Hi everyone! I'm back with more Lizzy! And thank you so much to everyone who was kind enough to review! I love seeing them. It makes me happy to know someone likes my work. Well not my work, my adding of Harry Potter series. Even though it would be amazing if I created Harry Potter, I am not the owner. Anyway to those of you who haven't reviewed...why not? Oh well! Hope you like it!

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Lizzy's Pov:

When we got back to the castle Hermione and I changed and laid in my bed. My body drained but my mind wide awake. It had been an eventful first day, and I hoped Hagrid would be okay in the end.

Hogwarts wouldn't be the same without him, not to mention he had worked so hard to get to where he was today. I rolled onto myside thinking about what else has been bothering me. Ron.

He's been acting weird. Weirder than usual. I don't know why, maybe he was just being a guy? Maybe he liked a girl and he wanted to ask how to talk to her? He wouldn't talk to Hermione about that stuff because they always fought, so maybe he wanted to ask me…I wasn't sure.

Then there was the obvious. Sirius Black. If Hogwarts was the safest place, then why would Dumbledore agree to having the Dementors stand guard around? Was he really that dangerous? I was desperate to know the answers. Is it possible that he could be on the school grounds right now? Lurking in the shadows, just waiting to attack?

Why did he have a death threat against me and Harry? Was it because he thought we were threats to Voldemort? How could we be threats? We're thirteen years old and the first time he was defeated Harry and I were one! Last year Harry was the one to defeat him. I was knocked on my arse petrified unable to move, heck, if he really wanted to, I could have been eaten by the Basilisk. Why wasn't I eaten by the basilisk? I was easy prey.

So many questions ran through my head. What was I going to do? I wasn't smart like Hermione, I wasn't brave like Harry, and I wasn't funny like Ron. I was just in the way. If I wasn't here…If it was just Harry, Ron, and Hermione…they'd be just fine on their own. I'm a bothersome nuisance.

No one knew how I felt. How could they? I didn't want them to worry about me. I was already in the way of almost everything. I wonder why they even want to be around me.

Taking a rather deep breath I tried to clear my mind and get some rest. Tomorrow was my first day of Potions and I needed to be well rested.

I don't remember when I actually did fall asleep but I do recall Hermione hitting me with a pillow and opening up the blinds making me shrivel under my covers to protect myself from the cursed light.

"Lizzy come on wake up." I made a hiss of pain as the covers were ripped from my body. Cold swept over me as I searched around for my protection.

"We have class in a half hour, wake up." I let out a groan as I rolled out of bed, forcing myself to get dressed. Now that I'm up and moving around I'm more awake and could hold a conversation with Hermione as we walked to the Great Hall to meet up with the boys.

"Thanks for waking me up. I didn't get much sleep last night." Hermione nodded, reaching over and placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I know, I heard you tossing around a bunch." I felt my face heat up. I didn't want to wake anyone or disturb them while they slept!

"I was awake anyway, I just happen to glance over and see you shifting a lot." Hermione said quickly after seeing the distress on my face, probably. "Why were you… if you don't mind me prying in…" she seemed nervous now.

Why is she nervous?

"I never mind you prying." She relaxed her shoulders and gave a soft smile. "Three things mostly, Sirius Black,"

She nodded "Obviously, you aren't the only one, bout everyone here is nervous about Sirius Black." She was trying to be comforting. I can understand that.

"Ron." She cocked her head to the left confused.

"I don't know I just feel like he's acting weird around me, do you think he's been acting weird?" she shrugged.

"As much as I hate Ron right now, I honestly don't see him acting very different…well besides going red in the face a lot more. But that's probably because he's getting mad about something." I nodded along with her. She's probably right.

We were in the Great Hall now when she asked about my third worry.

"So, what was the third thing?" We were getting near and nearer to Harry and Ron. I didn't want them to hear what I was about to say.

"I um…I'll tell you later…" Hermione nodded in understanding.

"Tell Hermione what later?" Harry asked from his spot as we sat down.

"Nothing Harry, just eat your oatmeal." Harry and Ron stared me down like I was hiding something from them.

"What is it Lizzy? You know you can tell us anything?" Harry pushed the subject further.

"Harry it's girl stuff." Hermione said in a certain tone. His face paled before he shoved a large amount of toast in his mouth. Oh, Hermione you are the best.

She nudged my shoulder with her own giving me a comforting smile. Okay Elizabeth just push everything back to the end of the day. You can have a good day. You won't be worried or upset anymore today.

I was determined to be fine.

Quickly we all ate the rest of our breakfast before rushing off to the dungeons for Potions. On the board was the ingredients and how to prepare the Shrinking Solution potion. Professor Snape was always nice enough to write the steps on the board instead of making us look through our book.

While I remember studying first potions book by heart I did notice that Professor Snape had made some changes to the steps in the book but I never questioned him on it. I figured he knew it better, plus he's been doing this much longer than I have.

"Before we start our Potion today, who here can tell me some of its history?" I raised my hand already knowing the answer.

He scanned the room around us, Hermione was also the only one who raised her hand.

"Granger." I lowered my hand waiting for his response to Hermione's knowledge.

"Back in the fifteen hundreds, Zygmut Budge had developed his own version of the potion. According to Budge, part of the potency of his variation came from stirring the potion after adding the Shrivelfigs. It proved to be so powerful that when he accidently spilt a small amount on the grass outside his house, it caused an entire flock of sheep to shrink to lamps the size of wooly mice."

Professor Snape nodded, his eyes traveled over the class once more.

"Anything else?"

I raised my hand as well as Hermione again.

"Miss Potter,"

"I'm not entirely sure the date but a wizard named Samuel Plunkett, he was persecuted by a muggle village. He poured the Shrinking Solution into the villages well and terrorized the shrunken villagers by chasing them around in hobnail boots." It was true but Hermione got most of the stuff on the Potion itself so there wasn't much I could tell him.

He nodded turning on his heel and returning to the front.

"If you would have done the research paper I had assigned you would have known the answer to my simple question." He snapped glaring at everyone in the class.

"Get to work." Everyone got up, gathering their cauldrons and ingredients. Not all the ingredients bothered me as much as the rat spleen. I just felt bad for the poor rat that had to die.

I know not all rats live that long but seriously it made me feel bad for them.

Hermione and I were at our lab table slicing our ingredients while chatting softly about a book she had read in France when Draco strutted into class like he was the brave knight who recced the princess from the evil troll or whatnot. Bunch of crap is you asked me. I doubt he could fight against a troll, he can barely go up against a puppy!

Though my version of a puppy is all kinds so if it's full grown, an actual puppy or even an old dog.

"How is it, Draco?" Pansy simpered. "Does it hurt much?"

"Yeah," Draco spoke while putting on a brave sort of grimace. I could only roll my eyes annoyed this was just pathetic.

"Settle down, settle down," Professor Snape spoke idly.

I only rolled my eyes getting back to work. I don't need to see him flirt with some brat. Unfortunately for Harry and Ron, Draco was situated right at the same table.

"Sir," Draco called out, "sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots, because of my arm…"

"Weasley, cut up Malfoy's roots for him," Professor Snape said without looking up from his book.

I look up over toward Ron, he had gone brick red in anger.

"There's nothing wrong with your arm," he had hissed to Draco. Ugh why was I even friends with him? He was such a jerk. And to make it worse I actually care for him at some points. What kind of sister am I?! I care for a git like him! Draco hates Harry and yet I'm still talking to him and treat him like a friend! What is wrong with me?!

"Weasley, you heard Professor Snape; cut up these roots."

He was horrible to my friends, to my family, to everyone! Why did I talk to him?! Did he put a spell on me or something?

"Professor," Draco drawled, "Weasley's mutilating my roots, sir."

Professor Snape approached their table, stared down at the roots, then gave Ron an unpleasant smile. "Change Roots with Malfoy, Weasley."

"But sir! I…"

I felt so bad for Ron. He had spent the last quarter of the hour carefully shredding his own roots into exactly equal pieces.

"Now," Professor said in his most dangerous voice.

Ron shoved his own roots across the table at Draco, he took the knife again to fix his new roots. "And, sir, I'll need this shrivelfig skinned," Draco's voice was full of malicious laughter.

"Potter, you can skin Malfoy's shrivelfig," Professor Snape spoke directly at Harry.

I tried to get back to work, to ignore everything around me to do well on my potion, but my mind just wasn't listening to me. I was mad at myself, I was sad for Harry and Ron for having to deal with Draco, I just wish he wouldn't be this way.

"Seen your pal Hagrid lately?" Draco spoke in a hushed tone. I tense up. I know I'm not supposed to be eavesdropping but…Hagrid.

"None of your business," Ron snapped without looking up.

"I'm afraid he won't be a teacher much longer," Draco spoke in a mock sorrow sort of tone. "Father's not very happy about my injury…" My heart quickened in my chest. What has Draco done! Does his father really have the authority to do something like that to Hagrid?

"Keep talking, Malfoy, and I'll give you a real injury," Ron snarled.

"You see, he's complained to the school governors. And to the Ministry of Magic. Father's got a lot of influence, you know. And a lasting injury like this," he gave a huge, fake sigh, "who knows if my arm'll ever be the same again?"

"So that's why you're putting it on," Harry said, I could hear the anger in his voice. He was just holding it back enough to not get in trouble. "To try to get Hagrid fired."

"Well partly, Potter. But there are other benefits too. Weasley, slice my caterpillars for me." I couldn't calm my heart. Hagrid. He didn't deserve this. He was a great guy! It might have been too early for Hippogriffs but, but he didn't deserve this!

"Lizzy!" Hermione gasped out in shock. Gaining the attention from everyone in the room. I jumped in confusion. Hermione was trying to put something on my hand.

"What are you doing?" I asked confused.

"You're hand!" Looking down I blinked a few times. My knife was sliced into my left hand, the skin was ripped apart in a thin clean cut, only problem was…blood was gushing out of the wound by the buckets.

"Oh…" I brought it to my face staring at the deep crimson liquid protruding from my hand. I felt my stomach start to churn as my legs started to give out.

"P-Professor c-can I be…" I don't remember what happened next.

Harry's Pov:

My eyes widen in fear as my baby sisters body fell to the ground. I ran to her side. Hermione was at her side trying to wake her up, I could tell she was on the verge of tears. Professor Snape was on his knees looking her over.

"She'll be okay 'mione, it's happened before." I tried to comfort her, but my own nerves were getting to me. Elizabeth was down. She passed out. I could hear Pansy snickering behind her hand.

Professor Snape stood up rushing to his desk looking for something. I did what I always did. I tried to wake her up. Light smacks to the face usually works. "Hey, come on Elizabeth. Come on…" Professor Snape returned with a small vile of a liquid.

He poured the liquid over her hand, sealing the wound instantly. What was that stuff?

After a few more shakes she started to wake up. Relief filled through my chest. She would be okay. "You're okay, you'll be okay." I whispered brushing the hair away from her face.

"H…Harry?" her green eyes looked around her, she looked so confused.

"Professor Snape?" glancing up at our Professor, I saw he was actually worried about her. It was amazing to know that she was one of the only Gryffindor students that he liked.

"What…what happened?" she tried to look down but I knew what would happen. Quickly I make her stare at me. "Don't. Don't do that. Keep your eyes closed and just listen to me alright?" she nodded slowly clenching her eyes tightly as she did.

"Ron, can you get me a wet rag?" he nodded rushing over to the sink and returning with the wet rag that I asked for. Professor Snape stood from his spot looking down at Dean. "Take her to the Hospital wing." He nodded quickly.

I cleaned the blood as much as I could before helping her stand. Dean Thomas instantly wrapped an arm around her waist, grabbing Elizabeth's right arm and placing it over his shoulder so that if she faints again she wouldn't hit her head again.

"Everyone get back to work!" Professor Snape snapped. "I don't want to hear a peep out of any of you about what just occurred. Do I make myself clear." He glared at everyone in the room It wasn't a question. It was a demand. "Clean this mess up, Weasley."

She would be okay. She's always alright in the end.

I made eye contact with Ron and I saw the worry in his eyes as he finished wiping all the blood up.

Everyone seemed a bit tense after seeing my sister faint. I couldn't care less anymore about the potion I wanted to be by Elizabeth's side and make sure she was perfectly fine.

Twenty minutes had passed and everyone seemed to have calmed down enough to return to their work. Professor Snape had taken the liberty to disposing of both Elizabeth's and Deans potions safely after they had left.

Making his rounds to check over our potions, he stopped at Neville's. And of course, Neville regularly went to pieces in Potions, it wasn't any different today. Neville's potion was supposed to be a bright, acid green, but he did something different.

"Orange, Longbottom," Snape spoke as he ladled some up and allowing it to splash back into the cauldron, so everyone could see.

"Orange. Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours? Didn't you hear me say, quite clearly, that only one rat spleen was needed? Didn't I state plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice? What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?"

Neville was pink and trembling. He looked as though he was on the verge of tears.

"Please, sir," Hermione started, "please, I could help Neville put it right…"

"I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger," Snape said coldly, and Hermione went as pink as Neville. "Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly."

Snape moved away, leaving Neville breathless with fear.

"Help me!" Neville moaned to Hermione.

"Hey, Harry," Seamus said leaning over, borrowing a few of my brass scales, "have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning, they reckon Sirius Black's been sighted."

"Where?" Both Ron and I said.

"Not too far from here," Seamus said looking excited. "It was a Muggle who saw him. 'Course, she didn't really understand. The Muggles think he's just an ordinary criminal, don't they? So, she phoned the telephone hot line. By the time the Ministry of Magic got there, he was gone."

"Not too far from here…" Ron repeated looking at me. He was nervous, I know. He like all the others believe in the Grim and that this was part of it.

"What, Malfoy? Need something else skinned?" he snapped glaring daggers at Malfoy.

Looking up Malfoy was staring at me. He leaned across the table. His eyes were shining malevolently. What was he up to?

"Thinking of trying to catch Black single-handed, Potter?"

"Yeah, that's right," I rolled my eyes. I wasn't stupid enough to go after this killer. I don't want to go after any killer.

Malfoy mouth was curving into a mean smile.

"Of course, if it was me," he said quietly, "I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy, I'd be out there looking for him."

"What are you talking about, Malfoy?" Ron said roughly. He was spouting off a load of nonsense everything he said didn't make sense.

"Don't you know, Potter?"

"Know what?"

Malfoy let out a low, sneering laugh.

Maybe you'd rather not risk your neck," he said. "Want to leave it to the Dementors, do you? But if it was me, I'd want revenge. I'd hunt him down myself."

"What are you talking about?" I don't need this. I'm worried about my sister and he just up and keeps spouting out nothing important. He was trying to make me mad. Snape returned, looking down at the three of us. "You should have finished adding your ingredients by now; the potion needs to stew before it can be drunk, so clear away while it simmers and then we'll test Longbottom's…"

Crabbe and Goyle laughed openly, watching Neville sweat as he stirred his potion feverishly. Hermione was muttering instructions to him out of the corner of her mouth, so that Snape wouldn't see. Ron and I packed away our unused ingredients and went to wash our hands and ladles in the stone basin in the corner.

"What did Malfoy mean?" I mutter to Ron as he stuck his hands under the icy jet that poured from the gargoyles mouth. "Why would I want revenge on Black? He hasn't done anything to me…yet."

"He's making it up, he's trying to make you do something stupid…" Ron said savagely.

It was quiet for a minute or two before he spoke up, this time his tone was full of worry. "Do…do you think Elizabeth will be okay?" He was staring down at his hands, he was scared.

"She'll be okay. It isn't the first time she's fainted." He nodded looking up. "When she hit the floor…I don't know. I thought she wasn't going to get back up. Its stupid I know…"

I smile, I'm lucky to have a friend who cared so deeply about Lizzy.

"It's not. The first time it happened was after Aunt Marge had that beast of a dog chase me up a tree, she knew the only way to distract it was going out and…well she…she has a large scar on the back of her right ankle. She saw the blood and fell to the ground."

Ron winced in pain at the idea. "She tends to get hurt saving me. Putting herself in danger, through the worst of all the punishments." Ron stared me down waiting for something or maybe just thinking of something.

The end of the lesson in sight, Snape strode over to Neville, who was cowering by his cauldron.

"Everyone gather 'round," Snape said, his black eyes glittering, "and watch what happens to Longbottom's toad. If he has managed to produce a Shrinking Solution, it will shrink to a tadpole. If, as I don't doubt, he has done it wrong, his toad is likely to be poisoned."

I stare anxiously like the rest of the Gryffindor's. The Slytherin's looked excited. Snape picked up Trevor the toad in his left hand and dipped a small spoon into Neville's potion, which was now green. He trickled a few drops down Trevor's throat.

Worry filled my system as everyone waited in hushed silence; then there was a small pop, and Trevor the tadpole was wriggling in Snape's palm.

I smile brightly clapping with the rest of my house. If Lizzy was here she'd be proud of Neville. Snape looked sour, he pulled a small bottle from his pocket of his robe, poured a few drops on top of Trevor, and he reappeared suddenly, fully grown.

"Five points from Gryffindor," That wiped the smiles off Gryffindor students faces. I was shocked. Neville did the potion correctly! "I told you not to help him, Miss Granger. Class dismissed."

Everyone was almost out of the classroom when Snape called out. "Potter," I froze.

What did he want with me?

"Yes Professor?" He gave me the usual glare before looking away.

"Make sure your sister is alright."

That's it? He wanted to make sure Lizzy was okay? Wow.

I gave a nod of understanding. "Alright," I suppose he truly did care for my sister. It was strange but I could have sworn I saw him scared. It couldn't be. When I looked at him again he was how I always saw him. Mean and full of hate.

I must have been mistaken.

Normal POV:

Harry, Ron, and Hermione climbed the steps to the entrance hall. Harry was still thinking about what Malfoy had said, while Ron was seething about Snape.

"Five points from Gryffindor because the potion was all right! Why didn't you lie, Hermione? You should've said Neville did it all by himself!"

Hermione didn't answer. Ron looked around. She was missing.

"Where is she?"

Harry turned too. They were at the top of the steps now, watching the rest of the class pass them, heading for the Great Hall for lunch.

"She was right behind us," Ron said frowning.

Malfoy passed them, walking between Crabbe and Goyle. He smirked at Harry and disappeared.

"There she is," Harry pointed at the bottom of the stairs.

Hermione was panting slightly, hurrying up the stairs; one hand clutched her bag, the other seems to be tucking something down the front of her robes.

"How did you do that?" Ron asked shocked.

"What?" Hermione asked, joining the two boys once more.

"One minute you were right behind us, the next moment, you were back at the bottom of the stairs again."

"What?" Hermione looked slightly confused. "Oh, I had to go back for something. Oh no…"

A seam had split on Hermione's bag. Harry wasn't surprised; he could see that it was crammed with at least a dozen large and heavy books.

"Why are you carrying all these around with you?" Ron asked her.

"You know how many subjects I'm taking," Hermione said breathlessly. "Couldn't hold these for me, could you?"

"But," Ron was turning over the books she had handed him, looking at the covers. "You haven't get any of these subjects today. It's only Defense Against the Dark Arts this afternoon."

"Oh yes," Hermione said vaguely, but she packed all the books back into her bag just the same.

"Come on then, I'm sure Lizzy is lonely and wishing to get some food." Hermione said changing the subject while taking the lead to the Hospital Wing.

It didn't take long the way the three sprinted through the halls to get the tall eighth floor. As soon as they arrived, Elizabeth and Dean walked out chatting. He was telling her about how he thought she was still pretty cool after fainting in Professor Snape's class.

"But I passed out. I fainted because I…" Dean cut her off smiling at her brightly.

"I understand! Professor Snape can make anyone faint. I'd probably have fainted if I had him breathing down my neck as much as he does you. You're super strong! Don't think you aren't."

"Thanks Dean," he nodded looking up to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione, staring at them patiently. All three of them looked relieved to know that she was okay.

"Well I see I'm no longer needed, I'll see you later Lizzy." He spoke walking away.

"Thanks for helping me get here!" She called out a smile on her face happy to no longer see the crimson liquid.

"Hey guys, what I miss?" she asked only to be engulfed in a bone crushing hug. Hermione clung to Elizabeth, few tears fell as she held her best friend.

"Whoa there, hey it's okay." Elizabeth laughed trying to forget everything that had happened that day. She pulled away, straightening her best friends uniform before getting mad.

"What were you thinking! Why weren't you paying attention! You had everyone freaked out! Even Professor Snape was worried!" Elizabeth's face flushed a bright red looking at her feet, she didn't want anyone to be worried over her. She wasn't worth it.

"Can we…can we just forget it ever happened?" she whispered softly. Harry had trouble hearing the words. He'd never seen her look so embarrassed in his life.

Ron took the opportunity to speak up, clearing his throat to gain everyone's attention.

"Well…since Lizzy you're okay. Why don't we head to lunch?" Harry nodded in agreement. He knew he needed to do something to cheer his sister up and this was just the first step.

"Ron's right, let's get some food. I'm starved."

"I hope there's something good for lunch," Hermione nodded, linking arms with Elizabeth dragging her down the hall.

Elizabeth stared at Harry obviously confused by Hermione's actions. He shrugged before following his sister and best friend.

Elizabeth's POV:

After being sent to the hospital wing, Hermione, Ron, Harry, and I quickly ate our lunches. Hermione had urged me to eat more so I wouldn't faint again. I wasn't going to, it was just the blood that made me faint.

"Ready for Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Ron asked, smiling in my direction.

I nodded keeping my head down, why did I think Ron was acting different? He was just being nice is all. Why wouldn't he? He was one of my best friends.

Grabbing our books, we all got up and walked to class. There was a nice conversation going on in my small group of friends. Ron and Hermione were acting pleasant toward one another which was nice. Harry had lagged with me as Ron and Hermione walked on ahead.

"You okay?" I nodded. I was fine now. Nothing could bother me at this moment.

"Good, we were worried about you." I force a smile and bump shoulders with Harry. "You don't have to. I'm perfectly fine." He laughed linking his arm though.

"Then off we go my lady."

I let out a over dramatic gasp. "Why Harry, my good sir, you simply are a dear." We laughed walking away chatting about what our class was going to be like. I didn't notice the pair of dull green eyes watching them walk away. A familiar memory passed through his mind, a sad smile traced his lips as he saw them together.

When Harry and I finally entered the classroom, we noticed our teacher wasn't here yet. Harry and I separated so that Hermione and I could sit together. Ron automatically took his seat beside Harry, while waiting everyone took out their books, quills, and parchment.

"So, what did I miss in potions?" I ask turning in my chair to look at Ron and Harry, including them in on the conversation.

They all hesitated. Glancing at one another before speaking up. What were they not telling me?

"Well, after you passed out. Professor Snape blew up." Ron exaggerated.

"He's not making this up, he basically attacked Neville. If it wasn't for Hermione whispering the correct directions Trevor would be dead!" Harry went on for him.

I let out a gasp of shock. That can't be. Professor Snape would never endanger the life of an animal. This can't be true.

Looking around I saw Neville looking over Trevor just to be sure he was okay. I could already feel my eyes water. Neville must have been terrified.

"Poor Neville," I whispered looking at the floor. Why did I have to be so clumsy? Oh, no I must have made a huge mess!

"I cleaned up the blood, don't worry. But Snape was worried about you. Before we left to get you. He told me to make sure you were okay." I couldn't help but smile at that. He was scared.

Just then Professor Lupin walked in. He smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he had on the train.

"Good afternoon," he said. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today's will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands." I smile excited for this lesson.

I quickly put my books away. We've never had a practical Defense Against the Dark Arts class before, I mean unless you counted last year when our old teacher brought a cageful of pixies to class and set them loose on us.

"Right then," Professor Lupin said when everyone was ready. "If you'd follow me."

Most of the class was puzzled but interested enough to get to their feet and followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom. He led us along the deserted corridor and around a corner, the first thing I saw was Peeves the Poltergeist. He was floating upside down in midair and stuffing the nearest keyhole with chewing gum.

Ugh Peeves.

Peeves didn't look up until Professor Lupin who was in fact two feet away; then he wiggled his curly toed feet and broke into song.

"Loony, loopy Lupin," Peeves sang. "Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin…"

Rude and unmanageable as he almost always was. Peeves would usually show some respect toward teachers. I watched Professor Lupin to see how he would take this. Would he be like Professor Snape, threaten him or send him a vicious glare? Or be like Professor McGonagall? Just a pointed look and he would scurry away scared.

"I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves," He said pleasantly. "Mr. Filch won't be able to get in to his brooms."

Filch was the Hogwarts caretaker, a bad tempered, failed wizard who waged a constant war against the students and Peeves. Peeves paid no attention to Professor Lupin's words, except to blow a loud wet raspberry.

Professor Lupin gave a small sigh and took out his wand.

I jumped slightly scared at the feeling someone grab my hand. Looking to my left I saw Draco staring down at the faint scar on my left hand. He was tracing his line sadly.

"This is a useful little spell," Professor Lupin told the class. "Please watch closely." I look up watching as he raised his wand to shoulder height. "Waddiwasi!" he pointed it at Peeves.

With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeves's left nostril; he whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing.

I laughed with a few other students.

"Cool, sir!" Dean said in amazement.

"Thank you, Dean," Professor Lupin said while putting his wand away again. "Shall we proceed?"

We set off again, though Draco had held me back so that we were in the back of the group. "Lizzy…" I rip my hand free from his. Anger was bubbling through me.

"What the bloody hell is the matter with you!" I snapped pushing him away from me. "I…" He never got to finish. I was about to explode.

"No. You don't get to speak. Don't talk to me. Don't touch me. Just leave me alone for a bit! I'm so mad at you." I snapped storming back to my brother who was watching us. His glare was set on Draco. We locked eyes and he extended his hand.

Taking it we walked hand in hand. I rested my head on his shoulder trying to calm down as we walked.

"What happened?"

"I never let him talk." He let out a chuckle of sorts, letting go of my hand. Instead he wrapped his arm over my shoulder pulling me closer.

We stopped right outside the staffroom door.

"Inside, please," Professor Lupin said opening the staffroom door and standing back.

The staffroom, a long, paneled room full of old, mismatched chairs, was empty except for one teacher. Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair, and he looked around as the class filed in. Professor Lupin came in and made to close the door behind him, Professor Snape spoke up. "Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this." He got to his feet and strode past the class. His black robes billowing behind him. At the doorway, he turned on his heel and said. "Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear."

Neville went scarlet. Harry was glaring at Professor Snape; I frown. Professor Snape tended to bully Neville in his own classes, but he was doing it in front of other teachers?

Professor Lupin had raised his eyebrows.

"I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," he said, "and I am sure he will perform it admirably."

Neville's face went, if even possible, even redder. Professor Snape's lip curled in disgust. Did they know each other from before becoming teachers?

"Might I borrow Miss Potter for a moment, Lupin?"

Professor Lupin nodded, he seemed interested in what he wanted to talk to me about.

"Well, just talk amongst yourselves until Miss Potter returns. It is very important that she does not miss the first stage of this operation."

Shifting away from Harry, I follow Professor Snape outside the staffroom. The door closed behind us. Professor Snape's angry façade changed into that of slight worry.

"Are you doing any better?" I gave off a small smile.

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey said it wasn't that bad of a cut and fixed me up almost as good as new." Professor Snape was looking at my left-hand staring at the faint scar.

"You're usually so focused in class. What happened?" I frown looking away. I didn't want to tell him that I wasn't paying attention. I don't want him to think any less of me.

"Elizabeth," he said softly. Kneeling so that he was at my height. He was very concerned.

"I overheard Draco talking to Harry and Ron, just some things he said made me over think something and I guess…" he nodded lifting my chin so that I was staring him dead in the eye.

"Let me guess, Hagrid?" I nodded. How did Professor Snape know me so well? He gave a faint smile. "Don't worry about Hagrid. He will be fine. Professor Dumbledore will make sure of it." I nodded in understanding.

He stood up and tasseled my hair. "Go back to your lesson we can talk later." I nodded a smile on my lips. "Yes sir,"

I turned to open the door when he spoke up again. "I'm very glad you're alright Elizabeth." I saw his smile as he walked away.

I quickly walked back into the class and saw all eyes on me. "Everything alright?" I nodded at Professor Lupin. "Sorry for making you wait Professor," he smiled before looking back toward the rest of the class.

"Now, then," Professor Lupin said beckoning the class toward the end of the room, where there was nothing but an old wardrobe where the teachers kept their spare robes. As Professor Lupin went to stand next to it, the wardrobe gave a sudden wobble, banging off the wall.

"Nothing to worry about," Professor Lupin said calmly because a few people had jumped backward in alarm. "There's a Boggart in there."

Most of the class seemed to feel that this was something to worry about. Neville gave Professor Lupin a look of pure terror, and Seamus eyed the now rattling doorknob apprehensively.

"Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," Professor Lupin started. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks. I've even met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice."

"So, the first question we must ask ourselves is, what is a Boggart?"

Hermione automatically put her hand up.

"It's a shape-shifter," she said. "It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most."

"Couldn't have put it better myself," Professor Lupin said and Hermione just glowed. "So, the Boggart sitting in the darkness within his not yet assumed a form. He does not know yet what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears."

That's awesome! I didn't know that! I wonder what mine would be?

"This means," Professor Lupin said choosing to ignore Neville's small sputter of terror, "that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?"

He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Err…because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be?"

"Precisely," Professor Lupin said. "It's always best to have company when you're dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake, tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.

"The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing." He paused to let that sink in.

"We will practice the charm without wands first. After me, please…riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" Everyone said together.

"Good," Professor Lupin smiled. "Very good. But that was the easy part, I'm afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville."

The wardrobe shook again, though not as much as Neville, who walked forward as though he were heading for the gallows.

"Right, Neville," Professor Lupin said. "First things first; what would you say is the thing that frightens you the most in the world?"

Neville's lips moved, but no noise came out. He was so scared to say it out in front of the class.

"I didn't catch that, Neville, sorry," Professor Lupin said cheerfully.

Neville looked around rather wildly, as though begging someone to help him, his eyes ranked over everyone in the room. He said in barely more than a whisper "Professor Snape."

Almost everyone laughed. Even Neville grinned apologetically. Professor Lupin, however, looked thoughtful.

"Professor Snape…Hmmm…Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?"

"Err…yes," Neville said nervously. "But…I don't want that Boggart to turn into her either." I giggle softly with Hermione.

"No, no, you misunderstand me," Professor Lupin said, now smiling. "I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?"

Neville looked startled at first. "Well…always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress…green, normally…and sometimes a fox-fur scarf."

"And a handbag?" Professor Lupin prompted/

"A big red one," Neville answered.

"Right then," said Professor Lupin. "Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you seem them in your mind's eye?"

"Yes," Neville said uncertainty, plainly wondering what was going to happen next.

"When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape," he spoke. "And you will raise your wand, thus, and cry 'Riddikulus' and concentrate hard on your grandmother's clothes. If all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture topped hat, and that green dress, with the big red handbag."

There was a great shout of laughter. The wardrobe wobbled more violently.

"If Neville is successful, the Boggart is likely to shift his attention to each of us in turn," said Professor Lupin. "I would like all of you to take a moment now to think of the thing that scares you the most and imagine how you might force it to look comical…"

The room went quiet as everyone thought of what scared them the most.

What did scare me the most? It wasn't blood. That just made me sick. Voldemort? Maybe but I think I know the thing that scared me the most was being alone. Loneliness was my biggest fear. How could anyone make that comical?

"Take its legs off." Ron muttered to himself. He was probably thinking about spiders. He's terrified of them.

"Everyone ready?" Professor Lupin asked.

I gulped. I wasn't ready. Harry had stiffened behind me and I knew he wasn't ready either. But everyone else was nodding and rolling up their sleeves.

"Neville, we're going to back away," Professor Lupin said. "Let you have a clear field, all right? I'll call the next person forward…Everyone back, now, so Neville can get a clear shot…"

Everyone besides Neville backed away against the walls. He looked pale and frightened, but he had pushed up his sleeves of his robes and was holding his wand ready.

"On the count of three, Neville," Professor Lupin said, while pointing his own wand at the handle of the wardrobe. "One…two…three…now!"

A jet of sparks shot from the end of Professor Lupin's wand and hit the doorknob. The wardrobe burst open. Hook-nosed and menacing, Professor Snape stepped out, his eyes flashing at Neville.

Neville backed away, his wand up, mouthing wordlessly. Boggart Snape was bearing down upon him, reaching inside his robes.

"R, R, Riddikulus!" Neville squeaked out.

There was a noise like a whip cracked. Snape stumbled; he was wearing a long, lace trimmed dress and towering hat topped with a moth-eaten vulture, and he was swinging a huge crimson handbag.

There was a roar of laughter; the Boggart paused confused, and Professor Lupin shouted, "Parvati! Forward!"

Parvati walked forward, her face set. Snape rounded on her. There was another crack, and where he had stood was a bloodstained, bandaged mummy; nausea overtook me as I stared at the blood. Harry held my hand making me look away.

"Riddikulus!" Parvati cried out.

A bandaged unraveled at the mummy's feet; it became entangled, fell face forward, and its head rolled off.

"Seamus!" Roared Professor Lupin.

Seamus darted past Parvati.

Crack! Where the mummy had been was a woman with floor length black hair and a skeletal green tinged face. A banshee. She opened her mouth wide and an unearthly sound filled the room, a long, wailing shriek that made my ears cringe. "Riddikulus!" Seamus shouted.

The banshee made a rasping noise and clutched her throat; her voice was gone.

Crack! The banshee turned into a rat. Which chased its tail in a circle, then, crack! Became a rattlesnake, which slithered and withered before crack! Becoming a single, bloody eyeball.

"It's confused!" Professor Lupin shouted. "We're getting there! Dean!"

Dean hurried forward.

Crack! The eyeball became a severed hand, which flipped over and began to creep along the floor like a crab.

"Riddikulus!" Dean yelled.

There was a snap, and the hand was trapped in a mousetrap.

"Excellent! Ron, you next!"

Ron leapt forward.

Crack!

Quite a few people screamed A giant spider, six feet tall and covered in hair, was advancing on Ron, clicking its pincers menacingly. For a moment, I was scared Ron was frozen with fear.

"Riddikulus!" Ron bellowed and the spider's legs vanished; it rolled over and over; Lavender Brown squealed and ran out of its way and it came to a halt at Harry's feet. I backed away. I was not ready for whatever it would turn into.

"Here!" Professor Lupin shouted suddenly, hurrying forward. Crack!

The legless spider had vanished. For a second, everyone looked widely around to see where it was. They saw a silvery white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said, Riddikulus! Almost lazily. That was weird. Why was Professor Lupin afraid of the moon?

Crack!

"Forward, Neville, and finish him off!" Lupin said as the Boggart landed on the floor as a cockroach. Crack! Snape was back. This time Neville charged forward looking determined.

"Riddikulus!" he shouted, and for a split-second I got to see my favorite professor in a lacy dress before Neville let out a great "HA!" of laughter, and the Boggart exploded, busted into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.

"Excellent!" Professor Lupin cried as the class broke into applause. "Excellent, Neville. Well done, everyone… Let me see…Five points to Gryffindor for every person to tackle the Boggart. Ten for Neville because he did it twice, and five each to Hermione and Harry."

"But I didn't do anything," Harry said confused.

"You and Hermione answered my questions correctly at the start of the class, Harry," Lupin said lightly. "Very well, everyone, an excellent lesson. Homework, kindly read the chapter on Boggarts and summarize it for me…to be handed in on Monday. That will be all."

I smile brightly at my friends. "You guys are awesome! Do you know that?" I call out. "Ron, you were amazing!" He turned rather red and looked away. "I admit it was frightening. But last year we faced more of them…"

I felt a tap on my shoulder.

Looking behind I saw Professor Lupin. "Professor?"

He smiled. "I heard about what happened earlier, are you doing well?" I blush a bright red. Oh no. Did everyone know?

"I-I'm okay now, thank you for asking." He nodded deciding to walk us out. "I've never been a fan of blood myself. So, don't be too hard on yourself." I couldn't believe my ears. Professor Lupin didn't like blood either? How did he know I didn't like blood? I doubt Professor Snape told him. Did he hear it from the other students?

"I saw how Harry had you turn away from the bloody mummy." I nodded in understanding. "Oh, I um…I don't normally let anyone see me like that..." he laughed lightly. His smile was starting to be contagious. "See you soon Elizabeth." He said at the door of the staffroom.

"See you Professor," I call out hopping out the door and wrapping my arms around both Ron and Harry. Harry, Ron and Hermione must have snuck off without me. Those jerks! Kidding I love them to death.

Hermione laughed at my antics I suppose, since she rolled her eyes but kept smiling.

"Did you see me take that Banshee?" Seamus shouted.

"And the hand!" Dean said waving his own hand around.

"And Snape in that hat!"

"And my mummy!"

I wonder why Professor Lupin's frightened of crystal balls? Lavender said thoughtfully. It might have looked like a crystal ball at first glance but staring at it longer you could tell it was a moon. So why was he scared of a moon?

"That was the best Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson we've ever had, wasn't it?" Ron asked excitedly as we made our way back to the classroom to get our bags.

"He seems like a very good teacher," Hermione said approvingly. "But I wish I could have had a turn with the Boggart…"

"What would it have been for you?" Ron asked sniggering. "A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?" Ron accused laughing at the thought.

Hermione just huffed.

"I don't know but it's not that." She snapped.

"What about you Lizzy? What would you're be?"

I hesitated. I don't think they would understand if I told them. So, I made up a little white lie. "Probably being surrounded by a swarm of blood thirsty bee's!" Ron, Harry, and Hermione laughed. It wasn't like they needed to know. It was my fear not theirs.

Hopefully it won't cause me problems in the future.

So here we go! Took me so long to write this out but I like the way it turned out. I wanted Lupin to have some sort nice interaction with Lizzy. Also, while writing this I always see Snape as her father figure and can't help but make him act different toward her than everyone else. Anyway, I hope you like it! Please leave a review.