A/N: This is just a fill-in for the time jumps before things begin to go downhill. Also a little insight into Athena.

Also, please know I appreciate all of your comments. I read each and every one of them. Thank you all!

I was sure I looked like a fish out of the water, gawking at the thing in the cage. I wasn't sure what it was really. Well, I vaguely did. It was a three-headed snake that much I knew. Its body was long, with a light green underbelly. The upper half was bright orange, with jet black stripes like a tiger, emerging in spikes. Its eyes were captivating neon green. Its tail ending at a sharp point.

"What are you?"

'What's it look like girl?' The middle one hissed. 'Do you see anything else besides a snake?'

'I don't know.' The left head slithers around the middle head. 'I always thought you looked more of a lizard.'

'We can do without a third head.' The middle hissed, snapping at the left one.

"A snake with an attitude. Just what this world needs."

'Only when stupid questions are asked.' The right one said. 'But then again, what to expect from this inferior species.'

"Listen here you legless r-"

"Athena?"

I jumped back dropping the cover back over the cage. "Remus." I sighed, running my hand over my face. "You frighten me."

"Forgive me." Remus chuckled. "Who were you talking to?"

"Uh, I was talking to-" Just then the rest of the class piled in. Everyone took their seats, looking up at us. "I'll get back to you on that."

"Yes, after class?"

"Yeah." Jumping off the platform, I took my seat beside Hermione. "Hello."

"What are you doing here?" Hermione whispered. "I presumed you were skipping all your classes today?"

"I wasn't skipping. I had a free pass." Pulling her book into the middle of us to share, I leaned in closer to her. "I got bored doing nothing. So, I figured I'd come to the last class."

"Ladies." Remus gave us a stern look. "Now, today we will be learning about an interesting animal. Who here can tell me what the Runespoor is?" Of course, Hermione was the one to raise her hand. "Yes, Ms. Granger."

"The Runespoor is a magical three-headed snake, native to the African country of Burkina Faso. They are very rare to sight and only a few have been able to see one."

"Very good Ms. Granger." Remus walked around the cage so it now stood between us and him. "Now, when I uncover this I need you all to stay calm and quiet. They are sensitive to loud noises. Understood?" Getting all nods, he slowly uncovered the cage.

The snake was curled up in the middle of the cage. One of the three heads raised its head, hissing at us. 'What are you all looking at?'

'Must have mice on our face.' The right head hissed.

'Speak for yourself.'

I looked away, trying not to laugh. "Professor, what is so rare about this snake? I mean it is just a snake, only it has three heads."

'Just three heads?' The middle one snapped. 'Do you hear this human?!'

'I suppose you have seen many three-headed snakes?'

"Well, Ms. Black these guys are very easy to spot. Back when they were first found, you had muggles spotting them and hunting them down. Not just muggles, but you had wizards talking their eggs which dwindled their numbers. The eggs are used in many potions making." Remus walked around the cage. "This one is just a juvenile, but they will grow up. Now the largest one to ever be recorded by the ministry was 7 feet long."

'If only he knew we get bigger than that.' Middle head snickered.

'Humans, always thinking they know everything.' Right head hissed.

"Is it possible for them to grow larger?" I asked.

Remus thought for a moment. "Yes, but it is because of their own fault."

"How so?" Hermione asked.

"Each head serves a different function." Remus began. "The left head from the perspective of someone facing the snake is the planner. It decides where the Runespoor is to go and what it is to do next."

'That's me!' The snake sassed. 'Without me we are nothing.'

I rolled my eyes. 'Conceded much.'

"The middle head is the dreamer. It is common for a Runespoor to remain stationary for days, lost in glorious visions and imaginations." Remus chuckled. "And the right head is the critic; it evaluates the efforts of the left and middle heads with a continuous irritable hissing, and its fangs are highly venomous." He turned back to me and Hermione. "This is where the answer to your question comes in. It is common to see Runespoon's with the right head missing. As the other two heads often band together to bite it off when it criticizes them too much. Because of this, the Runespoor rarely lives to a great age."

"So not the brightest one out there." I chuckled, getting multiple hisses from them.

Remus laughed. "They have their moments."

"Professor?" I knew what I was about to do was crazy, but I something was telling me to. "Could you let them out?"

Remus frowned, looking from the cage to me. "I don't think that would be a good idea. But stick around after class."

"Yes, professor."

We spent the rest of the class learning more and more about the snake. Although I was having even more fun hearing their comments. Who knew snakes could be very comical? After class, I assured harry I would catch up with them before training. Waiting for everyone to leave, I stood by the cage.

"You can speak to them." Remus stated more than asking.

I nodded. "I never knew until now. How is it possible to not know I could speak to them?"

Remus sighed, unlocking the cage. "You must have just never come in contact with a snake. Keep in mind that many don't want to speak with humans." He held the top down, ensuring the snake didn't break out. "Now, are you sure about this?"

*You're not going to bite me, now are you?*

'On the contrary to what you humans believe, we don't like to waste our venom on you.' Right head hissed.

"Yeah, professor." Watching him open the lid, I held my arm out. The snake slithered out, up to my arm and around my shoulder. *Watch the fangs.*

'Relax human. We already ate.'

*Well, that's comforting.* Slowly raising my hand over their heads, I ran it halfway down their body. "What are you planning on doing with him?"

"He will be going back to the ministry." Remus said. "He belongs to them."

'Endless days of being in a cage.' Right head hissed.

'With nothing, but our imagination to go by.' Middle one said.

"Remus." I looked up at him with a small grin.

"No. Absolutely not." Remus caught on quickly, shaking his head no. "No, are you crazy?"

"Oh, come on." I groaned. "They are going to throw them in a cage. They deserve a safe home, at least until they can fend for themself."

"Athena, what am I going to tell them?" Remus sighed.

I shrugged. "I don't know, maybe it escaped from the cage."

"Like they will believe that." Remus reached for the animal, only to pull back his hands at the snap. "Athena?"

"I just can't let them go, knowing they will be thrown into a cage." The snake slithered around my neck, resting all three of its heads on top of my head.

"And what are you going to tell Sirius?" Remus asked. "The man is frightened of them."

"Wait Sirius is scared of snakes?" I laughed. My imagination running wild at that piece of knowledge. "I'm sure he won't mind, as long as they behave."

Remus shook his head, handing me a cloth bag. "I am so fired after this."

Time jump:

After making sure no one had followed me, I joined the others in training. Remus had agreed to hold Runespoor until I had a chance to take him home. Harry and I were teaching the others how to use non-lethal spells. We both knew they were nowhere near ready for the lethal ones, let alone us to teach them. It would be a danger for all of us. Besides who were we going to practice on? We very well couldn't try it on each other. Although...

"No, can't do that either."

"Can't do what?" Hermione came up from behind, handing me a glass of water.

"Nothing, just talking to myself." Taking a small sip, I looked over to Neville. The boy was doing so much better with the small spells. "Neville is getting a lot better."

"Yes, he is." Harry said. "He just needed some extra practice is all."

"We all did." I laughed. "I mean even I have to admit, I was needing the work as well."

"I noticed you stayed after class with Remus." Harry stated.

"Yeah, by the way, you guys want to go with me to drop him off." I asked, gathering my things.

Hermione and Harry shared a look.

"Who him?" Hermione asked.

I looked over at them with my biggest grin. "I may or may not have talked Remus into letting me take the snake home."

Harry groaned, slumping down on the bench. "You are worse than Hagrid."

"I was not about to let them throw him back into a cage." Just a heads up to everyone, I am a huge animal lover. Any animal I can help, I am going to cuddle and take home. "Besides It's only until it's able to defend itself."

"Does Sirius know?" Harry asked.

"I'll talk to him when I show up." I grabbed my bag, dragging the three of them behind me. "Let's go, we have to be back before lights out."

Time jump:

Appearing once more in the living room, we found Sirius asleep on the couch.

"Harry, why don't you and the others get something to eat from the kitchen." I walked over to Sirius, waiting for the others to leave. Sitting on the edge of the couch, I placed my hand on the backside and leaned down to kiss him. "Sirius."

"Hmm?" The wizard slowly blinked his eyes open, giving me a sleepy smile. "Hello, lo-Boody hell!" Sirius jumped off the couch, nearly stumbling to the ground.

"Sirius!" I reached out for him, pulling him forward.

Harry and the others ran back in asking what was wrong.

Sirius took one more glance my way, before groaning slightly. "Jesus Athena."

"What?"

"How are you going to wake me up, with that thing around your neck." He placed his hands on his knee, taking in a few deep breaths. "Nearly gave me a heart attack woman."

"Wait, so Remus was right?" I chuckled. "You are frightened of snakes?"

Sirius narrowed his eyes at me. "I am not scared of snakes. I just have a dislike for them."

"That sounds like something someone scared of snakes would say." Ron shoved a piece of leftover pie into his mouth, all while holding two other pieces.

"I am no-" Sirius did an enough motion with his hands. "I just have two questions."

I took a seat on the couch, gently stroking the snakes. "Shoot."

"One, what are you four doing here?" Sirius asked. "I know Athena didn't have class, but it's nearly ten."

Harry pointed a finger towards me. "We came to drop off your new housemate."

Sirius raised a brow, his eyes jumping from each one of us. "My what?"

"Since I know your second question will be, why do I have a three-headed snake around my neck, I will tell you." Taking the animal off me, I placed him on the couch. "Stay there."

"W-wait did you just speak to it?" Harry gaped.

I flinched, remembering I hadn't told them or Sirius yet. "Yeah, I just found out today in professor Remus's class. I never knew, I didn't even think I could."

"It's understandable." Sirius said, surprising all of us. "You are a Gaunt after all. Parselmouth runs in your bloodline. The majority of those with the ability to speak Parseltongue have been or are Gaunt's."

"But I am not a Gaunt." I reminded them.

Sirius shook his head. "Your father was a Travers."

"I'm sorry what?" What the hell was he talking about? My father was Gaunt, hence me carrying the last name. "Sirius?"

"I spoke to your mother after you left, she called looking for you." Sirius stopped me before I could ask anything. "Your mother is fine."

"Why is Athena a Gaunt, if her fa-Theodore was a Travers?" Hermione asked. "Wouldn't they have taken up the Travers name?"

"Traditionally yes." Sirius made his way over to me, taking a seat beside me. "But the Travers were known for their loyalty to Voldemort. They were all death eaters, with the exception of Theodore. When he married Marie, they decided it was best to use her maiden name." He turned his gaze onto me. "You are from the Gaunt-Snape line."

"Well, at least a part of my life is true." I mumbled, pulling the snake into my lap. "Sirius, where can I set him up?"

"Set him up?" Sirius raised a brow.

"I can't keep him with me at Hogwarts." I told him. "So, I figured we could set up a room for him, just until he can be released."

Sirius sighed, running a hand down his face. "Of course."

"Thank you!" Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pulled him in for a kiss. Before Sirius could even respond, I was running up the stairs. Hermione and Ron hot on my heels. "Wands at the ready!"

Time jump:

For the past weeks, I have been jumping from Hogwarts and home. Dumbledore had no objective, as long as it didn't interferer with my studies. Although with the way Umbridge was leading us, I don't see what studies I could be missing out on. To be honest, Sirius was teaching me more than that witch can ever teach.

Jumping onto the bed, I called Gryffindor up with me. The wolf did so, without any hesitation. His body laid stretched out beside me, with his large head resting just below my neck. This was something he always did since a puppy. "Don't you just wish you could disappear from everything? Take your loved ones and simply leave." Gryffindor whined, snuggling in closer. "Of course, it's just a wish." A slight tap on the window caught my attention. Sitting up, I glanced over to find Sirius owl at the window. "What are you doing here?" Letting him in, I snatched the letter and watched him fly off.

"From Sirius?" Hermione whispered, trying not to wake the other girls. "What's he say?"

"Relax Mione, I haven't even opened it." Looking up at the younger woman, I slowly leaned away from her. "Can you not grin like that please; it's really creeping me out."

"Just open it already." Hermione huffed.

Opening the letter, I tossed her a look. "I swear you act as if you were the one married to him."

"Yeah, yeah."

Unfolding the letter, I noticed right away it wasn't Sirius's handwriting. Straightening myself, I gripped the letter with both hands. "Something isn't right."

"What?" Hermione moved to sit beside me, attempting to read over my shoulder. "Athena?"

"Sirius has been injured."