Chapter Seven
Sunlight

Early morning brought the solar dance to replace the lunar. Slatero dressed, and left Davina a note about his departure so she would know when she woke from her slumber. Silently he left her room, closing the heavy wood door behind him. It was far too early for students, and even staff, but Slatero crept along the corridors, dimly lit by the dawn light. The birds were singing merrily in the grounds, some owls were already returning with parcels and post, stopping in the owlery before the breakfast delivery. Slatero stole a gaze across the grounds, admiring the buildings and the reflection of the dawn colours in the lake in the south. He heard voices and looked back down the corridor.
"Surely someone else has noticed...?" A female voice enquired, coming towards the Professor.
"I needed to ask him about the homework last night, so now it's only partly finished." A second female voice complained.
"It wasn't that hard-."
"You were in the lesson though!" Two first year students came into view. They were heading for Quirrell's pigeon hole, when they saw him, they stopped dead.
"P-Professor Quirrell...!" The second girl exclaimed.
"Good morning. It's very early for you two to be out of Hufflepuff house isn't it?" He placed it as a question after seeing their school robes had the yellow house crest with a badger. "Did one of you require some time to ask questions?" Cautiously the smaller girl who surprisingly reminded Quirrell of Davina raised her hand.
"Very well, I suggest you return to your tower," he told the second Hufflepuff, "And we will proceed to the classroom."

It was a five-minute walk down to the classroom, Jemima kept close behind him as he led her through two secret passages and descended the spiral staircase down. The room was dingy and several animals woke at the early morning arrival, including Silcon the sempko who rolled onto his side, scratched his stomach and rolled back to watch. The student and professor sat down at the front desk after Slatero lit several of the candles. Jemima seemed nervous to be sat next to a professor alone. It was daunting for the first year.
"Now, which questions are you struggling with?" He asked kindly, noticing her discomfort. Jemima unrolled her parchment.

Davina came down for breakfast, still looking a bit gaunt.
"Are you teaching lessons today?" Quirrell asked, with a concerned look on his face. Davina nodded.
"I'm fine before you ask. Thank you for last night." She put her hand on his leg under the table, and he placed his hand on hers, giving it a squeeze. They exchanged smiles.

At morning break, Slatero met Filch, fuming just outside his office where a terrible smell hung in the air.
"Don't tell me the smell is a new cleaning product? Good grief, that's terrible!" Filch shook his head, his face had turned a colour resembling beetroot.
"Weasleys…" He husked, cracking his bony fingers.
"The twins?" Slatero asked.
"They let of a bomb just here. I'll haul them in for a right going over." Argus was looking off down the corridor in the direction Slatero assumed the twins had gone.
"That's two of us now they've crossed. Severus appeared keen to sort them, but it appears he hasn't." Filch gave a nod. Normally punishment enforcers were Filch and Snape hand in hand.
"About time we reintroduced detention in the dungeon-."
"You're wanting Severus and I to deal with them?"
"No. I'm referring to students hanging from their thumbs." Argus gave a grim-looking smile.
"Don't remind me of the screaming. I'm still glad I avoided detention." Slatero replied, remembering many students falling to that fate.
"It'll have to be something like that…" Argus said and left Slatero, returning to his poky office with the filing cabinets.

"Just the man I want to see!" Severus caught Slatero making a hasty return to his dungeon before a staff meeting that evening.
"Really?" Quirrell asked, slightly shocked at the sudden request.
"Quidditch moves learn the formations off by heart and we'll flatten Fillius's side with ease. Have you spoken to Davina? We don't want to have Hagrid again."
"I have, why don't you ask her at the meeting. She was disappointed to be so unwell she couldn't play." Severus gave a nod, studying Slatero oddly.
"I better get my things for the meeting, excuse me." The younger professor explained, and hurried down the spiral staircase to his classroom, breathing a sigh of relief as he escaped.

"Any other matters?" McGonagall asked across the table the staff were sat at.
"Er. Yes." Hagrid called, unsure. He glanced round, saw that he had been heard and leant forwards, placing his huge elbows on the table heavily. "We've got a werewolf coming into the grounds. I don't like to have to kill 'em, but its got very close to the castle. I'd like to ask permission to… er… destroy it?"
"Are you sure it's not just a wolf?" Albus asked.
"Slatero and I have seen it Dumbledore, although we did not see it for long, it is confirmed that it was near student areas." Severus spoke from one end of the table.
"Very well, if you do sight it again at full moon, please try and get a positive identification." Slatero glanced at Davina who was looking rather pale again.
"Are you alright?" He asked quietly. She nodded, as if shaking it off.
"Fine, I'm fine." She reassured him.

"Davina- Quidditch practise- don't forget to come. We need you to play against Fillius's team. Slatero will no doubt make sure you get there…" Severus said with a grin as he passed the two of them.
"Of course Severus. I wouldn't miss it for the world, I'll do my best not to be ill again." The potion master gave a slight smirk and a nod and left the staff room in a swoop.
"He's really serious about beating Flitwick's team." Slatero told Davina, after they'd watched Snape leave.
"I was gutted when I couldn't play, hopefully you won't be catapulted over his broom, as I'll be the Chaser instead of him. I'd like to beat Fillius, I must say." She gave a smile which told Slatero she was scheming.
"Just be careful, you're still not completely through your illness."
"Oh, I'll be alright- don't worry about me." She went to pick a hair off his jacket, one which Slatero suspected wasn't even there and then left with a smile.