Chapter Five: The ways of the Moon

The bell had rung, signaling the beginning of class. It was going to be my first class with the three students I had met with on the train. I had lost track of the class period and assumed it was the 5th class. Though since it was a group of 7th years I decided to go a tad hard on them, to see if they were proper witches and wizards.

My head was starting to ach as I remembered what had happened the night before. My morning was not as great as I had hoped. I had forced myself out of bed to begin my day, which was turning out just as I had thought, pointless and unemotional.

I did try to forget the past and all those dark secrets it held, but it always had a funny way of coming back to haunt me.

I stepped into my classroom as the bell rang. The room fell silent like a blanket over a bed as it was being fixed. My footsteps echoed through out the room while I flicked my wand to close some of the windows, but not all. As I reached my point at the head of the class and turned towards the students, they seemed curious, yet fell into silence. Maybe I had the same gift as McGonagall had when she once taught me.

I wore royal blue robes and wore no hat; I never really liked them that much. As for my hair, I had pulled some back and allowed part of it down. I wore blue high heels that were hidden and wore but one rings on each of my hands. One was a garnet with two diamonds beside it. The other had a marques sapphire in the center as three 'cz's' swerved on both sides. I took role found my voice rung out, clear and full of meaning. I was then ready to give them a little talk.

"Hello class, my name is Professor Moon, and I am of coarse, your new 'Defense Against the Dark Arts' teacher. Now I know you are accustomed to seeing a new face every year in this class, so I'm just going to lay out down the line." I quickly drew my wand and pointed it at Neville Longbottom, who was closer to me then the others at the moment. "Scratch my back and I scratch yours!" He seemed terrified at what had just happened, as if expecting me to kill him. I meekly laughed at his terror, and then drew my wand away.

"Yes, Mr. Longbottom, now you know as to not upset me. Though if any wish to test me on my rules, feel free and go right ahead. I won't stop you. You will of coarse learn the hard way. But I expect better from the 7th years." I made my way from table to table while talking as I looked upon each face, studying them.

I had then reached Harry's table. "And because you are 7th years, I suspect that you have all learned a great deal from this class." I leaned over Harry and hovered over him a minute. "You especially, Mr. Potter." Our eyes meet, yet I broke out of the trance of Lily's eyes. I faced the class again.

"So, I believe a pop quiz should be in order." Numerous groans came from the crowd of young adults. "Ohh, don't worry! Later after the test I'll give you a five-minute break. After that we can do something more physical, if you will. But before we get into anything, I want you to turn your attention to the pictures around you."

Quickly, Hermione's hand shot up in the air.

"Yes, Hermione? Anything wrong?"

"Well, Professor, I just noticed before class started that these pictures were from last year. Though, last year Professor, um.. Snape, taught us." She fell silent with the rest of the class.

"Right you are, Miss Granger. And would anybody like to tell me why I left these pictures from last year hanging."

No one spoke, not even Miss Granger.

"No? Well, students, the answer is simple. It's because I thought that former Professor Snape had a point. He had a point in showing you these so that you would have, try as you might, to give you reason to avoid these tragic deaths and harmful events. So before you go on and say that you think this should not be, I'll just say that you should believe what you believe, and I'll believe what I believe." I turned my face away towards the class and started at my desk. Someone then whispered to another. Someone with a fimilar voice:

"Great, I can just tell she's going to be gone by the end of the year. Just like him, the greasy old bat! And him calling himself a prince! What a load!"

"Yeah, I bet she might have met him before and thought him to be weak and helpless. At least she got the weak part down! But helpless? He's nothing more then a coward! He's just like Vold-''

"WHO SPOKE!" I shouted back at the class, making them jump. My eyes narrowed as I surveyed the class with great fury. My wand was pointing at them all now, but then my eyes reached Weasley and Potter. My breathing slowed down, though it was heavy still with anger. A thought came to mind as I stepped towards them.

"Well, well, well. Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley. My, my! What a tongue you both have there. Class I do believe that these two boys are teaching you all a lesson in life. How perfect. You two might as well become teachers as well."

The looks on their faces told me they had now idea what I was talking about. But they could tell I meant harm.

"Oh, don't tell me you have no idea what I saying? Your lesson is a wise one, indeed. But I guess I'll have to say it for you both, won't I? Weasley," He striated towards me. "You spoke first, didn't you?"

I readied my wand, unnoticed and began to sing slightly in front of the two.

"Those who speak of what they know,

Find too late that prudent silence is wise."

I turned to face them both with my wand, at hand.

"Ronald Weasley, hold your tongue!"

I aimed and fired a sealing spell about his mouth.

I lowered myself to his eyelevel.

"Keep your words as sharp as your eyes!" I turned towards the rest of the class, "Which they happen to be dull. Would anybody, besides Miss Granger, like to try and free Mr. Weasley from his sticky binding?" No hands came up. I searched the class.

"Lovegood! How 'bout you, huh? Go on give it a go!" I grinned troublesomely at Weasley as I saw his eyes filled with bits of horror.

She stepped up in front of Weasley and waved her wand, "Untoratie!" She said loud and clear. I smirked at the two boys as the binding tightened around Ron's mouth even more.

"Yes, a very old and useful spell. Able to untie almost anything." I started to slowly paced around the room. "Of coarse, I do believe that the spell I casted of Mr. Weasley is a powerful one, one that may loosen if you give it time." I stopped and faced the class. "I'd give it five minutes, wouldn't you, Miss Granger? After that you can undo your friend's troubles."

I then jumped right in front of the three main students and placed my wand in their faces. "If either of you places another toe out of line about the 'Prince', you shall pay dearly! The number one rule I presented to the class goes about him as well! He might not be here to harm you, but I am! And no one shall speak of the 'Prince' as such! Now do I make myself clear?" They all nodded as I growled low, then turned away to finish my opening speech.

After such a time, Hermione undid Ron's binding spell and the whole class fell silent, allowing me to teach.

"Now, when I say so, you may begin. No help from others! Now, begin!" I waved my hands, and papers then appeared in front of them. They started without argue, quills at hand.

It was about twenty minutes later after they had all finished. Hermione was the first; of coarse, and commented that it was a tad to easy. I disagreed and told her that she was just a genius, unlike the others. At least she took it as a complement. After the five-minute break, I spoke to them about what would come next.

"Alright, class. I shall give you the grades of the test tomorrow. But for now, let's get into the field." I went up to my office and came back down with something at hand.

"Now, many of you know how to repel the Unforgivable Curses, yes? As well as quite a few dark creatures that may seem to attack for their own purpose, yes? Well, I believe that it is time to step into the next and last level of Dark Arts Deflection. So I would like you all to form a nice long line across from where I stand, alright? Come on, come along then, let's go."

As the class got ready for the physical test I was about to give them, I held my wand ready and assumed the position at the head of the line, O.K., so it was the right side!

"Very good. Now I want you to partner up into pairs of twos. I then want you both two to face each other. Go on, let's not doddle!"

I noticed that both Ron and Harry partnered up, leaving Hermione to pair up with Lavender Brown. Luna Lovegood paired up with Neville, while many others scrabbled looking for someone to work with them.

Once ready they all seemed to stay in perfect order, though I didn't really care how they stood.

"Alright, now. Once choosing your partner, I want you both to duel each other at different times. By the pair, I mean. I want to know how you would all do in battle, if you ever met up with someone who might wish you dead. First up, Lavender Brown and Hermione Granger!"

While the two witches came to the front the rest of the class backed away from the two, some knowing of the affairs they were in last year.

"Now, you may begin on my mark. Ready? Three. Two. One. Begin!" I stepped back as the two seemed to know what they were doing. Hermione started it off with an 'Expelliarmus.' Though, Lavender blocked it with a shield charm. She then began to attack Hermione with several charms the seemed to through her off balance. But in the end, Hermione won the little duel, causing Lavender to break a nail or two.

After that I sent about three to five more teams waiting when the bell came close to ringing. Not yet having to get to Potter's team, I told the class that we would continue tomorrow and would start the studying afterwards. They sat in their desks waiting to be dismissed by me, while talking or playing games that they had brought along with them.

After the day ended I returned to my private chambers just to relax a bit. Then, my ring fogged up, the ring that Snape had given me.

I rushed towards the fireplace and found his head in the fire, which I had sparked earlier that day. Yet before turning to face him, I made sure I looked appropriate, not wanting him to make any remarks about me.

"Sasha? Sasha are you there?" Came Snape's voice.

"Yes, I'm here Severus. Can you see me well?"

"Indeed. I can. Tell me, how goes your first day?"

I rolled my eyes and sighed, wanting to lie down on the floor and say there.

"Troublesome! Even more unpleasant as now, once on the train, a Death Eater came and rummaged through my things!"

"WHAT!"

I was somewhat startled by his voice as it grew louder then before.

"Do you have any idea who it was?" He asked me.

"I was about to ask you something similar, as I do not know who. I was absent as he or she did this. But what ever they were looking for, they did not find it. Everything is accounted for."

"Yes. But are you hurt?"

"No, Severus, I am not. Now can you please be at rest for me? I am fine, no harm done."

"Yes, I know you can take care of yourself, but, I can't help it! I worry for you too much. I still don't understand why the Dark Lord allowed you to do this. What if something happens?"

I smiled warmly towards him, "I'll be fine. But as for the rest of my day I have to grade tests. For the 7th years, anyway. This whole time, besides class, every one of the teachers is pretty much thinking that I still might have a crush on you or something. McGonagall, for instance, asked for me inside her office last night."

"You didn't tell her anything, did you?"

I shook my hand in disagreement. "No. No. Though I wished I could. Yet she only asked me how I was and if.. If I…"

"Go on."

"If I still…you." I grumbled.

"What? If you still what?"

I sighed and then gulped as I answered back, again.

"If I still loved you!"

Severus stayed silent for a moment.

"And what did you say?"

I half-laughed at his response, "I'm not going to tell you! That's a bit private for me, if you don't mind! Why would you want to know anyway?"

"If it's about me I should have the right to know."

I snorted at this thought. Snape, Severus Snape, wanting in on gossip! That was the day I thought I never lived to see.

"Look, that not important right now. The important thing is how do I find them!"

He glared at me and then answered.

"Potter. Follow Potter, he might know where to start. Just talk to him whenever you can and think of ways for him to trust you. You'll need his trust!"

I bit my lower lip hard; realizing what I had done to his friend did not make me seem so trustworthy through his eyes.

Snape, knowing me, returned to his usual dark, cold voice.

"What did you do?"

I rubbed my neck with one hand while the other held my body on its side.

"Well, I uh.. Sort of, maybe, threatened the three students that include Harry and his two dear friends. Think that will ruin a chance or three?"

I could tell by the way he was trying to calm himself that Severus was not pleased.

"What made you do it?"

"Well, lets see. Normally I don't appreciate it when someone speaks ill of my friend. Though he may be as Ron Weasley and Harry Potter said he was. But I'd rather not say." I paused, noticing his face that had a bit of shock.

"I'm sorry, Sev, but I just couldn't control myself once I heard Weasley and Potter say… it. I grew protective as I once had when we were younger. If they had just kept his mouth shut, I might have a better chance at Harry. I'm sorry, Sev, truly I am."

He wasn't looking at me now, but more at the floor, almost unsure what to say.

"I.. I didn't know you were so, protective of me. It's quite all-right Sasha. I know you couldn't control yourself." He looked at me now. "I miss you." He said weakly.

I was a nit shocked at what he had said to me, even in a weak voice. I had trouble figuring out what to say back.

"Yes, well maybe you can come here with some Floo Powder, if you can get a hold of any. I'd like that, you here, to aid me. I think that is what's best."

"Best for who?"

We sat in silence a more moments, until I finally broke it up by reminding him about the papers.

"Sorry, Sev. Maybe later we can talk. I can tell you a few things that went on and, you know, that'll be it, I guess."

"Yes, but if you shall ever need me, you know what to do. By the way, does that ring work well?"

"Beyond well, Severus. Far beyond."

"Well, good-night, Sasha. Sleep soundly."

"You as well, Sev, you as well."

I watched as his face disappeared into the flaming embers that still roamed about the burning wood.

I crawled into bed and flick the fire off with me wand. I had finished the tests that I forced upon the students. Wearing nothing underneath except my panties, my nightgown flowed behind me like running water in a rapid.

I just couldn't keep my mind off Severus now. So much was happening to me at once just as it had done a while back. How I desperately wanted to feel his warm body embracing mine again. As I wondered what it would be like to kiss his possibly tender, soft, rich lips. My mind filled up with many ideas of things that might have been done between us, had it not been the growing age of Voldemort. Yet my mind began to linger as I drifted off to sleep.

"Sleep well, my prince. Sleep well…"

Hello mer muggles! It me again wanting more reveiws. So far I only have one! And it not a nice one. I just posting away my troubles, and nobody is taking notice! What the hell is going on beyond those walls?

But not the point... I think.. I don't own Harry Potter or anybody else except Sasha, still. OH! And me! I love me and I respect me!

Plus, I like chocolate! But, what do you people think? I NEED ANSWERS! Please...

I also think I had to much suger! I am so hyper!Yet my lower teeth ache. Don't know why? I went to get my braces tightened about two days ago, so I don't know how that flies. But now is not the time to panic...

Now is the time to DANCE!

(making a complete fool out of myself now. Still ahead, more chapters. PARTY!)