Chap 4

The next morning at breakfast, as the students prepared for the days classes. Harry and Ron were getting ready for their first divination class to start. Harry was a bit uncertain about the whole thing "I know Lupin trusts her, he said my Dad did too, but I get this really weird feeling when she's around." casting a glance at the teachers table, where MacLeod was seated next to Lupin.

"Harry, you're being mental, I mean look at her, she doesn't give me any bad feelings at all. In fact, I think I'm really gonna enjoy divination class this year." Ron finished smiling broadly as Hermione shot him a look that could melt stone.

"Has it ever occurred to you Ron, that you have a bad habit of judging people by their looks?" spat a rather annoyed Hermione.

Ron simply ignored her and continued talking to Harry in between mouthfuls of breakfast, "Ya know Harry, I bet after one class with her today, you'll change your mind completely, pass the jam will you."

Harry was about to argue the point with Ron when the morning post arrived. Hundreds of owls swooped in through the windows, dropping parcels to the tables below. Hermione received her copy of the Daily Prophet, Ron, Fred and George each received howlers from their Mom

"Honestly Ron you've only been here one day" quipped Hermione.

Hedwig landed on Harry's shoulder, softly hooting. "Look, she has a letter for you, maybe its from Snuffles" Hermione said anxiously.

Sure enough Sirius had written to Harry

Dear Harry,

I trust Prof Dumbledore told you I wouldn't be able to join you for a little while. Just wanted to let you know that everything is fine and I will be back as soon as possible. Please be very careful, you-know-who is getting stronger and I want you to promise me that you will not take any unnecessary risks, and please tell Remus or Dumbledore immediately if anything strange happens or if your scar starts to hurt again. I miss you very much,

Snuffles

P.S. tell Hermione I'm very proud of her for making prefect

Harry smiled to know that Sirius missed him, he couldn't wait for the day when his name would be cleared and they could live together as a family. As it stood now, all they had were a few weeks out of the year when Dumbledore would allow Harry to visit his godfather, a few weeks of having a family.

"Harry?" Hermione asked softly "Is everything okay?"

"What!" Harry was shaken out of his thoughtfulness, "Oh yeah, every things fine. He's just going to be away a little longer than he thought. And by the way, he said congratulation on being prefect." added Harry to a beaming Hermione.

"I'm glad somebody thought it was worth mentioning" she said proudly.

"Oy, Ron looks like your new girlfriend is getting a package as well" laughed George.

Harry looked at the twins quizzically as both Fred and George pointed to the head table. There in front of Miss MacLeod was a beautiful snow owl, bigger than Hedwig by at least a head, holding a brightly wrapped package in its beak.

Miss MacLeod just stared at it, with a curious look on her face, she looked over at Lupin who just shrugged at her, then she looked at Snape who was smirking back at her. Smiling now, she closed her eyes and mouthed "oh no", while shaking her head. MacLeod gently took the package from the owl and gave him her toast as a thank you.

From where Harry was sitting he could read the name on the package I Belladonna Boutique/I . Miss MacLeod, smiling brightly, untied the ribbon. As she lifted off the lid a small shower of pixie dust shimmered in the air as it softly fell to the table, Miss MacLeod's eyes grew wide as she looked inside the box, she placed her hand on her cheek and began to blush.

Prof Dumbledore, looking amused at the whole affair smiled at her "Well, Miss MacLeod, I believe we're all rather anxious to know what exactly you have there."

MacLeod looked at Dumbledore, then to Snape, who was beginning to turn a bit red himself, she looked as though she were going to say something but thought better of it. For his part Lupin, sitting between MacLeod and Snape, was doing all he could not to burst out laughing as he nudged MacLeod on. Realizing this wasn't going to end until she showed them, she lifted out of the box the most beautiful bouquet of white and pink roses anyone had ever seen. Every girl in the hall let out a sigh as both MacLeod and Snape turned the same colour as the roses.

Lupin nudged her again and pointed to the card, she gave him a looked as if she was going to kill him, but obediently picked up the card. When she opened it, another shower of sparkling pixie dust filled the air and spelled out a message, Miss MacLeod quickly closed the card and began giggling, which started a chain reaction first Lupin, then Dumbledore, even McGonagall could not contain herself. While everyone was busy laughing, Harry saw Miss MacLeod look over to Snape, who had become quite red and seemed to be getting a bit offended by the laughing, she smiled tenderly at him and mouthed the words "thank you" immediately the anger left his face, as he smiled back at her.

"Ohh, poor Ron, looks like he's got some competition, huh Fred"

"Shut-up George" said Ron obviously taken aback by the scene "I mean, Snape, come on, how, why?" he could barely get the words out "There has got to be something wrong with that woman." he finally blurted out to the great amusement of his brothers and friends.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with it" said Ginny "she likes him, and he likes her. Didn't you see the pretty flowers he gave her?"

"Poor Ginny" Fred stated sounding concerned "she just doesn't understand the way of the world. Ouch!" he yelled as little Ginny decided to whomp him for being a pest.

"Oy Fred, getting beat up by our little sis again, positively embarrassing, should be ashamed of yourself."

Harry was laughing so hard by this point he thought his sides would split. Poor Ron was still trying to rationalized the whole thing to himself while avoid getting caught up in his brother's mock battle with their little sister.