"It's contraband," said Daphne, taking a fanged frisbee from a pouting first year. She tapped it with her wand as it snarled, and then fell still. "I'll give this to Professor McGonagall. You're in her house, so she'll see fit on if you need a punishment, personally, I believe in second chances, so maybe you'll get off lightly. Run along."
The first year took off up the marble staircase as Daphne led the others across the Entrance Hall and into the Great Hall. The quartet made their way to their seats and while three out of four of them sat down, Daphne headed up to the teacher's table and handed the frisbee to McGonagall.
"What did she say?" Blaise asked, loading his plate with eggs and bacon. He added a small squirt of red and brown sauce to the side and reached for the sausages.
"Asked for the students name and said that she would manage it," said Daphne. "I suggested a non-punishment, but at the end of the day, I'm not a Head of House."
"You'll he shoo in for Head Girl at this rate," said Theo, cutting into his sausages. "But, I think Granger may have something to say about that."
Daphne shrugged and poured herself some milk. "Granger can take the Head Girl spot for all I care," she said. "I like my role as Prefect, but I don't want that kind of responsibility. Plus, I don't think I could manage sitting in the Prefects Compartment every year for the whole train ride."
"Especially if you end up with an annoying partner for Head Boy," said Blaise.
"Has there ever been a year where the Head Boy and Girl have been from the same house?" Teddie asked.
"In my second year," said Marlene, sitting down. "There were two Hufflepuffs in the positions. They got caught doing some unsavoury things in the Prefects bathroom, and from that point onwards, Dumbledore always split the positions between two different houses."
"Has a Gryffindor and a Slytherin ever been appointed together?"
"Percy Weasley and Sierra Waterstone were the first," said Marlene. "I don't know what they got up too in their spare times but given their engaged now."
"Percy was too much of a control freak to do anything unsavoury," said Judy. "Plus, Sierra took her position seriously. She was a popular girl without the badge, with it, she just radiated power."
"But she didn't let it go to her head," said Susan, joining them. She offered Teddie a small smile. "Hi."
Teddie beamed. "Hey, I thought you were being forced to move schools?" she asked.
"I was, supposedly," said Susan. "But, after the news this summer, I told Mum and Dad that I wanted to stay. I also told them that they could go on believing you were a nutcase, if they wanted too, but you were my friend, and I was going to talk to you whether they liked it or not."
"How did that work out for you?"
"Well, they haven't disowned me," said Susan.
"I'm guessing that's a good thing."
Susan nodded. "How have you been, Ted?" she asked. "Marlene and Judy kept me up-to-date on you last year, but I want to start fresh now."
Teddie shrugged. "As good as can be, I suppose," she said. "Everyone knows the truth about me. Some fear me, others don't want anything to do with me, and the rest, well, they didn't care much about me before and they definitely don't care about me now."
"That doesn't answer my question," said Susan. "How are you holding up?"
Teddie took a deep breath and turned back to her breakfast. "There are no words to describe how I'm feeling," she said. "I'm just going about my day, trying to be a normal teenager. It's all I can do, really, right?"
Susan nodded.
"How did you do in your O. W. Ls?" Marlene asked, changing the subject. "Did you get your O in Charms?"
"And Care of Magical Creatures," said Teddie, proudly. "Oh, and in Defence."
"As expected," said Marlene, chuckling. "So, what are you taking this year?"
"I'm dropping Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies," said Teddie, "and History of Magic. But I'm pretty much keeping everything else."
Judy swallowed her sausages. "Didn't you inquire about double Charms?" she asked.
"Yeah. I sent a letter to Professor Flitwick over the summer," said Teddie. "He agreed that I could do double Charms if I wanted."
"How are you going to manage that, though?" Susan asked.
Teddie shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I'll do after hours classes with him or something?" she asked. "Or, maybe, I'll get the assistant position that I applied for last year. I didn't get it because of Umbridge."
"Speaking of lessons," said Daphne. "How do we go about getting our year six timetables?" She looked at Marlene, Susan, and Judy. The three were in their last year of school and would know the drill from the previous year.
"After breakfast you stick around and Professor Snape will come and discuss your lesson plan," said Judy. "He would've received a copy of your O. W. L. Results and be able to assist you which lessons would be beneficial to you for the year ahead."
"Wouldn't that have been easier to do over the summer?" Teddie asked, clearing her plate. "I mean, most fifth years are going to be late for their first classes. Unless they're exempt because of this little disruption."
Marlene shrugged. "Most teachers understand," she said. "Especially those who are Heads of Houses."
"True. They're late for their own lessons because they have sixth year students to sort out themselves," said Teddie.
"Exactly."
Theo checked his watch. "It's 8:50," he said. "Professor Snape will be coming around any minute. We should prepare. Especially since we're all probably taking different classes this year."
The quartet shared looks. This would be the first year, outside of compulsory lessons, that they would be split from one another.
"Unless we're all still taking Care of Magical Creatures," said Daphne. "We could have that first on a Monday morning."
Blaise bit the inside of his cheek.
"You've dropped it, haven't you?" Teddie asked, meeting his gaze.
Blaise nodded. "It was an interesting lesson, don't get me wrong, but I just don't see myself going into an occupation where I deal with animals when I leave school. I'm continuing History of Magic, I find really interesting, and even considering becoming a Historian."
"Nice," said Theo.
"What about you, Daph?" Teddie asked.
"I'm still taking Care of Magical Creatures," said Daphne, nodding. "But I did drop Divination and Arithmancy. I'm taking Ancient Runes though, Theo, so maybe we'll have that lesson together this year."
"Better you than me," said Teddie. She chuckled as Theo poked her side.
A bell rang somewhere within the castle, and Teddie checked her watch. It was 9:00am. Students from years 1-5 and year 7s stood and left the hall. Marlene, Judy, and Susan waved goodbye and promised that they would save seats at the lunch table later.
Soon, all that was left in the Great Hall were the sixth-year students from the four houses. From across the Hall, Teddie met Harry's gaze, smiled, and raised her hand in greeting. He returned the gesture. Despite her argument with Ron last night, at least she and Harry were still on good terms.
Professor Snape descended from the Staff table and minded his way through the crowd of Slytherins. He cleared Parkinson, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Bulstrode with ease, before moving on to the students that were left. Tracy Davis stood just in front of Teddie and her friends and was next to be cleared with her timetable.
This left the four Slytherin's he was most accustom too. He approached Daphne first, read over her O. W. L result card and then looked up into her steely grey gaze. The two conversed in rapid conversation, before Snape tapped the blank timetable with his wand, and passed it to Daphne. She grabbed her backpack, smiled at her friends, and then left the hall.
Blaise was next. He was cleared just as quickly as Daphne and left for his first lesson not long after Snape handed him his new timetable.
Snape turned next to Theo. Teddie listened to their conversation as she waited her turn. All over the Hall, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw students were thinning by the second.
"You may leave, Mr Nott," said Snape.
Teddie blinked and looked around. Theo was consulting his new timetable while Snape was staring at her. This was the first time she had seen her Head of House since the end of last term, and that hadn't been a lengthy interaction. He hadn't even come to see how she was doing when she was in the Hospital Wing, and then there was the crap he pulled over the summer by giving Cruise the key to the Sutherland vault instead of getting her money himself, like he always did, and delivering it to her, personally.
She had argued with Cruise that she didn't need to be waited on hand and foot, but why did she get the sense that Snape was trying to pull away from her?
Theo glanced at Teddie, hesitant to leave her, but one nod, a small smile, and a quick squeeze of her hand, was enough to make him leave the Great Hall for his first lesson.
"Now then, Miss Green," said Snape, consulting her exam results. "Outstanding in Defence, Charms, and Care of Magical Creatures. Acceptable in Potions and Transfiguration and Exceeds Expectations in mostly everything else. Dreadful in History of Magic."
"It's not the entertaining of classes," said Teddie. "The lessons themselves probably would be, but Professor Binns his boring."
A ghost of a smile crept onto Snape's face. He composed himself quickly and nodded. "I received word from Professor Flitwick that you wish to take extra Charms lessons?" he asked.
Teddie nodded.
"So, you still wish to pursue a career in Charms?"
Again, Teddie nodded.
"Okay. Well, Professor Flitwick has informed me that he has chosen you as his new assistant," said Snape. "You will report to him at the end of the school day for your assignments."
Teddie beamed.
"Now, onto the manor of your schedule," said Snape. "Everything seems to be in order if you wish to continue with the subjects you applied for?"
"I do," said Teddie.
Snape nodded, tapped the blank schedule with his wand, and writing appeared in the boxes for the next two weeks. He handed it over, but, before Teddie could take it, he held firmly and stared at her.
"Professor?" Teddie asked.
"I am aware of what happened between you, Mr Nott, Mr Potter, and Mr Weasley last night after the feast," said Snape. "I should highly suggest you learn to pick your battles, Miss Green."
"Weasley started it," Teddie protested.
"That may be true," said Snape, nodding. "But, Weasley is not the one that has been called the Daughter of Darkness by the Daily Prophet. Weasley is not the one that people are looking to be afraid of. You, on the other hand, need as many allies in this impending fight as you possible can muster. I'm afraid to say that your usual band of misfits just won't cut it if the Dark Lord decides to make a move for you."
Teddie swallowed and stared into the eyes of her Head of House. "Can I count you on my side?" she asked.
"I will do my very best to protect you, Miss Green," said Snape. "But even I have my limits. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Good. Now go," said Snape, releasing her schedule. "Oh, and do remember that Cruise is here for your protection. Do try not to give him the slip."
Teddie rolled her eyes. "I know," she said. She turned away, then paused and turned back. Snape had started to walk away, but he stopped as Teddie called out to him. "I do have one question for you - why weren't you there all Summer? Why didn't you give me my allowance from my vault? Why are you pulling away from me?"
"That is three questions, Miss Green," said Snape.
"Can't you answer at least one of them?"
Snape heaved a sigh and stepped closer, he was acutely aware that they were not alone in the Great Hall and therefore stopped less than a breath away. He placed his hand on Teddie's shoulder, wheeled her around and gave her a slight shove towards the double doors at the back of the Hall.
"You're going to be late," said Snape. "You may be a sixth year now, Miss Green, but you are still a Slytherin, and I expect you to uphold the same traditions as every year. Good luck."
Snape swept away before Teddie could protest.
With a grumble, Teddie hoisted her backpack onto both her shoulders and filed out into the Entrance Hall where Cruise was waiting for her.
~X~
The next time Teddie saw Snape was during second period when she had her first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson of the year. Every other year, since the start of first year, she had formed a fear of the Defence Classroom - nothing good ever happened to her in this room - yet, this year, she arrived promptly and without fear. Maybe it was because she knew that while Professor Snape was teaching Defence nothing bad would ever happen to her beyond the door.
Daphne arrived ahead of Blaise and Theo, she was breathless and windswept as she joined Teddie, lugging a bulging backpack and three folders of coursework under her arm. "Don't ask," she said, leaning against the wall and breathing deeply. "You know when Marcus warned us about year six and we didn't believe him?"
Teddie nodded.
"He weren't kidding," said Daphne. "I've just come from Muggle Studies. If I thought it was hard before, it's ten times more so now."
"I don't know why you're freaking out," said Teddie, sliding onto the floor beside Daphne. "I may not be taking the course this year, but I can still help you."
"Really?"
Teddie nodded.
Daphne launched herself forward, wrapping her arms around Teddie. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she squealed.
Teddie laughed.
Blaise and Theo soon joined them. Blaise didn't have any homework from Binns, but Theo had tons from Ancient Runes.
"A fifteen-inch essay, two translations, and I've got to read these by Wednesday!" said Theo, stuffing his work into his backpack. "I'm also willing to bet that Snape gives us loads."
"What did you have first, Ted?" Blaise asked, noticing the lack of homework.
"Free period."
"On a Monday morning?" her friends gasped.
Teddie nodded. "I guess it helps, to be fair," she said. "I mean, I can use it to complete any jobs that Professor Flitwick assigns me."
"Why is Flitwick assigning you jobs?" Blaise asked.
"Because I'm his new teaching assistant!"
Her friends grinned.
"You got the position?!" Daphne gasped, hugging her friend again. "Congratulations!"
"This is everything you ever wanted," said Blaise, clapping her on the shoulder.
"You're one step closer to your career goal," said Theo, happily.
Teddie beamed at them.
"When do you start?" asked Daphne.
"I'm supposed to report to Flitwick at the end of the school day," said Teddie. "I can't wait to get started, if I am honest."
Daphne smiled. "I bet," she said.
More students had started to arrive and were queuing up behind the four Slytherins. Teddie and Daphne stood but remained leaning against the wall as the minutes ticked down. At exactly 10am, the doors to the Defence classroom opened and Snape stepped out.
"Inside," said Snape, his voice as silky smooth as always.
The inside of the Defence classroom was darker and gloomier than normal. Curtains were pulled over the windows, blocking out any rays of sunlight, and the only light that was filling the space came from floating candles.
It looked more like the dungeons than the dungeons did, Teddie thought.
On the walls were new pictures. Every year the new Defence Professor littered images that reflected them as a person - Lockhart's were the worst. Every image in second year represented Professor Lockhart dealing with a different magical creature, but everyone was of him winning, even though they were all fake.
This year, Professor Snape had chosen creepy and gruesome pictures to hang. Several were of different people who appeared to be in pain, sporting grisly injuries or strangely contorted body parts.
Nobody spoke as they filed in and took their seats. Several people seemed interested in the pictures, their heads swivelling around, trying to take in each one.
Teddie, however, just found an empty desk and sat down. Theo joined her as Blaise and Daphne sat in front of them. This was the usual routine for the four friends.
"I have not asked you to take out your books," said Snape, closing the door silently and making his way down the middle aisle toward his desk. He stepped behind it and turned to face them. "I wish to speak to you, and I want your fullest attention. You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe."
Teddie shared a side-long look with Theo.
"Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an O. W. L in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with the N. E. W. T work, which will be much more advanced."
Snape set off around the edge of the room, his voice low as he continued to speak, but still managed to reach the furthest part of the room. Several students craned their necks to keep him in sight, but the Slytherins remained focused on the wall behind the teacher's desk.
"The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fight that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible."
Teddie looked up and met Snape's gaze.
"Your defense," said Snape, a little louder, "must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. These pictures -" he indicated a few of them as he swept past "- give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse -" he waved toward an image of a woman, shrieking in agony, "- feel the Dementor's Kiss -" a wizard lying huddled and blank-eyed "- or provoke the aggression of the Inferius -" a bloody mass upon the ground.
"Is it true that he is using Inferius?" squeaked the terrified voice of Parvati Patil.
"The Dark Lord has used them in the past, so we can all assume that he will use them this time," said Snape. "Now, you are, I believe, complete novices when it comes to nonverbal spells. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?"
Hermione's hand shot into the air.
Snape deliberately avoided her, looking around at the other students, before sighing. "Very well - Miss Granger?" he asked.
"Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you're about to perform," said Hermione, "which gives you a split-second advantage."
"An answer taken word-for-word from The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6," said Snape. "But, nonetheless, correct. Yes, those who progress using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spellcasting. Not all wizards can do this, of course, it is a question of concentration and mind power which some lack. You will now divide in pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Continue."
Theo turned to Teddie. They had both been in this position before, and even with him saying the spells aloud, her shield always popped up to deflect him. "Do you think you can reign it in for the next half hour?" he asked.
"I'll guess we'll find out," said Teddie. She stood from her seat and immediately it flew to the side of the room, stacking on top of another stood. The table followed, folding itself inwards and leaning against the others.
The two stood opposite one another, Theo raised his wand, and was about to utter the shield charm when Snape swooped forward, his cold hand wrapping around Theo's and stalling his attack.
"Not you, two," said Snape, coolly. "Mr Nott, find another partner. Miss Green, join me in observing the rest of the class."
Teddie furrowed her brow but knew better than to argue.
As Theo joined Tracy Davies, Teddie followed Snape between the other students. Some of them stared at her, probably wondering why she was getting special treatment as opposed to them, but no one dared speak up in Snape's presence. Not even Malfoy or Parkinson.
Upon reaching the Gryffindor side of the classroom, Teddie stopped and watched as Hermione and Neville squared off against one another. Neville looked positively terrified, and Teddie couldn't blame him. Hermione was top student in their year, the only person who was possibly on par with her was Mason, but Hermione had a knack for picking up new spells easily.
Pointing his wand at Hermione, Neville screwed up his eyes in concentration, but Teddie was still able to see his lips miming the words 'Bombarda!' the jinx soared through the air but was repelled by an invisible shield.
"Nice one!" Teddie grinned, looking at Hermione. She hadn't heard the bookworm mutter a single word or seen any movement from her lips. "That's got to earn you at least ten house points." She looked around for Snape, but the Potions master had moved on without glancing back.
Despite the smile plastered on her face, Hermione looked crestfallen that her good work hadn't been acknowledge.
"Hey, don't worry about him," said Teddie, squeezing Hermione's shoulder. "In a real war, the opposing side isn't going to stop and compliment you on your use of Nonverbal magic. Besides, we already know you're brilliant."
"Thanks, Teddie," said Hermione.
"Miss Green!" Professor Snape snapped from the other side of the room. "When you're quite finished offering positive support, maybe you would like to join me."
Teddie winked at Hermione and scurried over to Snape's side. "You could at least pretend to be interested in people outside Slytherin," she said. "Hermione just executed a perfectly good nonverbal shield, and you didn't even bat an eye lid. She's the only one who has succeeded so far."
"Over eager know-it-all's are the least of my worries, Miss Green," said Snape, stiffly. He was observing two Ravenclaws. Since the classes were much smaller and widely spread apart in year six, all four houses took lessons together; up until now they had been split between two houses only.
Snape moved on and Teddie followed like an obedient puppy at his heels. They passed over two Hufflepuffs and Slytherins and made their way back to the Gryffindors.
Teddie noticed that Snape has his eyes on Harry and Weasley. She prepared herself for fireworks as she observed the two - Ron was almost purple in the face, his lips puckered out like a fish as he desperately tried to avoid being caught mouthing the words; while Harry stood, waiting patiently, his wand aloft in front of him.
"Pathetic, Weasley," Snape snapped. "Here - let me show you -"
Snape shoved Ron aside and stepped up to Harry, his wand aloft and pointed directly at the sixteen-year-old Gryffindor. Teddie sucked in a breath as, all over the room, students stopped what they were doing and turned to watch. From the corner of her eye, Teddie caught Malfoy smirking and Pansy sniggering into her robes.
Harry tensed visibly. His fingers tightened around his wand, and he yelled. "PROTEGO!" instinctively.
Teddie gasped. Her hair blew backwards as she felt the magic of Harry's shield fly past her, while the force of it was enough to send Snape stumbling backwards into a desk. "That was not a nonverbal spell, Harry," she whispered, desperately.
"I -" Harry started. He stopped as Snape righted himself, his face sour, and a scowl on his lips.
"Did you forget the part where I instructed you to practice nonverbal spells, Potter?" Snape sneered.
"Yes," said Harry, stiffly.
"Yes, sir."
"There's no need to call me 'sir,' Professor."
Teddie's eyes widened, and she stared at Harry.
"Detention, Saturday night, my office," said Snape. "I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter… not even 'the Chosen One.'"