I was idly reading my school books, petting Sorina on my lap, when the compartment door suddenly opened; Harry, Ron, and Hermione poking their heads in. They eyed the professor sleeping nearby before Harry looked at me.

"Oh, sorry, Sven. We… We were looking for someplace to talk."

I closed my book and nodded. "I wished to talk as well."

He looked surprised. "Really?"

"Yes. I… overheard the Weasley's talking last night and… I'm a little confused." I tipped my head slightly. "Are you famous, Harry?"

Ron snorted, holding back laughter as Hermione smiled fondly and Harry sighed.

"Yeah, I guess I should probably explain. Could we…"

I moved to sit beside the professor—despite the way he still unsettled me a little—and they sat across the way before Ron nodded to the older man.

"Who d'you reckon he is?"

"Professor R. J. Lupin," Hermione replied, pointing to the man's luggage case above him.

"He's the new Dark Arts professor," I added. "So he said, anyway."

"Well, I hope he's up to it," Ron snorted. "He looks like one, good hex would finish him off, doesn't he? Anyway, what were you going to tell us?"

Eyes went to Harry who turned to me.

"I better explain to Sven first. I'm, uh… I'm the boy who lived."

I blinked, not knowing what that meant and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Honestly, Harry. Sven doesn't know anything about the wizarding world. You see, Sven, there's this really bad wizard everyone calls You-Know-Who because they're afraid to say his name. He tried to kill Harry when he was a baby and it backfired somehow, and Harry's famous for surviving and making him disappear."

"It's how I got this scar," Harry said, pushing aside his bangs to show a lightning-shaped mark on his forehead. "But he came back a few years ago as one of our Dark Arts professors, and I kind of beat him again?"

"But no one thinks he's really gone, you know?" Ron hummed, munching on his sandwich.

"Oh," I hummed and Harry grasped at his hands.

"You… You overheard what Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were saying last night, you said?"

I nodded. "I was at the bar, reading. I don't understand though. Who's Sirius Black?"

"He's a really bad criminal," Ron explained, looking eager. "There's a big prison for dark wizards that's impossible to escape from, but he managed to do it! They say he works for You-Know-Who too."

There's the connection to Harry then, I noted and Harry went on to explain to the other two what he and I had heard the adults talking about, and the fact that Sirius might be coming after him. Hermione and Ron were more worried than he was but soon began to talk about Hogsmeade, somewhere they were allowed to go as third years. Hermione introduced her cat as well, who Sorina merely glanced at before returning to nap on my lap. Crookshanks though was more interested in whatever was trembling in Ron's pocket. Once he was pushed away, however, he settled beside me and kept his yellow eyes firmly on the pocket; waiting for a chance to pounce.

"Mangy cat," Ron grumbled. "Least Sven's is quiet."

"She doesn't know what's in your pocket though," I noted, earning a frown from him before the sweets cart came by.

The group considered waking up Lupin, but the man was dead asleep and they got their sweets as I bought some blood pops and munched on one. I have more in my bag for this year, but a few more won't hurt. Rain started to patter on the window outside and we all turned to the door when it was pushed open and Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle sneered down at us all.

"Well, look who it is. Potty, Weasel, and the useless Snake. I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley. Did your mother die of shock?"

Ron jolted to his feet and the professor snorted in his sleep, making Malfoy take a hesitant step back.

"Who's that?"

"New teacher," Harry said, looking smug. "What were you saying, Malfoy?"

Malfoy scowled, knowing he couldn't do anything with a professor right there, and huffed. "C'mon, Crabbe, Goyle." He thrust a finger in my direction. "I'll deal with you later, Rydell."

I sighed. "Looking forward to it," I muttered, slipping my wand out and sending a spell after him as they stepped out.

There was a muffled "thud" and the trio snickered as I cracked a small smile.

"Nice one," Ron complimented, but Hermione looked worried.

"Will you be okay this year, Sven? Won't they… you know…"

I shrugged. "I've learned from last term. I've got enough safe places that I'll be fine."

"Don't the professors do anything?" Harry asked. "Dumbledore?"

"Nothing the professors can do unless it's in front of them. Snape doesn't care, either way, just pretends he doesn't see if it's another Slytherin. The headmaster only gave me permission to defend myself so long as I don't get caught."

"That's not fair though!" Hermione argued. "I mean, it's obvious who it is, isn't it? They should do something!"

"It's fine," I explained. "I can defend myself now, so they should back off some and…" I rubbed the back of my head awkwardly. "Well, making friends with you means the other houses aren't adding to it. So there's that."

They grinned, rather proud of themselves, and settled in for the rest of the trip. Then, the train slowed to a stop.

"We can't be there yet," Hermione noted, checking her watch.

"So why're we stopping?"

Harry stuck his head out of the compartment and the train jolted to a full stop, throwing luggage out of racks elsewhere in the train before the lights suddenly went out.

"Lumos," I hummed, lighting my wand for the others and shifting Sorina off my lap.

"Thanks, Sven," Hermione breathed as Ron went to the window and wiped at it to see outside.

"There's something moving out there. I think people are coming aboard," he said as the door opened and Neville stumbled in.

"Sorry! D'you know what's going on?"

"Sit," I commanded, and he hastily sat beside the two cats as I stood, feeling a sense of uneasiness.

"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on," Hermione offered, only to bump into Ginny.

"Hermione! Is Ron in there?"

"Yes. Go ahead and sit."

"Quiet!" I hissed, hearing something and they all sat down in silence as something moved outside the compartment door.

Then, the door opened. A tall hooded figure stood there, breath a raspy shudder, and a dark grey, decaying hand being the only flesh visible. The hand vanished into the cloak as it leaned further into the room and I took a hesitant step back. The creature unsettled me, though not much more than the professor behind me. There was a sort of pressure in the air too, stifling our breaths. I could hear the others' hearts though, racing terribly fast. The sound making me tense before one of the hearts slowed.

I glanced back, seeing Harry had passed out and the others were shivering, clinging to themselves and looking frightened. Realizing the creature was doing this, I tried to figure out what to do. Think… Think! What is it? It's familiar. I must have read about it. A… A Lethifold? Maybe? What stops them? A shielding spell…? Wait. A… A Patronus! I struggled to remember the specifics of casting a Patronus and hastily swung my wand in a circle.

"Expecto Patronum."

A hint of wispy white drifted from my wand, but not enough to stop it. Again! I need to protect them!

"Expecto Patronum!"

More wispy white smoke and as the creature moved closer to the trio, who were quivering and frightened, I grew desperate.

"Protego!"

A shield came up between the creature and us, catching the leftover mist from the failed Patronus, glowing far more brightly than it had before. The being screeched, moving back slightly before I jumped as someone placed a hand on my shoulder. The shield vanished and Professor Lupin stood with his own wand raised.

"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go."

The creature didn't move and Lupin sighed softly before casting the same spell I'd attempted. A bright light came from his wand, sending the creature away before he peered out the door to ensure it was leaving. He closed it and looked back at me then, giving me a look over.

"Are you all right?"

I nodded, feeling okay if a little confused. He frowned, coming over and touching my cheek before I pulled away.

"You're certain?"

I frowned myself, but nodded. "Yes. I'm fine." I looked at Hermione and Ron before pulling off my traveling cloak and draping it over Hermione. "What's wrong?"

She was still shuddering, gripping my cloak tight. "Y-You didn't feel that?"

"The creature?"

"I-It was… so cold."

I didn't understand. I couldn't feel cold like they could and while the creature was unnerving, it didn't do much of anything to me. She and Ron spotted Harry then and went to try and wake him as I stood and Lupin moved beside me.

"You don't know what that creature was?" He asked, and I glanced up at him.

"No. I guessed from what I read in the school books."

"What year are you in?"

"Second."

His eyes went wide. "Second? And you attempted a Patronus charm?"

I wasn't sure what was wrong. "Yes? It wasn't working though, so I must have remembered it wrong. I'm surprised the shield held up."

"It wouldn't have, normally," he explained. "It somehow mixed with the Patronus you tried to cast earlier, long enough to deter it for a moment. Who taught you a shielding spell?"

"I did," I answered, earning another stunned look just as Harry seemed to wake, looking pale and sick.

Hermione and Ron helped him back onto his seat and a loud "snap" made everyone in the compartment jump. Lupin handed out bits of chocolate to everyone, though I waved the offering off, uninterested and peering out the window as something shifted in the dark outside. There's more of those things.

"What was that thing?" Harry asked Lupin.

"A Dementor. One of the Dementors of Azkaban."

"Ah," I said, drawing attention to me. "I thought it was a Lethifold."

Lupin gave me a grimace of a smile. "Lethifolds are classified as beasts and only reside in tropical climates. Dementors are technically non-beings." He looked at Harry then. "Eat. It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me."

He shifted past us and stepped out of the compartment, leaving the group of us to talk about what happened and about the Dementors.

"I thought you were having a fit or something," Ron explained to Harry, who had passed out early and missed what had happened. You went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started twitching."

"Sven tried to fight it," Hermione added. "Then, Professor Lupin walked toward the Dementor and pulled out his wand. He said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the Dementor didn't move, so Lupin muttered something, and a silvery thing shot out of his wand at it, and it turned around and sort of glided away."

"It was horrible," Neville whined, still shuddering a bit. "Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?"

I frowned, not having felt anything other than uncertainty.

"It felt weird," Ron agreed. "Like I'd never be cheerful again."

Ginny let out a small sob and I took off my coat and draped her in it as well, while Hermione hurried over to comfort her, still tucked under my cloak.

"But didn't any of you—fall off your seats?" Harry asked, concerned about his reaction to it.

"No. Ginny was shaking like mad, though," Ron said, before looking at me. "Sven wasn't even bothered, were you?"

I shook my head, seeing Harry eye me in knowing. I was different from them. This was just one of those instances where it was far more apparent. Lupin returned then, shooting Harry's uneaten chocolate a glance.

"I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know."

Harry took a bite and immediately looked a little better.

"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes. Are you all right, Harry?"

"Fine."

The group was quiet the rest of the trip until it was time to change into our robes and Lupin suddenly spoke up.

"You're a Slytherin?"

I glanced at him as I finished putting my cloak and coat away. "Yes."

"I just… didn't expect that, given…"

"He's different," Hermione explained. "He's not like the other Slytherins."

"Well, I would assume so, seeing as he's been staying in a compartment of Gryffindors," the professor mused, offering me a small smile.

I simply picked up my cat and put her back in her carrier as the train slowly pulled to a stop at Hogwarts and we were sent out. Rain drenched us as soon as we were off the train and Hagrid's booming voice could be heard above the murmurs calling for the first years.

"Ah, Sven. How are you?"

I turned to find Luna being pushed along with me through the crowd of students and felt a sense of relief flow through me. She's okay. That's good. I don't know what those creatures can do, but at least she's safe.

"I'm okay," I greeted as I followed her towards the carriages that would take us to Hogwarts. "You… You're doing all right?"

She smiled softly, taking my hand and tugging me into a carriage. "Yeah. I'm fine."

I heard a jingle and looked at her wrist to find the braided leather bracelet I'd given her, the small charms hanging off it chiming with the movement. "You wore it."

We sat down and she lifted our hands to look at it.

"What else is one to do with a bracelet?"

I hummed, eyeing our hands as they settled on the bench before the door opened and one more student joined us, Ginny.

"Hello, Ginny," Luna greeted, earning a beaming smile from her.

"Hey, Luna. Have a good summer?"

Luna nodded, releasing my hand to pull out her usual magazine. "My father sold quite a few articles on the ever-elusive Crumple-Horned Snorkack this month."

"R-Right." She spotted me then, growing more hesitant.

Luna either didn't notice or didn't care and pulled on some glasses to read her magazine upside-down, leaving the two of us to sit as the carriage started to head for the castle. Ginny and I hadn't really spoken since what happened the previous year. So, it wasn't surprising that being in a carriage together was more than awkward.

"I, um…" she finally spoke up, drawing my attention away from my hands and towards her. "I-I never got to thank you… for… what happened last term."

I waited quietly, unsure if I was supposed to say anything or not.

"You… You were trying to help before, weren't you?" She asked. "I-I know I kept running away, and I'm sorry. I just… Slytherins are usually… you know."

I frowned, not liking being compared to them and she hastily waved her hands.

"N-Not that you're like them! I mean, you're friends with Luna a-and Harry and the others. I know that now. You're… You're a good person."

I felt heat rush to my face and ears, and hastily looked to the ground, reaching up and tugging on my ear to try and make them a little less red. "I-I'm not."

"But you helped me!" She argued. "You didn't have to. You could have just… just left me."

She wasn't wrong. I could have just walked away or left her be after realizing she was killing Hagrid's roosters. It would've saved me a lot of trouble. Yet, I didn't. I pursued her instead of telling a professor. I worried over her when I didn't really need to. We didn't really know each other. She was a friend of Harry and Hermione's. She was Fred, George, and Ron's younger sister. We'd only known each other from that first train ride and once I was sorted into Slytherin, she ignored me. So… why did I help her? Was it really as simple as me being a good person?

"You are kind, Sven," Luna said then, alerting us that she'd been listening, though her eyes never left the magazine. "The Blibbering Humdinger told me so."

I tipped my head. "What does that one look like?"

Luna peeked up from over her magazine and grinned, quickly going off in a tale about said creature that I listened to curiously, whereas Ginny sighed softly and settled in for the rest of the ride. A ride that only ended too soon and I was forced to leave the group and sit at the Slytherin table. Jeers and mocking whispers greeted me, but I ignored them and just pulled my wand out to rest on my lap should I need to block anything later.

The sorting went on without issue—Slytherin gaining quite a few new first years—and I noticed Harry and Hermione coming in later with Professor McGonagall. Wonder what that was about. Whispers started up at my table but I didn't dare try jinxing anyone just yet. Too many professors were paying attention. Then, Dumbledore stood for his usual speech.

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast." His eyes roamed over the four tables, serious behind his spectacles. "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises—or even Invisibility Cloaks.

"It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I, therefore, warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors."

Damn. That limits where I can sneak off to at night. No sneaking into the forest. I'll have to see if they're around during the day too. I drummed my fingers on the table as he went on.

"On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Some scattered applause rang out, myself included, but more murmurs started up at the Slytherin table.

"Look at Snape," someone said, drawing my gaze to the potions teacher who looked more than displeased.

"As to our second new appointment… Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."

Even more applause came for the giant of a man, whose face was bright red in embarrassment at the sudden attention. My own clapping earned a few glares from other Slytherin's—particularly Malfoy—but again went ignored as Dumbledore smiled.

"Well, I think that's everything of importance. Let the feast begin!"

Food appeared on the tables and everyone dug in, myself being quick to throw up a shield charm before the jinx shot across the table could knock over the goblet I'd been reaching for. My retaliation was even quicker though, flinging up the plate of mashed potatoes in front of the caster and burying their face in them before they could so much as squeal. My wand vanished in an instant as Fred and George spotted the person and burst into laughter, drawing attention to our table. Seeing as I was innocently drinking the blood in my goblet, the professors at the head table didn't react other than Snape casting a cleaning charm on the boy who scowled at me and begrudgingly turned to eat instead of trying to test his luck.

Of course, they waited until after the feast to try again, away from the watchful eyes of the professors. However, I was expecting this and had a shield up before I even entered the common room, chucking one of Fred and George's untested items into the fray and ducking under a rather well-aimed binding spell. The orb I'd tossed went off, shooting paint all over the room. Multiple Slytherins were caught in the crossfire and I'd avoided all of it with my shield up as I hurried to my room. With a flick of my wand, my items were levitating behind me as I rushed back down to the common room.

I grimaced at the sight of the Slytherins scratching at rashes that had appeared where the paint had hit and made a mental note. The itching powder mixed into the paint might be a bit much. I ducked out of the common room and nearly ran right into Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. The trio had apparently not been in the room, which was rather poor luck on my part.

"Wha—Where are you going?" Malfoy spat, seeing my luggage behind me and drawing his wand to point it just under my chin. "Escaping? You don't honestly think—"

"Your shoe's untied," I said calmly, glancing down. Malfoy did the same only for me to roll my eyes at how easily that worked and flick my wand.

He yelped as he was flipped upside down and hung by the back of his pants over a nearby sconce. Crabbe and Goyle just sort of stood there in shock before Malfoy found his voice, looking rather purple in the face.

"Don't just stand there! Get him!"

The two bumbling idiots didn't even bother to draw their wands, just reaching for me with large, grubby hands. I rolled my eyes and ducked under one of their holds, grabbing him by the arm and flipping him over my shoulder easily before kicking the leg of the second and slamming a fist into his temple. I let out a huff, glaring at Malfoy who hung from the sconce with his mouth hanging open in shock before straightening my robes and walking off to the Room of Requirement.

Breakfast the next morning was… interesting, to say the least. The Slytherins were giving me a wide berth after the night before, though I could tell they were probably just waiting for another chance to test their luck. When I heard them mocking Harry, I decided to offer him a bit of reprieve and gave Malfoy jelly legs while tossing a dung bomb at their end of the table, earning laughter from the twins and other Gryffindors as the snakes bolted from the room looking ready to vomit. After I got up to leave, said twins bounded over and draped themselves over me with big, beaming grins.

"That was you at breakfast, right?"

"Man, I didn't even see you draw your wand! You've got serious skills, Sven."

"How was the itchy paint bomb?"

"Good," I mused. "Though you might want to cut back on the itching powder. I think some of them had to go to the infirmary because it was really bad."

"Well, they probably deserved it, right Fred?"

"Definitely, George." The twins nodded. "You think you can get Draco again?"

I shrugged. "He's the most persistent."

They smirked devilishly and Fred dug through his coat before handing me another orb.

"Try this one."

"Let us know how it goes."

I took the orb and twisted it around, seeing no identifying markers. "What is it?"

"That's a secret."

I sighed, but pocketed the orb for later and went off to charms class for now. Or, I would've if I hadn't bumped into Malfoy partway there. His spell came out of nowhere and I grimaced, bringing up a shield a second too late as hot fire flew at my face. I blocked it with my arm, smothering the flames with the edge of my robe before much damage could be done. This left me open though and I fell onto my back as something wrapped around my ankle and pulled.

"Think you're so smart," Malfoy spat, reaching down and grabbing the front of my robe to haul me up as the ropes he conjured curled up around my body. "I'll make sure you regret attacking me like that. My father will make sure you never get anywhere in the wizarding world and I'll put you in your place right here, right now."

I snorted, making him bear his teeth in a snarl.

"You think that's funny?"

"Sorry," I apologized. "Was it not?"

"You little—"

"Just... one thing."

"What?"

"There's this thing in my pocket. The twins gave it to me. You might want to take it, you know? Leaving me with something like that isn't smart."

Malfoy frowned, digging through my robes before he found the orb, looking it over in confusion. "What is it?"

I shrugged. "Dunno, but, uh… probably should have disarmed me first."

He looked as I twisted my wrist, still holding my wand and lighting the ball. There was a loud "bang" and I cringed as I was knocked back along with Malfoy. I hit the ground hard, grimacing at the taste of copper in my mouth from biting my own tongue. Blinking the spots out of my vision from the bright light that the orb emitted, I twisted to turn towards Malfoy as he let out small whimpers of pain. I really should have asked about that thing, I noted as the scent of blood reached my nose and I winced.

Seems that the twins had given me a sort of flash-bang and when I lit it, it exploded out of its soft casing. Too much power, I noted, attempting to turn my wand around to try and release myself since Malfoy was too busy cradling his broken arm to be of any help. The ropes dug at my wrists and pain ran up my arm—still healing from the vampire bite. Then, footsteps and Professor Lupin stepped around the corner.

Time seemed to slow for a moment as he stopped, spotted me tied up on the floor and Malfoy nearby half-sobbing and bleeding. His eyes went to mine and I glanced away awkwardly, a bit embarrassed to have been found like this before Malfoy saw him and started shouting.

"P-Professor! My arm! Look what t-that idiot did! He attacked me!"

Lupin sighed, flicking his wand to release me from the ropes and heading over to Malfoy, helping him off the ground. "Sven, was it?"

"Yes, sir," I muttered, looking over my own singed arm and torn bandages as I got up off the floor.

"Come with me to the infirmary. We'll get some answers once we're there."

I bowed my head as Malfoy continued to sniffle pitifully, occasionally sending me a glare or sneer as we walked. Once there, Madam Pomfrey spotted me and put her hands on her hips.

"You again? Young man, haven't I spoken to the headmaster enough?"

I turned my gaze away from both her frown and Lupin's curious look before the professor cleared his throat.

"It seems there was an incident in the hallway. I've brought them both in to get treatment as well as answers as to what happened. If you wouldn't mind taking Malfoy first. Sven, have a seat and I'll speak to you after."

I nodded and settled onto a bed, working on undoing the torn and ash-covered bandages on my arm while he went to ask Malfoy what happened. I thankfully didn't have to hear him complaining about how I attacked him thanks to a silencing spell placed over them and settled for washing off my arm and checking the damage. Second-degree burns and the bite is bleeding a bit. Just need some ointment and more bandages. The bruising from the ropes will go away on its own. I went to get the items myself just as the curtains were pulled back from where Malfoy was and Madam Pomfrey spotted me.

"Sit down, young man. I won't have you doing my job for me."

Resigned to my fate, I returned to the bed and sat on the edge as she and Professor Lupin wandered over and a silencing spell settled over us as well.

"Mind explaining what happened, Sven?" Lupin asked, seated across from me as Madam Pomfrey got what she needed from a cupboard of supplies.

"It was my fault," I admitted, not one to lie in a case like this, where I'd seriously hurt someone. "I bumped into him in the hallway and used a prototype to scare him. I didn't mean for him to actually get hurt."

Lupin watched me for a moment before folding his arms over his chest. "Is that the truth?"

"Yes, sir."

"And that's everything that happened?"

I hesitated. Technically, it wasn't. I didn't mention that I pranked the Slytherins at breakfast over their gossip regarding Harry, causing Malfoy to set my arm on fire, tie me up and threaten me before I retaliated.

"Sven."

I looked up from my hands as Lupin leaned forward.

"I can only help you if you explain everything to me."

I grimaced, looking away once more. "Why?" I blurted out. "Even if I told you everything, nothing will come from it. Nothing ever does."

"Let me try, Sven. Please."

I sighed, bringing a hand up to my head where a headache had bloomed, but I explained. "I… I pranked him last night when they attacked me. The Slytherins don't like me much."

Madam Pomfrey scoffed, coming over to clean my arm properly. "That is an understatement. He's been in here more times than I can count, and I'm certain he's avoided coming in since I spoke to the headmaster about his bullying."

I frowned but didn't deny it. "Then, this morning they were making fun of Harry so I hit them with a dung bomb. It probably upset him, so when I bumped into him on my way to Charms, he snuck up on me. Did some fire spell, and tied me up. I still had my wand and got him to take something from my pocket before lighting it. I didn't know it would explode like that. I… thought it was another dung bomb or full of paint or something."

"I see," Lupin mused, undoing his silencing spell. "Well, I suppose I'll just have to give you both detention then."

"What!" Malfoy complained from nearby.

"It seems you were also at fault for attacking one of your housemates," Lupin explained, standing. "So, I will talk to Professor Snape about giving you detention for the next three evenings. Sven, I'll see you in my office tomorrow evening for your detention."

"Yes, sir," I muttered before there was a short complaint from Madam Pomfrey.

"Now, where did you get this then?" She chided, holding up my arm and pointing her wand at my bite. "That is a very nasty bite, Mr. Rydell."

I winced, wishing I could tug my arm away, but knowing she wouldn't let me. "I-I got it at home," I grumbled. "It's fine."

"Fine? It wasn't treated properly, which is why it hasn't healed yet. It got infected, didn't it?"

I flushed, lightly tugging at my arm. "I-It's fine now. I clean it properly!"

"Hm, well, you best take better care of yourself, Mr. Rydell. I don't want to see you back here for at least a week. Though I technically don't want to see you back at all, but you seem to have a knack for getting into trouble." She bandaged my arm with a wave of her wand and repaired my robe sleeve as well, before handing me a small bottle and extra bandages. "Put that salve on it twice a day for a week. Should heal up that burn rather nicely, and you'll be lucky if that bite doesn't scar."

"Yes, ma'am," I sighed, pocketing the items before Lupin nodded.

"Come. I'll escort you to class."

Rumors had spread by the end of the day, earning me more than a few bruises from passing Slytherins in the halls. I didn't fight back this time either, knowing that I would just be adding to my detentions if I did. And I deserve it after actually hurting someone like that, even if it was because of that thing Fred and George gave me. Said twins weren't bothered by the incident at all, muttering how they would lower the amount of whatever was inside of it and gave me two friendly pats on the back for breaking Malfoy's arm.

Yet, I could practically still taste the scent of Malfoy's blood the rest of the day and all through transfiguration class, where McGonagall had to actually have me step out so I could get a top-up of blood mid-lesson. It was frustrating. I'd been doing well even with the limited blood I'd gotten over the break. I'd had the blood pops, half a bottle before the train the night before and a goblet at dinner that evening as well as at breakfast this morning.

It's probably because I was injured too. I didn't react as badly as I could have when I smelled his blood earlier. Only now that I've had time to become overly focused on it. Needless to say, I was more than grateful to be able to sleep in the Room of Requirement that night and chose to eat breakfast down in the kitchens the following morning. Give it a week, I told myself. One week then I will go back to my usual routine without hiding in secret and tolerating it. Just need to let things cool down.

After classes though, it was time to head to detention with Professor Lupin. I wasn't looking forward to it either. As understanding as he seemed, I was still suspicious as to why he unsettled me. He may have stood up for me at that moment but I don't know what he's going to have me doing. I stood outside the door for a moment before sighing and knocking.

"Come in."

I walked into the room and found him studying some papers at his desk; a rather large wardrobe sitting in the center of the room. I eyed it warily as I walked around to face him and he glanced up.

"Ah, don't mind that. It's for my lesson with the third years."

I stood before his desk and waited, wondering if he was going to have me dust the room or write standards or something worse before he stacked his papers carefully and gestured to a chair.

"Take a seat, Sven."

I sat as he asked and watched him quietly. He eyed me in return before offering me a small smile.

"You remind me of someone," he mused. "Though with a far better temperament, I'm sure."

"Okay," I replied, not sure what he was getting at.

"How's your arm?"

I brought a hand over it defensively. "Fine."

"Good, good. Can I ask a… personal question?"

I frowned. "You're going to ask anyway."

"Doesn't mean you have to answer," he pointed out. "Tell me, what kind of home do you live in to get that kind of bite?"

I stiffened slightly, lips sealed tightly and stubbornly refusing to say anything.

"You see, I've seen a lot of things in my time. I've studied a lot and am rather… familiar with things like dark creatures and attacks," he noted, nodding to my arm. "That, Sven, is not a normal bite."

And you're obviously not a normal professor, I noted, still very tense at how close he was to the subject I really wanted to avoid.

"I have a suspicion," he hummed, but as though sensing my unease, he leaned back and relaxed. "However, I can see you're uncomfortable and I won't press any further. I just wish for you to know that I… understand your predicament and am in one myself. A rather similar one, actually."

What is he talking about?

"Anyway… detention. Right." He cleared his throat and stood, waving for me to get up as well. "Shall we try something new?"