you to help me during the class. I don't think it will be too difficult because most of what I will teach are spells, jinxes, and hexes. Some things that you've already taught to your group, right?" Harry nodded again. "Good."
Harry turned the doorknob.
"And Harry?" He turned again. "Please don't mention anything about my being close with Sirius to anybody. It is better for everyone to believe that I would not associate with him. Draco is my nephew and he would go straight to his parents if he hears anything about my being friendly with him."
Harry nodded. "And please, don't say anything about me using the curse, you know."
"I won't," Professor Black promised.
Harry walked out of the classroom to Ron and Hermione, patiently waiting in the hall.