Chapter 9:

As promised, here are the answers to the first 3 questions asked for chapter 6:

Elfwyn: Oops! In a few chapter, you will see the correct answer. You're close. Very close, just not quite there with the Lord of magic thing.

Raion: See above, he's not a magical creature (yet). If you think that's sweet, just wait for Chapter 8!

Alicia Spinnet: You rule with your original question, yes he will stay as Shaun.

Snape seemed nervous. It showed in his aura, but Shaun was far from skilled enough to work out why. He shook it off: if he didn't, he would probably end up insane. Curiosity was an underestimated menace.

It wasn't a long walk, the DADA classroom was less than a corridor away from Flitwick's domain. The two Slytherins kept their heads held high, as if not even acknowledging the lesser life forms milling around their feet. Shaun promptly ruined the illusion by waving friendlily at Sarah Hopkins as she scuttled past. She accepted the gesture with a brilliant smile, and proceeded to tell her friends in furious whispers and several hand motions, what two Slytherins and a Gryffindor had done to her. Once the understood, the little Ravenclaws nodded sagely. One of them appeared to ask a question, which the others considered and nodded in unison. The one who had asked beckoned at someone across the hall. The girl turned and Shaun nearly fell over when he saw the Slytherin crest on her robes. They turned a corner and he knew no more about the matter.

The DADA classroom was almost exactly the same as the Charms classroom, but it had chairs instead of stools. Thank God! thought Shaun as he leant back, for the first time in a seat with a back. What was wrong with this place?

A figure burst through a door in the back of the classroom. She caught sight of her target quickly. His white hair made him stand out in the crowd of 7th years , and besides he looked half-asleep...

Shaun felt rather than saw the spell speeding toward him. He rolled off his chair almost lazily, and stood fluidly. His eyes were still half-closed; he was working purely on instincts here. Another spell whizzed past his ear as he tilted his head to one side. "I should probably tell you," he said sleepily, "that if you hit Severus Snape, Sirius Black or Remus Lupin, I will be very unhappy."

The mysterious attacker stepped from the shadows. "No need to worry," she said, smiling appreciative of his skill. "You can return to your seat." Shaun nodded and slumped onto Snape's shoulder, who he immediately shoved him irritably onto the desk, which his head hit so hard it actually bounced back up a little. Remus scowled at him, but Snape shrugged dismissively.

"My name is Professor Callidus," said the woman simply. Her deep mahogany hair was tied from her face in a simple braid. She wore robes that were tight so she could move around in battle more easily.

She was also a great fan of bluntness.

"I need to know your level in DADA right now," she said, "Pair up according to last name!" she barked suddenly. Shaun just stood up, waiting, like any arrogant Slytherin, for his partner to come to him. He shouldn't have been shocked, he really shouldn't have been. After all, E and F were so close in the alphabet.

And he knew his mother's maiden name was Evans.

She looked a little flustered, and when she approached him, she immediately put a hand to his head. "Snape pushed you really hard, Frost. Are you sure you're okay?"

Shaun nodded, slightly bemused. "My skull is so hard I barely felt it," he explained sheepishly, "Also, I am totally exhausted and was still asleep while I was standing up, so I didn't realise until somebody woke me up." He said, glaring pointedly at Snape, who, apparently, could feel eyes boring into him. Snape turned and gave him a sweet smile before turning back to his opponent.

"Shall we start then?" he asked Evans politely. "Wait, who are you again?"

Evans appeared to be at the end of her tether.

"Sorry," he quirked a smile, "Half an hours sleep here."

Her sympathy broke through the flimsy barrier that was holding everyone who hadn't had direct emotional contact with's emotions from his senses. He swayed a little, and Snape turned to give a cursory glance. Once assured Shaun had not collapsed on the floor again, he resumed his duel.

"I'm Evans." She blushed, "You can call me Lily if you like."

Shaun shrugged, "And you can call me Shaun. Shall we?"

"Sure." Lily shrugged and immediately sent a stunner at him. The barrage of spells kept coming, but every single one missed its target because of Shaun's obsessive dodging and weaving. Soon, half the class was on the floor from misaimed spells on Lily's part.

"Hit me!" Lily shouted in exasperation.

"I don't need to yet!" called back Shaun cheerfully.

Finally, somebody evidently got tired of being enervated constantly, and surreptitiously sent a Cutting Curse at the girl. Shaun yelled in rage as slashes appeared all over Lily's body. Shaun's eyes flashed to Carrow, an annoying, brutish Slytherin whom he greatly disliked.

He really needed to let off steam, and Carrow was right there, smirking at the injured Gryffindor, trying very hard not to scream in pain.

"YOU BASTARD!" Shaun yelled, leaping at Carrow. He registered the surprise on Carrow's face before he struck. His fists pounded into the boy's face while Callidus looked on, slightly amused.

Snape cleared his throat. "Frost." He interrupted, "The girl?"

"Oh, yes!" Shaun said, leaving Carrow groaning on the floor. He knelt by Lily, and placed his hands on Lily's arms. "My apologies, I should've done this sooner." As he spoke, cuts began to fade, only one leaving a scar (A deep one on her left forearm where the curse had hit initially). Lily looked on in amazement. Within minutes, Shaun stood up and brushed his hands together. "All done. You won't need to go to the Hospital Wing, I'm sure."

Shaun glanced at his watch and raised his arched eyebrows. "Snape," he called. "It's one o'clock. Time for LUNCH!"

Snape gave a long-suffering sigh, though he'd known Shaun for all of three hours.

"Lily, you're welcome to join us. We're going to eat in...Snape, where are we going to eat?"

"In the old classroom on the 2nd floor," Snape grumbled. "Come along Frost."

With that, they left. Lily didn't want to be left behind with the, admittedly scary, DADA professor, and so she followed.

That one action changed history.

HELLO!

How is everybody today?

Question:

Why does Shaun need to work off steam? (a.k.a why is he so grumpy?)

Check earlier chapters to answer

Urban Angel xxx

P.S I'm sooo sorry that this is so late! I was lost on the road of life...

(Prize to anybody who recognises that ;) )