Chapter 27: First New Lessons

Though it was only the first day back, Albus was already working. He had just fished out a book that he removed from the shelves of the Hogwarts library when he had been named Headmaster, and was looking through it… hoping for more information.

"Secrets of the Darkest Art" was sitting in front of him and Albus was looking up for one particular chapter:

Tamper with the deepest mysteries—the source of life, the essence of self—only if prepared for consequences of the most extreme and dangerous kind. For the Horcrux is a very powerful object in which a Dark wizard or witch has hidden a fragment of his or her soul for the purpose of attaining immortality. Creating but a single Horcrux allows one to gain the ability to resurrect themselves as a sort of "phantom form" if their body is destroyed. It is possible to create more than one Horcrux and the more that one creates; the closer one is to achieving immortality. Creating multiple Horcruxes is suggested to be costly to the creator, by both diminishing their humanity and even physically disfiguring them. It is possible to put the wizard's or witch's soul back together, but it is excruciatingly painful. (See page 434 for more details how).

The first Horcrux was created by Herpo the Foul. Creation of a Horcrux is considered by many to be the foulest act of Dark magic, as it attempts to violate and push the laws of nature and morality to their limits. Horcruxes are objects considered to be so evil that even many who practice the most terrible kinds of Dark magic would never attempt to experiment with them.

The specific processes involved are known to involve a spell and a very horrible act. To split one's soul, one must also commit the most supreme act of evil—murder—which will then encase a portion of their fractured soul into a chosen object. The fractured soul fragment will always remain as it is when it was divided.

To create a Horcrux is to divide one's soul—the very "essence of who you are"—and it is therefore in the creation of a Horcrux that the victim will sooner or later—suffer severe consequences or the nasty side effects that comes with the Horcrux.

One of these such side-effects is the "dehumanising" effect the mutilation of one's soul. Of course, this initial consequence of dehumanisation has its own side effect by itself. The less human you become by Horcrux creation then the person in question will lose their sense of morality, increasing the likelihood that they will become even less human until there is nothing left. In other words, Horcrux creation may be thought of as a "downward spiral" until one reaches the limit, at which point they can't even be considered once human.

Albus sighed as he closed the book with disgust. The only known book that provides specific instruction on the creation of a Horcrux is Secrets of the Darkest Art, once held in the Hogwarts Library. Due to the book's extremely dark and dangerous nature, Albus decided to hide it away in his own private study. He did not destroy it, however—deciding to keep it around… just in case.

He laced his fingers together and rested his chin upon them as he thought about what he just read up on. Just a few months ago, when young Harry handed him the remains of the diary that caused all the attacks last year…

He shuddered at the memories as he got up and returned the book to his private study, once again, putting it on it's high shelf where he couldn't see it. It was too much of a reminder of his own dark past that he was unable to look at it for long.

"Well, sure didn't see this coming," called a somewhat put-out voice from above him.

Albus looked up from his large collection of books and at Everard who was brushing off his hat. "That kid is a little monster. Having a bad Dementor reaction isn't something to laugh at."

"And what do you mean by that, Everard?" Albus asked him politely turning his back on the shelves.

"That Malfoy boy," Everard answered shaking his head. "He's giving Harry a hard time because he passed out on the train."

"How is Harry anyway?" Albus asked calmly, though he was frowning. Dementors were no laughing matter, and he doubted very much that Draco fared any better.

"Oh, much better today," Everard explained. "Though he's in a bad mood for what Malfoy's saying. Can't really blame him for that. Anyway, I watched as they all got their schedules for today. And I need to know, just how many classes is Miss Granger taking this year?"

"I remember Minerva telling me that Miss Granger is taking every subject that Hogwarts has available," Albus confessed. "I believe that she applied her for a Time-Turner."

"Oh, really?" Phineas called scathingly. "You mean to tell me that you let a third-year girl have a Time-Turner? Even some of the older brats running around this pathetic excuse for a school are reckless with them and use it for their own advantages. She's just going to use it for who knows what!"

"You mean her classes?" Albus asked him smiling.

"Since when have you ever met a teenager that responsible?" Phineas called out indigently. "Besides, she'll crack under all that pressure soon enough. I bet that she'll be dropping her subjects like doxies in just a week."

"I personally hope so," Albus said gravely. "School is important, but it's not everything. If she continues then she'll be completely worn down in no time and will have to spend all her time focusing on her work."

"Oh, well, when you put it that way," Phineas said brightly. "Why didn't you make Potter do that? Save us the trouble of following him around all day and keeping a watch on…"

"We?" Dilys called rolling her eyes. "You only watched him once! And you did a very poor job if you ask me."

"Yes," Phineas said, pretending that he didn't hear that last part. "And let me tell you that I could think of many other things that I could've been doing instead of keeping an eye on such a trouble-making child…"

"Like what?" Dexter asked rolling his eyes. "Pretending to sleep and annoying the rest of us?"

"Why you idiotic…" Phineas began.

"Ok," Albus called, waving his hands down at them all as he looked to Everard, "Did Miss Granger tell anyone else about the Time-Turner?"

"Nope," Everard said with a popping sound and Albus nodded in head—expecting no less from her as Phineas snorted in disbelief. "She just changed the subject when they asked about her crazy schedule," Everard went on. "Last I saw them, they were all heading up to Divination."

Albus shook his head exasperated. "I have a feeling that they might regret that," he said with a slight laugh. "Just follow them around like always, Everard. I wish to hear how they think of these new classes."

Everard gave him a slightly annoyed look, but he turned and left.

"You mean to tell me that you're going to have him followed around even now?" Phineas asked with another snort. "Dumbledore, it's only the first day back. You can't expect Black to bother wasting his time going after the boy now do you? And speaking of Divination, why do you insist on having that old fraud of a teacher here? I always thought that you hated that subject."

"I don't necessary hate it," Albus explained to him. "And you are right that I never enjoyed it either. But I have my reasons for keeping Sybill here, as you already know Phineas."

"Oh, right," Phineas yawned in a bored way. "Something about a prophecy foretelling the fate of the world rests in the hands of a kid?"

"Sybill has no idea just how much danger she would be in if she were to leave the safety of the school," Albus explained.

"Just do whatever you want," he said as he leaned back on his seat. "Your actions are just annoying me."

*Later*

"Yes, Everard?" Albus called as he got up and ready to head down to lunch.

"Just thought I let you know," Everard said. "Trelawney was predicting Potter's death this time. Said she saw a Grim in his tea-leaves."

Albus shook his head in a incredulous way. Why wasn't he surprised at this? "Is Harry worried about this?"

"He was disturbed," Everard admitted. "At least until I overheard McGonagall talking about that old fraud when they went to her class next. Saying something about if he dies then he doesn't have to hand his homework in."

Albus had to fight back a laugh. "Yes, Minerva doesn't have any trouble voicing her opinion on Divination."

"As for the boys, they are starting to get suspicious to how Granger is getting to all her subjects."

"Yes, so would I if one of my best friends was taking so many classes," Albus agreed. "Well, I don't think we need to worry now. There doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary at the moment. I think we can leave Harry alone for the rest of the day."

*A few days later*

Albus rubbed his tired eyes as he finished writing his weekly report to Fudge, explaining that Sirius Black hadn't been spotted anywhere around the castle grounds and everything seemed to be as calm as usual. Just as he sent the owl off through the window, he looked up to see Dexter sitting there looking a little irritated about being made to wait to give his report.

"Sorry about that, Dexter," Albus said courteously. "But I wanted to get that letter over with as soon as possible."

Dexter shrugged, "I can't say that I blame you for that," he admitted. "Though you might wish that you waited with that before you have to waste parchment and write another explanation to the Ministry about what happened."

"Oh, no," Albus groaned. "What happened?"

"Well, how do I put this?" Dexter said thinking it over. "Hagrid has just ended his first ever class with the third years…"

"And?" Albus asked slowly, not liking where this was going.

"Well," Dexter said again uncomfortably. "Not completely sure what happened. Since they teach that class outside… but I was watching the front doors for them all to come back, and Hagrid came in carrying that Malfoy boy who had this big gash on his arm and covered with blood."

Albus groaned. Despite that boy being a rude, arrogant, and spoiled child—he was still one of his students and if there was one thing he hated it was when they got hurt when he was supposed to be protecting them.

"I knew it!" Phineas's voice called out. "I knew that making that oaf a teacher was a mistake. But nooooooo! Does anyone here listen to my advice? Why I outta…"

"No one takes your advice because no one likes you!"

"What? Why you dim-witted, poor excuse for a…"

"That's enough from both of you!" Albus called over the noise as he turned back to Dexter and asked with more urgency, "Just what happened?"

"I overheard the rest of the class talking about it when they all finally came in," Dexter went on, rubbing his hand over his face. "After Hagrid came in with the boy, the Slytherins were all yelling and complaining about getting Hagrid sacked…"

"Which he should be!" Phineas called.

"Enough Phineas!" Albus said to him angrily. "I will not be getting rid of Hagrid unless I am forced to." He turned back to Dexter—but not after feeling a bit of vindictive pleasure at seeing Phineas's furious look. "And then?"

"The Gryffindors were all defending Hagrid," Dexter went on.

"Of course they would," Phineas said; Albus didn't even bother to tell him off.

"From what I gathered, the Hippogriff either went mad and attacked Malfoy—or Malfoy insulted it and it attacked him," Dexter finished with a shrug. "Personally, I'm for the second explanation. You know how much Slytherins love to make up stories to get sympathy."

"I resent that!" Phineas yelled.

Albus thought this over. "I cannot believe that Hagrid would have any trouble controlling a Hippogriff. So yes, I would have to agree that young Draco did something wrong." He looked up at Dilys who sighed unhappily, already guessing what he was about to ask her to do.

"Dilys?"

"I know, I know," she said grimly. "I'm to go and check on Malfoy in the Hospital Wing."

"Actually, I was going to let you have the night off, but since you bring it up…?" Albus teased lightly and she looked outraged. After having a few minutes of indigent shouting, she left in a huff.

Albus shook his head fondly as he looked back to Dexter and said, "Follow the trio around. I'm sure that you'll get the whole story from them."

Dexter walked right of his portrait and left Albus to deal with an angry Phineas.

*Later*

It was just after dinner when Albus was reading a message from the governors about the Hippogriff attack, when Dexter returned and told him what he overheard from the trio. "From what they said," he went on, "Hagrid showed them the Hippogriffs and was telling them all how proud Hippogriffs were and apparently Malfoy wasn't listening. Harry says that he's willing to bet that Malfoy was planning on some way to interrupt the lesson. Bet he didn't plan on getting hurt in the process though."

"Pathetic," Dilys called from above him. "I was watching him in the Hospital Wing and he's faking everything! I've seen many injuries and accidents when I visit my portrait at St. Mungo's, and I can tell you all that he's already healed up! There's not even a scar! But he's still whining that it hurts."

"What I tell you?" Dexter called wisely. "He's just milking it for all it's worth."

"How do you all know that he's not in any real pain?" Phineas called.

"Maybe because when Madam Pomfrey went to her office to get something, he stopped moaning and was smirking to himself?" Dilys said bitterly. "And when she came back in, he started it all over again!"

Albus shook his head. "He's doing this to try and get Hagrid fired. Even though Lucius is no longer on the Governors Board, he still holds a great deal of influence over the Ministry. They aren't going to let this go."

"They're not going to make you fire Hagrid are they?" Dexter asked with concern.

"I doubt they'll get the chance," Albus said, thinking it over. "No, I am sure that I can convince them that Hagrid meant no harm… but the Hippogriff is another matter."

He frowned as he looked back up and asked, "What did you overhear about the Hippogriff?"

"I heard his name was Buckbeak," Dexter answered. "He's the big gray one I think?"

Albus nodded, remembering seeing the beautiful creature himself several times. Oh, he felt even worse for Hagrid, he knew that Buckbeak was Hagrid's favorite Hippogriff out of the herd that he bred.

"Turns out that Harry was actually able to ride him," Dexter said which brought Albus back to earth with an unpleasant surprise.

"He rode on the Hippogriff?" Everard asked eagerly while several others cried out either concern or impressed.

"I can't believe that Hagrid would let a child actually ride on of those things during his first lesson!" Dilys called out in horror. "As much as I love Hagrid, he shouldn't have moved so fast!"

"Yes," Albus agreed quietly. "I know that he would never want any of the students hurt… but there is still a chance that it could end badly if he gets to confident or goes to quickly. Was Harry or any of the others injured?"

"Why am I not surprised that Potter is at the top of your 'To Worry' list?" Phineas said and Albus pretended that he didn't even hear him as Dexter assured him, "No, Harry's fine. So are all the others, minus Malfoy of course. Harry said that flying a Hippogriff isn't his favorite form of flying…"

Albus smiled to himself, knowing full well how uncomfortable on the back of a Hippogriff can be and privately agreed with Harry. He sighed as he stood up. "I'll be heading down to Hagrid's hut," he announced. He knew that Hagrid must be scared out of his mind by now. He didn't see him at dinner, which wasn't a good sign, and wanted to make sure that he was alright.

"Alright," Dexter said comfortably yawning and leaning back. "You might run into our trio while you're down there. I saw them leaving to go and pay him a visit."

Albus smiled. "That would be good for Hagrid."

He left not long after that and headed straight down the staircases and reached the Great Hall in no time at all. But as he reached the front doors, he saw it opening and he stepped back into the shadows to see what was going on.

"But Hagrid!"

"We just wanted to make sure that you were ok!"

"We're allowed to walk across the grounds! It's not even dark yet!"

"I DON' CARE!" he suddenly heard Hagrid's voice shouting. And a second later he pushed Harry, Ron, and Hermione into the room with such force that they fell onto the stone. "IT'S NOT SAFE THESE DAYS! YER COULD'VE BEN KILLED!"

"From what?" Ronald Weasley shouted back loudly as he untangled himself from the other two and stood up to glare back at Hagrid fiercely. "Since when was it a crime to go and visit you?"

"Never yer mind!" Hagrid growled harshly. "You three go straigh' up to the common room! 'nd I don' want yer to visit me again after hours! Yer hear me?"

The trio all gave him grumpy looks before they turned and walked right up the grand staircase without even looking back.

"He's making it sound like Sirius Black's already gotten pass the Dementors," Albus heard Harry say bitterly once Hagrid had slammed the door shut.

"He's just worried about you, Harry," Hermione said, though she too looked upset. "But really, I thought that he would know better. You aren't supposed to know that Sirius Black's after you. He really should've known better then to react like that…"

"Don't you mean overreact?" Ron asked grouchily.

Albus felt his insides freeze as he watched them all head up the stairs and out of his sight and earshot. He had no idea that Harry already knew that Sirius Black was after him. They were all doing everything in their power to keep this hidden so not to worry the boy and let him enjoy his youth like he should've been all along. But he got a quick glimpse of Harry's face, he noticed that he didn't seem as scared as he thought he would be. Then again… he supposed that he should've seen this coming. The trio was infamous for knowing more than they were supposed to.

Sighing, he finished his walk to the front doors and when he stepped out, he saw Hagrid's massive back marching off in the direction of his hut. Shaking his head slightly, he called out, "Hagrid!"

Hagrid turned around with that bad-tempered look, at least until he saw who it was and whitened. Albus smiled kindly back at him as he calmly walked to him and silently gestured to accompany him back to his hut.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir," Hagrid croaked, and Albus couldn't help but notice the soaking wet beard and the smell of alcohol on his breath.

He clapped Hagrid's large arm and said, "We really must do something about that drinking habit of your's Hagrid."

"Y-yes, o' course, sir," he said with a slight stutter.

They both walked on in silence, Hagrid looking at him every once in awhile with a scared look on his face. Albus smiled back at him and said, "I wanted to come see you about the Hippogriff."

Hagrid flinched horribly as they neared the cabin.

"And I just wanted to let you know that I don't blame you in the slightest, Hagrid," Albus assured him once they reached the paddock.

Hagrid stopped dead as Albus continued to walk as if nothing had happened. By the time that he reached the paddock, Hagrid had come back to his sense and quickly caught up with him.

"Y-yeh don't sir?" he asked croakily.

"Hagrid? How long have I known you?" Albus asked kindly. "I know that you would never let any of the students be in harm's way. Despite your history of—ah—keeping creatures that are best left to the professionals, I know that you would never let things get out of your hands. If you are worried about your job, Hagrid… I'm afraid that you'll continue to be part of my staff as long as I have something to say about it."

He looked at the herd of Hippogriffs that were all roaming the paddock, their beaks in the dirt and digging for worms while Hagrid let out a sob of relief. Albus patted his arm gently as Hagrid blew into his large handkerchief and sobbed out, "Thank yeh, professor Dumbledore sir. Yer have no idea how worrie' I was. I though fer sure that…"

Albus shook his head and looked back to the Hippogriffs. "I mean it Hagrid. I'm not going to fire you unless I have no other choice. But now tell me…" he gestured towards the Hippogriffs. "Which one attacked young Mr. Malfoy?"

"Thar… thar be Buckbeak over here," Hagrid sniffed and he blew into his handkerchief and pointed to a beautiful grey Hippogriff.

"They really are beautiful aren't they?" Albus asked, and without waiting for an answer, climbed over the fence to where Buckbeak was digging. The Hippogriff looked up at him and surveyed him through his large eyes. Without breaking eye contact, Albus bowed lowed and waited for Buckbeak to bow back before he walked over and began to stroke his silky neck.

As he petted him, he looked back at Hagrid who was watching them both. "Tell me, what happened today, Hagrwid?"

"I'm not ter sure meself professor," Hagrid admitted tearfully. "I was telling them all just 'ow proud and beautiful they ar sir. When I turned around, Malfoy was on the ground, sir."

Albus nodded. "Yes, I overheard some of the students talking about how it was Draco who messed up your first class? Apparently, he wasn't paying attention and insulted Buckbeak here. I am sorry, Hagrid. I know just how much you wanted your first class to be a success."

Hagrid sniffled; Albus didn't think that Hagrid needed to know that it was his portraits who told him about what happened.

"School gov'nors have bin told I know…" said Hagrid croaked suddenly blowing hard. "They kep' telling me that I started ter big and shoulda done something tiny like flobberworms or Kneazles. Jus' thought it'd make a good firs' lesson's is all. Is all my ruddy fault…"

"And if things had turned out differently than it would have been an excellent first lesson, Hagrid," Albus told him sadly. "I'm afraid that if Draco was paying attention then it never would've happened. You started off with a subject that was sure to get them all interested like any good teacher would do."

"Ar, I don' know professor Dumbledore, sir," Hagrid moaned. "Maybe you shoulda found another teacher. Someone who knows wha' ter do in class."

Albus led Buckbeak back to the edge of the fence to where Hagrid stood there shaking and Buckbeak put his head near Hagrid's hand, demanding to be stroked. Hagrid smiled at him and continued to pat his beak as Buckbeak closed his eyes lazily.

Albus smiled at them both before he said, "You don't really mean that do you Hagrid? Now, I wasn't so sure how well I would do at my very first lesson either and I had to go through many trials and errors until I found what worked for me. And let me tell you that I wouldn't have traded that experience for anything. In fact, there are plenty of times when I wish that I was still in the Transfiguration classroom. Now…" he clapped his hands together and climbed back over the fence. "I want you to clean yourself up and get ready for class tomorrow. I believe you have it with the fifth year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws?"

Hagrid sobbed again as Albus led him back inside his cabin and set him down at the table. "And I think that I would also be for the best if you don't drink anymore tonight. Keep this up and you won't be able to get out of bed tomorrow to join us all for breakfast."

Hagrid nodded and promised him that he would do better. Albus was about to leave when he remembered, "Oh, and Hagrid?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Next time, I think that it would be for the best if you don't shout at your friends when they came down to make sure that you're alright," he said and Hagrid looked at him in surprise. "Perhaps if you were to explain it to them more gently they would've gotten the message much better?"

Still smiling at him, he turned and left the hut.

*A Few Days Later*

Albus was putting a few more books back up on the shelves when Armando waved at him from above the desk.

"Well, Malfoy finally went back to class today," Armando informed him. "He turned up halfway through Potions. I watched him go skipping down to the Dungeons. Can't tell you exactly what happened I'm afraid. You know there aren't any pictures down there. You really should consider putting some in though."

"But you have something to tell me anyway about what happened?" Albus asked, knowing full well that Severus favored his Slytherins.

Armando shrugged. "That Snape sure isn't making himself popular… neither is Malfoy come to think of it. I overheard Weasley complaining about them when they were heading up for lunch. Apparently Malfoy is going around trying to get sympathy from everyone after what happened to his arm. You know that he's still wearing the bandages? Which doesn't change the fact that Madam Pomfrey never would've let him leave if he wasn't 100 percent recovered? He got Snape on his side and made Harry and Ron prepare his ingredients for him."

"Why that disgusting little slime ball," several of the portraits yelled and Phineas chuckled in appreciation.

"So what else?" Albus asked shaking his head.

Armando shrugged. "Other than a lot of insults and swearing on Mr. Weasley's part, it sounded like yet another bad day."

Albus was thinking that over just as Armando said, "And Malfoy was trying to gloat our young Mr. Potter into going after Black."

Albus blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?" he asked hurriedly as he froze.

"From what Harry told Hermione," Armando went on as the other portraits looked at him eagerly. "Malfoy as good as told them that he was faking it all. And then they heard about how Black was spotted."

"Yes," Albus said, nodding at the paper on his desk talking about how a Muggle woman had spotted him while she was hanging her laundry out to dry not too far from here. "I fear that Sirius Black is indeed coming here."

"You don't think that Black will actually get in here do you?" he asked concerned.

"Remembering him from school," Albus said sadly, "And his gift at sneaking around and unable to get caught, I can't rule anything out. But what did you mean that Draco was trying to gloat Harry into going after Black?"

"Well, you know that the Malfoy's have been serving Voldemort all this time," he said with disgust. "So they would know about who Black was…"

Albus had gone very white and asked with a slight air of panic in his tone, "He didn't tell Harry the truth did he?"

"Thankfully, no," Armando assured him, and Albus felt a warm relief go through him. "From what it sounded like… Malfoy apparently thought that Harry already knew. He was telling Harry to go out and try to get revenge on Black."

Albus was making mental notes to have a talk with Severus to keep a closer eye on his Slytherins. And it looked like he wasn't the only one thinking that.

"And I really think that you should tell off your Potion's Master," Armando said rather coldly. "I overheard Longbottom crying. Something about Snape threatening to poison his toad if he got the potion wrong."

Albus felt his jaw drop. "He did what?"

"Yeah," Armando informed him as the other paintings let out shouts of anger and insults. Albus couldn't believe how Severus could be so cruel to a child that he would actually threaten to kill his pet. He was sure that Severus would never actually kill the toad… but still… to scare a child like that?

He shook his head; he was definitely going to be having a word with him about this. "Anything else?"

Armando shook his head, "Just that Hermione made a little slip."

When Albus looked confused, he elaborated, "They were all climbing the stairs together and when the boys weren't looking she used the Time Turner and disappeared. When they looked around for her, they saw her running up the stairs again."

"Do they suspect anything?" Albus asked, wondering what they were going to do if they discovered what Miss Granger was hiding.

"They're curious," he admitted. "But they didn't ask to many questions."

Albus just nodded before he brightened up and asked, "That's good to hear. You can all take the night off. I know that they have their first class with Remus a little later and I want to ask Remus in person what happens.

*Later*

Albus was waiting a little impatiently for Remus to arrive, though he didn't show it. He was drumming his fingers on the table while all the students started to pour in like a flood. Finally, Remus Lupin came in as one of the last—and Albus was glad to see him looking much healthier than he had been all year. The House-elves' food was really doing a wonders for him.

He smiled at Remus, who returned it brightly as he took the seat Albus offered right next to him and sat down. Once the food appeared and the talk broke out, Albus took the chance to ask him, "So, Remus… how was your first class today?"

"It went well," Remus said, sounding like he had been expecting him to ask. Which, Albus reminded himself, he probably was. "We worked on Boggarts today and they all seemed to enjoy themselves."

"Yes, I overheard some of them on my way down here in fact, and ah… what was this about one of my staff members in a dress?" he asked fighting a smile.

Remus chuckled as he looked down the table to see Severus looking as cold and unemotional as usual before he said in a whisper as if afraid that Severus would hear him, "Mr. Neville Longbottom's Boggart was Professor Snape."

Albus raised his eyebrows as he glanced over to the Gryffindor table to see Neville looking cheerful as he talked eagerly with several other third years. To hear that Severus scared him the most surprised Albus… but only a little.

"And let me guess…" Albus said with a slight smile, already figuring out what Remus did.

"I merely offered a helpful suggestion," Remus answered with a smile.

Albus laughed as he glanced over at the boy again before saying, "Well, it sounds like you've helped with Mr. Longbottom's confidence, who I've heard has always been rather low. It seems like it won't be long now before you become a favorite teacher."

Remus shrugged. "Oh, I doubt that. I merely try to listen to them and make the classes enjoyable."

"Which is why you are a natural teacher, Remus," Albus finished for him happily. But his smile soon turned into a grimace as he asked him, "By the way… did you by any chance read the paper today?"

Remus's expression also turned solemn as he nodded. "Black isn't far from here." He looked up at the tables and Albus didn't need to guess to know what he was looking at… or rather who he was looking at. Which brought up another question…

"Ah, yes, and how did Harry do?"

"He answered my question correctly," Remus said, now looking up at the ceiling at the clear starry sky. "He's got a lot of potential. But I did notice that he's a bit too modest. Not at all like James was."

"Yes," Albus agreed with a small chuckle. "James loved attention and went out of his way to get it, while his son tries hard to avoid it at all costs. If you ask me, Harry is just like Lily used to be. Very humble and kind… and just like Lily—has the urge to always defend the underdog."

'Yes,' he thought back to Harry's last two years and he had to admit that Harry always seemed to go out of his way to help the losing side and still win. Something that Lily was also known for doing while she was still a student. He glanced back down at Severus sadly before he turned back to Remus who was chucking at the memories and asked, his smiled disappearing again, "Do you really think that Sirius will try to kill Harry?"

"It certainly seems that way," Albus sighed dejectedly.

Remus ran his hand through his hair in an irritated way. "I just can't believe it. Out of all the people I knew… Sirius Black was one of the last people that I would ever suspect to join Voldemort. He spent every waking second at Godric's Hallow and played with Harry. To think that he would ever try to kill that same baby that he once loved so dearly? I just can't believe it."

"I know," Albus said sadly. "I sometimes have trouble believing it as well. But why else would he come here if not for Harry?"

He heaved a sigh again as he asked, "You will keep a close eye on Harry for me won't you, Remus?"

When Remus nodded and they let the matter drop… leaving Albus thinking that all they could do now was hope that their protection would be enough.

(Sorry for taking so long. Had some other things to do. But to make up for it, I give you all a long chapter! Hope you all enjoy it! And next time we have Halloween with Sirius breaking into the castle! What will Albus do when he suspects that Sirius might be lurking in the school?)