Maggie glanced over to her mum and Professor Snape in time to watch the latter turn and stride away. She hoped whatever it was had nothing to do with her discussion with the professor. She really did think the idea of studying potions with him was fascinating, although she knew from her discussions with Harry, Ron, and Hermione that the professor could be a git.

Watching her mum walk back to the group, she noticed the tight set of her mother's mouth. Maggie doubted anyone else would have noticed it, but she knew her mum way too well. Something was wrong, and judging by the way her mum was glancing around, something was very wrong.

"Ok, students, that will conclude our lesson for today," her mother said quickly.

Maggie glanced at her watch and was surprised to see that it was only two o'clock. She was about to say something to her mother, perhaps her mum thought it later than it was, but that woman from the Ministry spoke first.

"Where has Professor Snape gone?" she asked in that sickly-sweet voice of hers which made Maggie cringe.

"He said he was ill and would return to the school. If that doesn't answer your question, I'm afraid you will have to ask him yourself," her mother replied coldly, her eyes narrowed. "Now, come along students."

Maggie frowned and turned as she felt a hand on her arm.

"Is something wrong, do you think?" Harry asked, his hand still gently on her arm. Ron and Hermione stood next to Harry, glancing at her curiously.

Maggie placed a hand over Harry's, "I don't know. It's a bit strange is all, but I'm sure there's some explanation." She smiled over at him, loving how cute his disheveled hair made him. "Once we get back to the house I'll try to ask her what is wrong. We'd better hurry before we get left behind."

They followed the rest of the class, Harry had taken her hand and he'd held it as they walked. It was a pity, she thought as they entered the underground station, that they belonged to two different worlds. He was fun to hang around with, as were his two best friends. Maybe, though, if she were taking some lessons on potions, she could see him some more. She mentally sighed, yeah right. Her mother would never allow her to have potions lessons. Maybe that's why the professor left. Maybe they had argued about that…

Getting on the train, she and Harry grabbed a pair of available seats near the back of the train, while the others were near the front.

"Wotcher, Harry," a feminine voice said behind them.

"Tonks?" Harry responded quietly, a smile gracing his face as he turned to glance at the old woman seated behind them.

"Turn back around, Harry. You don't want to draw attention to us," the woman replied quietly.

"What are you doing here, Tonks?" he asked, turning towards Maggie, though his eyes kept darting to the woman behind them as the train began to move.

"Watching you, of course," the woman replied. "Do you really think Dumbledore would leave you unprotected?" She smiled, "I haven't been introduced to your friend yet, Harry."

"Oh, sorry. Tonks, this is Maggie Smith. Her mother is-"

"I know who her mother is, Harry," she cut him off gently.

Maggie had been looking forward, watching her mother and Umbridge. The latter woman was beginning to pay more attention to her and Harry. She turned to look at Harry, and also so the woman behind her would hear her, "Umbridge is watching us."

"We'd better end the chatter, then," Tonks said.

Harry leaned closer to Maggie to whisper in her ear, "I'll tell you as much as I can when we get to the house, I promise." He pulled away and smiled at her, "Thanks for keeping an eye on Umbridge."

Maggie huffed, "That woman irritates me."

"She hasn't been nearly as bad with your mum as she was with our other professors. We kept wishing Snape would hex her when she observed his class."

Maggie laughed as the train pulled to a halt at their stop. She rose and led Harry after the rest of the class. She wondered if Tonks had followed them onto the next train and she kept glancing around.

Harry laughed quietly. "You won't find her," he said, leaning close and whispering. "She's a metamorphmagus and can change her appearance."

Maggie's eyes widened, "That is so cool!"

"I'm sure it must come in handy," he replied.

They passed the rest of the ride in silence, Maggie having sensed that Harry's mind was elsewhere. Disembarking the train, they exited the station. Maggie realized that, for whatever reason, her mother was hurrying them along. Her mother was also strangely silent. Normally she would be reiterating the lessons of the day, but today she looked more concerned with getting home.

They stood at the bus stop, the only other person there being an old man. Maggie's eyes met the man's and he gave her a very quick wink. She grinned and turned away quickly. Her mother kept glancing at her watch. Something had truly spooked her, Maggie realized.

She leaned closer to Harry and whispered to him, "I think something has frightened my mother."