Chapter 5
Disclaimer: Harry Potter etc still belongs to JK Rowling, plot still belongs to me.
Author's Note: This chapter isn't going to be great, like I said last chapter, it's just a bridge.
"Welcome, all of you," Lupin greeted the class. It was second lesson on Wednesday, and the first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the rest of the class. "Right, I take it you've all chosen to do this subject for NEWT level, so you must all, to some extent, want to be here. For this reason, I do not expect any of you to mess around like you did when I taught you in Third Year. Defence Against the Dark Arts can be an enormously helpful subject, but you have to work with me. Now, before we begin work, I would just like to commend two of the students in this class, who received the highest OWL marks in this subject that have been given in several years. These two people are Hermione Granger and Harry Potter." There was a smattering of polite applause, and Lupin himself clapped. "Now that's done, work. Your work this year will be a mixture of the law concerning jinxes, hexes, curses and such, learning to perform and defend yourself against some of these jinxes, hexes and curses, and defending yourself against dark creatures." As he said this, the words wrote themselves on the board behind him. "Now take this down on some parchment..."
What followed was a none too fascinating, but nonetheless enjoyable lesson.
"It's good to have Professor Lupin back," Hermione remarked as they left at the end of the lesson.
"You mean, good to have a competent teacher who isn't an evil impostor?" Harry asked with a laugh.
Hermione laughed too. "Essentially, yes. That is what I mean." Then her face darkened. "But did you two notice how tired he looked?"
Harry and Ron both frowned slightly.
"He did, didn't he?" Ron agreed thoughtfully.
"He must have been doing a lot of work for the Order over the summer, though." Harry countered. "That must have been draining."
"That's not all though," Hermione replied, sounding quite worried now. "I mean, was it just me or did he smell of Firewhisky?"
"Merlin! Hermione, you're not serious?" Harry asked.
"Now you mention it, he did a bit," Ron told Hermione.
"See?" She demanded of Harry. "I'm not criticising him, but I think he might be a bit... you know. Now Sirius is gone, he's the only one left. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. Wormtail's been on the dark side for years now. Padfoot and Prongs are both gone. He's the only one left, Harry."
Harry nodded slowly. He didn't want to, but he believed her. Now he just wanted to avoid further conversation on the matter, as the mention of his father and Sirius put the conversation on a dangerous footing.
Author's Note: See? Just a bridge. Kinda naff one at that. Sorry. Chapter 6 upcoming. And while I think of it, I'm going to be completely honest. I've been writing this since June, and I'm on Chapter 36 by now. So keep reading, thankyou v much for the reviews, and 'Yes I do drink tea', I love your username!