Previously:

As Harry drifted off to sleep, long after the Headmaster and Professors had left him with Sirius for company, Sirius Black sighed deeply.

"Tomorrow, my boy, we'll get some answers. Tomorrow, we'll see if we can't get Snivellus to make up a batch of that potion for you, too. Tomorrow," he whispered.

Chapter Four: Parseltongue and Defense

There was an announcement made the next morning during breakfast about James, Sirius and Remus. When Dumbledore told the students about them, and their circumstances, there was an uproar. Nobody believed him at first, but when the three boys entered the Great Hall whispers spread through it like a grass fire in a strong wind.

"This is a joke, right?"

"Does Harry Potter know?"

"What does Potter think about it?"

"They can't really be them! I mean, James Potter is dead!"

Hermione and Ron snickered through much of this as the boys made their way to the Gryffindor table and sat with them. Those around them became silent and watched in fascination as two-thirds of the Golden Trio became immersed in conversation with the newcomers.

"So, Remus," Hermione started, "have you got your schedules yet?"

Ron groaned and shook his head at James and Sirius.

Remus pulled a piece of parchment out of his bag and handed it to Hermione. "Here it is."

She studied it for a moment and nodded satisfactorily. "You've got all your classes with me. Ron doesn't take Arithmancy or Potions."

"James and Sirius don't take Arithmancy, either. They have a free period then," Remus replied.

"But they take Potions?" At Remus' nod, she continued. "So does Harry."

At that moment, she checked her watch and leapt to her feet. "We've got Transfiguration first, and we're going to be late if we don't go now!"

They arrived at the Transfiguration classroom with two minutes to spare. The room was different than normal, due to the large empty space at the front where there were normally desks. Empty, that is, except for rocks, broken bits of wood, and other miscellaneous items scattered around. They sat together at the back of the room, waiting for McGonagall, and hoping Harry would show as well. At least, Ron and Hermione were hoping he would. McGonagall came in looking a bit flustered, which was something new for them all. She stopped at Ron and Hermione's desk for a moment, said she would like to see them after class, then continued on to her own desk.

"Mr. Potter!" she snapped, and James turned to face her guiltily. "I will not have any of your shenanigans in my class this year. Understood?"

Her voice was so frightening, and the look on her face more so, that James could only nod and stammer out, "Yes, Ma'am!"

Sirius and Remus were staring at James and McGonagall with fascinated, but healthy, fear. They had never known their friend to be cowed by a teacher, and they have never known this particular teacher to be as… upset, as she so obviously was. She was always stern, but never menacing. She left that to the Slytherin Head of House. But today…

"Today, class, we will be focusing on transfiguration during dueling. Ms Granger, Mr. Weasley, come up here."

They went and stood in the cleared area of floor and awaited their instructions.

"I understand that you have been practicing this?" McGonagall asked.

"Yes Ma'am. For about three weeks."

"Good, Ms Granger. Tell me, are you any good?"

"We've done fair, Professor."

"Excellent. Then I expect you two to perform a demonstration for us."

There was a knock at the door and the present DADA teacher, Remus Lupin, walked in and took a quick look around.

"Ah, good. I was hoping I wasn't too late. Thank you for inviting me to this, Minerva."

"Thank you for coming, Remus. As this involves Defense as well as Transfiguration, I thought you may wish to see how your students are progressing."

"Wonderful idea. Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning, Professor Lupin," the class chorused.

"Well, let's get on with it, Ron. Remember, proper dueling form," Hermione said.

They faced each other, bowed, and placed their wands at the ready.

Hermione fired off the first curse, a jelly legs jinx, which Ron blocked with a well placed "Protego!"

Ron returned fire, as did Hermione. Ron sent two rapid fire curses at her, and she reacted by transfiguring one of the rocks into an acromantula. Ron, scared as was of the creatures, had a flash of brilliance. He whipped his wand around, pointed it at the creature, and muttered "Serpensortia!" A large snake, all black, slithered out of his wand. The snake and the spider fought, and the snake won. Then it turned it's blank gaze to Hermione and advanced on her. Ron, although he knew the spell, didn't know the counter to it and Hermione was too shocked or frightened or something to use it herself. Before anyone could do anything, though, a hissing was heard from the doorway. The snake turned toward the sound and stopped its advance. It stopped completely, in fact. All heads turned toward the door only to be greeted with the sight of Harry Potter, resident Parselmouth, slowly moving toward the snake. He stopped a foot away from it and gestured for Hermione to rid herself of the menace.

Remus Lupin, who had known Harry could talk to snakes, was shocked for the simple reasons that he had never heard Harry do it, and because Harry was supposed to be in the Hospital Wing.

James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin (the younger) were all shocked as well. But only James and Sirius thought of Harry as being evil, despite all they'd learned the night before. Remus seemed to accept that whatever your gift or curse, you weren't evil simply because you had it. Being a werewolf for this long would change the thoughts of anyone. Just as the other two were about to voice this erroneous opinion, a shrill voice carried into the room.

"Harry James Potter! You get out here right now! I have not given you permission to leave yet!" Madam Pomfrey yelled down the hall.

Harry cowered behind Professor Lupin, who was trying in vain to hold back his laughter.

"Tell her I'm not here, Remus! Please!" Harry whispered hoarsely.

Remus shook his head. "That never worked for James, nor has it ever worked for you. She seems to have a sixth sense when it comes to where her patients are."

"In here, Poppy!" Minerva McGonagall called, amusement evident in her voice.

Just before Madam Pomfrey entered the room, Remus heard Harry mutter "Traitor!". Minerva winked at him and ushered him into the waiting wrath of the nurse.

They could hear Harry all the way down the hall trying to escape the clutches of the nurse.

"Please, Madam Pomfrey! I'm fine. You're healing abilities are superb."

"Flattery, Mr. Potter, will get you nowhere. Now back to bed with you!"

Hermione and Ron knew, of course, all about Harry's work with McGonagall over the summer, and that they became rather close. The other students who had heard Harry's muttered insult, however, were curious about why their professor didn't see the need to reprimand him. She never enlightened them, either.

Later that evening, Ron and Hermione were going to their weekly DA meeting. Under Dumbledore's advice, they were bringing James, Sirius and Remus with them. When they got to the Room of Requirement, however, they found that instead of the usual wall a door was already present. Since the three boys had been moved into their own room, they didn't expect to find anything or anyone there. Hermione hesitantly pushed the door open and found, to her surprise, Harry, Remus, Sirius –as Padfoot- and Professor Snape there.

"Good evening, Professors," she said as she made her way to Harry's side, Ron right behind her.

"Ms Granger, Mr. Weasley," Remus nodded to them. "Hello boys," he said to the other three.

Professor Snape merely sneered at the first two, and gave the last three his Death Glare.

"What are you doing here, Harry? I thought Madam Pomfrey was going to skin you alive!" Hermione said a bit waspishly.

"Don't worry, 'Mione," Harry replied. "She let me out for the night under the condition that I have at least one professor with me at all times. As Snape was bringing her potions just then, he got drafted by her to do it."

"Bad luck, mate," Ron said.

James and Sirius stayed well away from the Trio, but Remus and his older counterpart both approached them. The five spoke congenially until Harry noticed that his father and godfather weren't talking to them.

"What's with them?" he asked, pointing to the other two, which Padfoot was sitting by.

"I don't know. I'll ask them," Remus said, raising from his seat and making his way to them. Before he could come back, however, the rest of the DA entered and the meeting began.

"Good evening, everyone!" Harry said, standing at the front of the room with Hermione, Ron, and the Professors.

"Tonight we'll be taking a look at the cutting curse. We will learn how to perform it and how to block against it. Everyone ready?" There were nods all around as the students moved into a semi-circle to watch. This was part of the ritual of a new curse or spell being taught. They all gathered around whomever was teaching at the time. This time, as with most, it was Harry. But his partner was neither Hermione nor Ron. It was Severus Snape. They all were surprised by this, of course, as Severus Snape had not graced them with his presence in the three years this group had been meeting.

"The purpose of this spell is, of course, to incapacitate your opponent. It causes lacerations to the skin, which help you as they are now dealing with blood loss. Professor Snape has agreed to help me demonstrate this curse, as well as be on hand in case of serious infliction to any of you in here. He has potions that will help you to heal, and cease your bleeding so you can get to Madam Pomfrey. Shall we begin, Professor?"

"Get on with it, Potter."

"Very well." They arranged themselves in proper dueling positions and bowed. Professor Snape incanted the curse, "Iuguoloso!",

Harry raised his wand and brought it down in a slashing motion. "Defendere!"

The curse encountered his shield and melted into it, melting the shield away as well.

"Thank you, Professor Snape. Now, I want you all to practice and we'll come around to help those of you who need it. Begin!"

The class continued with Harry, Remus and Snape correcting grips and pronunciations for an hour and a half. After being dismissed, the students all left with the exception of Ron, Hermione, James, Sirius, and Remus.

After everything was cleaned up, Harry gestured to the others to go ahead without him. He had to go check in with the nurse to be sure he could go back to his dormitory. When the rest were out the door, Harry turned to Snape.

"Thank you, Severus. I appreciate how much you've helped me these last few months. Thanks to you and Minerva, I think I've enough help now to rid the world of Voldemort forever. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Harry. Your friends don't know about me helping, do they?"

"No, just about Minerva. I hate to keep secrets from them, but I understand your need for privacy. Well, let's get back out there and be bitter enemies again, shall we?"

"Of course. Just make sure you show your friends the same gratitude and courtesy that you've extended to Minerva and myself."

"I will. I just hope they know that I wouldn't have survived this far without them."

As they were finishing their conversation, Harry opened the door to leave. He stopped short, however, when he was faced with six incredulous faces and on growling grim.

"Umm…"

tbc

iuguolo- to cut the throat, butcher, kill, destroy.

defendo -fendere -fendi -fensum (1) [to repel , repulse, ward off, drive away] (2) [to defend, protect]; esp. [to defend in court]; in argument, [to maintain a proposition or statement]; [to sustain a part].

A/N: The words were pulled from two different Latin-English dictionaries. I do not know Latin, yet.

Thank you to all of my reviewers! You have made me feel very much loved and I'm glad you enjoy my work. You guys make me think, and that's never a good thing. grins So thank you again.

J.E.A.R.K. Potter Thanks!

Lady Candlelight I'm glad to see you back to you! I was going to put that in anyway last time, but I thought you may have been changing your name completely. Thanks for sticking with me!

Sohalia Talitha Happy belated Birthday!! I hope you enjoy this one as well.

Tigris T Draconis Thank you. I've read them all and I was hoping for more, but I truly appreciate the thought and help. If you run across anymore, please send them my way. I'm always open to reading new ones, or re-reading old ones.

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