Chapter Seven

"Today," squeaked Professor Flitwick, "we will be starting Appearance Charms and Glamours. They are highly complex, but I don't expect you to be able to perform them straight away."

He smiled encouragingly at his mixed class of Ravenclaws and Gryffindors.

"The first charm we will be learning, when performed correctly, affects the appearance of your hair."

Several girls gasped and began to look anxious.

"What if we don't perform it correctly?" asked Mandy Brocklehurst.

"Now, now, there's no need to worry!" said their diminutive professor. "A simple finite incantatem will put most things back to rights! Shall we practise that first?"

Several of the students began to nod frantically. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Louise Frost yawn and begin to change the colour of her fingernails.

"Altogether now!" said Professor Flitwick. "A circular upright motion and … finite incantatem!"

"FINITE INCANTATEM!" cried the class in unison.

The huge flash of white light that resulted temporalily blinded several people.

"What happened?" sobbed Padma Patil. "Is my hair ok?"

"Oh dear, oh dear," said Professor Flitwick, "I certainly didn't expect that, but I assume one of our number must have been exposed to a long term glamour which the combined effect of our spell casting has removed. It would have had to be cast by a very talented charms master, indeed, to have lasted sixteen years!"

He looked around at his students, examining them for any changes, spotted Harry, and promptly fell of his chair.

"Great Merlin!" he squeaked.

The entire class looked at Harry and gasped.

"What is it?" said Harry frantically, "What's wrong with me?!"

It was Ronnie who recovered first.

"Well," she said slowly, "not that it's a bad thing but, well, you look like Snape."

Harry moaned. "Why can't my life be normal?"

Luckily, Charms was the last class of the day and Harry and Ronnie were free to hurry back to their dormitory as soon as Flitwick dismissed his students.

Harry examined himself in the full length mirror Ronnie had insisted be installed in the bathroom.

He sighed in relief. "Oh, thank Merlin, I didn't get his nose."

"That must have been from your mother's side," noted Ronnie, "It's really just the hair that's noticeable."

Harry nodded. "It's not too bad though," he said, "at least it stays where I want it to, now. And having perfect eyesight makes up inheriting Severus' sneer."

Ronnie patted him on the back. "You're taking this very well," she said, "I'm proud of you."

Harry turned sideways. "And as long as I keep my Rippling Quidditch Toned MusclesTM, I don't think anyone will really pay that much attention to the rest of me."

Ronnie nodded, "Too true. Now, how about we go visit Sirius and Remus? We might be able to find out what they were talking about earlier."

"Sounds good," said Harry, "Let's go!"

Harry knocked nervously on the door to Remus Lupin's private quarters.

"Harry!" cried Sirius as he pulled open the door, "It's great to see you again!"

He pulled his Godson into a bear-hug.

"I got your note," he added with a smile, "and I don't blame you for me dying – that was my own silly fault! And I don't mind that Severus is your Father either, we never really hated each other – we were," he paused and gave Harry the Double Thumbs Up, "just pretending!"

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, good. I had hoped that might have been the case."

Remus appeared at the door. "Are you going to invite Harry and Ronnie in, Sirius, or just talk to them in the hallway all night?" he asked, smiling gently.

"Oh, right!" said Sirius. "In you come!"

As the two teenagers entered, they heard a faint barking.

"Excuse me," said Remus as he hurried off into an adjoining room.

Sirius gestured for Harry and Ronnie to sit as he bustled around making hot chocolate.

"So, Ron," he said, "not wanting to be rude or anything, but you seem to have changed a bit …"

Ronnie waved a hand flippantly. "Oh, that. Hermione just got bored with having no female company, besides Ginny."

"Ah," said Sirius, nodding understandingly, "I see. Ginny's turned into quite the money maker, hasn't she?"

"Yes," said Ronnie, "but most people just call her a whore."

"Oh," said Sirius, a bit awkwardly.

Remus re-entered the room.

"Sirius," he sighed, "could you please put some pants on?"

"Oh Moony," said Sirius, "You know I love you, but pants are for squares!"

Remus shook his head tiredly. "We'll talk about this later," he said.

"So," said Sirius, sitting down on the couch opposite to the one occupied by Harry and Ronnie and pulling Remus down next to him, "what have you two been up to?"

Ronnie immediately launched into a detailed explanation of their first day back.

"And then we came here!" she concluded.

"Sounds like an exciting first day back," said Remus.

Sirius stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Care Of Magical Creatures Professor, hmmm?"

"What was the news that you wanted to tell Sirius in class, Remus?" said Harry bluntly, who was too impatient to word his question a bit less bluntly.

"Oh, that," said Remus with a small smile.

He and Sirius exchanged a loving glance.

"We're daddies!" said Sirius excitedly.

"Say what?" replied Harry, slightly confused.

"Come on," said Remus, standing up and gesturing towards the closed door he had entered earlier.

Harry and Ronnie tip toed behind Remus into the room.

"Awwww!" breathed Ronnie, "They're so cute!"

One of the six tiny babies sifted in his sleep. Sirius peeped into the room.

"Right little rascals they are when awake though," he said indulgently.

"And they grow so fast," added Remus.

Ronnie nodded. "My mum says that all the time," she said.

Remus laughed quietly. "It's a little different for these guys," he explained, "they're half were-wolf, so they'll age about a year a month until they're physically six or seven, and then start age a bit slower than usual from then onwards."

"So they'll stay younger for longer?" asked Ronnie.

Remus nodded.

Harry looked at the were-wolf. "You don't look that young," he said apologetically.

Remus smiled. "I'm a lot older than you think," he confessed.

Sirius winked. "He's still got plenty of energy though."

Remus blushed and punched Sirius' shoulder. "Hush, you."