"Mimbulus Mimbletonia," Lila recited to the fat lady painting. She along with every other professor knew all of the passwords to the house common rooms for safety issues. When she entered Harry, Ron, Hermione and many other Gryffindors were standing in the common room. They all turned their attention to her when she entered.

"Hello Harry," she said once she sought him out, "can I talk to you outside for a moment please?"

"Sure," he responded.

The two walked just outside the common room. "I just wanted to welcome you back to Hogwarts," she said with a smile.

"Thank you," he still did not trust her but she was growing on him.

"I'm sure you've spoken to Dumbledore about the Ministry's campaign against you?" Lila was briefed on the Ministry's objectives before she arrived at Hogwarts through a letter from Dumbledore.

"Yes."

"I think it's just awful what they are trying to pursue. It's not fair to exploit you like that, Harry and I'm surprised they are getting away with it. I want you to know that I, like many others here at Hogwarts, are on your side. I believe in you, Harry."

He smiled halfheartedly. He thought she was a little overbearing and trying a little too hard.

"I will always be here for you if you need anything; anything Harry," she paused and waited for a response, "I'll see you at charms class on Tuesday." She walked down a moving staircase and proceeded to her room.

"Mimbulus Mimbletonia," said Harry as he entered his common room for a second time that evening. Hermione and Ron had been just inside and listening in on his entire conversation.

"I don't know why you don't trust her Harry," said the always logical Hermione, "she seems to really want to help you."

"She may have ulterior motives, Snape does after all." From Dumbledore's pensieve the year before Harry understood that Snape was a death eater turned spy for Dumbledore but Harry still questioned Snape's authenticity and expressed his concern to his friends. Judging by Snape's character Harry was more likely to suspect that Snape was a Hogwarts teacher turned spy for Voldemort and just telling Dumbledore otherwise.

"But she and Snape have split up," said Ron. The other two looked at him with question in their expressions, "haven't you heard? The whole school is on about it."

Hermione looked back at Harry. "What ulterior motives could she possibly have now that she's not with Snape anymore?"

"I don't know! Maybe she's one of them! She wears long sleeves all the time so she could be covering up her dark mark and how did she meet Snape in the first place anyway? Based on their affection there's no way they met for the first time last year. Snape would never be so caring towards a woman he barely knows. They met at a death eater meeting."

"You're jumping to conclusions, Harry," Hermione said flatly, "and maybe she has since stopped being a death eater, and maybe that is why Snape left her."

"Oh no, Snape didn't leave her," Ron said to the two of them, "she broke up with him."

"Aha! See? Lermernia broke up with Snape when she learned he was a death eater," Hermione concluded.

"Argghh! This is all speculation. We don't know anything for sure and we cannot trust either of them until we know," Harry said frustratingly.

"I still don't think she means you any harm, Harry. Didn't she tell you last year that she joined the order?"

That's right he remembered. "That doesn't mean anything. Snape is in the order," he rebutted.

"Whatever you say Harry," Hermione wasn't agreeing with him but stopped the conversation for argument's sake.

The trio went off to their respective rooms and fell asleep for the night.