Chapter4

"I love free periods you know." Ron chuckled and leaned back in his comfy chair. "Love them."

"And why am I not shocked to see you are using such valuable time, to lounge about? And not study?"

"Because not all of us are mad Hermione."

"Why you!" but she just humphed at him, and returned to her runes studies. They were sat in the common room, it was first period, and they had it and second period free.

Harry however, didn't take notice of his friends' little spat. His mind was elsewhere, with someone else.

"Look, I have done all my work last night, last thing. So now will you leave me alone?"

"That isn't the point!"

"Is to!"

"You are so immature Ron!"

"You started it!"

"I wonder how Mss Consensio is…" the two stopped their bickering, and looked to Harry. He was also in a comfy chair, sat forward with his chin on one fist, the other hand on his knee.

"I'm sure she is Harry. I mean, she looked to be giving Snape a run for his money, wouldn't you say?"

"I would." Ron added. "Did you see how she glared right back at him, and stood up to him like that? It was bloody brilliant I tell you. She just became my favourite teacher." Harry smiled at that. "But of course…" and then he frowned. He knew what that meant. "I'm sure you already have first dibs on her being your favourite teacher, right?"

"Shut up Ron."

"Make me, lover boy."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Hermione looked up from her rune studies, and looked at Ron. He looked very smug with himself and Harry pouted. Or was he sulking? "Ron?"

"While you were practising wandlessly levitating your runes book, Harry was drooling at the new non verbal's professor."

"I was not drooling. She is nice, that's all."

"If I remember correctly, and I do, when I asked you what you thought to her, the word you used was not 'nice'."

"Ron, don't."

"The word was." He mocked Harry with a dreamy look of a lovesick puppy. "Amazing."

"I did not look like that. And I didn't even say it like that!"

"No, not being in love myself, I wouldn't know how to pull off your true feelings." Ron chuckled, even when Harry threw the cushion at him. "So you're not denying it?"

"Give up!"

"Harry loves Consensio, Harry loves Consensio." Ron chanted and jumped out of his seat. Harry chased him around the common room, and Hermione rolled her eyes at them both.

"Boys." She muttered, as Harry landed on top of him.

"Take it back!"

"Never! I will not lie!"

"Then you will keep it to yourself." Harry whispered to Ron, who nodded.

"Alright. But if you start goggling at her next lesson, then I won't need to keep quite for you." Harry play punched his arm, and then pulled him up. "O, and you have to help me with…" he nodded his head towards Hermione. "You know."

"Don't worry. I will." They returned to Hermione, and sat down.

Somehow, she managed to get them to start their essay for transfiguration, which took just under two hours.

Which meant… "Damn! We're going to be late!"

"Don't worry, I'm sure Consensio won't punish you." Ron slipped that one in, and they threw their bags over their shoulders.

"Hurry!" Hermione was shocked to see that it was Harry who was dragging them to lesson.

They arrived just as the bell went, panting and made their way to their single desks.

Professor Consensio was sat on her desk, smiling and waiting for the rest of her class to arrive. He wore mid shin high black flat material boots, a long layered scarlet skirt, and a white frilly blouse. Her hair was back in a low ponytail, held in a black ribbon. But as always, her side parting made her curly blonde fringe cover her right eye. So only one emerald orb greeted her students with a warm twinkle.

As Draco Malfoy made his way in, the last student to arrive, and took his seat, she clapped her hands. She then looked around the class, and focused on Harry. He was possibly looking at her the most eager to learn, and she remembered to how he liked participating the day before.

And how he came to her rescue.

Well, tried.

Procella smiled and lifted up her right hand. She winked, at first Harry thought he was in heaven. Until his glasses flew off his face and landed in her hand. She chuckled at his shocked expression, and waved her other hand at the black board.

Today, Accio. It span again. After demonstrating your homework. She heard them groaning, and chuckled behind her free hand. She then pointed to the Slytherin side of the room, and the first boy stood up. He had short black hair, and the usual scowl of a Slytherin.

"Go on Blaise, send her to the roof." Malfoy hissed at him, and he nodded. Procella walked up to him, and took his wand. He then looked right at her, and squinted really hard. Procella chuckled when he started to turn blue from lack of oxygen, but not as much as the Gryffindor half. They roared with laughter, and this angered the Slytherins. She gave Blaise a small ink pot, but he still couldn't life it.

One by one, she pointed to the children, who tried their hardest. But all of them failed.

Then it came to the Gryffindor half of the class. Before she could even blink, Hermione and Harry jumped up to volunteer. Oh, how sweet. She thought, and could have sworn her smile made Harry blush. But she shrugged it off, and looked to Hermione. She nodded at her, and placed the ink pot in her eye line. Hermione placed her wand on her desk, and stared at the object like it was her mortal enemy. She bit her bottom lip, and squinted even more.

But the pot would not move.

After a few minutes of trying, Procella walked up to her and put her hand on her shoulder. Hermione sighed with defeat, and yet furious with herself for failing, and sat down. Procella turned to Harry, and smiled. He looked down with a blush, and coughed into his hand. She put the ink pot on his desk, and held her hand out. With much courage, Harry pulled his wand out and put it in her hand. For the briefest moment, his finger tips touched her soft palm, and he smiled with peace. Ron had to elbow him in his leg to bring him back to reality.

Then, he looked to the ink pot. He wanted so much to do as he practised, and glower at the object like he did Snape and Malfoy, for hours on end. But that not only produced no result, but he couldn't seem to concentrate on the task before him. He kept looking out the corner of his green eyes at her. She then chuckled and handed him his glasses back, assuming that is what he wanted. He blushed again and quickly put them on. He looked again to the ink pot, and again looked out the corner of his eye at the siren of a teacher before him. He was 17, and she was only 20. Not too much of a difference…and she was heavenly. He wondered if this was how his father felt about his mother, from all the moving pictures he has of them together. And she smiled like his mother… He forced himself to look at the ink pot, and couldn't stop smiling. He just felt light headed, and dizzy from being near her. He felt like he could…float?

Procella clapped her hands with pride at him, as the ink pot levitated at least 10 inches from the desk. Her hand went on his shoulder, and she gave it a squeeze. 'Well done' she mouthed, and took the ink pot in mid float. She walked to the next student, and began the test again.

All this time, Harry couldn't come down from his high. He had succeeded, he had impressed her. He felt a foot taller than he already was, and grinned madly. Ron made throwing up actions silently after he failed, and made Harry chuckle.

When the tests were finished, Procella walked to the front desk and sat on it again, one leg over the other femininely. She applauded them all, and then looked to the board.

Well done, I didn't expect anyone to get it the first time. But well done Harry. He glowed at that, and Hermione rolled her eyes with Ron. And the board flipped again. You are all familiar with the Accio spell, and you can use the remainder of the lesson to either write about it, or practise it for next lesson. And it flipped again. But not only will you be performing the Accio spell wordlessly, but also the Wingardium Leviosa. She chuckled, and waved her hand at the board again. Other than you Harry. But I would like you to practise it anyway. Time had gotten away with them, as the bell went right there. Everyone flooded out of the class, except for Harry. He walked up to Procella alone, his friend gone off to DADA. He cleared his throat, and Procella looked up from her planner.

"Mss Consensio." He took a deep breath. "Could I ask a favour?" she nodded with a wide smile, and waved her hand to one side. A chair pulled up right behind him, and knocked against his knees. He sat back, and was still tense. "Well, I was wondering…will you be doing after hours lessons? I mean, for practise…if you're not busy or anything." He blushed the whole time, but Procella beamed. That will give me something to do. And I could monitor Mr Potter better that way. He seems quite natural at Wandless Magic. She thought to herself, before referring to her planner.

Monday

1st period, 7th years.

Tuesday

3rd period, 7th years.

5th period, 6th years.

Wednesday

2nd period, 6th years.

3rd period, 6th years.

Thursday

1st period, 7th years.

2nd period, 7th years.

Friday

4th period, 7th years.

5th period, 7th years.

Procella looked to the one day she didn't have the 7th years, and then smiled up at Harry. She pointed to the period she wanted to do. Harry pulled out his own planner, and saw he had a free period there, to his great delight. He had to take a moment to make sure he didn't sound too giddy. Then, he said. "5th period Wednesday. Sure, that is ok with me." He watched as she scribbled 'Private lesson' into 5th period on a Wednesday afternoon. She then looked up, and smiled at him. "Oh, I should go." He blushed. She caught him staring. "I have DADA." She quickly pulled out a quill, and threw it at a piece of paper near Harry. It perked up on its point, and began to scribble. The paper then tore in two, and Procella looked to it. One half fluttered up into a waiting hand, and the other slid over the desk for him to read.

Harry first looked to the note, which explained where he was. The note on the table, was a question.

Do you have professor Lupin? "Yes I do." The quill perked up again, and wrote underneath. May I come with you? He beamed and nodded more frantically than he would have liked. She chuckled at his enthusiasm, and collected her things. Harry couldn't believe his luck. With his crappy run of bad luck through out his life, he was unprepared to walk a beautiful woman to his next class.

Ok Harry, stay calm. Breathe man breathe. He snapped back to reality when Procella stood next to him. She remembered what Tonks had done with her upon first meeting her, and beamed at Harry. She held her arm open, and looked to him innocently. Harry almost prayed thanks to God, as he hooked arms with her. "So, at least Lupin will believe who I've been with." Procella chuckled and let him lead her up the stairs and to DADA class.

When Remus got up this morning, he never would have believed you if you told him Procella was going to walk into his class, smiling and giggling on the arm of his new God Son. In Sirius's will, he handed godfathership over to Remus.

But he still couldn't believe it, even as it happened right in front of him.

"Sorry I'm late professor. I was talking to Professor Consensio about extra lessons."

"I can see that." He chuckled softly, and looked to the hooked arms. "What exactly did you say you were talking about again Harry?" Ron sniggered, and Harry let go of her arm instantly.

"Extra lessons, sir." He added, muttering his reply.

"Very well. Now please, take you seat." Harry sat with Hermione and Ron (who mysteriously got a punch in the ribs for laughing), and prepared himself for class. "Now, why do I have this honour Mss Consensio?" she waved her hand, and a quill and parchment flew off Lupin's desk and into her hand. She let the quill write on its own accord, and handed the parchment to Lupin. He had crossed the classroom within this time, and read the note. "Chronic boredom? Well, I am not so sure whether Madam Pomfrey will have an antidote to that, but perhaps we can help." He indicated his class. This was a Gryffindor and Slytherin combination class, and the same class she just taught. "So." He grinned impishly. "Who wants me to make my dear friend, disappear?" the Slytherin half of the class instantly jeered, and the Gryffindors laughed too. But Harry didn't. "And I can bring her back." At this, Harry joined in. "You see, you have worked so hard last year, and this year will be hard enough. So I have a perfect idea to give you a 'fun lesson' as it were. Would you agree to this professor?" she chuckled and nodded. This could be fun. "Good, good." He rubbed his hands together with mirth. He looked like a little boy who got his own way. "Now, I am sure some of you will recognise this item." He hinted, and pulled a long silken cloak. It was a mixture of soft purples, dark and shadowy blues. "Anyone?"

"An invisibility cloak."

"Very good Ms Granger. 20 points to Gryffindor." He then looked to Procella. "Now, please wear this and hide somewhere. I will give 50 points to the first person to catch the good professor, with no help from myself, or your wands. In fact, place your wands on your desk." Everyone did. He then placed a jinx on them all one by one. "I have out a jinx on them. And I will not tell you which one. But if you try to use them, the result will not be pretty. Now, everyone move away from Professor Consensio." He grinned, and threw the cloak at her. She giggled like a little girl playing a game, which they were, and threw the cloak over herself. She became invisible, and closed her eyes.

Procella jumped up and Wandlessly hovered herself up to look down at them all. All of the students were just throwing their arms around, hoping to connect with something. Everyone was laughing and Lupin sniffed at the air. He then looked up, and right at her. But he was sat at his desk, unseen from all the students, keeping her whereabouts safe for now. Procella beamed down at them all, having the time of their lives, tripping over each other and still laughing. Even Malfoy cracked a small smile when Crab thought it would be a good idea for him to climb up on Goyle's shoulders, and fell.

But like all good things, they have to come to and end.

"What is the meaning of this?" she slapped her hand over her mouth, as none other than Severus Snape stormed inside and glared at every student, until they returned silently to their seats. "I did come to bring you your potion, Lupin." He sneered around the room, and looked to Lupin, who looked both cocky, and anxious that he was here. If that was possible. "But I see it was a good thing I chose to come here now. As all sense of classroom behaviour had left with your good senses. and you call yourself a Defence against the Dark arts teacher. I asked Dumbledore to let me teach your lessons during this time of the month, but no."

"I am perfectly able to teach my classes, Snape."

"You called that teaching?"

"Yes actually, I do. They were taking information in, in a way they will remember it."

"And what were they learning?"

"To seek what is hidden, Snape." He growled, and leaned back on his desk.

Procella had hovered herself to sit on the arch of the door below her, and elegantly crossed one leg over the other. She leaned forward, and rested one had at either side of herself. At first she was afraid when Snape walked in, but he couldn't see her. And so he ignored her, just the way she wanted him to.

"And just, what where they seeking, Lupin." At this Remus hesitated.

"You say you have brought my potion." He changed the subject.

"Yes." Snape said with suspicion. He then handed the large flask over to him, and looked around the room with scrutiny. "But what were they looking for?"

"I am sure you are a very busy man, being the resident Potions master and all." He tried to get him to leave, but Snape persisted.

"What are you hiding in here Lupin?" he said more sternly this time, and pulled out his wand. He then thought to the time he had caught Remus hiding Sirius in the shrieking shack. "Or should I say, who are you hiding?" from the way Remus then looked at him, he knew he had hit the target. "Where are they Lupin?" he looked around.

"Does it matter? Besides, I have set the task of locating them to the students. Don't waste your time with it."

"I will do as I please. Is it a student?" he looked around the class, and saw all the seats were full. "No…a teacher? Or is it that insufferable friend of yours?" Snape referred to Tonks, but Procella thought he meant her.

Even when he can't see me, he is so awful to me. She sniffed, and regretted it. Snape span round on his heels, and his wand pointed straight up at her. "Come down now." he was so sure it was Tonks now, from the way 'the person' had only made a sound after he had mentioned Tonks the way he did. "I said now!" he heard a thud on the floor, and walked forwards. The class was separated at each side, and in the centre were no chairs or desks. So he knew that they stood there. "Reveal yourself, or I shall do it for you." He pointed his wand forward, at arms length and his body was poised for a duel if need be. "Now."

The air before him rippled, and then a silk looking robe fell to the floor. "…Procella." His face was blank, as he looked to her. Her face was blank too, so he couldn't see if she had either forgiven him, or if she hated him. Why he would care, he didn't know. Snape lowered his wand to his side, and here was silence. He blinked once, and then stepped forward. Her face didn't change, but she took a swift step back. This made him halt on the spot, and think what to do next. He could just ignore her and leave with a snarky comment. He could just ignore her completely. Or he could try to talk to her.

"I think you should leave, Snape." Lupin said behind him, not asking or hinting his time.

"And I shall. I must say, I wasn't expecting to see you." He spoke only to Procella. "I thought your pink hared body guard would step from behind the cloak…not you." She looked away, and felt so uncomfortable. Because she could feel his stare on her.

"Snape." Lupin warned.

"What are you doing in this lesson?" he suddenly interrupted Lupin, and raised his brow at Procella.

"She had nothing better to do." Lupin answered for her, and walked up next to Snape. "She was bored and I asked her to participate in my lesson. Now if you would just l-"

"Then you shall come with me. Interrupting other teacher's lessons, is not how we conduct ourselves in this school Mss Consensio."

"You mean professor Consensio. She is a professor too." Lupin pulled his wand from his pocket.

"Did I say otherwise, Lupin?" he sneered. "Now don't forget to take your medicine like a good little dog." he whispered with venom, making Remus grind his teeth together.

Snape then walked towards Procella again, and she backed off. Her arms were stiff by her sides, and only her feet seemed to work. The one eye he could see, held that same fear again, that made the stake in his heart twist painfully. But he ignored it. "It helps to look where you are going you know." He said in a bored fashion, and walked in a way, that made her back out of the classroom.

"Procella." Lupin started after them, but Snape stood in the doorway and looked to him with daggers.

"I am sure you can trust me enough to 'be nice' to our newest teacher, don't you Lupin?"

"Actually I don't."

"Well, tough. I have to take her to see McGonagall anyway, something about a ball." He dismissed Lupin before he could bite back, and closed the door on him. He then looked down the hall to see Procella with her back pressed against the dead end of tha corridor. "Come, your surrogate mother wants you." She looked to the door, which would take her to the transfiguration tower. "But, not just yet." Her blood ran cold at that. "Now, you will join me in the dungeon." She whimpered and looked to the door again. "Dot even-" but she bolted and the doors still swung from the force she had ran through them. "Damn." He spat, and pushed the doors open. He raised his wand. "Jelly legs!" Procella yelped as her legs buckled beneath her, and she fell to the floor. "Now what did I tell you about ignoring me? Running away is the same thing." Her heart pounded in her chest, and her hands trembled as she clawed at the floor. But Snape simply strode over to her, and moved to stand in front of her. "Now stop being ridiculous, and grow a back bone." He said a lot harsher than he intended. And he aid for it… "AAAAA!" he clasped his hands over his ears, and dropped to his knees in pain. The highest, most excruciating screech rang in his head and pulsed hard against his eardrums. He only just managed to open one eye, and see Procella with her mouth open. Her fangs were sowing, her skin was ivory white, and her eyes were closed. Procella was screeching on the same level as a dog whistle, possibly higher. But because of her heritage, her magic made it a lethal weapon. Snape felt his blood start to boil and his body shuck with pain. He had to force his hands away from his ears, and crawled closer to her slowly. Procella was perched up on her forearms, and tears fell down her face.

Then, a wave of foreign pain hit Snape hard.

And his world grew blank. Memories that were not his own seemed to knock him out cold, and play out in his mind.

Procella gasped and opened her eyes, looking in horror at the unconscious Snape laid by her side. A trickle of blood was coming from inside his ear, and his face was covered in blood from his nose, and even his gums. The jinx on her legs vanished, and she snapped up, kneeling straight. It took her a moment to register what she had done, and she whimpered. Her breathing increased and she sobbed with grief. I, I've done it again. I, I, I've killed him! I'm a murderer! A monster! He's dead! She rose her head upwards and ran her hands through her hair, distraught and breaking up inside.

She had killed him.

He looked just like he did.

Cold, pale, bleeding dark blood and motionless.

She had killed, she was a monster, she had done it again.

Why does this keep happening? Why do I keep doing this? What did I ever do to deserve this! Procella bent over and her tears streamed madly down her face. Her throat stung with pain from sobbing, but she didn't stop.

She had killed this man. She had done it again.

I'm a murderer. She let out one, long wailing cry to the roof, and all the windows shattered, the occupants of the portraits ran for cover as their frames fell and smashed on the floor, full suits of arms and armour, shields and swords clattered and crashed on the floor, vases smashing and spilling water everywhere.

A jolt of pain went through her back and erupted all over her body, before she fell forward as unconscious as her victim. She remained in her Banshee form, as she was carried out by Nymphadora Tonks, and Snape was dragged out by both Lupin, and Hagrid. Poppy was soon directing them to the infirmary. Procella was still unconscious when a potent sleeping drought, brewed by none other than Snape himself, passed her lips. Her fangs finally retracted, and her skin looked living once more.

She slept in the hospital bed, in the wing secluded from the students as it was for the use of teachers only. Tonks sat by her bed, and whittled over her with Remus, who had to shake her to stop her going into a fit. They watched as she slept an empty slumber, but her face was permanently contorted into the same expression it was when they found her. Grief stricken, and pained.

"Merlin Snape. What did you do to her?" Tonks whispered as Remus held her for support. Dumbledore then walked in, and sighed.

"I fear it isn't just what did Severus do to Procella…but what did Procella do to Severus."

"What do you mean Professor?" Tonks sniffed and looked up.

"Why don't you look in the next bed, and take a look." Tonks slowly pulled away from Lupin, and pushed the veil around the bed open. She then walked to the next one, and peered through the curtains.

"Oh my God…"