CHAPTER 6.

TEACHER OF DEFENSE

AGAINST THE DARK ARTS

The next day saw Harry with a terrible knot in his stomach over the coming D.A.D.A. classes. He didn't know why.

Perhaps its because of who I am. I HATE it when people, especially teachers treat me like I'm SO special in front of everybody. I mean, I AM special because I survived Voldemort's attack, but still. I AM a normal human being, well a normal wizard anyway, exempting that small incident. Harry thought ruefully as he slowly moved his spoon around in his porridge. The others on the other hand had no qualms at all.

"I can't wait for Transfiguration! It's so interesting." Artemis said happily as she shoveled down her food.

"I wish I could skip Potions. But we both know that that isn't possible." Ron muttered.

"I can't wait for ALL my classes to begin! I'm so excited!" Hermione said eagerly.

"I can't wait for D.A.D.A. Thats all I've got to say. What about you Freds?" George asked his twin as he settled down in a chair.

"Me either! Can't wait! Its gonna be SO excitin'!" Fred agreed.

Ron looked up and eyed the nervous look on Harry's face as he toyed with his food. He leaned over and whispered, "Don't worry Harry. She's not like some teachers. She's not gonna make a teacher's pet out of you just because of who you are. She doesn't believe in that sort of thing." Harry frowned.

"What sort of thing?" Ron shrugged and smiled.

"Celebrities. She doesn't believe in picking favorites. She'll treat you like a normal person in her classroom, just so long as you give her respect. It'll be alright Harry. She'll take care of you. Fred wasn't kiddin' when he said that she'll give Gryffindor back all the points that Snape takes away. Why do you think her class is after Snape's?" Ron asked, a slow grin spreading over his face. That got a smile out of Harry and he slowly spooned a little bit of the porridge in his mouth, much to Ron's pleasure. "It'll be alright Harry." He whispered before getting into another debate with Hermione about house-elf rights.

Professor Dumbledore was accurate when he said that the schedules had been changed quite a bit. First came Herbology with Professor Sprout, then Professor Trelawney's class in Divination. Harry, Ron and Artemis waved good-bye to a stony Hermione as they stepped into the grate of the Divination school-room.

"Why doesn't she take this class?" Artemis whispered in Harry's ear as they climbed the staircase.

"She doesn't really believe in it. Thinks Professor Trelawney's a phony." Harry said quickly.

"And I'm likely to agree with her." Ron muttered as they were greeted by the airy voice of Professor Trelawney.

After the class, they all took a deep breath of fresh air as they emerged from the smoky classroom.

"Good grief! We have to take her class every day?" Artemis gasped as she breathed the air.

"Yep." Harry and Ron said grimly.

"How are we supposed to do the assignments? I didn't see anything in those tea-leaves!" She moaned.

"Do what me and Harry do and make stuff up. The wilder the better." Ron advised.

"Artie!" Artemis frowned at the shortening of her name, but she smiled as she saw Fred and George run towards them, robes billowing.

"Hey! Just wanted to say hullo! How're things going? Alright?" Fred asked breathlessly.

"Alright. Don't know if I'm gonna get used to Professor Trelawney though." Artemis said, pushing a strand of blonde hair behind her ears.

"Oh you will! Just make up nonsense to please her and you'll pass!" George said with a smile.

"Speaking of which, we've gotta go! Got Snape right about now." Fred said, rolling his eyes.

"Good luck." Harry said.

"Try not to lose points for Gryffindor won't you?" Ron said sharply. His brothers ignored his tone and instead laughed.

"Of course! We NEVER lose points, do we Freds?" George asked, punching his brother playfully.

"Never, George. Well, see you!" Fred said, grabbing his brother's arm and dragging him away.

The rest of the classes passed quickly by, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, which Artemis especially enjoyed, finding herself a natural with animals, Lunch, then Charms, History of Magic, and several other classes. At last, there was but one class left besides the long awaited Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and that was Potions. Harry shuddered as he stepped into the dungeon classroom and took a seat beside Ron. Hermione and Artemis quickly sat by each other so they would not be left alone. Then they took out their quills and paper and waited for Snape to turn around and begin the lesson. The time when the lesson was supposed to begin came, and passed slowly by, but still Snape did not move. Soon there was a quiet shuffling as someone slipped into the room.

"Mister Longbottom." The cool voice echoed throughout the dungeon, reverberating off the stone walls. The children started at the sudden voice, then turned around to see Neville standing at the back of the room, his hands cupped over each other. Harry stifled a groan.

"Why are you late, Mister Longbottom?" Snape slowly turned around, fixing his hypnotic brown eyes upon the boy. The boy stared at him meekly, then took a deep breath and began to speak softly.

"Well sir I," He started.

"Speak up!" Snape snapped. Neville jumped, closed his eyes and began again.

"Well Professor Snape, my, my toad got away and I got lost and I,"

"You got lost? You're a fifth year in Hogwarts and you GOT LOST?" Snape demanded.

Neville closed his eyes tight, probably wishing, Harry thought, that it was only a dream. But it was no dream. Snape's lip curled disdainfully as he eyed the boy.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, and let that be a lesson to the rest of you that you will always, always be on time in MY class." Snape said, turning back around to begin the lesson.

"Professor Snape, that's not really fair!" Harry's neck practically snapped as he whirled around to face the rebel. Artemis sat at her seat, neck erect, face red, her eyes flashing. Snape slowly turned back around, fixing his dark gaze upon the girl.

"Stand up." He said quietly. Artemis stood up angrily, standing beside her desk, her eyes flashing angrily.

"You defy my authority do you?"

"No Professor, only regret the way you're treating your students."

"It is my right to teach and punish my students as I see fit."

"Oh I see. Even if its not RIGHT?"

"Ten points from Gryffindor."

"Who cares! Its not fair! Neville couldn't help it that his toad ran away!"

"Fifteen points from Gryffindor!"

"He couldn't help it and you shouldn't punish him because of that!"

"Twenty points from Gryffindor!"

Snape's dark eyes flashed angrily as he strode past the numerous desks to stand in front of Artemis. They glared at each other for a long time before Snape spoke again.

"Thats forty-five points from Gryffindor, Miss Thornshadow. Add that to Longbottom's ten and you've got a royal fifty-five points, now do you really want to go any farther on your first day?" Snape asked, his tone thoroughly disgusted. Artemis said nothing, but plopped down in her seat, her eyes still on fire. Snape shrugged his shoulders and walked down the aisle, saying aloud as he did so, "Well this certainly IS a change of events. For once Potter and Weasley haven't caused any loss of points from Gryffindor."

There was a loud sniggering from the Slytherins in the crowd. Draco chuckled and kissed the air in Artemis' direction. Artemis would have responded in kind with a crude hand gesture, but Hermione's hand quickly came down upon it before she could do it.

After the class, Artemis stormed out of the classroom angrily, followed by Harry, Ron and Hermione. During the course of the class, due to a few forgotten notes and questions unable to be answered, Gryffindor had lost twenty more points, Slytherin zero.

"Can't believe what a bloody git he is!" Artemis muttered angrily.

"Told you. He's a pain in the you know where." Ron said sadly.

"I hate him SO badly!" Artemis seethed.

"He's not worth getting angry over, really. There's nothing we can do about him." Hermione said kindly.

"Oh there's something I can do. I'll just have to wait. I'll just wait." She seethed. Harry and Ron both glanced at each other and shrugged.

"Well at least D.A.D.A. is next." Harry said with a sigh, shouldering his bag. Ron's face lit up.

"Yes! I've been waiting all day for this!" He said excitedly.

They walked into the familiar classroom and sat down in the seats they desired, Harry beside Ron, Artemis beside Hermione.

"Hey Potter! Maybe she'll teach us about boggarts again! After all, we ALL know what you're afraid of!" Draco yelled from across the room. Instantly, several of the Slytherin began making ghost sounds. 'Boo's' echoed around the room, and Harry rolled his eyes.

"Dementors don't make sound you freaks." Ron muttered under his breath.

"Don't worry about it Harry. We're afraid of Dementors too. I think Malfoy is as well. Everyone is. There's nothing funny about Dementors." Hermione whispered, putting her hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry nodded wordlessly, ignoring Draco's hoots.

"Yeah, Harry. I think they're pretty creepy myself. We had them second year. Bloody frightening, especially if you don't move fast enough," Artemis agreed, nodding sympathetically. "But if you've got a good Patronus, you'll be fine." She said with a smile. Harry returned it and turned questioningly to Hermione.

"She was in Durmstrang, Harry." Hermione said, in response to Harry's silent question. Harry nodded in realization and sat back in his seat to wait for the new teacher.

Suddenly there was silence, save for the slight click of boots upon the stone floors and the swish of robes. Draco sat back in his chair, waiting for the teacher to walk in the room. All students watched the front of the room obediently, waiting for their teacher to appear. But she didn't. Instead there was a loud clap from the doorway. All the heads in the classroom craned to look around behind them. In the doorway stood a slender figure, hands together, face intense. She did not move, but instead studied them all with her eyes.

She was rather tall, not terribly tall, but about an average height. Her brown-red hair hung in natural curls down the back of her midnight blue robes, her bangs pulled away from her fair face in intricate braids. A few freckles dotted her cheeks and nose, giving her, it seemed to Harry, a younger appearance. She was very young. Never before had they had such a young D.A.D.A. teacher at Hogwarts. But while she looked young, at the same time she looked older than her twenty-four years. This was due to her eyes. Her eyes were intense things, a dark blue which glinted in the candlelight of the classroom. It was those eyes that caused Harry to frown and blink his own green eyes.

I've seen those eyes before. He thought as he eyed her. He heard a contented sigh and he turned to look at Ron, who's smiling freckled face was resting on his hands as he stared dreamily at the teacher.

Harry didn't have time to comment on this, for the teacher's slender fingers slipped away from each other and moved to their sides as she walked quickly down the aisle made by the desks, speaking crisply as she did so.

"Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts. I'm Professor Rhiannon Flutterae, pronounced, Flutter-I. Please take note of it and call me by the name that is respectful to me, that is Professor Flutterae, not Rhiannon." Harry noticed with disdain, the derogatory way Draco looked upon the teacher, his arms over his chest, his eyebrows cocked. He noticed before he turned around, the utter awe that was spread over Artemis', Hermione's and Neville's face as they stared at her. As the teacher reached the head of the classroom, she clapped once more and stared at the children with those haunting eyes.

"I must warn you, if you have weak stomachs, paranoid minds, or simply nervous fear, walk out of this classroom right now. For I believe that in order to truly learn something, you must experience it. I understand that you have your fears. They could be ghouls, werewolves, failure of a test, spiders." At that Rhiannon's dark gaze glanced at Ron momentarily, who ducked down in his seat. But there was a slight smile in the corner of her mouth that one could only catch if one was looking at her. Fortunately, Ron caught it and he smiled back.

The smile disappeared from Rhiannon's face as she continued. "If you have any fear whatsoever of any creatures or beings involved in the Dark Arts, leave this room. Are we quite clear?" Her eyes flitted across the classroom of children. Behind Hermione, Neville gulped loudly. The Professor's eyes flickered to Neville's frightened face, then moved away quickly. One would have barely noticed if she had looked at him, but Harry was watching her very closely.

It's the eyes. What is it with the eyes? He asked himself.

"Well then, Professor, you best tell Longbottom to get out. He can't stand anything and he doesn't even have the guts to walk out of the classroom himself." Draco laughed loudly.

There was silence save for Crabbe and Goyle's late chuckles. Rhiannon's eyes flicked to Draco's face, clapping those eyes upon him firmly. Harry watched as Draco met her gaze, then watched as it faltered and he scoffed and looked away. Rhiannon continued to stare at him silently, then suddenly she spoke, and her voice was stern.

"Fifteen points from Slytherin!" She called out loudly. The entire group of Slytherin jumped at her tone, then stared at each other in disbelief. Ron grinned and turned to Harry and whispered,

"That makes up for when Neville was late." He said, a twinkle in his eye.

"That's not fair! I didn't do anything wrong! Just gave you a bit of advice THAT'S all!" Draco yelled angrily. Rhiannon's steely eyes did not move from the boy's unusually flushed face.

"On the contrary Mister Malfoy, you degraded the dignity of a fellow student and wizard and that has cost you fifteen points. And I will let you know right now Mister Malfoy that I do not stand for ANY degredation of another person's being on ANY circumstances, be it deserved or not." Malfoy's eyes became flinty and he opened his mouth to protest again.

"I'll tell my," He started, but was unable to finish. Rhiannon quickly walked in front of his desk, making him jump with the utter agility that she did it.

"And just on a side note," At this, Rhiannon's eyes became unusually intense as she stared at Draco. "I do NOT care or listen to ANY wealthy, popular fathers who try to get teachers expelled for hurting their, 'poor, little, spoiled, baby boy.' Remember that Mister Malfoy, and watch your tongue." She took her hand off of Draco's desk, eyeing him for a moment before she spoke again. "Ten points from Slytherin for talking back to authority." There was another outburst from Slytherin, but this one was quieter than the other and more subdued.

"Now, a good lesson to start out on would most certainly be a lesson on boggarts. They are most interesting creatures. but as one of your teachers two years back, Professor Lupin, already informed you on the subject, we'll start out with something just as good." Rhiannon paced back and forth a few steps before whirling around and pointing her wand at a box several feet away from Draco's desk.

"Malfoy! Think fast!" She said quickly.

The clasp on the box burst open and the whole classroom shrieked as a gray creature slithered from the box, heading straight towards Malfoy. "Now don't be afraid children. That'll only make it worse for it can sense fear." Rhiannon said with a wry smile. Malfoy stared at it, then frowned, pulling his wand from his robes and waving it at the creature.

"DISCEDO!" Draco yelled. But the creature continued to move towards him, its green eyes flashing menacingly.

It crawled up the side of Draco's desk and slithered upon the desktop, directly in front of Malfoy, who was calling out every spell he could think of. But it seemed that every spell made it stronger, larger than before. Harry finally got a good look at the creature as it sat in front of Malfoy on the desktop. It was long and thin, growing larger by the minute. It looked rather like a snake, but with hundreds of tiny legs lining its long body. Its eyes were wide and green, menace in their gaze. Its mouth was small, but Harry could see the glimmer of teeth from the sharp, needle-like fangs that potruded from its mouth. To Harry's surprise, he noticed that Draco had ceased to call out spells and was instead staring at the creature. Then Harry noticed that the creature's green eyes were now vibrating, pulsing rhythmically as they stared at Malfoy.

Slowly but surely, the creature began to creep toward Malfoy's limp hand, but Draco's eyes did not move to follow the creature. His eyes were fixed on the place that the creature had been. Slowly the creature crept up Draco's hand, coiling itself around his arm, and making its way around his chest. Finally, the classroom breathed a sigh of relief as Draco's eyes moved and finally blinked, but they all gasped again as Draco started to yell and writhe. The creature had wrapped itself around Draco's neck and was now squeezing hard. Rhiannon stood still with a small smile on her face, her arms crossed over her chest as she shook her head.

"Come now Mister Malfoy! Haven't you been studying over the summer? Don't struggle, it only makes it worse and makes him squeeze harder." She called out merrily.

But Draco did not stop. He continued to writhe and yell. The creature slowly began to tighten its grip around the boy's neck, causing Draco's face to turn red.

"Help! She's trying to kill me! Help!" Draco finally managed to yell out. He repeated this and his comrades made a move to help him, but Rhiannon put up her hand.

"Let him get through it on his own. Learn through experience is my motto. Come now Draco! I dropped you several hints! DON'T WRITHE AND YELL being one of them!" Rhiannon criticized.

"Come on! Kill him! Kill him!" Harry spared a moment to turn and stare in horror at Ron before turning back to the scene before him.

"Oh good grief, 'weakening' spell, you git." Harry heard Artemis mutter. But Draco did not heed her advice and instead continued to yell for help until a shout from the door caused everyone to turn towards it.

Severus Snape stood in the doorway, staring at Draco with cold eyes.

"Stop this utter nonsense! NOW!" He yelled angrily. Rhiannon turned her now cold gaze upon Snape, then shrugged, pointed her wand at the creature and yelled,

"HEBETO!" Immediately the creature became limp and slipped from Draco's neck. Rhiannon nonchalantly caused the creature to fly into its box and she secured the latch tightly with her magic. Then she turned to the class. "Now that Mister Malfoy has failed this test of knowledge, can anyone at all tell me what that creature was?" Rhiannon asked. Hermione's hand immediately shot up. Instead of ignoring her like most others, Rhiannon immediately called upon her.

"It is a costrogo, Professor Flutterae. Native to humid and rainy climates alike. It tends to hide in secluded places far from society. It finds its prey by smelling its victim's fear and then jumps upon it, hypnotizes it, then squeezes it into unconsciousness." Draco rubbed his neck as he winced.

"Exactly right, Miss Granger. Costrogos are also known to swallow their prey whole, only unlike other creatures, it does not digest its prey. You are alive when it eats you, and you are alive for as long as the creature is alive, slowly becoming part of the costrogo's body until you are but a shroud of the human being you once were. Of course, a costrogo usually has a meal like that once every one hundred years, mostly feeding on small animals. The main thing to remember when faced with this creature is to hide your fears. Now can anyone tell me what else the constrogo is used for?" Professor Flutterae looked around the room. Besides Hermione, Artemis Thornshadow raised her hand. The teacher called upon her and the girl answered her quietly.

"The constrogo has been put to use in hunting, replacing dogs or such creatures as that, and also it was used by the Death Eaters many years ago, used as a torture device for those they plagued."

Rhiannon cocked her eyebrows, nodded at Artemis, then turned to Professor Snape who still stood in the doorway.

"Professor Snape, was there something you wanted from me?" She asked simply. Snape strode up to her till they were about eye to eye. He was several feet taller than her, but she still eyed him with determination and firmness.

"What do you think you're doing? Putting a boy in danger like that. He could have been killed and you would have been held personally responsible." He whispered harshly. Rhiannon chuckled softly and gazed into Snape's dark eyes, which now became uneasy.

"Please, Professor. You really didn't think that I would let a little thing like a constrogo get out of hand did you? Or were you just afraid that I would 'accidentally' let him choke Malfoy into unconsciousness? Would you be making such a fuss if I had used, for instance, Mister Potter?" Rhiannon cocked her eyebrows as she stared at the Professor.

Snape drew himself up, but said nothing. "No, Professor. I don't think you would be as concerned, but that's alright. There's no better way for these children to learn than through experience, especially with recent events." She whispered, her tone now more serious, a change from the former lilting tone. Snape nodded knowingly.

"But do you intend to let your students get that close to unconsciousness or death until they answer the question?" He asked.

"And do you intend to allow your extremely ill-behaved students get away with things, while taking away far too many points away from the others for doing nothing?" Rhiannon asked pointedly.

"Now is not the time for this. You know as well as I do that Voldemort," Snape started, but stopped as Rhiannon put up her hand.

"Not here, not in front of the children. I'll watch my back Professor. You watch yours." She said quietly, eyeing him knowingly. Snape gave her a knowing look then turned around to face the class.

"Listen to your teacher. Obey her and do as she says, for she knows more than all of you put together." Snape said in his monotone voice before walking out of the room, his foot-falls echoing on the stones. Ron stared at Harry.

"Did he just defend her?" He whispered. Harry did not move his eyes from Rhiannon but nodded as he watched the Professor watch the Potions Master walk from the room.

Ron walked up to Rhiannon after class and spoke to her energetically for a moment or two. That was all he had time for before the Professor stood from her desk, her face flushed and gave him a huge hug. Harry smiled then turned around as he heard a sound behind him. Hermione's teeth were set firmly and she was tapping her toe on the ground. Harry smothered a smile and turned back to his friend and teacher. Ron walked over with the Professor and stood in front of Hermione, Harry and Artemis.

"Rhia, these are my friends. This is Hermione Granger, Artemis Thornshadow and Harry Potter." Rhiannon shook hands with each of them, giving them all winning smiles.

"Hermione, you don't mind if I call you Hermione, do you? Hermione, you were absolutely fabulous in class today! A perfect example of participation! How often do you study?" Rhiannon asked. Hermione swelled up with pride as she shook the teacher's hand excitedly.

"Very often. As often as I can!" She said.

"Do me a favor." Hermione nodded, listening for what Rhiannon would say.

"Don't study as much." A confused look registered over Hermione's face as she eyed her teacher.

"You are such a smart girl, but you are a girl and you need a little free time. Don't fry your brain before you're old Hermione. Have a little fun. But that doesn't mean forget your studies altogether. Just live a little." She said with a kind smile, to which Hermione responded with a smile of her own.

"Alright then." She said firmly.

"Geez, Hermione! Thats what I've been telling you for years, but you don't listen to ME!" Ron protested.

"That's because you're not my teacher." Hermione responded cooly, to which Ron just shrugged.

"Artemis, your theories were fabulous! You've adapted very well for just coming from a completely different school!" Rhiannon said enthusiastically. Artemis blushed red and shrugged.

"My teachers at school said that theories were my strong point." She said modestly.

"Yes, I can see that. So, Harry Potter. It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard quite a lot about you as well." Harry chuckled nervously as he eyed a certain unusual glint that looked out of place in her dark eyes.

"Good things I hope?" He said. Rhiannon smiled and squeezed his hand as she shook it.

"Oh yes. Many good things."

The eyes. What is with the eyes? Harry screamed inwardly. Indeed there was something with the eyes, for he could not move from their gaze. He felt paralyzed by them, but his friends weren't even noticing. They were simply smiling proudly. But as soon as the feeling had come, it went and she was merely shaking his hand and smiling kindly.

"It's a pleasure to know that you're Ron's friend. And I'm glad that you're in my class." She said gratefully.

A loud double yell exploded from the doorway and the group inside turned around. A huge grin spread over Rhiannon's face and her cheeks flushed as she eyed the twins in the doorway. A moment later, the twins' books were on the floor and they were rushing towards her, clapping her back and grinning.

"RHIA!!" Fred and George yelled together.

"FRED! GEORGE!" She yelled, grinning as she held onto them.

"We couldn't believe it when we saw the paper! We thought there was some mistake and then we couldn't see you after class!" Fred exclaimed.

"So we just had to see you! How are you? Have you seen any of us since that last time?" George added.

"Can't believe you're really here!" Fred yelled again.

"Nor can I! It's so good to be around the Weasleys again. Now the fun can really begin." She said, winking at the twins and Ron. "But now I've got to get out of here. I've got some catching up to do on the curriculum and I have to get ready for dinner." Rhiannon said apologetically.

"Oh sure. That's fine." Fred said quickly.

"Yeah, you do whatever you've gotta do. We'll see you later." George added.

"Alright. Well good-bye. It was lovely to meet you all!" Rhiannon said as she grabbed some papers off her desk and walked out and away from them. George sighed happiliy.

"Ah, its good to have a real, good teacher at Hogwarts. The others are good of course, but I don't really know them if you know what I mean." He said.

"You don't mean you're gonna try to get her to change your grades do you?" Ron asked.

"NO! Of course not! Well not yet anyway. My grades are gonna be fair this year. Just you wait and see." George said quickly.

"They're ALWAYS fair." Ron muttered.

"Ah, don't worry Ronniekins. Rhia won't flunk you." Fred said, ruffling Ron's hair.

"Hey Artemis, c'mere." George said, motioning Artemis over to himself and Fred. Hermione watched them and shook her head before turning to Ron and Harry.

"Well I'm going to the library to get a few things done. Don't wait up. I'll be at dinner." She said, turning to walk away. Ron quickly grabbed her arm.

"But Rhia, I mean, Professor Flutterae told you not to!" He protested. Hermione quickly jerked her arm away from Ron and raised her chin.

"She told me not to study constantly. This is one time. It won't hurt me. Don't try to be my mother, Ron." She said, turning and walking away from them. Ron shook his head, his blue eyes fixed on Hermione as she stalked out of the door.

"If I was her mother, well, I'd, I'd burn her books! I'm gonna go to the tower. Alright?" He said, turning to Harry. Harry nodded.

"Sure. I'm just gonna, I don't know wander around. Maybe go for a ride on the Firebolt." Ron smiled knowingly.

"Do you think that they'll have Quidditch this year even after whats going on?" Ron asked, his smile fading. Harry shrugged and shook his head.

"Don't know. I sure hope so though. I don't wanna get out of practice. Oliver would have hated for that to happen." Harry said wistfully. Ron smiled and nodded, walking out the door.

"See you."

Harry waved to him then stood alone in the empty classroom a moment, listening to the whispers and snickers of Fred, George and Artemis as they hatched some scheme outside the door. Harry's eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of something white lying on the floor beside the Professor's desk. He slowly walked up to it and picked it up. It was a piece of paper, blank except for a small drawing: two eyes staring into space, then a few words penciled above it: "THE MASTER'S MIRROR." Harry stared at it in horror. It was the eyes he had seen on the train, the same large eyes, the pupils greatly enlarged so that the color of the iris could barely be seen. Then he remembered that day in Diagon Alley when George Weasley's eyes had changed suddenly without warning and he seemed to not even notice the change.

The Master's Mirror. What is she doing with something like this? Harry thought to himself, staring at the paper, the eyes seemingly staring right back at him, staring through him.

He quickly folded the paper and shoved it in his pocket, veering quickly out the door and walking past the twins and Artemis, who barely noticed him leave. He had walked practically the whole grounds of Hogwarts before he heard a voice in the corridor near the Gryffindor Tower.

"What is it? An ickle firstie? No, just a nasty fifthy. Filthy fifthy." Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes as he realized the speaker. Peeves the Poltergeist was nothing but a trouble-maker haunting the halls of Hogwarts.

"Isn't the filthy fifthy gonna say hullo to Peeves? Hasn't Peeves always been good to Potter Harry?" Peeves snickered. Harry sighed and waved as the ghost came into appearance. The little man's eyes glittered evilly as he eyed Harry.

"Hullo Peeves. How are you?" Harry asked. The man shrugged and cocked his head.

"Curious. Peeves is curious. New someone came here today. Talked to Peeves about Harry Potter. Wanted to know things. New he is." Peeves said, staring at Harry. A cold shiver ran through Harry as he eyed Peeves.

"What are you talking about Peeves? A new someone? One of the new students?" He asked. Peeves shook his head violently.

"No! New someone, come stalking the halls of Hogwarts, asking for Harry Potter. I told him bug off. Go find Nearly Headless Nick if he wanted information. Didn't think he knew who Nick was. But he did." Peeves said almost warningly.

"He knew who Nick was? But what did he want with me? Who was he?" Harry almost yelled. Peeves waved a warning finger but didn't disappear.

"Didn't say what he wanted with Harry Potter. Didn't say who he was." He said softly.

"But what WAS he?" Harry yelled. Peeves' eyes glittered strangely and he disappeared, but not before whispering into the now cold hallway.

"A ghost."

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Author's Note: Shew! That was an interesting D.A.D.A. class! I hope you like Rhiannon and Artemis! Maybe Draco will take a hint and not be such a terd! Otherwise Rhia might let him choke to death next time!! :-) Hmm. "The Master's Mirror"? Whats that? Ooohhhh!! A ghost? Looking for Harry Potter? Hmm. What for? AHA! CLIFFHANGAR!! I'm evil, I know. But if you think that THIS is a cliffhangar.............well, lets just say wait till you see the next chapters. ;-) Don't worry! The next chapters will be filled with LOTS of interesting stuffs! Thanks all! Thanks so much for all your reviews! Its really great to know what you think of it! Thanks so much. To answer your questions:

Hollie: Is Draco gonna be evil Death Eater evil? Well, you'll just hafta read and find out. He's already being a real butt-head to Artemis and Harry and the others, but thats not very surprising. At least we know that Artemis can speak for herself. Well, you'll just hafta wait and see what our dear Draco does. :-)

Keep readin'! Love ya'll!!

T.H.