Eyes of a Tiger

by LittleReporterGirl

Follow the story of young Abigail Abby Prewett through her days at Hogwarts. There is murder, loss, friendship, and, most importantly, love. If you liked my story "Dreams" you'll love this! Please Read and Review! I thrive off of reviews!

3. Year 3

YEAR 3

A few months later…

Chapter 45

(A Patronus Charm)

That summer, mass-murder Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban and Snape wanted me to stay close to the house. Both Jenny and Brandy had invited me to come stay with them. Even Mary, who had graduated from Hogwarts, had invited me to come see her. Snape, however, 'thought it best I stay home'.

I was irritated that I was being told what to do, but truthfully I didn't mind so much. I finally learned to cook and Snape stopped using magic to get breakfast from Hogwarts. I planted my herb garden in Snape's tiny, fenced-in back yard, and now had many things growing there. I spent a lot of time in tiger form, just lounging around. Somehow, it was easier to be bored as a tiger than as a human. By July, Snape no longer looked surprised when he came home to see a white tiger on his couch.

I still liked to pick fights with Snape and do things that annoyed him. One day I was feeling particularly rebellious and I left the house after Snape left for Hogwarts. I walked around the Muggle shops and bought some new clothes and accessories. I dressed all in black, as usual, going for a Muggle 'goth' look. Somehow it just felt right to me. Also, black was my favorite color.

As I roamed the streets, I felt someone prod my mind. I automatically threw up my defenses but he pushed through them.

"Abigail! You're supposed to be at home," said Snape's voice in my mind.

Yeah, well…you're not supposed to be in my head, I retorted.

"Go home now, Abigail. I'll be there shortly. I have something to tell you."

Then he severed the connection. Irritated, but also curious I made my way back to the house.

Snape was waiting for me when I got there, looking slightly annoyed, but no too much so. He didn't say anything about my Muggle shopping spree as I walked past him into the house. I flopped down on the couch and looked up at him curiously.

"Do you know what a dementor is, Abigail?" he asked.

"Uhm…soul-sucking guards of Azkaban, why?" I inquired.

"Do you know what a Patronus is?" he asked, ignoring my question.

"…no, I don't think so," I replied, "What's this all about, Snape?"

"Hogwarts will be playing host to the Dementors this year, until such a time as Sirius Black is found."

"Why?"

"The safety of the students, of course," he replied. I could tell he wasn't telling the complete truth and I raised an eyebrow at him. He sighed.

"…Dumbledore has reason to believe that Black may be after Potter," Snape said quickly.

"Potter?" I scoffed, "What's so special about Potter?"

"Sirius Black is, legally, his godfather. …he's also the person responsible for the death of Potter's parents. He sold them out to the Dark Lord," he said bitterly. He closed off his emotions before I had a chance to glean anything more than an intense anger and hatred for Sirius Black.

"Well what does any of this have to do with me?" I asked curiously.

"A Patronus is a form of magic…a shield, that can protect you from Dementors. I think it important for you to learn how to conjure one, should the need arise. Dementors can be very unpredictable. They won't distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who stands in their way- advertently or inadvertently."

"How am I supposed to learn a Patronus Charm? I'm not supposed to do magic outside of Hogwarts."

"Since when has that ever stopped you?" he asked with a wry smile, "Here."

He tossed me his wand. I twirled his wand between my fingers, studying it for a moment, before getting to my feet.

"Alright, how do I do it?" I inquired.

"Well the incantation is Expecto Patronum. This particular charm depends more so on something else, however. You must concentrate on a happy memory and-"

"Happy?" I interrupted, "I don't really do 'happy', Snape."

"You must have at least one happy memory, Abigail."

I sighed heavily and thought back over the last few years- there was no point in thinking back any farther, I knew I wouldn't find anything. After careful consideration, I decided on my memory of my first day at Hogwarts.

"Alright," I said finally, "I'll give it a shot. Expecto Patronum!"

I gave Snape's wand a wave, thinking hard on my memory. Some silvery stuff shot out the end of the wand.

"That wasn't a Patronus, was it?" I asked.

"No…here, let me show you," he said, taking his wand back. He concentrated for a moment, then he smiled his small, twisted smile.

"Expecto Patronum," he said, with a flick of his wand. A lot of silver light shot out the end of his wand and took the shape of a female deer. She shone beautifully and darted around the house before disappearing completely.

"Well that wasn't as fearsome as I expected," I commented, studying Snape curiously, "A doe?"

"This isn't about me, it's about you. Try again," he said, giving me his wand back.

We worked on the Patronus Charm for the next week, whenever we got the time, but try as I might, I could only produce silver vapor. I was getting frustrated and on the sixth day of trying, I threw down his wand, exasperated.

"That's it!" I growled, "I can't do this! I'm just not capable of producing a full-fledged Patronus!"

Then I morphed into a tiger and ran up to my room before he could stop me.

I lay on my bed in tiger form, sulking. I thought Snape would leave me alone, but an hour later I heard his footsteps on the stairs. He came into my room and sat down on the edge of my bed.

"A lot of people would say that a thirteen-year-old couldn't possibly produce a full-fledged Patronus. Especially a child with a background as tragic as yours," he said, "…but then again, those same people would also say that a thirteen-year-old couldn't become an Animagus, either. Statistics say it takes years to learn to be an Animagus. You've proved statistics wrong once, Abigail, you can do it again."

"I want to, Snape, I really do…but I just don't have a happy enough memory," I said heavily. Hesitantly, he put his hand on my paw to try and reassure me. I withdrew my paw at once.

"I don't like to be touched…nothing against you personally," I muttered.

"Of course. I'm not a very touchy-feely person."

"I've noticed," I replied with a faint smile. He smiled briefly, too.

"Maybe we could try a different approach to this whole Patronus thing," he mused aloud, "You're good with emotions, right?"

"I'm good with other people's emotions," I replied. He went quiet for a moment.

"I've got an idea," he said suddenly. I felt him enter my mind. I ignored the reflex to put up my barrier and I met him in my mind, on the alternate plane.

"I'll share with you one of my happy memories. With your hypersensitivity to emotions, you should be able to extract my happy feelings and use them to make a Patronus," he said in my head.

Extract your happy feelings? I repeated, That makes me sound like a dementor.

"You won't be a dementor, Abigail. It's not like I'll lose my happy feelings. I'll share them with you here so they'll be more…deep, I suppose would be the right word," he said to me. He was right. There was something different about our alternate plane. Something…intimate.

"Good choice of words," Snape remarked, "There's less of a barrier here. There's no chance to think things through before the other hears them."

Seems like that could be a negative thing, I remarked, A flaw.

A number of images flashed quickly through my mind, through our link. Some were too quick for me to see. This was Snape selecting his memory. Finally the flashes came to a halt and I was remembering a scene as if I had lived it myself…

A red-haired girl held my hand as we walked over Hogwarts grounds. She was laughing, her green eyes sparkling in the fading sunlight. My heart was pounding, my emotions overwhelming- happiness, joy, and an intense love I couldn't explain.

"We'll always be best friends, right Severus?" the red-haired girl asked me.

"Always," I promised with a small, twisted smile.

The memory ended there, but I clung to the feeling. I cut the link between our minds and raised Snape's wand. I focused on that intense love I had felt.

"Expecto Patronum!" I exclaimed. Brilliant white light exploded from the tip of Snape's wand and the silvery doe erupted from its tip again.

I collapsed back onto the bed as the doe ran around the room. Snape was watching her.

"That was the most bizarre thing I've ever done in my entire life," I said, feeling light-headed.

"Well it worked…sort of…At least you can conjure a Patronus…albeit it's mine. She can still protect you," he said quietly. The doe vanished.

Later that night I lie awake in bed, thinking about the whole transaction. I could still recall the memory, as if had been mine. I still felt that intense love, thinking about the red-haired girl. It was so odd- loving her and not knowing why. Loving her simply because Snape had loved her. The fact that the Snape I knew could even feel such intense feelings seemed unreal.

I quickly realized that this was something that would drive me insane if I kept pondering it. I had to just accept the fact that I loved her because he loved her, as weird as it was. I couldn't obsess over it, or I would go mad.

Chapter 46

(Dementors)

When my letter from Hogwarts came, there was an additional form. It was a permission form. Third-year students were allowed to visit the village of Hogsmeade with the permission of a parent or guardian.

I took my letter in to where Snape was eating the breakfast I had cooked.

"Hey you have to sign this thing," I said, laying the form on the table beside his plate.

"Huh? Oh. Hogsmeade. …I don't know, Abigail…" he said, looking at the form.

"Come on, Snape. You can't not sign it. I've done everything you told me to do. I can produce a full-fledged Patronus…not to mention the fact that I'm an animagus. I think I'll be okay," I said earnestly.

"Fine," he said reluctantly, "I'll sign it."

I immediately made plans with my friends via owl to meet them in Diagon Alley to shop for school supplies. Snape insisted on walking with us everywhere, much to my friends annoyance. Our first stop was Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions for new robes. My old ones were a few inches too short. After that we went to Flourish and Blott's for new schoolbooks. A cage of about 100 books, entitled The Monster Book of Monsters, was on display in the window. The books were all fighting, snapping aggressively at each other. Pages were flying everywhere. The manager nearly fainted when we told him we needed three. He put on a pair of very thick gloves, picked up a large, knobbly walking stick, and proceeded to open the door. He beat them back as he got out three of the books. They were still snapping wildly. The manager produced some string and tied them shut so we wouldn't be bitten.

"Anything else I can help you with?" asked the pale-faced manager as he slammed the door to the cage shut.

"We need Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky," Jenny read aloud from the booklist, "Intermediate Transfiguration and The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three."

The manager found the books and handed them to us. We paid for our books and left.

We went to the Apothecary to restock on Potions ingredients then it was time to leave. I said good-bye to my friends when we met up with their mom's at the Leaky Cauldron. Snape led me inside and we used Floo Powder to travel back to his house.

On the morning of September 1st I asked Snape if the Muggle taxi was going to come and take me to King's Cross Station.

"Yes. I'm coming along to see you off," he said to me.

"Why?" I asked, scoffing.

"Because, it's dangerous out there. There's a murderer on the loose. I'll see you safely on the train, then I'll Disapparate to Hogwarts."

We rode in the Muggle taxi together without speaking. When we got to the train station he helped me unload all of my things. We went through the barrier together and he helped me get my trunk and Arsenius's cage onto the train.

"I'll see you when you get to Hogwarts," he said, the disappeared with a loud pop. My friends caught up with me and we got a compartment together. As the train started to move we talked about different things- the escape of Sirius Black, Hogsmeade, and Snape's sudden desire to be overprotective of me.

"He just wants you to be safe," Jenny said with a shrug.

"Yeah, but not even letting her out of the house?" Brandy said, "That's a bit overkill."

"He didn't even seem too mad the time I did sneak out and walked around the Muggle shops while he was gone," I told them.

The Hogwarts Express moved steadily north and the scenery outside the window became wilder and darker while the clouds overhead thickened. As it got darker it started to rain, then to storm. Brandy had gone to find Ian, so it was just Jenny and I in the compartment. It was completely dark outside and lanterns flickered to life in the corridors and above the luggage racks.

Suddenly, the train started to slow down. The train came to a stop with a jolt. There was the sound of compartments opening all along the corridor.

"We can't be there yet," Jenny remarked, getting up to look out the compartment door. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and we were plunged into complete darkness.

"Abby?" Jenny asked fearfully, sliding the compartment door shut.

"I'm here," I said, reaching for her in the darkness. She found my hand and came and sat down beside me.

"What's happening?" she asked as I scrambled for my wand.

"I don't know. I-"

The compartment door slid open suddenly. Everything went cold and my breath caught. I could hear whatever had opened the door taking deep, rattling breaths. It was a dementor, I knew from reading about them. I found my wand and raised it. I tried to focus on Snape's memory of the red-haired girl, but it kept slipping away. Feelings of dread and despair were flooding me. Somewhere I heard a scream…my mother's scream…

Think happy, I willed myself, think of the red-haired girl…her pale skin…her green eyes…

"Expecto Patronum…" I said weakly. A small amount of silver light came from my wand. No doe. The memory was fading, the cold and the darkness overwhelming me. It went through my skin, into my very soul. I was drowning in coldness, being dragged downwards…I felt myself fall, felt the thud as I hit the ground, then blackness.

"Abby? Abby!" said a panicked voice. I fought through the blackness, towards Jenny's voice. I opened my eyes to see her face above me, illuminated by the lanterns which were back on. The Hogwarts Express was moving again.

"What happened?" I asked, "The dementor…"

"It's gone," said another voice. I sat up and looked around. A haggard-looking wizard with flecks of grey in his brown hair was standing in the doorway. He looked very gaunt. He stepped into the compartment and broke a piece of chocolate in half. He handed part to me and part to Jenny.

"Eat this, it'll help. So you know what a dementor is, do you?" he asked.

"I read a lot. Who are you?" I inquired, studying the chocolate in my hands.

"My name is Professor Lupin. I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," he said to me.

"My name's Abby Prewett. This is Jenny Burke. Did you make the dementor go away?"

"I did," Lupin replied.

"Did you use a Patronus charm?" I inquired. He looked mildly surprised.

"Yes. What do you know about Patronus Charms?" he inquired.

"I know enough to be able to conjure one…or, at least, I have before…"

"Can I see?" he inquired.

"If it'll work," I replied, raising my wand and concentrating on Snape's memory of the red-haired girl, "Expecto Patronum."

The silvery doe erupted from the tip of my wand. Lupin watched, an expression of awe and confusion on his face, as the doe circled the compartment then disappeared.

"Who taught you how to conjure a Patronus?" Lupin asked, frowning slightly, staring at the spot where the doe had disappeared.

"Like I said, I read a lot," I replied evasively.

When Lupin left I sat down beside Jenny. I studied the chocolate Lupin had given me a moment longer before finally taking a bite. Immediate warmth spread through me.

"Did you really learn that in a book?" Jenny asked me, intrigued.

"…no. Snape taught me. He said that there are going to be dementors at all the entrances to Hogwarts, looking for Sirius Black. So he wanted me to learn a Patronus Charm."

We didn't talk much the rest of the ride to Hogwarts. Jenny promised not to tell anyone that I had fainted or that I could conjure a Patronus. When the train finally pulled to a stop there was a mad scramble to get out onto the platform. The freezing rain soon drenched us all to the bone.

Jenny and I walked off the platform with the rest of the students and out onto a muddy track where there at least 100 stagecoaches with Thestrals harnessed to them. Jenny and I climbed into a carriage together. I could see Brandy and Ian sitting in a different carriage with two Ravenclaw students.

As the carriage trundled toward the magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, we saw two more towering, hooded dementors, standing guard on either side. I sunk down in my seat, a white-knuckled grip on my wand. Jenny took my other hand and squeezed it until we were past the dementors.

When the carriage finally pulled to a stop, Jenny helped me down. I was still unsteady from my encounter with the dementors. I leaned against the carriage for a moment and the Thestral which had pulled us, looked at me with its white eyes. I reached out uncertainly and petted its scaly head.

"They're called Thestrals," said a voice. I looked up to see Professor Lupin riding in one of the carriages that had just stopped.

"I know that already," I said to him.

"Really? You're a smart girl, Miss Prewett," he remarked. A short ways away, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle had just climbed out of a carriage.

"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?" Draco asked Potter loudly, sounding delighted. He was now blocking the path up the stairs of the castle.

"Shove off, Malfoy," Weasley said, his jaw clenched.

"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" Draco asked loudly, "Did the scary old dementor frighten you, too, Weasley?"

"Is there a problem?" asked Lupin in a mild voice. Draco looked over Lupin's shabby robes.

"Oh, no- er- Professor," Draco said, then smirked at Crabbe and Goyle and hurried inside the castle.

Jenny and I joined the crowd of students making their way into the castle. As we made our way inside the Great Hall, I told her everything I knew about Thestrals.

"Well at least we know you aren't insane," she said as we went and sat down at the Slytherin Table.

Chapter 47

(New Classes)

After the Sorting, Dumbledore stood up. I had my head down during the Sorting, but sat up to listen when Dumbledore started talking.

"Welcome!' said Dumbledore, "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by out excellent feast…

"As you will all be aware after the search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody should leave the school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises- or even Invisibility Cloaks.

"It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors.

"On a happier note. I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Professor Lupin was the man in shabby robes from the train. He looked particularly bland compared to all the other teachers who were dressed in their best robes. As my eyes swept along the High Table I saw Snape was staring at Lupin with a look of pure loathing- a look normally reserved for Potter, but worse. It startled me.

"As to our second appointment," Dumbledore continued, oblivious to Snape's deadly expression, "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his game keeping duties."

Gryffindor table erupted into a particularly loud applause which the Slytherins did not share.

"They've got that oaf teaching classes?" Draco sneered, "He'll be sacked by the end of the week."

"Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore, "Let the feast begin!"

The plates and goblets suddenly filled with the usual magnificent food and drink.

After the feast, I caught up with Snape outside the Great Hall. We walked towards his office together.

"So, you don't like Lupin?" I asked as we walked, "Why not?"

"I have my reasons," he replied simply, "Suffice to say we have an extended past."

"He didn't seem so bad," I said as we reached his office. His face hardened and his black eyes gleamed with hatred.

"He was on the train. He helped me and Jenny," I said as he sat down.

I quickly told him about everything that had transpired on the train.

"Why couldn't I produce the Patronus when I needed it the most?" I asked finally.

"Hmm…Well, my guess is that the dementors affect you more so than the other students, except maybe Potter. Not only do you have tragedies in your past that the others couldn't dream of, your hypersensitivity to emotions makes you easy prey for the dementors," he replied.

"Well what can I do about it?" I asked desperately, "I can't faint every time I see a dementor!"

"Just practice, I suppose. I don't really know any other way."

"Fine."

The next morning at breakfast Draco was entertaining a large group of Slytherins by telling them about Potter fainting and imitating him. My classmates were laughing, but I didn't think it was funny…I had fainted, too, after all.

When Snape came around with the new course schedule he stopped to talk to me about my classes.

"Arithmancy was in the same time slot as Divination, so I wasn't able to put you in. So you only have two new classes- Care of Magical Creatures and Divination," he said to me.

"…How many classes is Hermione Granger taking?" I asked curiously.

"That's not important. You've got a lot on your plate this year, with the dementors and all."

Then he continued walking down the table, handing out schedules.

My first class of the new term was Transfiguration. I smiled faintly when McGonagall started talking about Animagi. She demonstrated by turning into a tabby cat with markings around its eyes that resembled her spectacles. My classmates clapped loudly, impressed. I just smiled.

At the end of the class period, I was putting my books in my bag when McGonagall walked over to me.

"May I have a word with you, Miss Prewett?" she asked me.

"Uh, sure Professor," I said puzzled. I waved for my friends to go on without me. When everyone else had gone McGonagall shut the door.

"Professor Dumbledore told me you're a registered animagus. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind giving me a demonstration?" she asked me, "It's a difficult thing to believe, being as you're only thirteen."

"Oh, sure," I replied with a smile. I morphed quickly into my tiger form. I sat with my tail wrapped around my paws. I tried to looked a regal as possible.

"Amazing!" cried McGonagall, circling me, looking me over, "Absolutely amazing!"

I smiled.

After lunch I followed the rest of the third-year Slytherins out to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures, which we had with the Gryffindors. Hagrid was coming out of his hut when the Gryffindors arrived.

"C'mon, now, get a move on. Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin' up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!" Hagrid said loudly. At first I thought he was leading us into the Forbidden Forest, but he ended up going around and we found ourselves outside of a large, but empty paddock.

"Everyone gather 'round the fence here!" Hagrid called, "That's it-make sure yeh can see- now fir' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books-"

"How?" Interrupted Draco in his drawling voice.

"Eh?"

"How do we open our books?" Draco repeated, lifting his copy of The Monster Book of Monsters, which was bound with a length of rope like mine.

"Hasn'- hasn' anyone bin able ter open their books?" Hagrid asked disappointedly. The entire class shook their heads.

"Yeh've got to stroke 'em. Look-" Hagrid grabbed Hermione's copy of the book, ripped off the spellotape that bound it, and stroked the spine. The book quivered for a moment and then fell open, laying quiet in his hand.

"Oh, how silly we've all been!" Draco sneered, "We should have stroked them. Why didn't we guess!"

"I-I thought they were funny," Hagrid said uncertainly.

"Oh, tremendously funny! Really witty, giving us books that try to rip our hands off!" said Draco. I had to admit, Draco had a point. Someone should have told the poor bloke at the bookstore to 'stroke the spines'.

"Righ' then," said Hagrid anxiously, "so- so yeh've got yer books an'-an' now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So I'll go an' get 'em. Hang on…"

He strode off into the forest.

"God, this place is going to the dogs," Draco said loudly, "That oaf teaching classes, my father will have a fit when I tell him-"

"Shut up, Malfoy," Said Potter quietly.

"Careful Potter, there's a dementor behind you-"

Someone squealed and pointed to the edge of the forest where Hagrid was now returning with a dozen of bizarre creatures. They appeared to be half-horse, half-eagle and I recognized the description immediately.

"Hippogriffs," I murmured quietly, watching the creatures trot onto the field. The hippogriffs were all attached to long metal chains held by Hagrid. I was barely listening as he sported off some random facts about Hippogriffs that I already knew.

Harry Potter volunteered to go up to one of them, a grey fellow named Buckbeak. Potter bowed and it took a moment, but the Hippogriff bowed as well. Then Hagrid picked Harry up and set him on Buckbeak's back and the entire class watched in awe as the hippogriff flew around the paddock with Potter on his back.

Emboldened by Potter's success the rest of the class now climbed into the paddock with the hippogriffs. I walked over to a smaller, black and grey hippogriff who had sparkling green eyes that reminded me, in a very vague way, of the red-haired girl. I bowed to the hippogriff and he immediately bowed in return. From behind me I heard a very high-pitched scream. I whirled around to see what had made such a noise and saw Draco, lying on the ground with blood covering his robes. Hagrid was wrestling with Buckbeak, trying to keep him off Draco.

"I'm dying!" Draco cried, "I'm dying, look at me! It's killed me!"

"Yer not dyin'!" said Hagrid, who had gone very white, "Someone help me- gotta get him outta here-"

Hermione Granger rushed to hold open the gate as Hagrid carried Draco up towards the castle.

The entire class was in an uproar as we slowly followed. My fellow Slytherins were shouting that Hagrid should be fired straight away whereas the Gryffindors claimed it was Malfoy's fault. I really didn't care one way or the other and the noise was giving me a headache so I slunk off towards the common room.

Chapter 48

(Boggarts)

The very next morning I had my very first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson with Professor Lupin. It was just the third year Slytherins and as we waited for Professor Lupin to arrive, Pansy Parkinson went on about the state of Lupin's hair and robes. When the door opened, however, Pansy sat down instantly.

"Good morning, students. If you will please put your books away and take out your wands. Today will be a practical lesson," Professor Lupin said. Even Draco couldn't not look curious as we stowed our books away and took out our wands.

"Right. Now, if you'll follow me please," Lupin said when everyone was ready. My friends and I followed Lupin out of the classroom. He hung back a moment to talk to me.

"Well if it isn't the ever-intriguing Miss Prewett," he said to me with a pleasant smile, "I know who you are."

"Oh, do you?" I replied lightly.

"I do. You're Snape's girl, aren't you?"

I couldn't help but blush and I noticed Jenny smirking a little ways away. Snape's girl…the words echoed in my mind.

"He's my guardian, if that's what you mean," I said coolly. Lupin chuckled quietly and walked back to the front of the line.

He led us down a second corridor and stopped right outside the staff room door.

"Inside, please," said Lupin, opening the door and ushering us all inside. The staff room was a long paneled room full of mismatched chairs. Much to my surprise Snape was sitting in one of the arm chairs. He looked up and smiled slightly at me when I walked in.

"You don't mind if I stay, Lupin? I'm rather curious to see how my students will do in your very first class," Snape said in a low voice. Lupin nodded his head in acceptance and turned to face the class, all of whom were looking apprehensively at a wardrobe in the corner that was shaking madly. A few of my classmates looked anxious.

"Nothing to worry about," Lupin said, "It's only a boggart."

In seconds I recalled every detail I'd ever read about boggarts while my classmates continued to look uneasy.

"Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," said Lupin, "closets, cupboards, and beneath beds. This one moved in late last night and I asked the headmaster if I might have it to give all my third-years a bit of practice. So, my first question for you all is- What is a boggart?"

No one seemed to know the answer or want to answer him. Lupin turned to me.

"I'll bet you know, don't you, Miss Prewett?" He said to me. I glanced at Snape who smiled his small, twisted smile at me.

"Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever the person it faces fears most of all," I said to Lupin.

"Right on, Miss Prewett. Nobody knows what a boggart looks like when he's alone, but when he comes out he'll take the shape of whatever each of us fears. Therefore, we have a huge advantage over the boggart to begin with. Do you know what that is?" He asked, looking at me. I thought for a moment.

"It'll get confused and won't know what to turn into because there's so many of us," I said.

"Excellent. Now, the charm that repels a boggart is simple, but what really drives it nuts is laughter. You must force the boggart to assume a shape that you find amusing. We'll practice the charm without wands first. Repeat after me, please…riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus," repeated the class clearly.

"Good, very good. I'll give you all a moment to think of what you fear most so that you'll all be prepared to face the boggart when you're time comes," Lupin said.

The room was filled with a hush of people whispering to themselves.

"Tigers," I heard Pansy Parkinson mutter to herself, "Definitely tigers."

When Lupin had his back to me I sidled up to Snape.

"I don't know what I fear most," I whispered.

"Well I certainly don't know what you are afraid of," he replied with a shrug.

"I can't think of anything particularly frightening…except maybe…"

"What?"

"Well…I was thinking of that time last year, when we went to harvest Fluxweed and you got attacked by the werewolf…"

Snape's entire demeanor changed and he nodded.

"That should suffice," he said, "Have you got an idea about how to make it less scary?"

"Yes," I said quickly.

"Alright, everyone ready?" Lupin said loudly. Most of the class nodded and I was forced to join them as they formed a line. Somehow I got pushed to the front. I had my wand in my hand and faced the wardrobe determinedly. Lupin opened the door. I could see nothing but darkness for a moment, then a growling beast walked out of the wardrobe. I glanced over at Snape who was staring, not at me, but at Lupin. Lupin had gone sort of rigid and when the werewolf let out a howl he clapped his hands over his ears.

"Ridikkulus!" I said firmly, waving my wand. The werewolf-boggart's fur all fell off suddenly. A lot of my fellow students laughed at how odd it looked completely bald. The werewolf-boggart turned tail and ran back into the darkness of the wardrobe. Lupin forced a small laugh. He was shaking slightly.

Curious about his reaction, I stepped aside to let Jenny have a go with the boggart. Standing off to the side, beside Snape, I watched as a vampire-boggart came out of the wardrobe. It hissed, bearing it's fangs.

"R-Ridikkulus!" exclaimed Jenny, waving her wand. The vampire's fangs fell out. He covered his mouth with his hands and ran back into the wardrobe. I laughed.

I wanted to ask Snape about Lupin's reaction to my werewolf-boggart. I prodded his mind gently with Legilimency. He met me on our alternate plane.

What was up with Lupin's reaction to my boggart? I asked him in my mind. I felt him try to throw up a shield.

"I can't tell you. I've been forbidden to tell you," he replied hastily. He withdrew from the link quickly, knowing that if he were to think whatever it was, I'd be able to hear it there. Part of me was irritated that he wouldn't share, but the other part of me was sympathetic- if I had to hide something from Snape, the alternate plane was a bad place to think about it. Because of the lack of barrier.

"I told you the lack of barrier would be a flaw," I murmured quietly, then looked up to see as Pansy Parkinson approached the wardrobe.

A tiger-boggart stepped out of the darkness. It looked regal to me, but to Pansy it was obviously terrifying. This was a normal tiger- orange with black stripes and amber eyes. I watched curiously as it walked towards Pansy. Then it let out a loud roar that filled the room. Jealous, I crossed my arms and leaned back against the wall. Snape looked at me and chuckled quietly. I made an annoyed face.

After the class was dismissed, Lupin walked over to where Snape and I stood.

"Smart girl you've got, Severus," Lupin remarked, smiling at me. I smiled sheepishly and blushed faintly again.

"Thank you, Lupin," Snape said, getting to his feet, "Wish I could stay and chat, but I have a class to teach."

I followed Snape out of the room.

Chapter 49

(Toads and Tadpoles)

Draco didn't return to classes until late on Thursday morning when we were in double Potions with the Gryffindors. We were preparing the ingredients for a Shrinking Solution when he swaggered into the dungeon classroom, his right arm covered in bandages and bound up in a sling.

"How is it, Draco?" simpered Pansy, "Does it hurt much?"

"Yeah," said Draco, putting on a brave grimace. When Pansy looked away I saw Draco wink at Crabbe and Goyle.

"Settle down, settle down," said Snape idly. I rolled my eyes and started to cut up my daisy roots. There wasn't anything wrong with Draco's arm. If the nurse could heal werewolf slashes in minutes, she could certainly do the same with hippogriff slashes.

"Sir," Draco called, "sit, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots, because of my arm-"

"Weasley, cut up Malfoy's roots for him," said Snape without looking up at them. Weasley seized the knife and snatched Draco's roots from him.

"Professor," drawled Draco, "Weasley's mutilating my roots, sir."

A slight annoyance was radiating from him as Snape walked over to their table and stared down at them.

"Change roots with Malfoy, Weasley," Snape said with an unpleasant smile.

"But, sir-!" Weasley began.

"Now," Snape commanded in his most dangerous voice. Weasley shoved his own beautifully cut up roots at Draco.

"And, sir, I'll need this shrivelfig skinned," added Draco, his voice full of malicious laughter.

"Potter, you can skin Malfoy's shrivelfig," said Snape, giving Potter the look of loathing always reserved for him.

I had just added a dash of leech juice to my own bright, acid green potion when Snape spoke up from beside Neville Longbottom.

"Orange, Longbottom," said Snape, ladling some up and allowing the rest of us to see. I chuckled quietly.

"Orange," repeated Snape, "Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours? Didn't you hear me say, quite clearly, that only one rat spleen was needed? Did I state plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice? What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?"

Longbottom was pink and trembling, on the verge of tears. He emanated fear.

"Please, sir," said Hermione Granger, "please. I could help Neville put it right-"

"I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger," said Snape coldly, and Granger turned as pink as Longbottom, "Longbottom, at the end of this lesson, we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly."

I half-smiled the whole time I finished adding ingredients to my potion. A short while later Snape spoke up again.

"You should have finished adding your ingredients by now; this potion needs to stew before it can be drunk, so clear away while it simmers and then we'll test Longbottom's…"

Crabbe and Goyle laughed openly. I noticed Granger was muttering instructions to Longbottom as he stirred his potion feverishly. I cleared away my things and came to sit back down.

The end of the lesson in sight, Snape strode over to where Longbottom was cowering by his cauldron.

"Everyone gather 'round," said Snape, black eyes glittering maliciously, "and watch what happens to Longbottom's toad. If he has managed to produce a Shrinking Solution, it will shrink to a tadpole. If, as I don't doubt, he has done it wrong, his toad is likely to be poisoned."

I pushed my way to the front of the crowd gathering around Snape and watched excitedly as Snape picked up the toad in his left hand. He dipped a small spoon into Longbottom's potion, which was now green. He trickled a few drops down the toad's throat.

There was a moment of hushed silence, then there was a small pop and a tadpole was now wiggling in Snape's palm. The Gryffindors cheered as Snape, looking sour, pulled a small bottle from the pocket of his robe, poured it down the toad's throat, and it reappeared, full grown.

"Five points from Gryffindor," said Snape, which wiped the smiles from their faces, "I told you not to help him, Miss Granger. Class dismissed."

As the other students made their way out of the dungeon classroom and up to the Great Hall for lunch, I stayed behind.

"Want some help cleaning up?" I offered.

"Shouldn't you be going to eat lunch?" he inquired, but inclined his head to let me know I could help. He walked around, grading the potions, and I followed him, clearing them away afterwards.

"Full marks, Abigail," he said when we reached my cauldron. I half-smiled. As we continued around the classroom I wondered what I had been wondering for a while.

"What's bothering you, Abigail?" Snape asked finally.

"Hmm…Can I ask you a question?" I asked timidly. He stopped examining Granger's potion to look at me.

"I suppose," he replied.

"…the red-haired girl…what's her name?" I inquired. He stared at me for a moment, then closed his eyes and turned his back on me. Immense pain radiated from him before he blocked his emotions and I immediately felt I didn't have to know the answer to my question.

"Nevermind," I said quickly, "I don't need to know."

Closing off my mind to him, I pondered his reaction, just to the mere mention of her. I could only come up with one explanation- that the red-haired girl was dead. I hoped it wasn't true. The mere thought of her being dead made me want to cry…I loved her, after all, just as he loved her. As we finished clearing away the potions, I decided to change the subject.

"I was thinking I'd like to go for a romp around the grounds tomorrow night…since it's Friday and we don't have classes the next morning. I haven't gotten to roam around the grounds in forever!" I said to him.

"Abigail, I'd really rather you stay indoors until the dementors are gone," he replied slowly.

"But I can't stay cooped up indoors! I'll go mad!" I exclaimed, outraged.

"But if you get caught unawares by the dementors…"

He had a point, but I hated the idea of staying inside. I quickly made up my mind to disobey him.

"Fine," I said sulkily to him, "I'll stay indoors…"

Chapter 50

(Weeping Werewolves)

The next night, I cast my Disillusionment Charm, threw up my strongest mental barrier possible, and snuck out the castle. I was nervous about the dementors, but I was almost certain that I had read somewhere that animals weren't affected by dementors.

I transformed into my Animagus form and started to romp around the grounds. There wasn't any snow to play in, but the night was warm and the light of the full moon made weird shadows.

I found a certain animal-ish pleasure in pouncing in and out of the shadows, whatever they were cast by. The speckled shadows cast by the leaves of trees were my favorite. Without even thinking about it, I went into the forest. I ran as fast as I could through the trees, without even sticking to the path. The patches of moonlight coming down through the trees looked beautiful.

All of a sudden I saw a clearing through the trees. A soft whining noise reached my ears and I skidded to a halt. I quickly hid myself in the bushes and peered out through the leaves. There, sitting in the middle of a clearing, was a werewolf. My first animal instinct was to run…but a deeper, human level of curiosity made me stay. I could sense a deep sense of forlornness coming from the werewolf…and from what I'd read, a werewolf shouldn't have such emotions when transformed. He was staring up at the moon miserably when I padded quietly out of the shadows. His head jerked in my direction and I felt the hair on my back raise…but I stayed my ground. He yellow eyes looked me over searchingly, then stopped on my mismatched eyes.

"Your eyes…there's something familiar about your eyes…" he said aloud.

"Woah! Werewolves can talk?" I yelped, surprised.

"Tigers can talk?" he said, equally surprised, "…wait a moment…Miss Prewett?"

"Professor Lupin?" I gasped, shocked.

We were both shocked at having found each other in another form.

"So that's what Snape knew and couldn't tell me," I said aloud.

"Does Severus know you're an Animagus?" Lupin asked me curiously.

"…of course. He took me last year to get registered."

"Extraordinary," he said, circling me, "And you're only thirteen?"

"Yes. Have you always been a werewolf?"

"…Not always, but close enough. Ever since I came to teach here, Severus has been making the Wolfsbane Potion for me. It helps me keep my mind when I transform, but I still like to distance myself from the castle and its students."

"You don't go after animals, do you?" I asked nervously.

"No. Even if I hadn't taken the Wolfsbane Potion, you wouldn't have anything to worry about," he assured me, "When I was in school, I had three friends who became unregistered Animagi, just so I wouldn't have to be alone every full moon. Not to mention the fact that the Wolfsbane Potion wasn't invented then, so I was really crazed."

"They risked a sentence in Azkaban for you? Good friends."

"Yes, they were," he said with a faint note of sadness in his voice.

There was a brief moment of silence. Then something occurred to me.

"Man I can't believe Snape's been brewing the Wolfsbane Potion and I haven't got to help! That rat! " I growled, "Snape always lets me help brew complicated potions."

Lupin chuckled quietly.

"There's no need to be mad with Severus. I'm sure he would have let you help, but Dumbledore made all the teachers promise not to tell anyone about my…condition."

Lupin agreed to lead me back to the castle, since I had apparently succeeding in getting myself utterly lost.

"So why doesn't Snape like you?" I asked curiously.

"…I suppose you could say I'm the lesser of four evils from Snape's Hogwarts days," Lupin replied, "My friends and I were bullies when it came to Severus. It's only natural he still holds a grudge."

It occurred to me suddenly that Lupin would know the name of the red-haired girl…but would he share it with me?

"Can I ask you another question, Professor Lupin?" I asked.

"Certainly…and you may call me Moony when I'm in this form. My friends all did."

"Do you know the name of a girl that Snape used to be friends with when he was younger? A beautiful red-haired girl?"

Sadness emanated from Lupin, but he nodded his head.

"I knew the girl you're talking about. Her name was Lily. Lily Evans. She and Severus were friends when they first started Hogwarts."

"Wh-What happened to her?" I asked, not entirely certain I wanted to know.

"She was killed…by Voldemort."

A wave of grief washed over me at the knowledge of her death.

Lupin and I didn't talk much as he showed me the way back to Hogwarts. When we could see the castle through the trees, we stopped.

"..You know I wouldn't mind coming out during the full moon so you won't have to be alone," I said finally. He looked at me and smiled.

"I'd like that. Thank you, Miss Prewett."

"You can call me Abby."

"Thank you, Abby."

Every time there was a full moon, I found myself out in the forest. I had contemplated telling Snape about my meetings with Lupin, but decided against it. After the Gryffindor's first Defense Against the Dark Arts class, word had gotten out that Neville Longbottom's boggart had turned into Snape. When Longbottom used the Riddikulus spell, the Snape-boggart had been forced into a dress, a witch's hat, and a large red handbag. After that, any mention of Lupin caused Snape to seethe with hatred.

Our first trip to Hogsmeade was due to take place on October 31st. Halloween, my birthday, and a trip to Hogsmeade, all on the same day! Needless to say I was looking forward to it.

I awoke early Halloween morning to a pile of presents at the foot of my bed. I got up, stretched, and proceeded to open my presents. I'd gotten loads of sweets from Jenny and Brandy. I had a present from my sister that contained a silver pocket knife with a snake carved into the handle. There was also an unmarked present, from Snape of course, which contained a surprisingly soft white tiger stuffed animal. It's eyes had been bewitched to look just like mine.

There was one more present than usual. Curious I unwrapped a present that was wrapped in plain white paper. A note fell out and I picked it up.

Abby,

Happy Birthday. I thought you might enjoy this book. I remembered your boggart turned into a werewolf and I thought it may even give you a better perspective on my kind.

Your friend,

Moony

I smiled to myself as I picked up the book. It was entitled Weeping Werewolves by Lucillia Pinkhan. Curious, I browsed through it. It was an autobiographical book about a girl who bitten as a child and tried to grow up and live a normal life, but faced the prejudice that all of her kind faced. Seemed like it would be a good read.

When my friends woke up and wished me a Happy Birthday, we walked down to breakfast, feeling elated. We talked animatedly about which shops we wanted to try when we got to Hogsmeade. After breakfast we made our way to the Entrance Hall where Filch was checking names of a list, making sure no one was sneaking out who shouldn't be going.

A whole crowd of students talking excitedly made their way down the road with McGonagall at the lead. As we passed through the gates, the two dementors on either side let out rattling breaths. I gripped my wand tightly in my pocket, completely focused on the image of Lily in my mind. There was no trouble, however, and we reached Hogsmeade unharmed.

Chapter 51

(Halloween)

After a day of walking around sweetshops and joke shops it was nice to get back to Hogwarts. The feast was just as magnificent as usual. I headed back to my dormitory, full and sleepy. I had barely fallen asleep when we were woken up by the Prefects and told to go down to the Great Hall immediately. I grabbed my wand, donned my Disillusionment Charm, and followed my classmates until I spotted Snape on his way up the stairs. I ran after him as quickly as possible without making any noise.

"What's going on?" I asked, struggling to keep up with him.

"Sirius Black's somewhere in the castle. You should go down to the Great Hall," He said as we reached the third floor.

"What? No way," I protested, "I can help you search for Black."

He looked skeptical.

"You know better than anyone that I'm capable of taking care of myself. If I find Black I can hit him with any number of spells and he wouldn't know what hit him," I said quickly.

"I haven't got time to argue with you. You stick with me and try not to draw too much attention to yourself," He hissed as he opened one of the classrooms and began to search.

We spent the next couple of hours searching the third floor before deducing that Black was long gone.

"Now what?" I whispered when we had searched all of the rooms.

"Report to Dumbledore," He said heading back down the stairs. We passed Filch coming out of the dungeons on the way to the Great Hall.

"I've searched the dungeons, Professor Snape. There's no sign of him," Filch said to him.

"Very well. I'll tell the Headmaster. Looks like Black has moved on," Snape said. Filch nodded before scurrying off to lurk somewhere else.

We walked into the Great Hall quietly. There were many large, squishy, purple sleeping bags in the Great Hall where the students were all sleeping peacefully. Dumbledore stood in the middle of the hall, talking to Percy Weasley, the Head Boy.

"Headmaster?" Snape said when we approached, "The whole of the third floor has been searched. He's not there. And Filch has done the dungeons; nothing there either."

"What about the Astronomy tower? Professor Trelawney's room? The Owlery?" Dumbledore asked sharply.

"All searched…"

"Very well, Severus. I didn't really expect Black to linger," Dumbledore said with a sigh.

"Have you any theory as to how he got in, Professor?" asked Snape.

"Many, Severus, each of them as unlikely as the next."

Snape seemed to frown angrily. Percy Weasley was rapt with attention.

"You remember the conversation we had, Headmaster, just before- ah- the start of the term?" Snape asked Dumbledore. He was trying to exclude someone from the conversation by being secretive, but whether it was Percy or myself I couldn't be certain.

"I do, Severus," said Dumbledore with a hint of warning in his voice.

"It seems- almost impossible- that Black could have entered the school without inside help. I did express my concerns when you appointed-"

"I do not believe a single person inside this castle would help Black enter it," said Dumbledore, his tone making it clear that the subject was closed. Snape didn't reply.

"I must go down to the dementors. I said I would inform them when our search was complete," Dumbledore said.

"Didn't they want to help, sir?" Percy asked.

"Oh yes," Dumbledore said coldly, "But I'm afraid no dementor will cross the threshold of this castle while I am headmaster."

Percy looked away, blushing, as Dumbledore left quickly and quietly. Snape watched the Headmaster leave with an expression of resentment as Percy moved away, making sure all the students were still asleep.

"Go to sleep, Abigail," Snape said in a voice so soft I could barely hear it. Then he left the hall and I had no choice but to grab an empty sleeping bag and inconspicuously drag it to where my fellow Slytherins were sleeping. I slipped into the sleeping bag while Percy still had his back turned and quietly lifted my Disillusionment Charm. I lay back, staring at the starry enchanted ceiling for a long time, before falling asleep.

For the next few weeks people chattered constantly about Sirius Black. Rumors about how he had gotten into the castle grew wilder and wilder. Slytherin was due to play Gryffindor in a Quidditch match, which everyone was looking forward to. When it looked like the weather would turn bad, however, Slytherin pulled out of the match, saying Draco's arm was still injured. So Gryffindor was to play Hufflepuff instead.

The day before the match the winds had reached howling point and the rain fell harder than ever. It was so dark in the corridors that extra torches had been lit. Friday morning I had a Defense Against the Dark Arts class. No one was really excited about it until we walked into the classroom to find Professor Snape sitting at Lupin's desk. Murmuring excitedly everyone took their usual seats and looked up attentively. I watched with veiled fascination as Snape stood up to address the class. I'd had secret Defense Against the Dark Arts classes with him before, when it was just the two of us, but I was curious to see how he would teach the entire class.

"Professor Lupin is feeling too ill today to teach and I have been asked to take his place. Unfortunately we will only be doing book work today and since Professor Lupin has failed to leave a record of what you have covered so far we shall discuss…werewolves," Snape said smoothly, "Please turn to page 394."

We all got out our books and flipped to page 394. I guessed immediately what Snape's plan was. He wanted someone to realize what Lupin was. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Draco go even paler than normal when he saw the picture in the book.

"Which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?" Snape asked the class. Everyone looked at each other. We hadn't even began werewolves yet. Lucky for my classmates, I spent every full moon romping around the Forbidden Forest with a werewolf. I raised my hand and Snape looked surprised.

"Abigail?"

"The snouts are different and the shape of the pupils," I said quietly.

"Very good. 10 points to Slytherin. Now, I'd like you all to read the chapter on werewolves and make notes. For homework you will each write an essay on the different ways to recognize and kill werewolves. I want two rolls of parchment to be handed in to my on Monday," Snape said.

For the remainder of the class no one said anything and the only sound that could be heard was the scratching of quills on parchment, the turning of pages, and the sound of Snape pacing back and forth. About midway through the assignment I caught his eye and smiled knowingly. He nodded his head and met me on our alternate plane.

"Figured it out, did you?" he asked me.

Knew it already, actually, I replied simply.

"How?"

…I can't tell you. Suffice to say I've known for a while. And while we're on the subject- can I help you brew the Wolfsbane Potion now?

"Yes of course. …I'm actually glad you figured it out. It'll be less tiring making the potion with your help."

The next morning the storm had gotten worse and instead of going to the Quidditch match I stayed in the warm, dry common room, working on my werewolf essay for Snape. I had just finished it when the common room door opened and in walked all of Slytherin House, covered in rain and mud, but looking delighted.

"What happened? Did Gryffindor lose?" I asked Jenny as she came to sit beside me.

"Yes-" she began, but Draco interrupted her.

"That's not all! Dementors showed up at the match. Potter fainted and fell off his broomstick!" Draco declared, roaring with laughter, "He's in the hospital wing. And his broomstick flew into the Whomping Willow. It's totally destroyed."

I laughed lightly but felt bad for Potter. As if seeing the dementors wasn't bad enough- he'd fallen off his broom and it had been destroyed!

Chapter 52

(The Shrieking Shack)

Even though it was still storming and raining, I went out that night to meet Lupin. It was the full moon and I hadn't seen him the night before. I was curious as to why he hadn't been in class. As I walked across the grounds I noticed I wasn't the only animal prowling about- a big black dog and a sleek ginger cat were walking around the grounds. Lupin met me at the edge of the forest and we started to walk down the path.

"How's it going, Moony?" I asked curiously, "Why weren't you in class?"

"It's nothing, really, Abby. It just gets harder in October and throughout the winter months, even with the Wolfsbane Potion."

"Snape said I could help him brew it," I said with a grin, "When he took over the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, he made us start working on werewolves. He even gave homework. An essay- two rolls of parchment. I've finished it already."

"Of course you have. Let me guess- it was an essay on how to kill werewolves?"

"…well yeah."

We walked in silence for a little while, the sounds of our paws on the wet foliage was the only noise to be heard. Any other animals would be driven into their nests, either by the rain or the werewolf. The animals in the Forbidden Forest weren't generally stupid. Everything from the squirrels to the centaurs knew to stay away when a werewolf was about.

"I have a question for you, Abby," Lupin said suddenly.

"Yeah?"

"Why are you afraid of werewolves? …besides the obvious reason, I mean?"

"Oh, you're talking about the boggart? I wouldn't have picked a werewolf as being the thing I was most afraid of had I known you were one," I replied, "…you aren't the only werewolf in this forest, apparently. Snape and I were out gathering Fluxweed last year- It's a plant that can only be harvested at the full moon, if you didn't know that already- and we got attacked by a werewolf."

"What happened?" Lupin asked curiously.

"Snape got slashed up pretty badly, but I fought it off. I was in tiger form."

"I see. No werewolf would pick a fight with you- just look at your claws! They're razor sharp, more lethal than mine," he said, lifting his paw to let me see. His claws resembled those of a dog. I lifted my own paw, turned it pad up, and unsheathed my finely honed claws. They were curved and could easily rip anything. Lupin also examined my paw, but he wasn't looking at my claws. He was looking at the scars that crisscrossed the pads of my paw.

"It looks like you walked over hot coals," he remarked softly.

"No…it was something much worse…"

"I can only imagine what that must look like when you're human…is that why you always where half-gloves or regular gloves?" he asked quietly. I hesitated then inclined my head.

"Yes. …not even Snape knows…"

"What are they from?" he inquired.

"…a childhood accident," I lied, "I don't like to talk about it."

"Ah."

He probably knew I was lying, but I didn't really care. The rain was pounding down through the trees had already soaked me to the core, but for the first time the cold really penetrated me and I shivered.

"We could get out of the rain, if you like," Lupin said, noticing my shivering, "Do you know the Shrieking Shack?"

"Yeah," I replied slowly. The Shrieking Shack was supposedly the most haunted building in Britain. It could be accessed in Hogsmeade, though you'd have to be crazy to go in.

"Well, it's not actually haunted. It was built in the year I came to Hogwarts…the exact year I came to Hogwarts. There's a passage beneath the Whomping Willow. I'll show you."

I followed Lupin back through the forest. We stuck to the shadows and made our way to the Whomping Willow, a dangerous tree that grew on Hogwarts Grounds. I watched as Lupin dodged the thrashing branches and pressed a notch in the tree with his paw. The tree went completely still, as if it had been turned to stone, and Lupin disappeared into a tunnel hidden at its base. Curious, I padded over and peered in, then followed Lupin into the tunnel.

It was long and dark. We walked the passage in silence. The tunnel opened up into an old room. It was dusty and old- paper was peeling from the walls, there were stains on the floor, and the furniture had been destroyed. A wooden chair lay a little ways away from me. Chunks had been ripped out of it and a leg was missing.

"Haven't been here in a while," he remarked, walking around the room.

"You went a bit mad sometimes, didn't you?" I commented, nodding towards the chair.

"I did," he said, chuckling quietly.

We sat in the dusty room for a while, listening to the rain, and enjoying each others company. Out of instinct I began to lick my fur dry so I would be warmer. For some reason I remembered the dog and ginger cat I had seen earlier. I chuckled to myself.

"What's so funny?" Lupin asked me with a small grin.

"Earlier tonight I saw a big stray dog and a ginger cat walking around Hogwarts grounds. I was just thinking how similar we are to them, only in the extreme. A dog and a cat…a werewolf and a tiger."

Lupin chuckled quietly, then frowned slightly.

"What did the stray dog look like?" he asked casually.

"Uh…big and black, why?"

"Just curious," he replied with a shrug, "…I think the rain's letting up."

I listened and heard that the pounding of the rain had decreased significantly.

I followed Lupin out of the Shrieking Shack and back up to the castle. It was early in the morning now and he resumed his human form.

"How do you manage to sneak out of the castle?" he asked me curiously as we walked up the steps together. I transformed into a human mid-stride and took out my wand. I nonverbally applied my Disillusionment Charm.

"Amazing!" he said, "You're completely invisible. Is it a Bedazzling Hex or-"

"A Disillusionment Charm," I informed him, "It's my specialty."

"Quite obviously. I've never seen a Disillusionment Charm used so effectively. When did you master that?"

"My first year," I replied proudly.

Chapter 53

(The Three Broomsticks)

Two weeks before the end of the term, the sky lightened suddenly to a dazzling, opaline white and the muddy grounds were covered in glittering frost. I liked running around the frost-covered grounds at night and almost couldn't wait for the full moon so Lupin and I could run together. Inside the castle there was a buzz of Christmas in the air, much to my dislike. I still didn't like Christmas.

Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, had already decorated his classroom with shimmering lights that turned out to be real, fluttering fairies. Charms soon became my least favorite class, at least until the holidays were over. The kids were all talking about their plans for the holidays. It seemed almost everyone in Slytherin was going home for the holidays, which was fine with me. It meant it would be quieter. Brandy and Jenny both invited me to come to their houses, but I politely refused. They both knew Christmas was my least favorite holiday, so they didn't mind.

To everyone's delight, there was another Hogsmeade trip on the very last weekend of the term. I went with everyone else to Hogsmeade, then wandered off on my own to do my Christmas shopping. I bought trinkets from the joke shop for my friends and some sweets from Honeydukes to send to my sister. Then I decided to buy something for both Snape and Lupin, but wasn't sure what to buy them. After browsing the shops, I decided on an elegant eagle-feather quill for Snape. For Lupin, I thought he'd get a kick out of a box of dog treats.

After I finished shopping I walked down to the Three Broomsticks for some warm butterbeer. I got a booth in the back where I hoped I wouldn't be bothered. I was looking forward to the snow that was falling steadily outside. Winter was my favorite time of year, after Christmas passed, because I could run around the grounds in tiger form. I wondered if there would be a good snow before the next full moon? It would be fun to run in the snow with Lupin. I wondered if he liked it as much as I did.

"Well if it isn't Prewett, all dressed up in ratty Muggle clothes," said a scoffing voice. I looked up from my butterbeer to see Marcus Flint, an older Slytherin boy and two of his Seventh year friends I didn't know. They were all pureblood and they dressed in the most expensive clothes available. It wasn't the first time they'd picked on me for wearing Muggle clothing either. I was currently wearing a pair of old blue jeans, thick black boots, a warm sweater made of black wool, and black gloves.

"Why don't you go pick on some Muggle-borns, Flint, and leave me alone?" I demanded.

"Ha! Way you dress, you could be a Mudblood yourself. You don't use the word Mudblood, do you Prewett? Why is that?" asked Flint, "You a Muggle-lover?"

"No," I said, eyes flashing defiantly, "Professor Snape doesn't use the word Mudblood."

"Why is it you're always with Professor Snape?" asked one of Flint's friends.

"He's her guardian," said Flint, "Remember? Prewett doesn't have any parents."

"That's right," said his other friend, "Dunno what he'd want to put up with a Mudblood like her for anyways-"

I slammed down my butterbeer and raised my wand to his throat so fast he didn't see it coming.

"Give me a reason," I growled at him, "I beg you."

The boy didn't look frightened, but Flint and his other friend did.

"How 'bout we take it outside, Prewett?" said the one whom I had my wand raised to.

"Easy, Woodburn," Flint said, "You've heard what they say about her."

"I ain't scared of no girl," said Woodburn defiantly.

"Electricus!" I said, flicking my wand. A jolt of electricity went through Woodburn and made his hair stand on end. He jumped backwards, knocking over a chair in the process. I laughed. Flint went for his wand, but I quickly flicked mine towards him.

"Engorgio!" I said, aiming at his head. His head began to swell quickly until it became so heavy he toppled to the floor.

"You're not allowed to do magic in here!" exclaimed the waitress, Madam Rosmerta. I dodged out of the way as two wizards tried to grab me for her. Then I ran out the door. I hurried down the street a ways, then ducked behind a building. I cast my Disillusionment Charm and walked back out onto the street.

Unable to think of anything else to do, I made my way to the Shrieking Shack. I went inside, then went back up to the castle through the secret passageway. I wandered around the grounds for a little while. I saw the students return from Hogsmeade and go back into the castle, but still I stayed outside. It had gotten dark and I was about to head inside when I spotted Snape walking towards me.

"Abigail? I know you're out here," he said aloud. I sighed and made myself visible…then morphed into a tiger.

"What?" I asked, not looking at him.

"You cursed three students, that's what," he replied, walking over to where I was.

"Yeah, well, they asked for it," I growled, digging my claws into the ground, "They were making fun of me for wearing Muggle clothes and-…and they were saying mean things to me. I like Muggle clothes. They're warmer than robes."

Snape inclined his head.

"I still have to punish you, though," he said with a sigh, "…a dozen people witnessed you cursing those boys."

"I don't think I should be punished," I said hotly, "I'm thirteen and I'm a girl. They're all seventeen year old boys. Who's the obvious victim here?"

"Considering the girl is you, they are the victims," he said with a small smile.

"Yeah well…they started it," I said, annoyed.

"There's nothing I can do about it…you'll have to miss the next Hogsmeade trip."

"Fine," I said sulkily, "I'm not going to argue with you."

"…why don't you come down to my office? I'm brewing another cauldron of Wolfsbane Potion and I could use some help," he said to me.

Of course this made me forget all about my punishment. I morphed into a human and recast my Disillusionment Charm. Then I followed Snape back up to the castle.

The only other Slytherin who remained for the holidays was a sullen-looking fifth year. The Common Room was the quietist it had ever been. The fifth-year girl spent a lot of her time reading, either in the Common Room or in the library, which was what I did a lot, too. She and I didn't talk, but it felt like we had a deep level of understanding.

On Christmas Eve I wrapped my presents for Lupin and Snape. Snape's I wrapped in plain black paper and didn't sign, as he always did to me. Lupin's I wrapped in the same paper, but added a note.

Moony,

Here's wishing you a Happy Christmas. I thought you'd get a laugh out of these. See you when the moon is full.

Sincerely,

Abby

Chapter 54

(Christmas With Snape and Moony)

On Christmas morning I awoke to a pile of presents at the foot of my bed. I just lay there for a moment, dreading the fact that it was Christmas. I pushed myself up with a sigh and proceeded to open my presents. I had a small barrel of jelly slugs from Brandy and an assortment of chocolates from Jenny. From Snape, I received an enchanted thermos that would keep any liquid hot or cold. I opened Lupin's present last. It was a book entitled Tons of Tigers. The pictures inside of it didn't move. Curious, I picked up the note from Lupin.

Abby,

Merry Christmas. This book is a Muggle book, as you've no doubt noticed. It's all about tigers and I think you'll find it worth reading. I might not be at the Christmas Feast. I'm not feeling too well. I'll try and make it, though.

Your Friend,

Moony

I picked up the book again and looked at it. I'd never read a Muggle book before. Having grown up around my parent's bookshop, I'd always had a thirst for reading. I was eager to read this Muggle book and took it out into the Common Room, along with my Jelly Slugs.

I read my book and ate Jelly Slugs until it was time for the feast. I had decided to go, this year, since there weren't so many people. At lunchtime I went down to the Great Hall to find that the House Tables had been moved against the walls and a single table, set for twelve, stood in the middle of the room. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, and Flitwick were there as well as Filch, the caretaker. There were also three students- two nervous-looking first years and the sullen fifth year. I walked over and sat down across from Snape.

"Merry Christmas, Abby," Dumbledore said warmly. I inclined my head and then looked down the table.

"Where's Professor Lupin?" I asked quietly.

"He was feeling…ill," Snape replied.

The doors opened and in walked Potter, Weasley, and Granger.

"Merry Christmas!" said Dumbledore as they approached the table, "As there are so few of us, it seemed foolish to use the House tables…Sit down, sit down!"

Potter, Weasley, and Granger sat down side by side at the end of the table.

"Crackers!" said Dumbledore enthusiastically, offering the end of a large silver noisemaker to Snape. Snape took it reluctantly and tugged. With a bang like a gunshot, the cracker flew apart to reveal a large, pointed witch's hat, topped with a stuffed vulture. Snape's eyes narrowed and he pushed the hat towards Dumbledore, who swapped it for his wizard's hat at once.

"Dig in!" cried Dumbledore, beaming all around.

The doors opened once more as I stabbed at my potatoes with a fork. It was Professor Trelawney, the Divination teacher, and she glided over to the table. She was wearing a green sequined dress and greatly resembled a large dragonfly.

"Sibyll, this is a pleasant surprise!" Dumbledore said, standing up.

"I have been crystal gazing, Headmaster," she said in her misty voice, "and to my astonishment, I saw myself abandoning my solitary luncheon and coming to join you. Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate? I at once hastened from my tower, and I do beg you to forgive my lateness…"

"Certainly, certainly," said Dumbledore, his blue eyes twinkling, "Let me draw you up a chair-"

He waved his wand and a chair appeared, revolved a few moments, and then landed between Snape and McGonagall. Snape did not look very happy. I wasn't very happy either. Professor Trelawney was one of my least favorite teachers. I found her personality to be irritating.

"I dare not, Headmaster! If I join the table we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!" said Professor Trelawney.

"We'll risk it, Sibyll," said McGonagall a tad impatiently, "Do sit down, the turkey's getting stone cold."

Professor Trelawney hesitated, then lowered herself into the chair with her eyes closed as if she expected someone to keel over and die. Unfortunately nothing at all mystical happened and McGonagall offered her some tripe. Professor Trelawney looked around the table, eyes wide.

"But where is dear Professor Lupin?" She asked in a hushed voice. For a moment, Snape eyes met mine. I accidentally clanged my fork loudly on my plate and I felt myself blush. I looked down at my plate.

"I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill," said Dumbledore, "Most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day."

"But surely you knew that, Sibyll?" said McGonagall, eyebrows raised.

"Certainly I knew, Minerva, but one does not parade the fact that one is All-Knowing. I frequently act as though I am not possessed with the Inner Eye, so as not to make others nervous," Said Professor Trelawney coldly.

"That explains a great deal," said Professor McGonagall tartly. I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Professor Trelawney suddenly looked a lot less misty.

"If you must know, Minerva, I have seen that poor Professor Lupin will not be with us for very long. He seems aware, himself, that his time is short. He positively fled when I offered to crystal gaze for him-"

"Imagine that," said McGonagall dryly.

"I doubt," said Dumbledore in a loud but still cheerful voice that put an end to McGonagall and Trelawney's conversation, "that Professor Lupin is in any immediate danger. Severus, you've made the potion for him again?"

"Yes, Headmaster," said Snape, catching my eye again. He and I had finished brewing the Wolfsbane potion just a few days ago. It mainly consisted of me fetching potion ingredients or stirring the cauldron, but I had found it immensely fascinating.

"Good," said Dumbledore, "Then he should be up and about in no time…Derek, have you had any of these chipolatas? They're excellent."

The first-year boy went red and took the platter of sausages with trembling hands.

Dinner went normally after that until, when Potter and Weasley stood up, Professor Trelawney shrieked.

"My dears! Which one of you left his seat first? Which?" She demanded.

"Dunno," said Weasley uneasily.

"I doubt it will make much difference," said McGonagall coldly, "unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the entrance hall."

I pressed me hand over my mouth to suppress a laugh and I saw the corners of Snape's mouth twitch. Professor Trelawney looked highly affronted.

"Coming?" Potter asked Granger who shook her head and muttered something. When they left, Granger had a hushed conversation with McGonagall.

When Snape stood up to leave I followed him out of the Great Hall. He even held the door open for me. We started to walk back towards the dungeons together.

"You could come help me brew some potions for Madam Pomfrey," Snape suggested quietly as we walked into the dungeons.

"I think I would like that," I replied with a nod, and followed him towards his office.

After a day spent working over a hot cauldron, it felt nice to slip out of the castle. I morphed into tiger form immediately and began to run through the snow drifts that covered the grounds. Lupin came out of the trees, already in his werewolf form.

"Merry Christmas, Abby," he said brightly.

"Merry Christmas, Moony…" I murmured.

"Oh, I forgot- you don't like Christmas do you?"

"Not really. …it's one of those family holidays…"

"Well, we can forget all about that. Let's go run in the snow," he said brightly. I let out a purr-like chuckle as Lupin took off, kicking up snow on either side.

I spent the rest of the night chasing Lupin through the snow in the forest. It occurred to me that I didn't think of him as a teacher anymore…I thought of him as a friend, like I thought of Snape as a friend. Unlike Snape, however, Lupin was willing to talk to me about things past. A few hours before dawn, Lupin and I were laying exhausted beside a stream. Snow and ice clung to our fur and whiskers, but didn't feel too cold.

"Moony?" I asked hesitantly, "…will you tell me more about Lily Evans?"

Lupin sat up slowly.

"Well," he said quietly, "She was in Gryffindor, like I was…how she and Severus came to be friends, I don't know. I think they lived close together. She was brilliant at Potions."

"What was she like?" I asked, curling my tail around myself and laying my head on my paws.

"There never was a nicer or more caring person than Lily. She married one of my best friends."

"Married?" I asked, lifting my head, "To who?"

"James Potter," Lupin replied. This new piece of information shocked me. We sat in silence as I started to piece things together in my mind.

Before the sun rose and we went back to the castle, Lupin told me a few stories about Lily Evans. I listened dolefully the whole time, picturing everything he said in my mind. He wouldn't tell me any stories that included Snape.

Chapter 55

(Lily)

When we went back up to the castle I went to my dormitory, exhausted from a night of playing. No sooner had my head hit the pillow, I fell asleep and started to dream…

A young boy was running along the corridor of the Hogwarts Express as it clattered through the countryside. He had black eyes and badly cut black hair. His skin was pale and sallow. With a jolt I realized it was a young Snape. He looked like a flower that had been deprived of sunlight. He was wearing robes which had a secondhand-ish look to them. The lack of emblem on his robes told me he was a first year.

He stopped outside a compartment door and looked in. A group of rowdy boys were talking, completely ignoring a red-haired girl who was hunched in a corner seat. He slid open the compartment door and sat down opposite her. She glanced at him- her startling green eyes were red from crying. It was Lily Evans.

"I don't want to talk to you," she said in a constricted voice.

"Why not?" Snape asked, a faint note of surprise and hurt in his voice.

"Tuney h-hates me. Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore."

"So what?"

She threw him a look of deep dislike.

"So she's my sister!"

"She's only a-" he caught himself quickly, but Lily was too busy trying to wipe her tears to notice, "…But we're going! This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!"

There was a note of exhilaration in his voice. Lily nodded, mopping her eyes, and half-smiled.

"You'd better be in Slytherin," he said, encouraged that she had brightened a little.

"Slytherin?" chorused one of the other boys in the compartment. I hadn't looked at them until now and I did a double take. One of them looked almost exactly like Harry Potter! It had to be his father, James Potter.

"Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" Potter asked the boy lounging on the seats opposite him. The boy didn't smile.

"My whole family have been in Slytherin," he said.

"Blimey," said Potter, "and I thought you seemed all right!"

The boy grinned.

"Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"

Potter lifted an invisible sword.

" 'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad," Potter said.

Snape made a small, disparaging noise and Potter rounded on him.

"Got a problem with that?" he demanded.

"No," Snape said with a slight sneer, "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy-"

"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" interjected the other boy. Potter roared with laughter. Lily sat up, her fair skin flushed, and looked between the other two boys with equal dislike.

"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment," she said to Snape.

"Ooooo…"

Potter and his friend imitated her lofty voice and Potter tried to trip Snape as he passed.

"See ya, Snivellus!" he called as the compartment door slammed shut.

Lily and Snape walked down the corridor until they found an almost empty compartment. There was a girl sitting there, alone, but she didn't look worried. A black cat was sitting curled up in her lap and she was stroking its head absently.

"Can we sit here?" Lily asked the other girl, poking her head into the compartment.

"If you want," the other girl replied with a shrug of her shoulder. Snape followed Lily into the compartment and they sat down. The other girl was staring out the window, a faraway look on her face. Something seemed familiar about the girl. She had long black hair and ivory skin.

"My name's Lily and this is Severus," Lily said politely, "What's your name?"

The girl looked at Lily. I registered her familiar greenish-blue eyes at the same moment she spoke her name.

"Julia Prewett," she replied, "Are you both first-years?"

Lily nodded her head.

"Are you pure-blood or Muggle-born?" my mother asked.

"I'm half-blood. She's Muggle-born…but she's my friend," Snape added defensively. Mother studied Lily curiously.

"Alright then," she said, and continued to look out the window.

"So, what's Slytherin, Severus?" Lily asked Snape.

"It's one of the four houses you can get put in at Hogwarts," he replied, smiling a small smile when she said his name.

"Oh, I remember you told me about those. What were they again?"

"Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff," he said patiently, "…and Gryffindor."

"Why do you want to be in Slytherin?" Lily inquired curiously.

"My mother was in Slytherin. A lot of really well-known people were in Slytherin. It's where all the smart people go. I'm sure you'll be in Slytherin."

"My whole family have been Slytherins, too," my mother said, looking at them again.

"They say the Dark Lord was in Slytherin when he was in school," Snape said, with great reverence. He and my mother shared a meaningful look. Lily looked lost.

"Who's the Dark Lord?" she asked cluelessly.

I awoke from my dream with a start. It took me a minute to realize that I was safe in my dormitory and now on the train with my mother, Lily, and Snape. There was an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. It had felt so real. …It was hard for me to accept that it had only been a dream. It wasn't at all strange for me to dream about Lily after hearing Lupin's stories.

It was late afternoon- I had slept the day away. Unable to shake my uneasy feeling, I went down to the empty Common Room and sat down beside the fire. I felt oddly alone, but didn't want to go find Snape or Lupin to talk to. I couldn't tell either of them about my dream. I doubted either of them would understand.

On a whim, I cast the doe Patronus. Her presence, for some reason, reminded me of Lily. The doe Patronus was beautiful. I watched, enamored, as she pranced around the room. She would stay as long as I wanted her to. A half hour passed of me simply watching the doe. Then the door to the Common Room slid open and Snape walked in.

"I was wondering where you were, Abigail, I haven't seen you all-" he began, then fell abruptly silent as his gaze found the doe. We both just watched her for a long minute. Snape shook his head, as if clearing it.

"I think we need to resume your Patronus lessons, Abigail," he said to me. This startled me and the doe vanished.

"What? Why?" I demanded.

"Because…you should have your own Patronus, not mine. Your own Patronus won't be a doe, it should be a tiger. Every Animagus is the same as their Patronus."

"Well how am I going to cast my own Patronus?"

"You need your own happy memory. You'll have to think of one. Meet me in my office later tonight," he said to me, then turned and walked out of the Common Room. I sat in silent contemplation, trying to think of a happy memory.

By the time night fell I had picked a memory. It was my memory of Snape blasting Lockhart during the dueling club last year. It was happy…in an evil sort of way. I still smiled when I thought about it, however. I walked down to Snape's office, feeling hopeful that this would work.

It took me six tries before I got my Patronus Charm to work the way it should. My thoughts kept wanting to turn to Lily. I was also having a hard time keeping my mental barrier up so that there was no chance of Snape glimpsing my dream in my mind.

When I finally cast a tiger-shaped Patronus, I felt immensely relieved. Snape conjured up some pumpkin juice to celebrate. As I sipped my pumpkin juice, I wondered to myself why I was keeping so many secrets from Snape. The answer I came up with was simple- he kept secrets from me, so I was doing the same thing to him.

Chapter 56

(Helping A Friend)

On the Tuesday after classes resumed, Snape and I were brewing the Wolfsbane Potion in the Potions classroom when there was a knock on the door.

"Enter," said Snape as I finished chopping Fluxweed. To my surprise, Lupin walked in.

"Ah. There you are, Abby. I was wondering if you could help me with something?" Lupin asked me with a pleasant smile.

"Sure. What's up?" I asked, dumping the Fluxweed into the cauldron.

"I need your help looking around the castle for another boggart."

I noticed Snape's eyes narrow.

"What happened to the other one?" I asked, fighting back a smile.

"Well, I didn't forsee needing it again so I got rid of it. Will you help me find another?"

"Of course," I said, then added, "…after I finish here."

Lupin inclined his head, then left. Snape looked at me and scowled.

"Since when have you and Lupin been on a first-name basis?" he asked coolly. I hesitated a moment, then decided to tell him.

"Ever since I started sneaking out of the castle every full moon and wandering around the forest with him. He's my…friend," I muttered.

"Your friend?" Snape repeated, "…How have you been sneaking out? What about the dementors?"

"They won't bother me when I'm in my animagus form. I've been blocking my mind when I sneak out so you wouldn't know."

He was fighting to remain calm, I could tell.

"Why are you telling me this now?" he inquired.

"…I don't know…" I replied softly, "…I had this dream the other night and-"

A loud hissing noise interrupted me and the room was filled with an acrid smoke that made me cough. Snape pulled out his wand and waved it. The smoke and the potion vanished.

"We let it stay on the fire too long," he said, though I knew that already, "We'll have to start over. …what were you saying?"

"Nevermind," I said quickly. He wouldn't have understood anyway.

I stayed after Defense Against the Dark Arts class the next day to talk to Lupin.

"So, Moony, what do you need another boggart for?" I asked, sitting on top of one of he desks.

"I'm going to give Harry lessons on how to get rid of dementors," he replied, "They affect him a lot like they do you."

It occurred to me that Harry Potter and I were very similar. We were both badly affected by dementors…we were both orphans…

"At least he doesn't remember his parent's death," I said aloud without thinking. Lupin looked at me pityingly and I leapt down off the desk, picked up my bag, and slung it over my shoulder.

"See you later, Moony," I said, heading for the door.

After a few days of asking around the castle, I finally found out that a boggart had moved into Filch's file cabinet. Upon hearing about it, from one of the older Weasley twins, I went to find Lupin. He was in the middle of teaching a group of first years. I waited outside the classroom door. When the bell rang, Lupin released his class, and a swarm of wide-eyed first years passed me. Lupin saw me standing there and followed the last student out.

"How's it going, Abby?" he asked, smiling a wolfish smile.

"Great. Word has reached my ears of a boggart that recently moved into Filch's file cabinet," I replied.

"Really? Excellent! Well done, Abby," he said brightly.

"No problem," I replied with a shrug, feeling myself blush slightly.

"Haven't you got a class to go to?" he asked me.

"I was on break…but I should head to Transfiguration now."

"Alright, then. See you later, Abby."

"Later, Moony."

January faded to February without much change in the weather. Homework seemed to have increased ten-fold, however. It was almost impossible to get work done in the Common Room. Between Draco and his friends playing Exploding Snap, and Flint and his friends, who like to pick on younger students, I decided to do my work elsewhere.

I tried the library, but couldn't concentrate with all the constant flow of people around me. So I started staying up late until the Common Room was empty. On the night of the full moon, I abandoned my Transfiguration homework to sneak out of the castle. When I met up with Lupin, he noticed almost immediately how tired I looked.

"Haven't you been sleeping, Abby?" he asked me.

"Not very much… It's usually past midnight when I get to bed," I replied.

"Why?"

"Homework. It's impossible to get it down with Draco and his friends making noise constantly," I replied, a low growl in my voice.

"I see. If you like, you could do your work in my office. It's quiet there," he suggested.

"Thanks, Moony. I think I might do that," I said gratefully, "…How have your lessons with Potter been going?"

"Well enough. He hasn't produced a full-fledged Patronus yet, but with some practice, I think he will."

The next afternoon, after my last class of the day, I took my bag down to Lupin's office. He wasn't there, but he had assured me the night before that I could use his office even if he wasn't there. He had even given me a key. Lupin's office was extremely ordinary except for a large tank in the corner. I sat down at Lupin's desk and started to work on my Transfiguration homework. Curiosity got the best of me with the tank, however, and I walked over to it after about ten minutes. The water was murky and I couldn't see anything. I trailed my fingers in the water lightly and yet out a yelp when something grabbed hold of me.

I recognized the creature as the grindylow we had studied in class before the holidays. Grindylows have a strong grip, but their fingers are very brittle. I tried smashing his fingers with my free fist. The grindylow let out a growl and bit down on my arm.

"Relashio!" said a voice from the doorway. The spell struck the grindylow. It let out a hiss and dropped back into the water, freeing my hand. I quickly pulled my arm away from the tank and turned to face Lupin, who was smiling mildly.

"Haven't you ever been taught not to stick your hands into strange tanks?" he asked, sounding amused.

"I'll know better the next time," I replied, "Besides, I found out what I wanted to know."

"Which was?"

"What was in the tank of course. A grindylow."

"Dumbledore told me I could release it into the lake, but I haven't got around to it. …aren't you supposed to be doing homework?" he asked me.

"Oh yeah," I said, sitting back down at his desk.

"I'll be grading these papers," he said, nodding to a stack of papers on his desk.

Chapter 57

(Marcus Flint)

There was a lot of talk about the upcoming Quidditch match. It was Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw, but Draco and Flint seemed particularly interested in it. Rumor had reached my ears that Potter had been given a new broom for Christmas, by an anonymous gift giver. The broom had been confiscated, stripped down, and checked for jinxes, in case it had come from Sirius Black. It had been cleared and returned to him by the morning of the match, however.

I started to walk with Jenny, Brandy, and Ian to the Quidditch pitch after breakfast, but I saw Lupin coming out of the Entrance Hall and I veered off to walk with him.

"Good morning, Abby," he said to me.

"Hey Moony. Fair weather for a Quidditch match," I said as I followed him outside. It was a clear, cool day and there was a light breeze. Lupin and I sat together in the stands and watched as the match began.

About midway through the match three tall, black, hooded dementors made their way onto the field. A lot of people screamed, but I looked at Lupin. He was frowning slightly.

"Those aren't dementors…" he murmured. A second later Potter, who was flying over them, pulled out his wand and cast a Patronus. It looked like a deer…beside me, Lupin stiffened slightly. The Patronus knocked over the 'dementors', which turned out to be four students. Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Flint were trying to disentangle themselves from black robes.

"What a stupid thing to do," Lupin remarked, "Dumbledore's going to be really…really annoyed."

Potter caught the snitch and ended the match. I followed Lupin and the other students out onto the field. Everyone was cheering for Potter.

"That was quite some Patronus," Lupin said to Potter.

"The dementors didn't affect me at all!" said Potter excitedly, "I didn't feel a thing!"

"That would be because they- er- weren't dementors," Lupin said, "Come and see-"

Lupin led Potter out of the crowd and I followed as they walked towards Draco and the others.

"You gave Mr. Malfoy quite a fright," said Lupin to Potter. The boys were still trying to disentangle themselves from the robes. McGonagall was standing over them, yelling. I spotted Snape standing a little ways away and I made my way over to him.

"Those idiots," Snape said as we walked back up towards the castle after the match.

"Let me guess- you're not going to help them out this time?" I inquired.

"There's no way I could, even if I wanted to, which I don't. Minerva took them straight to Dumbledore…do you even like Draco and the others?"

"Eh, not so much. Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle make too much noise in the Common Room and Flint and his friends like to pick on younger students."

Later that afternoon, I was working on my homework in the Common Room when Flint came through the entrance. He was glowering angrily at whatever punishment Dumbledore had dolled out to them. Normally, Flint had sense enough to steer clear of me, but he was ready to pick a fight and I was the only person in the Common Room. I had just finished my homework and picked up the book about tigers Lupin had given me for Christmas.

"Well if it isn't the Mudblood Prewett," he sneered, walking over to me. I couldn't help but let out a low growl.

"Did you just growl at me?" Flint guffawed, "What are you, a dog?"

"I'm not a dog and I'm not Muggle-born!" I said angrily, "My blood is just as pure as yours!"

"Oh really?" he sneered, "No decent pureblood would sit around dressed in Muggle clothing, reading- is that a Muggle book?"

Flint snatched my book and flipped through it. I leapt to my feet, pointing my wand directly at his heart. I remembered vividly what happened the last time a 7th year grabbed my book.

"Give me back my book, Flint," I said, my voice low and dangerous, "Now."

"Why don't you make me, Mudblood?" he sneered.

I hit him with a jelly-fingers jinx and he was forced to drop my book. I immediately snatched it up. Unable to grab his wand, Flint kicked out at me. I flicked my wand briskly and hit him with a Leg-Locker Curse. Then I left the Common Room, taking my book with me.

Lupin found me two hours later down by the lake. I wasn't even in tiger form. I was reading my book.

"Abby! It's dangerous to be out here unprotected," he said as he approached. He had his wand in his hand. He sat down beside me.

"Unprotected?" I scoffed, "Watch this."

I pulled out my wand, waved it, and cast a nonverbal Patronus. I had been practicing.

"Who's unprotected?" I said, watching my tiger Patronus proudly.

"…I thought your Patronus was a doe?" Lupin asked, watching the tiger.

"This is my true Patronus…I can't explain it to you now," I replied.

"Well, I actually came out here to talk to you about cursing that seventh-year- …what's his name- Mucus?"

"Marcus Flint," I said with a faint smile, "And he deserved it. He was trying to take my book."

"Well you certainly are brave, taking on a Seventh-year."

"It's not the first time it's happened," I said with a shrug, "I'm missing a trip to Hogsmeade because of that stupid blighter."

Lupin chuckled softly.

"I could talk to this Mucus kid if you like-" he began.

"I believe that's my job," said a cold, drawling voice. We looked up to see Snape standing there. Lupin got to his feet.

"Of course, Severus," Lupin said, inclining his head. He headed back up to the castle without another word.

"What was that all about?" I demanded, annoyed.

"I just think you shouldn't spend so much time with Lupin," Snape said coolly, watching his retreating figure.

"He's my friend!" I protested.

"He's a werewolf," he replied, disgusted.

"How prejudice!" I shouted. I got to my feet and marched away. I morphed into tiger form and started to run.

"Abigail, wait!" I heard Snape call after me, "…I'm sorry!"

Against my better judgment, I stopped…he had apologized, after all, and that wasn't something Snape usually did. He caught up to me and I could tell by his emotions that he was sincere about his apology.

"I'm sorry, Abigail," he repeated, "It's just…I have a pre-existing dislike of Lupin-"

"I know," I interrupted, then sighed heavily. I morphed back into human form. I shivered slightly. Snape hesitated a moment, then put an arm around me. I allowed myself to be led back up to the castle.

As we walked, I tried to ignore Snape's hand on my waist. My heart was pounding, my face was flushed, and I wasn't the least bit cold anymore. Finally, I squirmed away from him.

"Oh, right- you dislike being touched," he said, letting his arm fall.

"Mm…I'm not cold anymore…" I muttered. Snape looked at me and smiled his small, twisted smile.

Chapter 58

(Malfoy and Potter)

Saturday morning I went down to breakfast with everyone else. I wasn't so cheerful, however. It was the day of the Hogsmeade visit that I was due to miss because of stupid Marcus Flint and his friends. I glanced down to the table at Flint, who was talking to his friends. I thought about Lupin, who referred to him as 'Mucus' for my amusement, and smiled.

I ate breakfast and then went to the library to work on my homework. I couldn't concentrate, however, and I decided it would be better to go work in Snape's office. I met Snape on the stairs on my way down from the library. He saw me coming and stopped to wait for me.

"What've you been up to?" I asked when I caught up with him.

"Well, I just found Longbottom and Potter meeting up at the statue of the one-eyed witch on the third floor. It seemed suspicious so I sent them back to their Common Room. What are you doing, Abigail?" he inquired curiously.

"Well I'm not going to Hogsmeade," I replied coolly. I sensed, with immense satisfaction, a brief wave of guilt from him.

"I was wondering if I could use your office to do my homework? I don't feel like bothering Lupin today," I said to him.

"You've been using Lupin's office to study?"

"Yeah," I replied with a shrug.

"Hm…yes, I suppose you can do your homework in my office. I have some papers to grade anyway…"

I followed Snape down to his office and sat down. I was working on my vampire essay for Lupin's class. I was finishing up the last paragraph when Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle burst into Snape's office. I looked up from my essay, raising an eyebrow at them. They were all covered in mud…or what I hoped was mud. It looked disgusting.

"I just saw Potter's head… in Hogsmeade, sir," Draco panted, "We had just come across Weasley…standing outside the Shrieking Shack alone… We were talking to him when someone started… lobbing mud at us…Crabbe had just gotten hit with a stick, when I saw Potter's head…floating in midair!"

Snape took all of this in slowly, then smiled an evil smile.

"Very well. Leave Potter to me, Malfoy…I suggest you three go back to your Common Room and get cleaned up," Snape said to them. They nodded and left. I watched as Snape stood up.

"Can I come?" I asked quickly. He inclined his head. I stood up, donned my Disillusionment Charm, and followed Snape as he hurried to the third floor. Potter was standing beside a statue of a one-eyed witch. His face was sweaty and his hands were muddy.

"So," Snape said, a look of suppressed triumph about him. Potter tried to look innocent, hiding his muddy hands in his pocket.

"Come with me, Potter," said Snape.

Snape led Potter back down to his office. As we walked, Potter tried to wipe his hands clean on the insides of his robes without Snape noticing. I noticed, however, and felt inclined to inform Snape with my mind. When we reached his office we all went in.

"Sit," Snape commanded. Potter sat in my usual seat, much to my annoyance. Since Snape remained standing, I sat down quietly in his chair.

"Mr. Malfoy has just been to see me with a strange story, Potter. He tells me that he was up by the Shrieking Shack when he ran into Weasley- apparently alone. Mr. Malfoy states that he was standing talking to Weasley when a large amount of mud hit him in the back of the head. How do you think that could have happened?" Snape asked him.

"I don't know, Professor," Potter said, sounding faintly surprised. His true emotions betrayed him, however. It was obvious to me he was lying. He's lying, I thought to myself, hoping that Snape was listening to me. Snape and Potter were staring at each other and neither was blinking. I noticed for the first time, that Potter had the exact same eyes as Lily Evans. My stomach clenched as I looked into Potter's hate-filled eyes as he stared at Snape. I wondered if it was hard for Snape, too…

"Mr. Malfoy then saw an extraordinary apparition. Can you imagine what it might have been, Potter?" Snape asked.

"No," replied Potter, trying a little too hard to sound innocent and curious.

"It was your head, Potter. Floating in midair."

There was a brief pause.

"Maybe he'd better go to Madam Pomfrey if he's seeing thins like-"

"What would your head have been doing in Hogsmeade, Potter? Your head is not allowed in Hogsmeade. No part of your body has permission to be in Hogsmeade."

"I know that. It sounds like Malfoy's having hallucin-"

"Malfoy is not having hallucinations," snarled Snape, "If your head was in Hogsmeade, so was the rest of you."

I had to cover my invisible mouth to stop from snickering.

"I've been up in Gryffindor Tower," Potter said, "Like you told-"

"Can anyone confirm that?"

Potter didn't say anything and Snape's mouth curled into an evil little smile.

"So," Snape said, "Everyone from the Minister of Magic downward has been trying to keep famous Harry Potter safe from Sirius Black. But famous Harry Potter is a law unto himself. Let the ordinary people worry about his safety! Famous Potter goes where he wants to, with no thought for the consequences."

Chapter 59

(Moony and Friends)

Potter didn't respond. He thought Snape was trying to provoke him into telling the truth, but he was only partially correct. Snape had been sincere when he was talking about Potter's disregard for those who try to keep him safe.

"How extraordinarily like your father you are, Potter," Snape said suddenly, his black eyes glinting, "He too was exceedingly arrogant. A small amount of talent on the Quidditch field made him think he was a cut above the rest of us too. Strutting around the place with his friends and admirers…the resemblance between you is uncanny."

"My dad didn't strut and neither do I," said Potter, breaking his vow of silence.

"Your father didn't set much in store by rules either," Snape went on, pressing his advantage, "Rules were for lesser mortals, not Quidditch Cup-winners. His head was so swollen-"

"SHUT UP!" Potter bellowed, jumping to his feet. Snape's face had gone rigid and his black eyes were flashing dangerously. I got to my feet and backed into a corner anxiously.

"What did you say to me, Potter?" Snape growled through clenched teeth.

"I told you to shut up about my dad!" Harry yelled, "I know the truth, all right? He saved your life! Dumbledore told me! You wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for my dad!"

"And did the Headmaster tell you the circumstances in which your father saved my life? Or did he consider the details too unpleasant for precious Potter's delicate ears?" Snape hissed. Potter was biting his lip. Apparently he didn't know and Snape saw this.

"I would hate for you to run away with a false idea of your father, Potter," he said with a terrible grin, "Have you been imagining some act of glorious heroism? Then let me correct you- your saintly father and his friends played a highly amusing joke on me that would have resulted in my death if your father hadn't got cold feet at the last moment. There was nothing brave about what he did. He was saving his own skin as well as mine. Had their joke succeeded, he would have been expelled from Hogwarts."

Snape's teeth were bared and Potter looked as if he'd just swallowed something horrible.

"Turn out your pockets, Potter!" Snape spat suddenly. Potter didn't move.

"Turn out your pockets or we go straight to the headmaster! Pull them out, Potter!"

Slowly Potter pulled out a bag of things from Zonko's joke shop in Hogsmeade and some sort of parchment. Snape picked up the Zonko's bag.

"Ron gave them to me," Potter said quickly, "He- brought them back from Hogsmeade last time-"

"Indeed? And you've been carrying them around ever since? How very touching…and what is this?" Snape asked, picking up the parchment.

"Spare bit of parchment," Potter said with a shrug. I could tell he was lying and so could Snape.

"Surely you don't need such a very old piece of parchment? Why don't I just- throw this away?" Snape said, taking a step towards the fire.

"No!" Potter shouted quickly. Snape's mouth contorted into another nasty smile.

"So! Is this another treasured gift from Mr. Weasley? Or is it- something else? A letter, perhaps, written in invisible ink? Or- instructions to get into Hogsmeade without passing the dementors? Let me see, let me see…" Snape muttered, taking out his wand and smoothing the parchment out on his desk. I leaned over to see what he was doing.

"Reveal your secret!" Snape said, touching his wand to the parchment. Nothing at all happened.

"Show yourself," Snape said, tapping the paper sharply. Again nothing happened.

"Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, commands you to yield the information you conceal!" He said, hitting the parchment with his wand. Suddenly, words began to appear and I leaned against Snape's shoulder as I struggled to see.

"Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business."

Snape froze. My heart skipped a beat…Moony…and it was his handwriting as well. Potter was staring at the message, dumbstruck, but it didn't stop there. More writing appeared beneath the first in a different handwriting.

"Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git."

I covered my mouth with my hand as more words appeared.

"Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor."

"Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slime ball."

There was a deathly silence in which I chose to move away from them again and retreat back into my corner.

"So…" Snape said softly, "We'll see about this…"

He strode over to the fireplace, seized a fistful of glittering powder from a jar, and tossed it into the flames.

"Lupin!" Snape called into the fire, "I want a word!"

A large shape appeared in the fire, revolving very fast, and a moment later Professor Lupin stepped out, brushing ash off his shabby robes. I noticed his nostrils flare slightly and his eyes flicked to the corner where I stood. He looked at Snape.

"You called, Severus?" said Lupin mildly.

"I certainly did," said Snape furiously, "I have just asked Potter to empty his pockets. He was carrying this."

Snape indicated the parchment where the words of Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs still shown. An odd expression appeared on Lupin's face.

"Well?" said Snape. Lupin looked to be doing some very quick thinking…or perhaps he was trying not to laugh.

"Well?" Snape repeated, "This parchment is plainly full of Dark Magic. This is supposed to be your area of expertise, Lupin. Where do you imagine Potter got such a thing."

"Full of Dark Magic?" Lupin said mildly, "Do you really think so, Severus? It looks to me as though it is merely a piece of parchment that insults anybody who reads it. Childish, but surely not dangerous? I imagine Harry got it from a joke shop-"

"Indeed?" said Snape, his jaw rigid with anger, "You think a joke shop could supply him with such a thing? You don't think it more likely he got it directly from the manufacturers?"

No one in the room seemed to know what Snape was talking about.

"You mean, by Mr. Wormtail or one of these people?" Lupin asked, "Harry, do you know any of these men?"

"No," replied Potter quickly.

"You see, Severus?" said Lupin as he turned back to Snape, "It looks like a Zonko product to me-"

Suddenly Weasley came bursting through the office door, completely out of breath. He stopped just short of crashing into me and I scampered out of the way as he clutched a stitch in his side.

"I- gave- Harry- that- stuff," he choked, "Bought- it…in Zonko's…ages- ago…"

"Well!" said Lupin cheerfully, clapping his hands together, "That seems to clear that up! Severus, I'll take this back, shall I?"

Lupin snatched the parchment and tucked it into his robes.

"Harry, Ron, come with me, I need a word about my vampire essay- excuse us, Severus-"

Lupin swept Potter and Weasley out in front of him and shut the door behind him. There was another moment of silence and I lifted my Disillusionment Charm.

"What'd you bring Lupin in for?" I asked finally.

"I have my reasons," he answered, "…what did you make of the piece of parchment?"

The corners of my mouth twitched, but I forced myself not to laugh.

"Could be something from Zonko's, I suppose…but I've never seen anything like that in there. I'm sure Draco was doing something to deserve having mud lobbed at him, though," I replied thoughtfully.

"Without a doubt. However, Potter was in the wrong. He's not supposed to be in Hogsmeade…it's too dangerous for him."

"…Lupin knew I was here," I remarked after a brief moment of silence, "I should go talk to him…"

Snape inclined his head. I put my essay in my bag and left his office.

Lupin was sitting at his desk, looking grave. He looked up when I entered, however, and some of the weariness left his face.

"Were you enjoying the show, Abby?" he asked lightly.

"Snape knew I was there," I muttered, "…what was up with that parchment, Moony?"

"Oh you saw that, did you? It's just something my friends and I made when we were in school. …how Harry came to have it is beyond me…Does Snape know what it is?"

"Probably he suspects. I don't know. The other three- Prongs, Padfoot, Wormtail- they're your friends?"

Lupin nodded his head, looking remorseful.

"I thought Harry would have more sense than to sneak out of Hogwarts…he's more like his father than I thought…"

"He has Lily's eyes…" I said aloud, thinking about what I had realized in Snape's office. Lupin looked up quickly.

"Why are you so interested in Lily?" he asked me, "I've told you a lot about her and never questioned, but…Why are you so interested in Lily?"

I hesitated, then decided to tell him. I made sure the door was shut and I sat down in a chair in front of Lupin's desk.

"Snape's been teaching me a lot of things. He taught me Occlumency and Legilimency. He also taught me how to conjure a Patronus, when he found out that they would be around Hogwarts. I couldn't think of a happy memory, though, so he shared one of his with me- I have a hypersensitivity to emotions, so I could use his happiness. Lily was in the memory he shared with me."

"What was the memory?" Lupin asked curiously.

"…I can't tell you. It's not mine to share…"

"Of course not. …I've never heard of anyone who had a hypersensitivity to emotions before."

"Nor have I. I searched the library for records of a similar talent, but I couldn't find anything."

Chapter 60

(Quidditch and Centuars)

The air was heavy with tension over the next Quidditch match. It was the finals- Gryffindor versus Slytherin. In the days leading up to the match, a few scuffles broke out in the corridors. On the morning of the match, the Gryffindor team entered the Great Hall to enormous applause. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were apparently supporting Gryffindor. We hissed loudly as the Gryffindor team passed the Slytherin table.

After I ate breakfast, I walked out to the stands with Jenny, Brandy, and Ian. It looked like everyone was supporting Gryffindor- they had scarlet banners, scarlet flags, and were wearing scarlet. Behind the Slytherin goalposts, however, sat two hundred people wearing green. The silver serpent of Slytherin glittered on flags. I spotted Snape sitting down in the front row, wearing green like everyone else. I left my friends to go and sit with him. He smiled grimly at me as I sat down, then he looked out onto the field as the Gryffindor team walked out.

"And here are the Gryffindors!" yelled the commentator, "Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley, and Wood. Widely acknowledged as the best team Hogwarts has seen in a good few years-"

There was a deafening tide of 'boos' from the Slytherins around us. Then our team walked out onto the field.

"And here come the Slytherin team, led by Captain Flint," said the commentator, "He's made some changes in the lineup and seems to be going for size rather than skill-"

The Slytherins around us booed again.

"Make room, Abby," said a voice. I looked up to see Jenny. She had come to sit with me. I made room for her.

I watched as the whistle was blown and fourteen broomsticks rose into the air. I followed the game for a moment and watched as Angelina from Gryffindor scored. Then Marcus Flint smashed into her, nearly knocking her from her broom, earning cheers from the Slytherins and boos from the Gryffindors. I couldn't help but boo, also. Jenny raised an eyebrow at me.

"I hate Marcus Flint," I grumbled.

My head was aching by the time something interesting happened next. Draco grabbed hold of Potter's broomstick and was holding him back.

"Penalty! Penalty to Gryffindor! I've never seen such tactics!" Madam Hooch screeched, rising into the air towards Draco.

"YOU CHEATING SCUM!" Howled Lee Jordan into the megaphone, "YOU FILTHY, CHEATING B-"

No one bothered to tell him off as he very loudly called Draco a bad name. Even Professor McGonagall, who usually made sure the commentary was censored, was shaking her finger in Draco's direction and shouting loudly.

"That's a true Slytherin for you," I said with a sigh.

"No, I think that's just Draco," Jenny said, grinning.

"Yes, but he accomplished what he wanted, penalty or not. Potter's lost sight of the snitch," Snape said quietly.

Gryffindor was leading eighty to twenty when Potter knocked Draco's arm out of the way and caught the golden Snitch, ending the game. The roar from the Gryffindors was loud enough to drown out the disappointed cries of my fellow Slytherins. Snape didn't look happy, either. Jenny was almost in tears.

As it got into June and the weather grew warmer, I spent more and more time outside, especially at night. I wished I could lay out in the sun in tiger form, but there was no way. There were too many people out on the grounds, enjoying the fair weather, doing their studying outside.

I spent a lot of time in the forest when I did get out. I explored and even made a mental map of the forest, or at least the first few miles of it. One Saturday afternoon, I was running through the forest when I stumbled upon a herd of centaurs. They had bows and were pointing them at me. I immediately showed my teeth and growled warningly. One of the older centaurs who had a dark black pelt, galloped over to the strongest-looking centaur, who was the obvious leaders of them. They had a whispered conversation then the leader raised his head.

"Lower your bows," he called to the herd, then said to me, "Be calm, Abigail. We mean you no harm."

There was a certain amount of authority in his voice that made me not even want to tell him to call me by my nickname. I forced the fur on my back to lie flat and sat down on my haunches, curling my tail around me to keep it from twitching.

"How do you know my name?" I asked softly.

"Centaurs read many things in the stars that wizard-kind cannot," said the oldest wisely, "The past, present, and futures. We can even read destinies."

"Wow," I said, my voice full of awe. I had read about centaurs- they were far wiser than humans and I held them in great reverence.

"My name is Bane," said the leader, "I am the leader of this herd."

"And I am Orion," said the older one, "The oldest and wisest of this herd."

"Were you named for the constellation?" I inquired. He smiled at me.

"Indeed I was. I have read much about you in the stars. Your destiny is extremely complicated and tangled."

"What do you mean?" I asked, frowning slightly. Orion looked up to the sky mistily.

"We can say nothing more," said Bane, "It is not our place. We must be on our way, Abigail."

"Very well," I said, bowing my head respectfully.

"It was very nice to meet you," Orion said before he followed the herd away.

After they had all galloped away I stood up and padded away. I walked slowly, thinking of what I had just experienced. Suddenly I heard a single set of hoof beats approaching. I stopped walking when I saw Orion coming towards me.

"Abigail…I know Bane didn't want to say anything, but I feel compelled to tell you- be wary of your underlying thoughts or feelings. Let go of your ambition and hatred. I know you secretly wish to hunt down the people who killed your mother and exact your revenge. These sorts of thoughts will turn you evil. There is a tendency for evil in your genetics. I am only telling you this because I fear you will turn out like others in your family. It's not too late for you to be good. There is a great ability to love inside of you. You just have to learn to trust again. You don't have to be alone, Abigail," Orion said to me. I was speechless. Orion inclined his head, then trotted away.

I walked slowly back up to the castle. Any spirit for exploring had left me. I thought long and hard about what Orion had said. Would I really turn out evil? I had a rather grotesque sense of humor and I did want to be as strong as possible. What had he meant by 'it's in your genetics'? …Mother had been a Death Eater, before I was born. It wasn't a well-known fact, but Mother was sure to make sure Mary and I knew. In her eyes, it was a part of our history. Our family was pureblood. I had been raised to think down on Muggles, Muggle-borns, and Squibs…but since coming to terms with the fact that I loved Lily, who was Muggle-born, I hadn't felt hatred for Muggle-borns and I no longer used the term Mudblood. I didn't like Muggles in general, but I wore their clothes and read their books about tigers. They weren't all bad…

Chapter 61

(Another Dream)

As I morphed into a human and walked back up to the castle, I sighed. I didn't want to be evil. Instead of going into the castle, I went to sit by the lake, where I was surprised to find Jenny, stretched out on the warm grass with two open books and some old notes.

"Hey Abby," she said brightly when I approached.

"Hey," I said with a half-smile, "What are you up to?"

"Studying for exams, of course," she replied, "…why do you look so down?"

"I've just been thinking…pondering things. It's nothing really."

"Okay…do you want to study with me?" she offered, "We could quiz each other for Potions…not that you need it."

"Alright then," I said, sitting down cross-legged in the grass.

As I quizzed her over the uses of Salamander Blood, my mind wandered. The summer sun was shining on her hair, making it look golden. Her skin looked pale and beautiful…it reminded me of Lily.

"Abby, are you paying attention?" Jenny asked loudly, jarring me out of my daydream.

"What? Oh. Yeah. What?" I asked, feeling myself blush. She laughed quietly and to my surprise, she blushed as well.

"Why don't we go up to the castle?" I suggested.

"Draco and his goons are playing Exploding Snap," she said, rolling her eyes, "Again."

"Well we could study in the girl's dorm. I've got loads of candy from Honeydukes we can share."

"Sounds good."

That night I had another dream about Lily. Like the memory Snape had shared, this one seemed to be through my own eyes.

Lily was holding my hand, laughing as she led me through a crowd of Muggles. Music was playing loudly from a stage set up somewhere down the street. It was some sort of Muggle festival.

Lily led me out of the crowd, but we could still hear the music playing.

"Dance with me, Sev," Lily said to me, her eyes sparkling.

"I don't know how," I muttered, feeling myself blush.

"It doesn't matter," she said, laughing as she grabbed my other hand.

We spun around in a circle. I felt foolish at first, but watching Lily, the sun shining off her hair, the sound of her laughing, made me forget all about feeling foolish. We spun until Lily sat down, laughing breathlessly, her face slightly flushed. I couldn't help but smile.

"That was fun," Lily said when she had regained her breath.

"It was," I agreed, getting to my feet. I extended my hand to help her up and she took it gratefully. When I pulled her up, her face was inches from mine, her green eyes staring directly into mine. I couldn't help it- every fiber of my being told me to kiss her and I did. Tentatively at first, then I wrapped my arms around her, kissing her like I had always wanted to…

I stopped abruptly, pulling away from her quickly.

"I'm sorry, Lily! I…I didn't mean to! I…I-"

She placed her hand over my mouth to silence me.

"It's okay, Sev," she assured me, "I liked it."

Then she stood on tiptoe and kissed me.

I awoke from my dream drenched in sweat. I shook my head to clear it. When I finally accepted the fact that I wasn't with Lily, I sighed heavily.

"What's wrong, Abby? Bad dream?" Brandy asked sleepily, raising her head to look at me from her bed.

"No," I replied, "I liked this dream…maybe a little too much…"

She made an 'mmph' noise and then fell back asleep.

I was relieved as anyone when exams were finally over. I ate dinner with my friends. When we started back towards the Common Room, we met Snape coming up out of the dungeons.

"There you are, Abigail. I was wondering if you'd like to help me with a potion?" he asked.

"Of course," I replied immediately.

"Oh come on, Abby," Jenny said earnestly, "Exams just ended. Let's celebrate by doing something fun."

"Potions is fun, L-…Jenny," I said, catching my mistake. I had almost called her Lily! No one seemed to notice, however, and I followed Snape off to the Potion's classroom.

"What're we working on?" I asked curiously.

"Just finishing up a cauldron of Wolfsbane Potion," he replied.

It was dark outside by the time we finished the potion. As I cleared stuff away, Snape checked his watch.

"I'm surprised Lupin hasn't come down to take his potion," he said aloud, "He usually knows what time of the month it is."

Something occurred to me as I washed my hands in the sink and I laughed loudly. Snape looked at me like I was crazy.

"I'm not even going to make a joke about Lupin and his 'time of the month'," I said with a smirk. Snape smirked as well.

"Come on," he said to me, "We should take a goblet of potion to your friend."

The Wolfsbane Potion smoked as I carried it up to Lupin's office. Snape walked with me so I wouldn't get in trouble. When we reached Lupin's office, however, he didn't answer.

"We should leave it on his desk," I suggested. Snape tried the door.

"It's locked," he informed me. I hesitated a moment.

"Hold this," I said, handing him the goblet. He took it and I rummaged through the pockets of my robe until I found the key Lupin had given me a few weeks ago. I unlocked the door sheepishly.

"You have a key? Why do you have a key?" Snape asked, following me into Lupin's office.

"He lets me use his office when I need somewhere quiet to do homework or read," I replied, "…and don't stick your fingers in the grindylow tank."

"I wasn't planning on it," Snape said lightly, "…I wonder where Lupin is? Out for a late-night snack?"

"That's not funny, Snape!" I protested, but I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from twitching in amusement. Snape smiled, then his gaze fell on something sitting on Lupin's desk- a familiar piece of old parchment. Only now it was a map of Hogwarts. Every person was a labeled dot on the map.

Snape and I both looked at it curiously until we saw Lupin's dot going along the passage into the Shrieking Shack. Snape's face hardened.

"I'll bet anything Black is at the other end of that passage," Snape said, hurrying out of Lupin's office.

"Black? What's he got to do with Lupin?" I inquired.

"They were friends in school. Black, Lupin, Pettigrew, and Potter…I mean James Potter, of course," he said bitterly. So those were the four who had bullied him in school. No wonder he hated James Potter…besides the fact that James had married Lily.

"I want you to stay here, Abigail," Snape said to me.

"But why? Lupin won't hurt me, I-" I started.

"It's not Lupin I'm concerned about! Black is a convicted murderer and I'm not about to let him anywhere near you," he said.

"Why do you have to be so overprotective?" I demanded, "Why do you even care?"

"I don't care…" he said scornfully, "…I just can't let anything bad happen to you. I would have to fill out a lot of boring paperwork and it would make me look bad."

I knew he didn't really mean that. Of course he actually cared…why else would his emotions be closed off to me at that moment?

"Fine," I said, glowering at him, "I'll just wait in Lupin's office."

Chapter 62

(Moony)

I waited in Lupin's office, watching the map, until I saw a cluster of dots leaving the passage under the Whomping Willow- Lupin, Snape, Black, Potter, Weasley, Granger, and someone named Pettigrew. Seeing Snape's name surrounded by so many he would consider unfriendly led me to think he may actually need my help. I hesitated a moment before leaving Lupin's office and heading for the stairs.

As I left the castle I could see Lupin in his werewolf form…and he hadn't taken his potion! As I got closer I could see Snape standing before Granger and Weasley, shielding them from the werewolf. I morphed mid-stride and when I reached them I tackled Lupin. He was growling, snarling, and snapping at me. I raked my claws across his flank and then let out a roar- a real, true roar! Lupin yelped and ran. I chased him towards the forest. I paused at the edge of the trees and looked back to meet Snape's gaze. He looked worried and protectiveness radiated from him. His emotions weren't closed to me now. I tried to tell him with my gaze that I would be okay. He seemed to understand and he nodded his head reluctantly. He turned to face Granger and Weasley, who were both unconscious, and I turned to chase Lupin.

I followed Lupin until the sun rose, making sure he stayed out of trouble. The whole time I tracked Lupin, I thought of Snape. He'd had a nasty cut on his head that was bleeding. I couldn't help but worry about him.

When Lupin turned back into a human around sunrise he looked utterly exhausted and bedraggled.

"Abby? Wha-? Oh no! My potion! I forgot! Did I…?"

"You didn't hurt anyone," I assured him, "I kept an eye on you. Also, you might want to do something about that."

I lifted my paw to indicate his side, which was bleeding heavily still. It had already soaked through his robes.

"Wha- Ow!" he exclaimed when he touched it.

"Sorry about that," I said sheepishly, "but you were about to eat Snape!"

"You did good, Abby," he assured me, "Can you heal?"

"Not with magic," I said, morphing back into a human and searching through my pockets. I found some Dittany.

"You carry stuff like that with you always?" Lupin asked, sounding amused.

"If by 'stuff' you mean useful herbs and potion ingredients," I said dryly, walking over to him. I lifted his shirt to examine my claw marks on his side. They were deep gashes which were bleeding heavily.

Lupin yelped like a dog when I dabbed the Dittany on his wounds and I scowled at him.

"Don't be such a baby, Moony!" I said, rolling my eyes.

"Well it stings," he whined. I conjured up bandages to put on his wound, then morphed back into tiger form.

"You should go straight up to see Madam Pomfrey when we get back. She can heal you up properly," I said.

"I will," he promised, "Thank you, Abby."

As we walked back through the forest to the castle, Lupin filled me in on what I had missed out on in the Shrieking Shack.

"So Black wasn't guilty at all? It was this Pettigrew fellow, who's also one of your childhood friends, Wormtail?"

"Right. Snape, of course, refused to listen to reason," Lupin said with a sigh. I couldn't suppress a small growl.

"He was blinded by hatred for his childhood enemies, Abby," Lupin said earnestly. I inclined my head, accepting this fact.

"His head was bleeding when I saw him. What happened?"

"Er…Harry, Ron, and Hermione disarmed him simultaneously. He was, ah…out cold for a while," Lupin replied awkwardly. My tail twitched anxiously.

"I never expected to find myself worrying about him, you know? I hated him when I first went to live with him, but now…well, he's a good guardian," I said softly.

"He is a fine guardian…for you. You're a lot like him, you know?"

"How so?" I asked, surprised.

"You're smart, for one. Snape knew more magic when we were first years than most seventh years," Lupin replied.

"Really? But, uh…you still…bullied him, didn't you?"

Lupin looked at me quickly.

"It's not something I'm proud of, Abby…but like I said, I was the lesser of four evils. James was the worst, then Sirius, then Pettigrew…Pettigrew was just a tag-along. He did whatever James and Sirius wanted him to," he said bitterly.

"But you said Snape knew more magic than most seventh years."

"Well, most of the stuff Snape knew was…dark magic."

"Ah…was he a Death Eater?" I asked curiously.

"…It's not my place to explain that to you…"

"Mother was," I said, looking at the ground, "…A Death Eater. I guess Snape was probably one as well…if they were friends before I was born."

"You don't even care if he was, do you?" Lupin asked, perplexed.

"Not really. …the way I was raised, being a former Death Eater wasn't frowned upon. …is that bad? I don't want to be bad. I was raised to be prejudice against Muggle-borns and Muggles…but I'm not like that anymore."

"Of course you aren't. You hang out with a werewolf."

"…I don't think Snape was a Death Eater…or if he was, he didn't mean it," I said carefully.

"What makes you say that?" Lupin inquired.

"Well, he's not evil. He loved at one point. He doesn't use the word Mudblood- in fact, he hates it. He tries to act mean, but he still shielded Weasley and Granger from you…and he doesn't even like them! And me…he took me in when no one else would and he's really over-protective of me. He cares about me, even though he doesn't want me to know it. So I know he's a good person," I replied with a shrug.

"He is a good person," Lupin agreed, "He's making the Wolfsbane Potion for me every month. Not many wizards are skilled enough to make it. It takes a lot of concentration-"

"-I know. I've been helping," I said proudly.

When we reached the castle, I made sure Lupin went to the hospital wing before going to find Snape. He was in his office, looking cross, a bandage on his head. When I entered, however, he got to his feet.

"Abigail! Are you alright? I was trying to contact you, but your barrier was up," he said quickly, looking me over.

"I'm fine. I was talking to Lupin about-…well that's not important. So what happened?"

Snape told me everything that had happened since I chased Lupin into the forest. He had captured Black. Potter and his friends were taken to the hospital wing. Black had somehow escaped.

"What about Pettigrew?" I asked quickly, interrupting his story, "What happened to Pettigrew?"

"I didn't see Pettigrew anywhere. You're not telling me you believe Potter and Lupin's tripe, do you?"

I shrugged my shoulders indifferently. Snape didn't say anything for a little while and I decided to change the subject.

"Snape, can I ask you a question?" I asked timidly, "Not pertaining to Potter or Lupin or Pettigrew…"

"I suppose so," he said, returning to his seat. I sat in my usual seat and sighed.

"Were- …were you a Death Eater?" I asked quietly, "I know Mother was, but you just don't seem like the Death Eater type. I know you don't hate Muggle-borns…"

Snape surveyed me silently, his mind and emotions guarded. I chewed my lip nervously, worried that he wouldn't answer or that he would lie.

"I was raised the same way you were, Abigail…or close enough to the same way…I was a Death Eater…but under certain circumstances, I turned spy for Dumbledore. My ability to perform flawless Occlumency made me the perfect spy," he said softly. Certain circumstances… I thought to myself, He must mean when the Dark Lord decided to kill Lily…

I inclined my head in understanding.

"…Why did you decide to be truthful with me? You could have lied," I murmured.

"I think you would have known if I lied…also, I know you won't run around telling anybody. …you look exhausted, Abigail. You should go get some sleep."

"I will, but…how's your head? Lupin told me about them attacking you. Were they punished?"

"My head is fine. Madam Pomfrey fixed it earlier. I'm not supposed to sleep for 24 hours, however, in case I have a concussion. As for Potter…I told them he and his friends had been Confunded by Black."

"I could stay up with you, if you like. I have a book to read," I offered immediately, "I could make sure you don't fall asleep and die of a concussion."

"If you want to, you can, but I won't force you," he replied with a slight smile, "I have exam papers to grade, so I'll be kept busy."

I went back to the Common Room and found my Muggle book on tigers. When I returned to Snape's office he was already deeply immersed in his book. I sat down in my chair and opened my book.

I soon found my eyes wouldn't focus on the page for long. I couldn't remember the last time I had slept fitfully. I spent so many of my nights sneaking out and I had spent the last eight or so hours chasing a werewolf through the forest. I was exhausted! My eyes started to close and I gave in to sleep.

Chapter 63

(Leaving)

My dreams were jumbled- mostly mixed images of Lily. Some of Snape, also. Finally, voices penetrated my deep sleep…and they weren't dream voices.

"I wanted to see her before I left," said Lupin's voice.

"She's been sleeping like that for the past three hours. She looked so tired…I didn't want to wake her," Snape said, his voice even quieter than Lupin's. Even in my half-asleep state I could sense Snape's great feelings of hatred for Lupin, touched by a certain fondness…for myself, I suppose.

"She fell out of her chair?" Lupin asked, sounding amused. I heard Snape chuckle softly. Oh great, I thought to myself, I fell out of my chair.

I forced my eyes open. When my sleepiness cleared, I realized I was curled up on the floor, like I would be if I was in tiger form. My book was open beneath my head and I was covered with a light blanket.

Not a blanket, I realized as I sat up, Snape's cloak.

As I stood up, the cloak stayed draped around my shoulders.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Lupin said lightly, and grinned, "You look like a giant bat. She's like a miniature version of you, Severus."

There was something slightly remorseful in his emotions that I picked up on immediately.

"Did you say you were…leaving?" I inquired, frowning slightly.

"Yes. What happened last night can never happen again. I could have bitten a student!"

"No way," I insisted, "I was there the whole time in tiger form!"

"It doesn't matter, Abby. It isn't open for discussion. Would you like to come down to the lake with me, to release the grindylow?" Lupin asked me.

"I suppose," I said, handing Snape back his cloak.

Lupin and I walked down to the lake in complete silence. Lupin was using his wand to carry the grindylow tank. When we got down to the edge of the lake, he dumped the water demon into the lake. It shook its fist at us angrily before going off to explore its new habitat. Lupin turned to face me.

"You can still write me, if you like, If you want to talk or ask me anything…I enjoy talking to you-"

"Can I hug you?" I asked loudly, then blushed, "I…I j-just feel like I should…"

Lupin chuckled and nodded. He embraced me for a moment, then pulled back, smirking.

"Do you always ask before you hug someone?" he inquired.

"I usually don't hug…I dislike to be touched."

"Yeah, well, I'm glad to be an exception."

Lupin walked me back up to the castle and back to Snape's office. Snape was still grading papers, fighting to stay awake.

"Goodbye, Abby. Goodbye Severus…you've got a great girl, there. Take care of her," Lupin said to him. Snape scowled and I blushed again. When the door closed behind Lupin, I saw down, feeling depressed. I had lost one of my friends.

When I went up to the Common Room, it was filled with students who had just come from Hogsmeade.

"You must be proud of Professor Snape, Abby," said Draco when he saw me come in.

"Huh?"

"He captured Sirius Black and got rid of that werewolf," he replied.

"…What do you mean Snape got rid of Lupin?" I asked in disbelief.

"He told us all at breakfast this morning that Professor Lupin is a werewolf, so Lupin left the castle."

I stood there for a moment, shocked. Then I turned and walked into the dormitory to be alone for a while.

As the end of the year approached, people slowly started to talk about other things. Draco was bragging that his father had gotten them Top Box tickets to the Quidditch World Cup. In fact a lot of kids were talking about the World Cup, which was to take place over the summer. It was Ireland versus Bulgaria.

It occurred to me that I would really like to go to the World Cup. One evening before the end of term, I went to Snape's office.

"Is there any way we could go to the Quidditch World Cup over the summer?" I asked timidly. Snape was silent a moment, thinking about it.

"I suppose we could…I'll have to get tickets," he said slowly, "It could be fun…"

I smiled brightly. I would have hugged him, but I knew he wouldn't like it.

"Would you like to avoid riding the Hogwarts Express? You could just fly home with me the last afternoon of the term."

"I could do that," I said, nodding my head.

On the last day of school, I said goodbye to my friends before they got on the Hogwarts Express. Then I went inside to find Snape. He was in his office, working of course.

"Sorry," he said, "I've got loads of work to do before we can go. Oh, I've got your exam results."

He handed me a piece of paper. I had done excellently on all of my exams.

"Can I go wander around the castle?" I inquired.

"I suppose. If anyone asks, tell them you're with me, though I think everyone knows already," he said dismissively.

I walked around for a while- I had never seen the castle so empty before. There weren't even any teachers prowling around. When I grew tired of wandering the castle, I went outside with my owl, Arsenius. I got some parchment out of my bag and wrote a letter to Lupin.

Moony,

How's it going? I wanted to let you know I did excellently on my exams. Snape said he and I are going to the Quidditch World Cup this summer. It should be fun…

Things have been boring around Hogwarts since you left. Today was the last day of the term. I'm going to miss the excitement of Hogwarts. Summer is going to be boring after the World Cup. Maybe I'll go to one of my friend's houses…

One of the reasons I wanted to write you was to ask your opinion on what Snape did. He told the Slytherins you were a werewolf…but I guess you knew that already. Should I be angry with him? I don't know. My emotions are so warped.

Oh well, I guess I'll go bug Snape for a while. Hope to hear from you soon.

Your friend,

Abby

I tied my letter to Arsenius's leg and then sent him off. I didn't know how long it would be before I got a reply. Who knew where Lupin was now? I sighed and morphed into tiger form. I could go lay in the sunlight now with no one to bother me.

I walked over to a pile of rocks that lay in direct sunlight. It was a perfect place. I stretched out on the rocks in the warm sunlight and sighed again, this time happily.

"It's a fine day, isn't it?" said a voice. The fur on my back stood on end and I leapt to my feet, growling. Then I saw it was only Dumbledore. I forced my fur to lie flat and sat back down.

"You make an impressive tiger, Abby," Dumbledore said to me.

"It's just instinct," I replied half-heartedly, "What are you doing out here?"

"Me? Oh I always go for a walk around the grounds on the last day of the term. It cheers me up a little," he replied, staring out over the lake. A few moments of silence passed and Dumbledore just stood there.

"Aren't you going to ask me what I'm doing out here?" I asked him finally.

"The answer is obvious- you're lying in the sun," he replied cheerfully. My tail twitched.

"Snape said he and I would just fly home instead of me taking the train," I said.

"That was nice of him," Dumbledore said.

Finally I got to my paws. Without saying anything else to Dumbledore I headed back for the castle. Something about him really prickled my fur. I went back to Snape's office. He finished writing whatever he was writing, then stood up.

"That's enough for today. We can go home now," he said to me.

"Finally," I said on exhale.

"You're the one that said you'd rather stay here than take the train," he reminded me.

Snape and I walked out to the broom shed on Hogwarts grounds together. I could still see Dumbledore, sitting on the rock I had vacated and looking out over the lake. He waved to us and Snape waved back. I just shuddered

"You don't like Dumbledore?" Snape asked me.

"Something about him prickles my fur," I replied. A small smile twitched at the corners of his mouth and I scowled at him.

The next morning I awoke in my bedroom at Snape's house. I stared up at my ceiling, which I had enchanted last night. I had asked Professor Flitwick to tell me the charm used on the ceiling in the Great Hall. He even told me how to make it to where it was night all the time. I smiled up at the stars before going to take a shower.

When I went downstairs to cook breakfast Snape was already up. He was sitting at the table, drinking coffee and reading the Daily Prophet. I had just gotten sausages out of the refrigerator to start frying them when I heard a tapping at the window. It was Arsenius and he had a reply from Lupin!

In my excitement, I forgot that my bird didn't like me. I opened the window and tried to take my letter from him. He screeched loudly and pecked my hand. I swore softly and went over to the sink to wash the bleeding wound. The whole time, Arsenius glared at me reproachfully.

"You know, I think that bird doesn't like you very much, Abigail?" Snape said, smirking slightly.

"Ha ha," I said sarcastically, "…I've got a way to deal with him however."

I glared fiercely into Arsenius's eyes.

Come land on my shoulder, I commanded with my mind. Arsenius hooted dolefully and landed on my shoulder.

Now give me my letter.

Arsenius extended his leg for me to untie it. I held him with my mind until he was back out the window. I shut the window, then released him. He screeched loudly and flew at the closed window once before heading off.

"…what did you just do?" Snape asked, his voice sounding strange. I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled. I opened Lupin's letter and read it silently.

Dearest Abby,

Don't be mad at Snape. You can't blame him for his inability to accept the truth. It's really no big deal that he told the Slytherins about my being a werewolf. It's not the reason I left. I left because I forgot to take my potion and lost control. I've still got the scars from your claws to prove it. I can't let anything like that happen again.

Snape cares for you a lot, even though he may not show it. You are very important to him. So please, Abby, don't be mad at him on my account. Forgive and forget…

I have to go now, but I'll write you again soon.

Your friend,

Moony

"What are you smiling about, Abigail?" Snape asked as I folded the letter back up and shoved it in my pocket.

"Nothing," I replied lightly, "Nothing at all…"