Summary: Harry's twin sister, Holly, is a spitting image of her father with her mother's temper. But why is she so insistent to deny how much she's like their parents? Why is she so interested in the Weasley Twins?
Disclaimer: Do not own. Never have; never will.
A/n: NO FLAMES! Not accepted. Thank-you. VGxx
2nd A/n: There are references made to the year before when Harry, Hermione, Ron and Holly were in second year. But it's only little things – like about Gilderoy Lockhart and how Holly now feels about Fred and George.
Chapter Five – New Teacher
"Dad? What are you doing?" Remus looked up as Holly's voice sounded behind him. The 13-year-old was too curious. He turned around and picked up a piece of parchment off his nightstand. He handed it to her. Curious she glanced down at it but didn't read it. She knew the emerald ink was form Professor McGonagall but why would she send Remus a letter?
"Go on, read it out loud." He said. Holly looked down at it and started to read.
"Dear Remus, as our last Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher tragically had an accident at the end of last year I would like to invite you to…Dad…bloody hell. Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor! That's great!" Holly said hugging him tightly. Remus laughed softly then pulled back and looked at her seriously putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Holly…I won't be 'Dad' in class. I'll be Professor Lupin. You'll have to refer to me as such and I will refer to you as Miss Lupin. No special treatment. You have to understand that ok?" Remus said closing his suitcase and locking it.
"Ok…Professor." Holly said smiling.
"It's been a while since I was in that School." Remus said, his eyes glazing for a minute.
"First year Dad. When I broke my arm." Holly reminded him.
"No, no. I mean in the classroom." He said.
"Oh…that, well now you'll get to meet Fred and George Weasley, their little brother Ron and Hermione Granger. She's really smart." Holly said. Remus smiled. Holly had packed her trunk and was ready for the train ride to Hogwarts. Remus told her it was best she entered the train with Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Yeah, it's best. But Dad…" Holly bit her lip. She hadn't thought about this and hadn't read far enough into the letter to find out.
"What is it Holly?" Remus asked seeing her anxiousness and apprehension. Holly's hazel gaze shifted from the floor back to her father's face.
"What about your transformations?" She asked. Remus looked at her squarely and sighed. He knew she'd ask. Holly maybe curious but she also one of the most caring people Remus knew, so much like her father. Remus didn't want to burden her with this so it was best to tell her now so she didn't worry.
"Listen to me carefully Holly because this is very important – you can't tell anyone that I'm a werewolf ok? I'm still your dad but you know nothing of my transformations. Professor Snape has agreed to brew a potion for me that hopefully will make my transformations less painful. So I can curl up in my office until I'm me again, so to speak." He said Holly nodded; she hated her Potions master but even more now she had to trust him to help her father.
Four days before school started she went to The Leaky Cauldron. She was told there were no more rooms left. Until she heard a voice she knew only too well. He'd help her out for sure!
"Holly! What are you doing here?" She turned around to face one of the two redheads she loved so much. One more than the other – but she still had to know which one was which.
"Hey!" She knew the voice belonged to one of the twins but until they hugged her she didn't know which one, "Hey Gred. What brings you here?"
"Mum thought it best if we stay here before school starts. Welcome to third year." He said spinning her around, "Tom – we'll get her to share with our sister, Ginny." George said grabbing Holly's trunk and pulling it up the stairs.
"How'd you like Gilderoy last year?" George said, Holly laughed.
"Oh how much more self-obsessed can someone get?" Holly said, "I mean how were we supposed to remember his favourite colour? Honestly!"
"I couldn't help but notice that you seemed the only female in Flourish and Blotts that did not seem weak-at-the-knees and was totally level-headed when he was there." George said, knowing his brother liked the levelheaded, attractive and smart raven-haired teen. George would've tried to get her – if he didn't love life so much.
"Oh he annoyed me, and he is so self-obsessed – I mean no female wants a guy who spends more time in front of the mirror than her. Trust me. Anyway why fawn over someone you can't have? Even when you think it'd make the boy you know likes you jealous?" Holly said as they stopped in front of the twins' room.
"Oh really? You know who that is?" George said putting his hand on the doorknob. She shook her head.
"No but I know that Ron was jealous of Hermione's fawning over him." She said. George raised an eyebrow; his baby brother liked the resident Hogwarts know-it-all bookworm? No way!
"Ickle Ronniekins?" He said, Holly nodded.
"He likes her. Has since day one of meeting her. September 1st on the train to Hogwarts." Holly said. George pushed the door open. Holly looked around as unlike the other rooms this one had been decorated in Scarlet and Gold. Holly looked back at George when she noted the two beds in the room and the other tall redhead on one of the beds, casually flicking through his next Potions textbook, he had obviously been waiting for George to return. Fred didn't look up when the door opened; he just yawned and blinked a few times, as if he was fighting to keep his eyes open.
"Forge, look who decided to show up." George said, now the redhead tore his eyes from the textbook. His eyes widened slightly as Holly locked eyes with the tall boy who somehow last year had made her fall head-over-heels for him, of course Fred didn't know she loved him. It seemed Fred couldn't believe his eyes. Why was she here?
"Holly?" He stood up and walked over to her, "why are you here?" He asked. Holly bit her lip.
"My dad – thought it would be good for me. So I could spend time with my friends." Holly explained.
"Oh, Fred. I thought she could sleep in here with us." George said.
"What? No way! George that's insane! Mum will never agree and what about Ginny and Hermione? Why can't she share with them?" Fred asked.
"Because she feels comfortable with us. She doesn't always get along with Hermione and I think Ginny mightn't like Holly much this year like she did last year. Ginny likes Harry – everyone knows that – so Ginny obviously sees Holly as a threat. Here she's not bothering us or the girls." George stated matter-of-factly. Holly cocked an eyebrow.
"You've really thought this through huh?" She said.
"Yep. I always find that thinking something through thoroughly works best." George said.
The Next Day
Holly wasn't surprised when Ron asked her to join Hermione and him while they got their school stuff. But she declined. She was content to amuse herself by reading. Holly and Fred had refused to share a bed so all three had conjured one together. It worked to. It was comfy and she had slept well. This made George and Fred feel a lot better. When Fred and George returned to their rooms to let Holly know that breakfast was nearly ready they found her lying on her stomach on Fred's bed casually flicking through his Transfiguration textbook.
"Interesting is it?" Fred asked making Holly jump. She hadn't been in the middle of the bed so the surprised made her slip off onto the floor.
"I'm okay!" She laughed as she sat up, "I'm all right." She got up and brushed herself off, "it is interesting yes. It says in your potions book how to make the Animagus potion. My dad used one once." Holly said brightly.
"Well we'll continue this later – I'm hungry and breakfast is ready Holly." George broke in. Holly followed the twins downstairs wondering if her Dad was ok. She put on a smile and listened, laughed and responded to everything that was said to her and around her.
September 1st
"Holly! Holly!" Turning Holly received a hug from Harry as he saw her. She joined Hermione, Ron and him in their search for an empty compartment. To Holly's dismay they reached a compartment, which only had one occupant. Hermione, Ron and Harry looked at each other.
"I thought the only adult on the train was the witch who pushes the trolley?"
"Yeah that's what I thought too."
"It's strange. He's the only adult I've seen on the train in the past three years."
"Yeah," Holly piped up, "but everywhere else is full. Don't worry. He's asleep anyway." Holly pushed in past Harry and Ron and slumped down onto the seat next to him.
"Who do you think he is?" Holly glanced up at the suitcase and smiled.
"I think Professor R. J. Lupin actually." Holly said quietly.
"You know him?" Ron asked.
"Suitcase Ronald." Holly said pointed up at the case in the luggage rack. He looked up and groaned.
"Do he really is asleep?" Harry asked.
"Seems to be why?" Hermione said.
"I need to tell you something." Harry closed the door. He started retelling what Mr. Weasley had told him. All the while Holly noticing any change in Remus. Which at one stage she heard his breathing change. And it hadn't gone back to the even breathing like when you were asleep. She knew he awake.
"Let me get this straight," Ron's voice broke her thoughts, "Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban to come after you?"
"But they'll catch Black won't they? I mean everyone's looking for him."
"Oh yeah, except no one's ever broken out of Azkaban before…and he's a murderous raving lunatic." Holly stifled her laughter.
"I didn't think Harry's life was so funny to you Lupin." Hermione snarled.
"It's not, Granger. Harry's life isn't threatened. Look I know Sirius Black. Ok? I know him. He's not a murderer." Holly felt Remus move slightly beside her, but that movement alone told her not to say anything more.
"How do you know him?" Hermione asked.
"He's an old friend of my Dads. We've met...oh…twice – three times." Holly said.
"Really? Why don't I believe you?" Hermione snapped.
"Don't believe me Granger. See if I care." Holly said.
"Girls, girls, girls. Come on, no need to fight over Harry. Come on. We're all concerned here. Right?" Holly and Hermione seemed to ignore Ron all together they just glare at one another. Suddenly the train stopped throwing Holly off balance. She landed on her knees.
"What is it with me and falling off stuff?" She muttered getting to her feet. She stood up and opened the door, as the train shuttered again Holly took a step back. She reached into her pocket drawing out her wand. But whatever had come aboard made the window freeze and Holly shivered. She looked at Professor Lupin but he didn't move. She felt colder and colder. Then she stepped back a shape had appeared at the door. Holly's mind shut down. She knew exactly what was happening. She stumbled backwards landing on Remus' foot, he still didn't move. Not until both Holly and Harry had passed out.
A warm hand on her cheek and voices made her wake up. Hermione handed Harry his glasses as Holly's eyes slowly opened. She was greeted with Ron's smiling face and Remus holding out Chocolate to her.
"I thought the smell might wake you. Honeyduke's Finest Chocolate. It'll make you feel better." Holly took it and smiled softly.
"Thanks Professor." She said. Harry also received a piece of Chocolate.
"What…was that thing that came?" He asked a little disorientated.
"It was a Dementor. It was searching the train for Sirius Black. If you'll excuse me I need to have a little word with the driver." He got up and just before shutting the door he turned back and smiled at them, "Eat you'll feel better." Then he was gone.
"So…you want to shed some light on what your dad was just talking about Lupin?" Hermione said sitting up to Harry.
"Be careful how you talk to me Granger. And he is not my father." Holly said sourly.
"Please, Holly. Can you tell us anymore about Dementors?" Harry asked.
"Not really Harry. I've never encountered them before tonight. But I guess I'm not use to you either I passed out too right?" She looked at Ron who nodded.
"Yeah, you both went rigid like you were gonna have a fit or something." Hermione said.
"We felt weird too. Like all the happiness had gone from the world." Ron added.
"Yeah I've heard about that. In fact," Holly put on an uncanny impersonation of Hermione, "I've read about them. Look – Dementors are nasty creatures. They suck all the warmth and happiness out of the world. Considering what happened to your parents and my mum – well…it's just we have horrors in our past, horrors Granger and Ron can scarcely imagine. Harry – we're not weak or anything like that we just have the worst possible past anyone could have." The compartment door opened, Holly felt herself groan.
"Well, look who it is," said Malfoy in his usual lazy drawl, "Potty and the Weasel." Holly felt her hand curl around her wand.
"Back off Malfoy." She snarled. When Malfoy didn't move Holly drew her wand, "Malfoy back off or you'll end up being carried away by your gorillas." Holly said Malfoy stared down the piece of wood at her.
"You don't scare me Lupin. That little piece of wood doesn't scare me either." Malfoy drawled.
"Oh yeah? Stupefy!" A jet of red light shot form Holly's wand hitting Malfoy at point blank range. He was shot into the window of the train, knocking him out cold.
"Get him out of here, unless you two wanna be stunned as well." Crabbe and Goyle picked Malfoy up and carried him away. Hermione, Ron and Harry stared at her.
"You could be landed with a detention for that Holly!" Hermione whispered loudly.
"I don't care. You have no idea how much I wanted to send him flying." Holly said.
Read & Review. Means the world to me when you do. VGxx