Chap 2

Harry's first class that morning was potions, and all anyone could talk about was this morning's scene. "I know exactly what happened" sneered Malfoy towards Harry's direction "she just got a taste of what a deatheater can do to someone foolish enough to defy the dark lord. Isn't that right Potter?"

"Just ignore him Harry, you know he's just trying to get you into trouble." said Hermione, "besides if he actually knew what happened, he'd be able to tell everyone exactly who that woman was." she finished quite loudly.

Malfoy looked at her as if he could kill her with one glance

.

"Well," picked up Harry "if your so all knowing, who is she then? Or are you just making up stories again, trying to impress the ladies maybe." he finished to a great roar of laughter from the class.

"Not that its any of your business," Draco continued, "but she's the one the ministry sent to fight Lord Voldemort and capture your murdering Godfather. My father told Fudge he was insane to send a woman, especially one like her, looks like he was right. Again"

Harry didn't quite know why but he suddenly felt so furious, "You don't know what your talking about Malfoy, and my godfather's not a murderer!" Malfoy had teased him many times about Sirius, but today Harry had just had enough. Harry reached for his wand as Malfoy quickly took out his. Just then Snape entered the classroom.

Looking up at the scene in front of him he glared at both Harry and Draco, practically growling "There had better be a VERY good reason for this....... NO....... I didn't think so. 10 point from Gryffindor, ........and Slytherin."

Harry was sure he had heard wrong, Snape taking points from his own house. Either he was dreaming or Snape had gone over the edge for sure this time.

Looking over at Draco's pale and disbelieving face, he was pretty sure it wasn't a dream. Come to think of it he had never seen Snape in a mood like this, his face was completely flushed as if he just ran a race, or been in a fight, but that wasn't like Snape. He was always the one in control of himself, never a hot, emotional anger, always a cold, hard anger. Except of course that one time, when Sirius had gotten away from the dementors, that's the only time Harry had ever seen him close to looking like this.

As the class continued, Snape was busy snapping at students, positively terrorizing the ones in the front nearest to him. Even his Slytherins were getting frightened. He continued like this, muttering to himself, slamming cauldrons and ingredients around until he finally managed to calm himself enough to begin the lesson today. "Today we will be making a finite incantatem potion. When drunk it will immediately cause all spells on that person to end." Snape began with a dangerous edge to his voice. Suddenly to the classes great relief there was a knock at the door of the dungeon. With a look of pure irritation on his face, Snape went to the door and flung it open.

Harry breathed a great sigh of relief when he saw who was at the door, Lupin. Harry adored his adopted "uncle" but was hard press to remember every being happier to see him.

Lupin and Snape spoke heatedly for a few moments, then "Potter, you are to accompany Professor Lupin, NOW." Snape yelled. As Harry practically ran to the front of the class to get to Lupin he overheard part of the conversation

"Severus, please calm down, she's fine. Minerva was just being careful, there's nothing wrong with sending her to Poppy to make sure."

"I saw the blood Lupin, we both saw it." They ended the conversation as soon as Lupin saw Harry.

"There we are now, Dumbledore needs to speak with you Harry. Its very important." looking at Snape he assured "I'm sure everything is fine."

Meanwhile, Albus Dumbledore was busy himself. "Hello my dear, I am very glad you were able to accept my invitation to join us this year. I'm sure you realize how important your talents will be against Voldemort. As you no doubt proved during your adventure yesterday." he paused for a moment, then brightened up considerably. " But how did you convince Magnus to let you come? He always seemed quite unreasonable where you were concerned."

"Now Albus that's only because he loves me and you know it. I seem to recall a few other people being rather overprotective where I'm concerned." she said.

"True, True. I admit I don't envy him, although I do respect him and I must admit, after this mornings activities he may well be right about the danger I've placed you in."

"Come now Albus, a few lunatics trying to attack a woman travelling alone in a dark forest, hardly your fault or responsibility, although I do appreciate you sending Hagrid for me." she smiled softly at him.

"Well to be perfectly honest," Albus smiled back "I rather think he enjoyed himself, its not often he gets to play hero."

Meanwhile, Harry and Remus talk on the way to Dumbledore's office. "Uh, Remus, what's going on? What so important to pull me out of class, Not that I mind understand."

"Dumbledore has some news about Sirius, he thought you should hear it first."

Harry gave Remus an anxious look "Remus, he's okay, right. He's not hurt, the dementors didn't find him did they?"

"Relax Harry, Sirius is fine" Remus assured him "there's just been a bit of a delay, he doesn't want you worrying about him, Sirius is very concerned that you have fun and relax a little this year. Do you think that's possible Harry?" finished Remus, smiling at Harry.

Grinning back at his friend "Well, if that's what you and Sirius want, I'll certainly try my best."

"Harry, there's someone with Professor Dumbledore that you should meet, she was a friend of your parents as well, she's here to help with the... current situation." Remus began.

"My parents, she knew them too, who is she, did she go to school here to?" Harry blurted out excitedly.

"Relax Harry, it's a long story and I'm sure you'll hear all about it eventually." But Harry was positively bursting at the seams, he had so many questions to ask. How had she known them, what were they like, all he knew of his parents was what Sirius and Remus had told him, he wanted to know more, especially about his mother, he hope she knew her well, maybe they had been best friends. "Come on Remus, who is she, you said she's there now, hurry up, what's she like?"

"Alright Harry, alright, run ahead. I'll meet you there."

Harry rushed in, flushed and gasping, "Ah Mr. Potter, I see you got my message, good , very good. I will need to speak with you about a recent occurrence regarding Snuffles. Oh, by the way, Harry have you met your new divination teacher, Miss MacLeod." Harry looked up and his jaw dropped, "mum?" he barely whispered.

"Excuse me?" MacLeod said.

"Oh,.. I ..ah,.. nothing, very pleased to meet you Professor MacLeod" Harry sputtered.

"Thank you Mr. Potter, but its Miss MacLeod, not professor." she replied sounding far too much like Professor McGonagall.

Harry suddenly realized that this was the woman from breakfast this morning, he couldn't believe the difference. She was dressed in a dark blue robe and her hair was pulled up in a bun like McGonagall though much softer looking. But he was sure it was her, those eyes again they looked right thru him, like she was stalking him, reading his movements..... Harry shivered and for a moment thought he might run.

At that moment, Remus Lupin entered, took one look at MacLeod and smiled from ear to ear. "Well, hello there, Kitty" he said as he walked over and embraced her. Harry thought Lupin had lost his mind, or at least his sense, but much to his surprise MacLeod smiled back and returned the hug.

"Remus, it is you, I wasn't sure in the hall this morning. Its been a very long time. Though I still haven't forgiven you OR your friends for that last one."

"I am very sorry about that" apologized Remus "we never meant for it to go that far, we never meant to get you expelled."

"Expelled! Is that what you thought happened? Oh Remus, I wasn't expelled, my father heard what happened and felt it wasn't safe for me here. I just went back home, I transferred back to my old school" explained MacLeod.

"Really, oh Cat you have no idea, we all thought Madame Trelawney had you expelled, you know how much she hated you. We all just assumed she took advantage of the situation and blamed you for everything. We felt so guilty, and we never got the chance to tell you."

MacLeod smiled warmly as she touched his cheek "No harm done. I never really did fit in here anyway. Although I did make some great friends, a bit odd perhaps, but great nevertheless."

Remus looked as though he were going to cry, Harry had never seen him like this, it was obvious now that they knew each other, that must have been why he kept staring at her in the great hall.

Dumbledore spoke up "Well I'm very glad to see that the two of you are still friends after so much has passed. But I must insist that there be no continuation of your little 'game' and as I believe the score was tie when Miss MacLeod left us, I am officially declaring it a draw. Am I understood in this matter?"

They both smiled broadly and assured him that the matter was indeed closed.

"Now Mr. Potter" began Dumbledore, "I need to speak with you privately, Remus, Cat would you mind?"

After the teachers left, Dumbledore had Harry sit down "Now Harry, first of all you don't need to be worried, Sirius is fine." Harry sighed in audible relief "He did run into a little trouble, but nothing he couldn't handle. He will, however, be away a little longer than we expected. Most likely another month or two."

"TWO MONTHS" Harry whined "but why, I haven't seen him since my birthday, I miss him."

"I know you do Harry" Dumbledore said gently, "but we all must make sacrifice in times like these. What Sirius is doing is very important, he is gathering information that we need if we are going to defeat Voldemort and keep you safe." Harry knew he was right, but it was just so hard, he loved Lupin like an Uncle, but Sirius was his Father's best friend, in fact Sirius was like a father to him, at least the closest that he had ever known. Harry wanted him here, with him, he wanted to have a family like his friends did. Sighing again, Harry acknowledge his acceptance of the news and got up to leave.

"Mr. Potter, I shouldn't worry about it, I know for a fact he misses you just as much, and I am most certain he will return as soon as he possibly can." Harry smiled back at him as he left, he often wondered if Dumbledore could read his mind.

As Harry and Remus left the office, Harry couldn't help asking his friend about his strange feelings about his new teacher. "You know, Malfoy said she was sent here to catch Sirius" he finished hesitantly.

"Harry, don't worry about her, she's as trustworthy as they come. Your father wanted her to stay here with us, . .but,. . circumstances prevented that from happening."

Stopping and looking up at Remus "Circumstances, what circumstances? Did something bad happen, her getting expelled and all?" Harry questioned.

"I'm afraid its much more complicated than that. You see not everyone wanted her to come to Hogwarts. She's not like other people Harry" Lupin said softly.

"You mean like YOUR not like other people" Harry asked gently. "Not exactly" sighed Remus.

Harry couldn't remember when he saw him look so sad.