Previously…
"As your first homework assignment, then, I want the two people at each desk to choose a question off this list." The young woman banished a copy of the list to every desk. "Each pair of you will work together at research, one of you from the point of view of a Pureblood elitist and the other from that of a Muggleborn sympathizer. I want each pair to write six inches on the answers, three inches from each point of view. Keep in mind," she warned them, "That for every offensive word I read, ten points will be deducted from the overall grade, and you will find yourselves in detention very quickly." She smiled slightly as a few students blanched.
"Very well, then. If you need help for anything, feel free to visit me in my office. Also, fourth through seventh years have the same homework assignment, so you may compare notes so long as you do not copy from each other's work. You are dismissed early, so don't disrupt any other class." There was an instant clambering for the door. "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Potter, could I speak with you three for a moment?"
And Now…
The three boys halted half way to the door, then moved towards her. "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Weasley, I trust that there will be no great problem with my arrangement?" The two stared at her blankly for a moment, then cast glares at each other. "I see," Brethany said softly, then sighed.
"The reason I put you two together is because you have a great deal in common," she noted with humor the exchanged look of horror, "And I thought it would do you good to be forced to work together for once." The young woman gave them her coldest stare. "The feud between the Weasleys and the Malfoys is well known, but the fact that your fathers hate each other has nothing to do with how the two of you act here at school." The Weasley boy's gaze dropped to the floor, but Malfoy just looked at her emotionlessly. Brethany sighed. "I put the two of you together, in front of everyone else, because you are the leaders of your generation here at Hogwarts." Both boys gazed at her in shock and she smile grimly.
"You are both purebloods from old, influential families. You are both classmates in the newest group of warriors, politicians and artisans. It will be your year that will be put down in the history books, because it is your year that will be targeted for the coming war, whether as potential enemies or for potential allies, it doesn't matter. You will be targeted." They both looked stunned at her blunt relation of facts. "I want your classmates to see you both as the leaders you should be. If that means that I have to contact your mothers to tell them that you need to be re-taught etiquette and social behavior, then I will gleefully do so, and take great delight in listening to the howlers I know would arrive at breakfast in the Great Hall." Brethany took perverse pleasure in the undisguised horror on their faces.
"So," she continued calmly, "The two of you will be working together, and will be sitting in front of the entire class to give your answers, not ones I have written out for you. Mr. Malfoy, if you must have further incentive to work well, then consider how your high rank among the Slytherins will be hurt if you do a sub-standard job." The Slytherin boy gave a curt nod. "Mr. Weasley, just think how your fellow Gryffindors will treat you if you let a Slytherin best you. Use that Gryffindor pigheadedness, oh, excuse me, I meant bravery," she corrected herself wryly, "To ensure that the task does not prove too daunting for you. Is that enough for you two to agree to not act like a couple of squabbling little boys rolling around in the mud?" That brought out winces and sullen nods from the both of them. Brethany nodded. "Good. You are dismissed."
Malfoy instantly went for the door, but Ron Weasley hesitated, looking back at his best friend. "Go on, Ron, I'll be along in a while," Harry told him reassuringly. The redhead left immediately, obviously rankling a bit over what Brethany had said.
"Alright, I think you can come out now," Brethany laughed as she approached the bookcase. Remus Lupin unfolded himself stiffly from the hiding place and stretched his arms and legs with obvious pleasure.
"I think I'm a little old to be doing that too often," he spoke wryly as he rolled his shoulders to rid them of kinks.
Brethany chuckled. "No, I think your arms and legs are simply too long for such a small space back there. It's a rather handy place though, isn't it? Albus probably has one in every classroom."
"He'd be more likely to use that invisibility charm of his, actually," both adults were surprised to hear from the teenager. Harry grinned at their expressions. "He used it on me in my first year. Nearly scared me to death, it did." They all chuckled.
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me at all," Brethany spoke wryly, then looked at Lupin. "So, Mr. Lupin, what hints, suggestions, and helpful comments can you give me?"
"Call me Remus, please," the man smiled at her warmly. "As for advice, well, I think you've started out with a very good lesson. May I ask what the next question would have been?"
"'What is the definition of the Dark Arts?'" she recited the second question. "It should bring about some interesting discussions. Here's a copy of the entire list of questions, if you'd like it." Remus thanked her and quietly read down the list with a growing smile.
"'What are the origins of the Unforgivable curses, and why were they deemed as such?'
'What magical creatures are deemed "Dark", and why are they named so?'
'What makes a wizard "go Dark", and can such a process be halted?'
'Can affinities towards either "Light" or "Dark" be changed over time?'
'What makes a substance or spell "Dark" or "borderline Dark"?'
'Why are such potions as the Cupiens Potion illegal, yet not deemed "Dark"?'" Lupin looked up from the parchment with a surprised expression. "This list is remarkable, Miss Lewis. You are correct; it should bring out some very interesting discussion."
"Please call me Brethany, Remus." She turned to Harry. "You may, as well, Mr. Potter, when we are not among other students. You and I will be seeing one another a great deal, after all." At his questioning glance, her eyebrows rose in surprise. "The headmaster hasn't told you yet, then? I will be training you in Occlumency." When both of them stiffened, she looked at them in confusion. "Was there something Albus neglected to tell me?" Remus and Harry exchanged glances, the elder with sadness and the younger with a mix of guilt and anger.
"Professor Snape tried to teach me last year," Harry told her bitterly. "It didn't work out, and I ended up getting someone killed because I couldn't shield my mind."
Brethany looked at Remus, who was regarding the boy sadly. "Professor Snape, from what I understand, is a natural Occlumens," she spoke quietly. "It's not too surprising that he had a difficult time teaching you how to shield you mind. It would be like you trying to teach someone how to stand on one foot. For him it is something you do by instinct, not something you learn by instruction. He probably wasn't very patient with you every time you failed, was he?"
The teenage boy snorted. "Snape? Patient? He hates me! Not that I blame him, though…" he muttered quietly, and Remus looked at him in surprise. "I looked in his pensieve and saw some things that…well, explained some things."
"You looked in Professor Snape's pensieve?" Brethany's eyebrows rose. "Because of curiosity or because of anger?"
Harry looked down in shame. "A lot of both," he admitted reluctantly.
"Well, congratulations, Harry, you survived the experience," his teacher told him dryly. "You were an idiot, but really, all fifteen year old boys are idiots, so don't feel like you're alone in it." Remus snickered quietly, and she grinned at him. "The question now is, will you do the mature thing?"
Harry grimaced. "Apologize, you mean? Do you think it would do any good?"
"Whether it does any good or any harm has very little to do with you," Brethany spoke bluntly. "In the end, I think it would do a great deal of good, especially since Professor Snape will be the one testing your Occlumency every few weeks. I can't do it because I'm quite a terrible Legilimens." Harry groaned loudly and Brethany laughed.
"Merlin help me, then! I'll do it, even though he'll probably chew me up and spit me back out."
Brethany chuckled. "If it will help, Harry, you might put things into perspective." He looked at her curiously. "Who is scarier, Harry, Snape or Voldemort? Who do you respect more, the Dark Lord, or the man who at least halfway tried to teach you to protect your mind? I don't know if the tales of Snape being a former Death Eater are true, but Dumbledore wouldn't have kept him in Hogwarts for so long if he did not trust him. I happen to think that Snape is on our side, and if it is true that he was a Death Eater, I cannot think of a man I have more respect for. He has likely had to put up with just as much, if not more than you have, Harry. Can you really blame him for being so crabby?"
"'Crabby'?" Both British males burst out laughing.
"You know what I mean! Grouchy, nasty, acting like a git! I lived in America for ten years, give me a break!" Brethany folded her arms and scowled. They kept laughing; the young woman sighed. "Tarantallegra!" She smiled in satisfaction as they both began to jig. Remus calmly drew his wand and neatly cancelled the spell on himself, then watched as Harry slowly did the same. "Are the both of you quite finished now?" Brethany asked coolly, an eyebrow raised. The two males grinned at each other, then nodded. "Good. Now out! I have to prepare for the first year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff class! Harry, Professor Snape doesn't have any classes until after lunch, but he's likely to be in his office. You've time enough before your next class, since I let you out early," she told him pointedly.
He grimaced and she sighed. "I know that I may seem overbearing and bossy, but it's a habit you pick up when you have as many younger siblings as I do. I have the tendency to adopt any stray child I find, especially teenage boys. You can argue and complain all you want, Harry, but you have now officially been adopted." She grinned. "And feel free to rail at me any time. I've found that a good scream does a person a lot of good. It's something I'm used to, actually."
The teenage boy stared at her. "You are very odd, do you know that, Prof- I mean, Brethany?"
"Of course I know that," Brethany spoke breezily, "I delight in being odd. It's so much more fun to shock people than to be boringly normal." She turned her back on them to head for her office. "What are you two still doing here? Out! Out! I have things to do!" Still laughing, the two exited the classroom. 'Honestly,' Brethany thought with a grin,'men!'
Word Count: 1752