Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Enjoy!

-Chapter Four-

Thorny Devils and Confessions

Harry woke with the nagging weight of Professor Trelawney's prediction still upon him but the prospect of their first Care of Magical Creatures lesson with Hagrid after lunch lightened his spirits a little. The morning seemed to drag by; in Astronomy they had to sketch a scale diagram of Jupiter and its moons, while in Herbology Professor Sprout had the class clearing greenhouse two of pests, then filling seed trays with dragondung, her preferred fertilizer, and planting up toothwort moss.

But at long last, they were walking along the lush sloping lawns towards Hagrid's hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The sun was shinning in a clear bright-blue sky above them and the air was sweet with the scents of the last flowers of summer. It seemed to Harry, that nothing could spoil this lovely afternoon until he caught sight of three all-too-familiar and unwelcome figures heading towards the hut. A tall, thin white-blonde boy flanked by two squat, muscular boys with a Neanderthal stride caused Harry's heart to plummet; he had forgotten that they were having these lessons with the Slytherins.

Hagrid stood waiting in the doorway of his hut, dressed in his moleskin coat with Fang the boarhound sitting at his feet.

"C'mon, everyone!" Hagrid called impatiently, eager to start the lesson. He stepped down the steps and gestured the class to follow him. Hagrid, with Fang now trotting at his heels, led them around the edge of the Dark Forest to a small paddock bordered with white washed fencing. Hagrid opened the gate ushering the class into the empty paddock; everyone looked around confused and a little disappointed.

"I know Hogwarts' budget is tight this year," drawled Draco Malfoy. "But you think it could run to an actual magical creature." Crabbe and Goyle chortled heartily while Pansy Parkinson flashed an approving smile, giggling stupidly when Draco smugly grinned. Harry felt a disheartening, queasy sensation in the pit of his stomach; that's all they needed, Draco was foul enough without trying to impress his new girlfriend. Hermione just rolled her eyes in disgust while Ron made to stick a finger down his throat when Draco wasn't looking. "So are we reduced to imaging something then?" continued Draco. "What about an invisible winged-horse, a Chimaeras or even the monster Potter claims to have defeated in the Chamber of Secrets." Pansy shrieked with laugher which caused Draco to beam with even more smugness.

"Don't yeh fret Mr Malfoy," Hagrid replied, apparently oblivious to his insults. "These creatures may be small, they're only babies but that jus' means yeh be able t'study 'em as they grow. I'll jus' go and get the crate, won' be long," and with that, Hagrid disappeared out of the paddock into the Dark Forest.

"God, this school is going right to the dogs," said Malfoy not in the slightest worried that his voice was carrying on the wind in the direction Hagrid had just disappeared. "First Dumbledore hires a witch barely out of school herself to teach us Defend Against the Dark Arts and then that oaf teaching classes as well, my father will have something to say about this when I tell him…"

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry snarled. He had already placed a cautioning hand upon Ron's shoulder knowing that although his friend was enthusiastic to defend Professor Raven it would just be more verbal ammunition for Malfoy to impress Pansy.

"Oh, I am so scared," Malfoy replied mockingly, pretending to cower as Crabbe and Goyle sniggered beside him.

"Right yeh lot, gather round," beckoned Hagrid as he carefully placed a large wooden crate on the grass and pulled up the grilled door. Everyone cautiously peered into the depths of the crate that seemed to be full of shredded newspaper.

"I can't see anything," Pansy complained, pushing Lucy Featherstone out of the way. Lucy gave Pansy a venomous glare but stepped back and stood next to Seamus whose weak smile she totally ignored.

"Well," snorted Malfoy impatiently after several minutes had passed with no movement from inside the crat.e "This is pathetic, care of magical creatures I bet what ever was in there must have died…"

"Hang on," Hagrid replied. "They're jus' shy…need a bit of coaxing out." He took a large willow-pattern dish from the side of the crate and placing it down a few feet from the entrance poured a measure of thick white liquid into it. "That should do the trick, they can't resist a nice drop of double cream." Sure enough there was a sudden rustling and a strange, excited yapping from the newsprint nest.

"Oh," cried Lavender Brown, backing away as a tiny scaly head forced it way through a gap in the shredded paper. "Come on, lazy bones," Hagrid muttered as he gently gave the crate a shake. The creature hissed angrily revealing a set of razor sharp teeth and a long blue tongue. Several more tiny heads now appeared from within the nest, all seemed equally outraged to have been woken up and hissed disapprovingly. For a terrible moment Harry thought that Hagrid had procured more dragons, as the miniature brown reptiles, blinking in the sunlight staggered from the crate into the grass. But on taking a closer Harry realised that these creatures weren't dragons, but it was easy mistake to make, especially if your only real experience of a dragon was on Hagrid's kitchen table. The dragon in question had been a newly hatched Norwegian Ridgeback that Hagrid had won in pub and had named Norbert. But these creatures reminded Harry more of alligators but with vicious looking horns on the end of its long snout and tail. They gazed up at the class with eyes that seemed to flicker hues of red, yellow and orange but on spotting the dish the creatures slinked over and started lapping up the double cream. "Scandinavian Thorny Devils," Hagrid explained happily. "So called 'cos of their flame-coloured eyes, when they finished eatin' you can pet 'em; they like bein' tickled under the chin."

"I don't think so," sneered Draco, folding his arms defiantly.

"There's no need to be afraid," Hagrid beamed, grabbing one of the devils by the tail and cradling it in his arms. "They still a little grumpy from the journey. They migh' look angry bu' really they're as gentle as kittens, in fact in winter they'll grow this sof', fine fur."

"Ooooh," cooed Lavender. "I think they're rather cute…do they really grow fluffy?" she asked eagerly, as she stooped to stroke the head of a devil that was rubbing up against her leg and making a sound that could only be described as a throttled purr.

"Yer, it starts off a deep chestnu' colour that turns white so they can hide in the snow."

Hagrid divided the class into seven groups, one for each of the Thorny Devils which they were to name and study throughout the year. Harry watched Malfoy grabbed the plumpest Thorny Devil that was still drinking from the dish and thrust the protesting creature into Lucy's face, she stepped back a little fearful which caused Pansy to shriek with laughter.

"Why did you have to ask her to be in our group?" Seamus snapped at Hermione as she beckoned Lucy over to join them.

"Her name is Lucy and I asked her to join us so she wouldn't have to put up with the likes of Malfoy, his cronies and that vile Pansy Parkinson," Hermione hissed back under her breath. "Lucy's okay, better than most Slytherins."

Lucy gave Seamus a haughty look then tossed her head of long shiny golden hair and went to help Ron who was struggling to weigh Godric, which they had decided to name after the foundered of Gryffindor house. After Hermione (elected as she had the neatest handwriting) had recorded the weight and various measurements in a special log-book that Hagrid had given each group, it was time to return the Thorny Devils back to their crate much to the disappointment from nearly all the class. Hagrid promised that as soon as he had fixed the Thorny Devils more suitable lodgings complete with a run, that the class would be welcome to come down and see them anytime they liked.

It was still gloriously sunny after lessons had finished, so before the evening meal, Harry and Ron opted to do their homework outside while Hermione, preferring a table to spread out her numerous books on Transfiguration, had opted to remain in the library.

"It's no use, I can't remember that spell Professor McGonagall used to turn her chair into a goat..." Ron complained, scratching his head with the end of his quill, which, since it had been touched by Professor Raven, never left his side. He would have died of embarrassment if anyone discovered he slept with his under his pillow.

"Neither can I," Harry shrugged, with a yawn as he sprawled out on the still luscious green grass and tossed Ron an apple out of his bag. "We should take a break; we could go and see if Hagrid wants any help building the Thorny Devils their hutch."

"That sounds more like it, or we could nip up to the Owlery, I want to post my letter to Charlie, the sooner the better as you know what Errol's like…then again…" Ron had just spotted Professors Raven and Planchette wandering down the path towards them. Harry gave Ron a withered look but Ron's interest was already totally focused on Professor Raven.

The two teachers settled down upon a wooden bench not far from where Harry and Ron sat, Professor Planchette took what looked like a large slice of chocolate cake from his pocket. He offered Professor Raven the first bite, but she politely refused, probably guessing that in truth, Planchette's passion for chocolate cake (Harry swore that Planchette had already eaten two large slices at lunch) would have made him reluctant to give up even the smallest morsel. Harry gave a sigh as Ron snorted jealously and took a huge bite of his apple. Harry couldn't blame Ron, Professor Raven was extremely beautiful and there was no doubting she was a very talented witch. But she was their teacher, even if by some unlikely miracle she returned Ron's affections, it was a line that no teacher could dare cross.

"I don't think that they can see us under the shade of this tree," whispered Ron, as decided to risk crawling near enough to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"…zen Severus pulls out 'is wand and in a puff of green smoke, turns Riley Scott into zis 'orrible little toad, all warty with 'uge bugling eyes!" Planchette explained quite light-heartily waving his arms about in his customary dramatic manner, the half eaten chocolate cake still in his hand. Professor Raven must have been enjoying this tale as her soft, velvet laugher drifted upon the still warm breeze.

"Of course, zere was an almighty uproar, but I told Professor Dumbledore zat Riley deserved it because 'e was a 'orrible little toad…"

"Oh no," whispered Ron. "Speaking of horrible little toads," as the black clad figure of Professor Snape prowled across the grass.

"Good evening Severus, isn't the sunshine lovely," Planchette greeted him cheerily.

"I'm so glad you've got the time to enjoy it," Snape snapped. "Professor Raven," Snape's voice soften slightly in his greeting.

"I have just sorting through my personal collection of potion books when I found this; I believe these seventh year class notes belong to you." Snape handed her a small red notebook. Professor Raven briefly flicked open the cover of the book then placed it on her lap.

"Yes…thank you Severus, I looked everywhere for this book after the final exam, I don't know how it came to be mixed among your books," she smiled weakly.

"Neither do I," Snape retorted bitterly, he glanced toward Planchette who seemed disinterested in the whole thing as he finished the last of his cake.

"Why don't you join us? I was just telling Morwenna about that lesson when you turned that obnoxious little brat Riley into a toad," invited Planchette, as he drabbed the crumbs from the corner of his mouth with a white, lace-trimmed handkerchief.

"I don't think so, I haven't got the time to laze around in the sun reminiscing about the past; I've got my sixth year mock exams to prepare…"

"Come on Severus, zey aren't due to take zem until November, why not enjoy this glorious weather while you still can?"

"I think you'll find that the Potion mock exams are just a little more taxing than those of the Study of Magical Artefacts, any wizard with half a brain could teach that subject…"

"Well, we can't all possess your natural disposition for the art of potion brewing, can we Severus?" Planchette replied, with a slightly forced smile. Snape returned his comment with a patronizing sneer and then stormed off back in the direction of the castle, barking his disapproval of some fourth year girls that were sunbathing near the path.

"I don't know," Planchette sighed with a shrug. "I wish Severus would just stop and enjoy life a little."

"You're really quite fond of him, aren't you?" Professor Raven said touching Planchette gently on the hand. "And despite all his snide remarks and petty ridiculing Severus is fond of you."

"You think so?"

"Yes, I do. If Severus hated you he would blank you completely. I remember in my third year, there was this terribly vain and stupid professor who taught Arithmancy, Snape didn't utter a word to her for the entire three years she was at Hogwarts."

"'E must 'ave really 'ated her then," Planchette chuckled, returning to his cheery self. "Come to think of it, by our final year, Snape didn't even bother to trade insults with James Potter…'e never did tell me what 'appened between them. So if you are right Morwenna, Severus can't really 'ate you, if 'e's still bothering to arguing with you."

"No," Professor Raven returned quietly. "I think I am the exception to that rule."

"We weren't always friends," Planchette mused thoughtfully. "In fact, when we first met I gave 'im the prefect reason to loath m.e"

"Really…do tell," begged Professor Raven, eager to learn more. Harry and Ron exchanged hopeful glances this was beginning to sound promising, anything nasty or embarrassing that they could picture in their heads when Snape was doing his worst was worth listening to.

"I must confess zat it was entirely my fault zat we didn't get off to a good start. We travelled in the same carriage on that first journey to 'Ogwarts. We chatted, both nervous and excited until zese three sixth year Gryffindors came into our compartment. Of course, we were both dying to know all about 'Ogwarts and zey were more zan 'appy to speak to me. I was, after all, stinking rich, extroverted…dare I say 'andsome, the son of a famous relic 'unter, while Snape was zis pale, skinny little nobody with straggly black, zey didn't give 'im a second glance. So Snape just remained silent watching me enviously with zose, cold, dark eyes as he pretended to read his copy of Magical Drafts and Potions."

"That's a little unfair Leon, it wasn't your fault those older boys didn't want to speak to Severus," replied Professor Raven kindly.

"True, but I am ashamed to admit it now, but I laughed when they made a rather rude comment about Snape's 'air, which was far worse zan it is now, it was short and messy. I zink the way he wears it now is far better…but I digress, our laughter could be 'eard 'alf way up the 'Ogwarts Express. Snape did 'is best to ignore zem but I could see zat the remark had really wounded him, even now he is still terribly insecure about his looks…"

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," Professor Raven muttered softly to herself.

Yeah, thought Ron, if the beholder just happens to be blind as a bat, he grinned at Harry who was doing his best not to laugh.

"Zats easy for beautiful people like us to say…but even Snape will admit he's no oil painting. I am not trying to make excuses for my behaviour but I was pretty insecure myself…"

"Really?"

"Yes, my parents spent months overseas and I was moved around a lot myself with a succession of different nannies. Both my mother and father were stern, rather cold people but zey tended to spoil me on zeir visits 'ome, which sounds wonderful but no amount of gifts could substitute zem not being zere when I was frightened or upset, in truth I 'ad a very lonely child'ood, so I learnt to make friends very quickly but I couldn't say zat I was close to anyone until I met Severus. Well the next zing was, the sixth years decided to make fun about the size of Snape's nose…big mistake."

"Severus is especially sensitive about his nose," nodded Professor Raven solemnly. Well he does have an especially large one thought Harry, trying not to laugh out loud. Ron must have been thinking along similar lines as he was stuffing a fist into his mouth, his shoulders shaking as he did his best to smother his giggles.

"He overheard me making fun of his nose once in the first year, and he gave me detention, I had to write an essay on the effects of expanding and shrinking potions on the human body. It was awful, a cold winters evening down in that freezing, dreary dungeon with him glaring at me if he couldn't heard the scratch of my quill upon the parchment. I remember that detention more clearly than any other as I was still recovering from an allergic reaction to re-potting Belladonna plants in Herbology and I felt pretty rotten."

"Nice one, Severus," Planchette's voice was sarcastic but he also seemed to smile almost approvingly at her punishment.

"And I bet you never dared make fun of 'is nose again?"

"No, the detention had the desired effect and I got full marks on that question when it came up at the end of year exam…but what happened when they made fun of Severus for the second time?"

"Well naturally I laughed with zem, but when I looked at Snape I 'onestly zought 'e was going to burst into tears which only made ze sixth years laugh all ze more loudly. But Snape didn't cry. 'E seemed to be forcing 'imself to up 'old zat British stiff upper lip you all seem so fond of, but I later learnt 'e 'ad a lot of practice at stifling 'is tears. 'E looked straight at me with dark watery eyes full of betrayal and contempt uttering something under 'is breath so cruel and sarcastic that I nearly choked with surprise. I won't repeat what 'e said but it wasn't just nasty but pretty vulgar too, not something you would expect to come from ze mouth of an eleven year boy, it sounded to me as if he was just regulating abuse that 'ad been aimed at 'im, I suddenly felt so ashamed and sorry for 'im."

"So how on earth did you two become such good friends?" Professor Raven asked looking intrigued and more than a little puzzled.

"Call it irony, fate…"

"Or just plain bad luck," Ron whispered to Harry.

"…but ze very first lesson I 'ad was Potions and I ended up sitting next to Severus, it seemed 'e 'adn't struck up a friendship with even one of his fellow Slytherins. Anyway I was 'opeless, managed to melt my cauldron and scold myself. So when Professor Bane told Severus to take me to the 'ospital wing I took it as an opportunity to apologise for laughing at 'im and Severus accepted it with a silent shrug. Over the next few weeks despite being mocked by James Potter and 'is friends I kept up the friendly overtures towards Severus, sharing my sweets and lending 'im the use of my owl, Severus didn't 'ave a bird until the following spring when he found an abandoned baby crow and 'and reared it, 'e was devastated when it died."

"He does seem to have special touch when it comes to birds…I remember him nursing Bryon back to health, he was so gentle and compassionate," Raven reminisced almost wistfully. Ron arched his eyebrows and mouthed gentle and compassionate in utter disbelief

"Alas, it iz a side of Severus zat 'e rarely reveals to anyone, I guess 'e's just so afraid of being 'urt or ridiculed. You're probably unaware, not many people are, but Severus had a very unpleasant child'ood, where as I craved the attention of my father Severus would have gladly traded places, never to see 'is again. Apparently Snape snr. was a particularly bitter and spiteful man, awfully fond of Romanian vodka. 'E would get smashed out of 'is skull and take 'is frustrations out on Severus and 'is mother. I remember 'im returning to school after one 'oliday covered in such terrible purple bruises zat 'e was forced to wear this thick winter jumper even zough it was swelteringly 'ot and everyone else was in t-shirts. James Potter teased 'im, accusing Severus of being afraid of getting a tan but 'e took ze taunts and made me swear not to tell anyone, not even Professor Dumbledore as 'e was so terrified of 'is father…"

"That's dreadful!" Professor Raven, sounding distressed.

"Yes, but ze beating stopped by ze fifth year, Professor Bane insured zat…"

"Why what happen?"

"Lenore Black…she was zis painfully skinny, quite sinister-looking seventh year Slytherin with dark beady eyes, a long zin nose and glossy black 'air. I zought she was quiet spiteful, part of zis little gang, Michael Crowley, Helen Besant, Orson Duvall…I can't recall ze others but zey were all Professor Bane's favourites, so naturally Severus was invited to join, I zink zey only tolerated me 'anging around because I was 'is best friend. Anyway, I am not too sure what actually went on between Severus and Lenore…"

"Leon…you're not insinuating that they were…"

"I 'onestly don't know, I think Severus was little frightened of her and he never did tell me if zey…well you know…" Professor Planchette had suddenly become rather coy. "But she seemed fond of 'im, even took 'im to 'er graduation ball but more importantly she told Professor Bane about ze beatings."

"What did Bane do?" gasped Raven.

"Apparently nothing, all I know was the beating stopped…but between you and me I zink Professor Bane taught Severus to fight back using ze Cruciatus curse."

"But that's an illegal Dark curse, if Bane had been caught teaching that to a student he would have been sacked!"

"I know, but I zink Professor Bane would have taken zat risk because deep down beneath 'is cruel, nasty exterior he genuinely cared for Severus, secretly looked upon 'im like the son 'e never 'ad…and for a time Severus 'ad something of a father figure…"

"And what happened to Lenore Black?"

"Now zere's a mystery, she joined Lord Voldemort not surprising as the whole Black family were Dark wizards, some say she was killed soon after the Dark Lord lost power, others claim zat she took 'er own life, zere were rumours zat she was Voldemort's lover but zere are some zat zink she is in 'iding somewhere waiting for 'im to return…"

Even though Harry and Ron had promised to meet Hermione back in the library before the evening meal, Ron insisted that he needed to sen his letter to Charlie, so with a shrug Harry agreed. Harry was still mulling over what Professor Planchette had reveal about Snape's past when they climbed the spiralling stone steps leading to the Owlery, which was situated at the top of the West Tower. It was cold and draughty as none of the windows in the grey circular walls had glass in them, but then that was a blessing as the place smelt of damp straw and owl dropping. Harry winced as he crushed the regurgitated skeleton of a mouse under his shoe as he gazed upwards; there, on perches that rose into the lofty highs of the tower, were hundreds of owls of every breed imaginable slumbering away peacefully. In less than an hour Hogwarts would be shrouded in velvet night and the owls would arise from their perches to hunt.

Ron found Errol nestled between Hedwig and a young tawny. Hedwig woke up and twittered excitedly but to Ron's dismay Errol fell backwards off his preach when he first tried to rouse the owl from his deep slumber. Errol hooted indignantly, flapping his scrawny wings as he scrabbled on the dropping-strewn floor to his feet, looking up at Ron blinking bewildered with huge, round amber eyes.

"Errol, I want you to take this message…" said Ron, as he scooped the owl who still looked drowsy and a little dazed off the floor. "Take it to Charlie…and wait for a reply, okay?" Harry was just about to ask Ron if he would rather use Hedwig, when Erro,l hearing the name Charlie suddenly woke up. He yawned and, hooting eagerly, stuck out his leg so that Ron could tie the letter to it.

"Charlie was always been his favourite," Ron explained, as he carried Errol to one of the windows. "And try not to get lost..." Errol hooted as if in reply, spread his wings and flew off into skies that were starting to turn crimson and golden with the setting of the sun.

They found Hermione sitting at a table, surrounded by open books with an extremely annoyed expression on her face.

"I am sorry we're late," gasped Harry, as he flopped unceremoniously into an empty chair beside her. "But Ron insisted that we post his letter to Charlie."

"Oh, it's not that..." Hermione dismissed their late arrival, slamming the book that she had been reading shut, she was still frowning.

"What then?" asked Ron glancing down at the book he was leaning on, An Encyclopaedia of Amulets by Julian Talisman.

"It's this amulet that Snape's accused Professor Raven of stealing," Hermione's voice was hushed and serious. "Naturally, I first looked in Hogwarts –A History …"

"Naturally..." said Ron with a teasing grin.

"But," Hermione continued ignoring him, "There is no mention of any amulet being kept here…"

"But from what Snape said about betraying Professor Dumbledore's confidence, very few people would have know that this amulet was at Hogwarts," Harry pointed out quietly.

"True, but I thought that maybe if I looked through a few books on amulets that I might come across something that Professor Raven would want so badly she would steal it."

"I bet it is something to do with the Dark Arts," Harry said darkly.

"Hey you two…we still don't know that Professor Raven took this amulet in the first place," snapped Ron. "It's only that greasy gits word against hers that she did steal it."

"Okay Ron," Hermione hissed, as two first year Ravenclaw girls looked up from their homework.

"It was hopeless anyway, do you know just how many amulets there are, hundreds and hundreds, and most of them are to ward off the DARK EYE or protect against the Dark Arts. If we could narrow it down something less ambiguous, a specific type, of course a name would be even better."

"Oh right," Ron said sarcastically. "I'll just go and ask Professor Raven then!"

"I'm sorry," snapped Hermione, gathering up her parchments and quill, thrusting them into her bag. "At least I've tired to research the amulet." She snatched up a small, but thick, book from the table and marched over to Madam Pince to have it stamped out.

The rest of the evening passed mournfully slow, Hermione and Ron ate dinner in angry silence, each too proud to apologise. So Harry decided not to mention what he and Ron had overheard. Besides, Harry thought as he poured custard over his rhubarb crumble, if Hermione knows how dreadful Snape's childhood, she'll feel sorry for him and keep bringing it up as an excuse for his behaviour now. Harry sighed and tried to dismiss the sudden pang of guilt he felt thinking of how his father had taunted Snape about wearing his winter jumper in the sweltering heat of summer. Surely if his father had know the truth he would have been just as horrified, even gone to Professor Dumbledore himself.

The mood didn't improve as they reached the common room; Ron disappeared to the dormitory, Harry presumed, to do his homework set by Professor Raven, while Hermione grabbed a cosy armchair by the fireplace and started reading 'Temples and Tombs – The Biography of Louis Jean Planchette by Pandora Sneak'. Opposite Hermione sat Neville, who was also reading, his book of choice was a dictionary of magical plants and herbs. Seamus was no where to be seen and the Weasley twins were huddled in the corner with Dean Thomas, their heads together whispering in low voice so Harry decided not to disturb them. In the end, Harry agreed to play exploding snap with Ginny but after losing for the third game in a row he admitted defeat and left for bed.

Harry found Ron already dressed in his maroon pyjamas, sitting crossed legged upon his four-poster bed, his parchment resting upon a book scribbling away.

"I thought you would have finished that by now," said Harry as he pulled off his robes and put on his pyjamas.

"Er…yes I've finished the homewor,k" Ron replied turning pink. "This is something else…something private."

"Oh," said Harry, as he climbed into bed trying to hide his smile, it wasn't hard to guess that something private meant something about Professor Raven.

TBC

R&R!