Disclaimer-I don't own Harry Potter or the D. Umb law. That's another author's creation. I don't own the Mad Hatter. I don't own either song.

A/N: This story takes place 3 weeks from last chapter. It starts on September 28th, but then it changes to October 2nd.

A/N #2: If anyone can think of ways to be obsessd with Harry Potter, please leave them in a review. I've started a list on my bio. Also, I've started the Harry Potter Drinking Game on my bio, too, so check that out, too.

Shout-outs:

Elizabeth Attison: Nicole hasn't read it yet…so I don't mind giving you the hint that this particular subplot is going in your favor…don't think there won't be some issues with Lynn, though.

Over The Course of True Love

"I can see why people like fur coats."

Remus looked up from beneath thick, black eyelashes. He was curled like a dog in Tonks's office, covered in thick gray fur with a huge white streak along his stomach and black hairs here and there. One leg was chained to the wall, just in case something went wrong with the potion and he turned vicious again.

"It's really soft," Tonks continued, stroking his head. "Thank God there was a ban on werewolf-hunting for their furs. Too many people were getting themselves killed. God forbid they do something for the werewolves, though."

Remus let out a small growl, like normal dogs do when they want your attention.

"Getting too gloomy again, aren't I? I know the last thing you need right now is for me to get depressed, too." She scratched his ears. He wagged his tail.

"Remus, you are just too cute when you're a dog," Tonks laughed. "We used to have this one dog, Altair, and he would do that thing were he rolled over on his stomach and…yeah, like that!"

Remus rolled over on his back and started to twist around, trying to bite his tail. Tonks started laughing uncontrollably, and Remus rolled over on his stomach and licked her hand.

"An Auror needs her laughs, especially now," Tonks said decisively, stroking his head again. "Well, anyway, I feel like talking. The D.A.'s been working extremely hard. Nearly all of them can perfectly resist the Imperius Curse, even though the Slytherins need some work on it. Believe me, getting that many people to resist that curse in just three weeks is amazing."

He growled in agreement.

"I hate having to guess what you're saying, Remus, even if I am pretty good at it," Tonks said. "Well, here's something cool. I've got a Metamorphmagus in the D.A. That girl, Bernice Amherst. I'm so glad they all call her "Bennie". Poor girl, to have a name like that. It's like "Nymphadora". Yes, I know you think my name is elegant," she said quickly, seeing his wolfish brown eyes with their large black pupils raise, "but I think it's froofy and it sounds like a poodle. I hate poodles. I like wolves and back labs."

Remus's face fell. Sirius had transformed into a black lab.

Tonks swore in self-berating. "I'm so sorry, Remus." She laid her head on his stomach and pet his back. "I miss him a lot, too, you know."

He turned his head and managed to lick her face.

She giggled and sat up straight. "All right, we'll try not to think about it."

She sighed, and started staring at the far wall. She was silent for a good five minutes, until Remus pushed his nose under her arm to get her attention.

"You have a very cold and wet nose, love," Tonks said, smiling. She scratched his nose.

He made soft whimpering sound.

"What am I thinking about? A lot of things, Remus. About how hard it is to try and keep up the morale of the wizarding world. About how well I'm training 39 teenagers to battle an evil they shouldn't even be hearing about. About how very awkward it is to be talking to my boyfriend when he's a werewolf. And that brings me to this."

Remus looked up at her, questions appearing in his head.

"Your lycanthropy has never been an issue with me. And I'm not about to let the rest of the world make it an issue for us. You fully realize, due to the Lycanthropy Protection Act, forced through by none other than our favorite Dolores Umbridge, strictly forbids any werewolf and human relations, romantic or professional, right?"

He snarled viciously. He utterly despised the D. Umb law, as he had heard other werewolves jokingly call it, as well as D. Umb herself.

"And we are involved in both respects. I'm not about to have us thrown in prison for loving each other. So, I'm going to ask you to do this, and I'm going to keep asking you to do this until you actually do it."

She shoved up her sleeve, exposing her pale forearm, and shoved it under his nose.

"Bite me."

Remus yelped and jumped back.

"I'm well aware I'll lose my job as an Auror if word gets out. I don't care. I don't need the title to do the job, do I? I'll still be the D.A.D.A teacher, too. I won't leave unless I'm sacked."

Remus snarled, shaking his head like a dog shaking water off itself.

"Remus, I've anticipated your every argument. You don't want me to feel the pain of a transformation every month. That's what the Wolfsbane Potion is for. You don't want me to face prejudice. I say forget the rest of the world. All I want is to be on the same level as you. YOU are all that matters when it comes to this. And besides, it'll be strictly Don't-ask-don't-tell, ask-and-get-blown-off."

He was still shaking his head.

"Remus, listen to me!" Tonks exploded, and he stopped moving. "I WANT you to do this. Just bite my arm, and we can get rid of this situation. I'm tried of hiding our relationship because of some stupid law that Dumbridge passed!"

Tonks swiped her wand off of the table. "Snape must have some Wolfsbane left. Accio Wolfsbane Potion!"

Instantly, the cup filled with the murky brown Wolfsbane Potion. She didn't hesitate at sight of the dung-smelling muck, just splashed it down her throat.

She started coughing, and leaned over, trying to catch her breath. Chunks of brown flew out of her throat and splattered on the floor. Remus jogged to her, pushing his pointed nose underneath her face.

"That was disgusting," she said, finally catching her breath. She sat up properly. "I'll get used to it."

She pushed up her sleeve again and offered it to Remus. He backed away, looking at her apprehensively.

"Remus, I want you to do this. Please. Just bite me. It'll all be okay. You're the one who told me to stop worrying, remember? This will help me."

He edged toward her, still looking uncertain.

"Remus. Please."

He looked up at her from beneath his eyelashes.

"I'm not backing out. I love you."

He looked back at her arm. Then, slowly, he took it between his teeth and sunk his teeth, as gently as he could into her skin.

She grimaced. Being bitten was not a pleasant experience.

She began to feel sick, as if she had just taken Polyjuice Potion. She felt her back arch downwards, and watched as gray fur began to sprout on the back of her arm.

She smiled, both sorrowful and happy.

"Thank you."

"Sweater from your boyfriend?" a Ravenclaw boy snickered.

Luna had endured many such remarks for the past three and ½ weeks. Perhaps she wouldn't have, if she hadn't insisted on wearing her Weasley sweater as often as she did. She wore it nearly everyday, and the Cleaning Charm, "Scourgify" was often heard from her end of the dorm.

"Y'see, Luna," Olivia had explained, "in the Muggle world, they have these things called Varsity jackets for sports players. They have the owner's last name and their number on it. And usually the owner gives the jacket to his girlfriend."

"That's interesting," Luna said.

"Luna, what Ron did is basically the equivalent."

"…Oh." Luna had turned pink and had quickly walked away, summoning a Quibbler magazine and sinking into an armchair, ignoring everyone else as she hid behind its pages.

"It is a sweater from my friend," Luna answered, this time that same as last, and all the times before it. "I was given it because I was cold."

"Aww. An evil-fighting couple. How quaint," the boy said, and returned to snickering.

"Well, there are quite a few of them," Amy said, entering the room. She and Luna were great friends. Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs generally were. The D.A. had exchanged passwords to their Common Room, so random members often flitted in and out of the Lion's Den, the Eagle's Nest, the Badger's Hole, and the Snake's Pit. "Harry and Hermione, Dean and Parvati, Seamus and Lavender, Anthony and Padma, Ginny and Colin, and Thomas and me. One more won't hurt."

"I am more likely to date a Beefer Bug than Ron," Luna said. "Not that I don't like him, of course, but we have a very slim chance at courtship."

"You two would be cute together, though," Amy said. "Oh, well. Got that hat ready for the Hufflepuff vs. Slytherin game?"

"It's upstairs, and good luck to you, Amy."

"Thanks," Amy answered.

"Ready to go, Amy?" Thomas called from the end of the room. He had been waiting for Amy to stop talking to Luna.

"Yep!" she called back. "See ya, Luna." Amy walked off, put her hand in Thomas's, and disappeared out the portrait hole.

Luna stood in the Eagle's Nest, swaying uncertainly back and forth. The game was going to start very soon, so she had better get that hat and get to the grounds. Briefly, she wondered if Ron would be there, but she decided not, after all, he wasn't supporting either team.

"Maybe I should invite him…" she wondered out loud.

"Looney, stop standing there and go snog your boyfriend," the boy said again.

"My name is Luna Selena Nokomis Cynthia Diana Artemis Tsuki Gwendolyn Phoebe Lovegood, NOT Looney, and I have no boyfriend as of now," Luna said coldly. "Kindly refrain from implying otherwise."

"Or what, you'll sic your Beefer Bug on me?"

"No. Perhaps a Heliopath will do," Luna said, glaring icily. She whisked herself upstairs to collect her hat, plopped it on her hand, flounced down the stairs and out the portrait hole before anyone could say anything else regarding her or Ron.

She had just slammed the portrait hole shut when she heard her name being called.

"Yes?" she called, a little shortly.

"What's got you all hot and bothered?" Harry and Hermione were approaching.

"And you're STILL wearing Ron's sweater?" Hermione added.

"Is that a problem, Hermione Emma Granger?" Luna asked crisply.

"No, I…oh, I see. People bothering you about Ron, are they? They'll get over it. They got over Harry and I rather quickly, didn't they?" She gave Harry's hand a little squeeze.

"Well, I think you and Ginny cursing Malfoy had something to do with that," Harry said grinning.

Luna looked at the two of them. "If you don't mind my asking, just how did you two become a couple?"

"That's…that's just a bit personal, Luna," Hermione said. It was highly awkward to say that she and Harry had first kissed while she was recuperating in the hospital, after just blurting out that she had been adopted by her aunt and uncle and her real parents were pure-blood Death Eaters.

"Oh, I'm sorry to have asked, then. May I ask how you know that you were in love, then?"

Both of them looked a little thunderstruck.

"It's hard to explain, Luna," Harry said. "I guess it's just something you feel in your gut. You know how with your friends, you can accept them for all their faults and like them anyway? Well, with this, you can see all their faults and not only accept them, but actually begin to like them. Take Hermione, she can be an insufferable bookworm."

"And Harry can be stubborn and self-righteous," Hermione countered.

"But that's just part of what makes her appealing," Harry finished. "When you see them, you just think about how much you want to protect them and never want to see them hurt."

"It all boils down to feelings, Luna. Some things you have to feel to know," Hermione added.

Luna looked back and forth between them. "Thank you, you two. That's been very helpful."

"…Well, this was a weird conversation," Harry said.

"Am I REALLY insufferable?" Hermione asked.

"Stupid, stupid Harry. Open mouth, insert foot." He began to step away very quickly.

"Oh no, Harry James Potter, you're not getting away with that!"

"But you called him stubborn and self-righteous," Luna said.

"The women wear the pants in almost all relationships. It's a perk," Hermione said. "Well, good luck Luna, if you're planning on doing something involving Ron…that sounded wrong. Well, anyway, listen. I'm sorry to have been such a prat about heliopaths and snorkacks and all that. I don't believe in them, but I guess you're allowed to believe in them."

"Why, thank you, Hermione. That was really nice of you."

"All right, you guys are sounding really corny right about now," Harry called from 10 feet away.

"I'll give you "corny"! You're gonna pay for calling me an insufferable bookworm!" With a small wave to Luna, Hermione ran after Harry, who had bolted.

"You seen the lovebirds anywhere?"

Luna jumped. "Ron!"

"That's me. I see you really like my sweater."

"It's the warmest thing I own."

"Just wait 'till Christmas. I'll give you the one I get then. Better yet, I'll ask Mum to make one for you."

She smiled brightly at him, and he suddenly went red again. Why was he always running his mouth off like this?

"Hey, do you want to come to the Quidditch match with me? Hufflepuff vs. Slytherin." She tapped her hat, with showed a badger stomping on a snake.

"And see Slytherin get pummeled? I would PAY to see that."

"I should like to see Draco Malfoy get hit by a Heliopath, I think," Luna said. "He asked me yesterday just how distant a relative the Mad Hatter was from me."

"How about trampled by a whole herd of those Heliopaths? I'd give all my gold to see that."

"Well, that wouldn't be very wise, would it? You'd have none left." She laughed.

"You have a very weird laugh," Ron said. "It changes all the time."

""Capricious" is how Daddy describes it," Luna said, and then suddenly she fell quiet.

"Hey…Hey, Luna. Luna!"

"Hmm?"

"You got quiet all of a sudden."

"I was thinking of Daddy. I'm his one and only."

"That's good. In any sense you wanna take it, the world is not big enough for two Luna Lovegoods."

"I shall take that as a compliment."

"Good, 'cause otherwise, you'd've hit me."

"Why would I do that?"

"'Cause that's what girls do."

"I've never hit anyone, except with spells," Luna said proudly. "I dislike violence."

"Except when it comes to Malfoy getting hit by Heliopaths."

"Well, there is always the exception, isn't there?"

Petunia had been walking towards the stairs that led out to the Quidditch field, to see the Slytherin vs. Hufflepuff match, when Snape had called out her.

She turned around and made her way towards where Snape was standing in the hallway. September had closed out. 3 ½ weeks ago they had stood together on the Astronomy tower, but they hadn't seen much of each other since, except for classes.

"What is it, Severus?" she asked.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her back from the throng of students running out of the building. He yanked her back towards the stairs, where there was the least likely chance of being overheard.

"Dumbledore has informed me that there is some suspicious Death Eater activity. We, apparently, have another spy that I knew nothing of among the Dark Lord's supporters. Anyway, the Death Eaters seem to be preparing for a big battle. He wants us to be prepared, in case the Dark Lord is planning a battle with us."

"Oh, Jesus, thanks for telling me," Petunia said. "I'll pass the message on to Harry."

"No, he'll be informed. You are needed at the Quidditch match to keep a lookout."

"Good, I was just heading there. What about you?"

"I'm going to Dumbledore's office to hear my instructions."

She looked, just slightly, crestfallen. "Oh, all right then. Is that all you wanted to tell me?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"No reason in particular, Severus. No reason at all. I'll see you later."

For a moment, just a fleeting moment, he thought he saw 18-year-old Petunia Evans, about to head off to her own class. He squinted his eyes and then opened them, and was back to present-day Petunia, who was walking away.

"Severus? Good, good, I was just about to find you."

"And I was on my way to you, Albus," Snape said.

"You just told Petunia of the attack, correct?"

"Yes."

"But you've yet to tell her what else is important."

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."

"Severus, don't play the fool with me. It has been obvious to everyone who cares to look that you still have feelings for Petunia."

"With the utmost respect, Albus, that's absurd."

"You may deny it as long as you like. I don't advise putting it off. You will never know if she understood when it's too late to ask her."

Snape watched as Dumbledore's eyes misted over. He had been strange like this ever since St. Mungo's. Most of the Order still had no idea about the "Socks" comment. In fact, only Harry was privy to the secret of Oleta.

"All right, Severus, have it your way. You wish to have your assignment, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"You will guard the Quidditch field. You will inform the others of this possible threat. And then you will stay there. Half of our student body has assembled there, and we need people to look after them."

"And you, sir?"

"I shall be looking after the other half who remains inside, as well as presiding over Belicia Granger and the Veritaserum in the making."

"I'll be on my way, then." Snape said with a nod, and turned to walk off.

"Severus."

"Yes?"

"Mind what I said before. If you still care about her, don't put off letting her know."

Snap abstained from answering, and continued to walk off. Dumbledore sighed and began to walk down towards the dungeons. He needed to check on Granger.

"Hermione, sitting right there really isn't going to do anything."

"As I've said for the past 2 weeks, Harry, I don't care. This is the ideal spot to do my weekend homework while doing my part to guard a Death Eater. You don't have to stay with me if you think it's useless."

Hermione was propped up against the banister of the stairs leading down to the dungeons, her Advanced Placement Transfiguration book lying open on her knees. Harry was leaning against the opposing wall, arms folded and one leg bent so his foot rested on the wall.

"What, and leave you alone here? You'd snap and try to kill her again."

"You're right, I would."

Harry studied her for a long minute. She tried to ignore him, and managed to read and absorb 10 pages worth of knowledge, before she sighed, shut the book, and looked up.

"Is there something on my face?"

"No."

"Then why are you staring at me?"

"I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"This fixation you have about killing your mother. I wouldn't have thought you would be so intent on a murder, even if it was a Death Eater."

Hermione sighed, and set the book down. "Harry, do you remember seeing Pettigrew escape?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember watching Bellatrix Lestrange kill Sirius?"

"That's one image I will never get out of my mind."

"Do you remember all the hatred you felt towards them? And do you feel it now?"

"Of course I do."

"That is exactly how I feel about Aaron and Belicia. Harry, I am their CHILD. As much as I hate it, I am their flesh and blood. Parents are supposed to love their child, protect it, cherish it above all others. But they didn't do that. Their care entailed the minimum requirements it takes to keep a baby alive. Then they were off again, killing more people. My aunt and uncle took care of me far better than they ever did, even though they had been estranged."

Tears were in her eyes now. "They loved me, protected me, and cherished me above all else. They died trying to save me. And then, Belicia, my birth mother, tried to kill me. Because I wasn't going to join Voldemort, she tried to kill me. A person like that does not deserve to live, Harry. The use of an Unforgivable is accepted in this case."

"Yes, but it's still an Unforgivable. You're still causing someone pain or death." Harry had been struggling with himself with this very question ever since June, when he had attempted the Cruciatus Curse on Bellatrix.

"And that's why I voted as to not knowing whether or not we should use them back in September, remember?" She wiped her eyes. "Harry, I hate who I become when I use an Unforgivable. But I love the world without people like her in it even better. She's not going to reform on her own, or with help. She's going to remain a murderess. And when evil can't reform itself, it must be destroyed." She looked up at him. "That's what I truly believe, Harry. It's what we're all going to have to believe if we're going to pull through with our sanity."

Harry went over to her and put his arm around her. "I guess you're right, Hermione. But then, you usually are."

Hermione sniffled and gave him a little push. "Now, let's have a different subject. What about Luna earlier, eh?"

"I'll bet you two Galleons she tells Ron she fancies him within the month."

"Harry! We shouldn't bet on our friend."

"Yeah, you're right," Harry said, faking shame.

"At least, not that pitiful of an amount!" she tagged on.

Harry squeezed her around the shoulder and ruffled her hair. "You're just a bit devious, aren't you?"

"Just the tiniest bit, yes," she answered.

"Ah, I see I'm not needed to guard Mrs. Granger. You two have been doing it for me."

"Oh, hello, Professor," Hermione said as Dumbledore approached. Harry nodded his greeting and waved.

"Why are you not out in the Quidditch stands? I would imagine that's where your friend Ron Weasley is."

"I think he and Luna have it covered," Harry said, shooting a grin at Hermione.

"Ah, yes. Well, I'm afraid I must give you a warning. We have received an anonymous tip of some suspicious Death Eater activity. We fear they might be planning to attack the school."

Hermione's hand flew to her mouth.

"We're not sure. It might be someone's idea of a joke. But all the same, you should be on your guard. I was going to make sure she was still imprisoned, but I see you have it covered."

"What should we do, Professor?" Harry asked.

"Stay where you are for now. If anything happens, you will know."

Hermione took a deep breath. "All right. We'll be here…for now."

"Of course. It would be a fool's errand to tell you to stay here if there is an attack. I will be patrolling the halls if you need me."

"All right. That's good," Harry said.

"Good-bye now."

"'Bye, Professor," Harry and Hermione chorused. Dumbledore walked away.

"Jeez," Harry pushed his face through his hands, pulling his hair back. "Why do we never attack first?"

"Well, my guess is that we don't know where they are, but they very much know where we are. And we lost our spy. This anonymous tip guy is a blessing."

"I wanna know who this "anonymous tip" guy is."

"You can't, Harry, see, that's part of being anonymous."

"Shut up. You're a prat."

"You love me anyway."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." But he was grinning.

"Lynn, where're you headed?"

"Nowhere," Lynn said hurriedly, trying to walk away from Marcie as fast as she could. They were both in the Lion's Den, Marcie on the couch, Lynn walking towards the portrait hole.

"Y'know, you don't need my permission to like him," Marcie said, sounding a little put-off. "You're entitled to your feelings even if I think he's a sleazy scumbag. Just get to the Quidditch field and cheer for him until you're blue in the face; no one's stopping you."

Lynn relaxed. "Thanks."

"No prob," Marcie answered, as her cat, Beth, jumped into her lap and began licking her arm. "But God knows the trouble you'll have with both Elizabeth and Pansy. How the git got three girls to like him all at once is beyond me."

"He's not a git, Marcie!"

"A prat, then." She waved Lynn away before she could counter that. "Just go cheer for him. I give both you and Elizabeth my luck. Who knows, maybe you'll team up to kill Pansy and do everyone a favor."

Lynn swung open the Fat Lady's portrait, grinning, and stepped out.

She honestly didn't know why she had a thing for Draco Malfoy. Perhaps it had started on the Hogwarts Express in 1st year, when she had dropped her book and he had handed it back to her. Given, he was muttering something about "clutzy idiots", but the fact remained that he had shown he had at least a minuscule considerate side.

And no matter what Ann said, she thought he was good-looking.

It was especially weird being a Gryffindor who had a crush on a Slytherin. But Gryffindors were known for their bravery, weren't they? She would show her feelings for the world to see.

And hopefully, she'd get the desired reaction from Draco Malfoy.

She knew that Elizabeth was thinking along the same lines, except it was much easier for Elizabeth, being a fellow Slytherin. That only strengthened Lynn's resolve. Win or lose, Gryffindors did not back down.

"Severus! What are you doing here?" Petunia called over the shouting of the Hufflepuff and Slytherin fans.

"I'm to stand guard with you," Snape answered.

"That's good. I haven't see anything amiss so far."

"Don't let down your guard," Snape advised darkly.

"Mm." Petunia turned and squinted into the distance.

Snape pulled McGonagall aside and whispered Dumbledore's warning to her. She nodded her comprehension, so he turned back to Petunia and stared at the back of her head, imagining the long mane of thick hair she'd once had.

He screwed his eyes shut and shook his head. Why was he always seeing her as the girl he'd been in love with, instead of the widow who was working with him to take down Voldemort?

Dumbledore's voice flashed in his mind. "If you still care about her, don't put off letting her know." Did he really still care about her? Had 24 years not taken away his love, but only buried it?

It wasn't like he'd had much experience with love. God knows his own parents, Hadar and Pearla, had experienced severe marital problems until their messy divorce in his 7th year. He'd never had a girlfriend before or after Petunia, and he felt no love for his students, barring certain Slytherins.

'Are you afraid?' a nasty voice mocked in his head.

'I'm not afraid,' another voice shot back.

'Then stop being a prat and tell her that you can't stop thinking about her.'

"Severus, are you okay?" Petunia asked, turning around. "You've been quiet."

"As a matter of fact, there is something that's been on my mind," he said, in a very low tone. He felt a pounding in his stomach. "I've been thinking of this since July, when we met again. I've found it impossible to stop thinking about how we were in our seventh year."

"Severus, what are you saying?" Petunia asked. Her hands had begun to shake slightly and there was a tugging at her mouth.

"I'm saying, Petunia, that I'm still in love with you."

There. He'd said it. And it felt good to say it. All he had to do now was wait for a sign that it had registered. A kiss, a slap, tears, whatever she was going to throw his way would be her answer.

Petunia was completely shell-shocked. She hadn't been expecting a declaration that her old boyfriend was still interested in her.

Or had she? It was true that she felt a sense of familiarity when she was with him. Despite their unfortunate parting, he reminded her of better days. Even in his role as the aloof, calculating teacher and spy, he made her feel comforted. She warmed when he was near her.

"Severus, I…what the?"

Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn't that. "What is it?"

"Oh, my God."

A shaking finger pointed beyond Snape's head. He whipped around and squinted into the distance.

Black dots were appearing in the sky, flying at an alarming rate towards the stands. He could barely see the outlines of black robes flapping in the wind.

He swore so badly and so loudly the other teachers in the box turned to stare at him.

"Severus, I hardly think…" McGonagall started.

"Death Eaters," he said in a steely tone. "Coming this way."

There was an absolute silence…before the panic set in.

McGonagall ripped the Magical Megaphone from the commentator's mouth.

"ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS. PROCEED TO YOUR COMMON ROOMS RIGHT NOW. DO NOT SLOW OR STOP FOR ANYTHING. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. THE SCHOOL IS UNDER ATTACK. I REPEAT: THIS IS NOT A DRILL."