Chapter Twelve

'What is it?' Sirius asked suddenly concerned at the expression on Anton's face.

'She…she…she' Anton stuttered out.

'What is it?' Sirius repeated worried 'what was in the envelope?'

Anton silently dropped what was in his hand onto the table.

'Is that?'

They all stared at the lock of silver hair tied with a ribbon that was lying on the wooden table.

'We were barely adults,' Anton said 'he was too naïve to be betrayed, especially by his best friend.'

'How did she know you were here?' Lupin said reading the letter.

Anton realised the teenagers were listening and looked at Molly hopefully, luckily she took the hint.

'Right get to bed!' she said sternly 'I want lights out in an hour!'

When they had gone Anton said.

'You need to redo the security on this place, make it that no one who has dark intentions can get in, even if they know where we are.'

'But only the people we trust are included in the Fidelius charm,' Kingsley said 'and none of them would give us up.'

'Why take the risk?' Anton said calmly 'we may be safer in the long run, and if we make it the less people know then that would be better. Trust me if that traitor wants something she's going to try damn hard to get it.'

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

It was Dumbledore who created the actual spell late that night with some helpful suggestions from Anton who'd done the spell on a smaller scale before.

So it was in the early hours of the morning that they all got to bed, before Anton went to sleep he took a swig of dreamless sleep potion and surrendered miserably to the darkness.

The next day Anton was wandering through the house when his younger self came out of a room on his own, when he saw Anton his expression was one of surprise and recognition.

'You're Anton, right?' Harry asked questioningly.

'Yeh,' Anton managed to get out while desperately trying to act normally 'um that's me.'

'Well I just wanted to say thanks,' Harry continued, shuffling his feet 'I don't what would have happened if you hadn't used the patronus.'

'You would have used it,' Anton said recovering quickly 'you would have saved your cousin and yourself, there is no doubt in my mind that you would have done it.'

Harry smiled appreciatively 'thanks, I was beginning to think I only existed to be an easy target for Voldemort.'

'Aren't we all,' Anton said humorously 'though so far he hasn't managed to kill either of us, mind you it was pretty damn close on a few occasions.'

'What would've happened if I had used the patronus?' Harry said 'do you think I probably would have got in much trouble.'

'I'm only guessing,' Anton shrugged smirking to himself at the irony of what was happening 'but I would say…the ministry would have threatened to expel you then they would probably summoned you to a disciplinary hearing in unfair circumstances.'

'Really?' Harry said looking stunned.

'It was a wild guess,' Anton quickly reiterated mentally punching himself 'you actually wouldn't have got more than a warning, it's the heads job to choose about things such as expulsion.'

Harry opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by Ron hurrying down the stairs

'Oi Mate,' he yelled 'Mum says we've got to clean out the bedrooms on the third floor.'

'I'll see you later then,' Harry said following Ron.

'Yeh see you later,' Anton said gazing at his departing former self.

Sirius walked into the hallway whistling happily, Anton smiled as he saw the expression on Sirius's face. He definitely couldn't recall his Godfather looking that cheerful when he'd done this the first time.

'What's got you so happy?' Anton asked smiling.

'I'm having dinner tonight with Mylee,' Sirius replied 'I'd forgotten how much we had in common.'

Anton felt himself laugh as he said 'carry on like this and people'll start saying you're in love.'

'Maybe I am,' Sirius said strolling of still with the smile on his face 'but if you haven't noticed we've only gone out for one drink so far, so I'd say it's a bit soon for love.'

-=-=-=-=-=----=-=

It was a rush the rest of the month, the kids were kept busy cleaning and getting ready to go back to school and all the adults were working day and night. Anton had been spending nights helping either guard the Department of Mysteries or help find out Voldemort's next plans. This being so September crept ever closer and on the twenty eighth of August Anton spent the morning packing his trunk with all the supplies he'd had delivered, he was going to Hogwarts early to set up everything there and get his classroom ready.

Halfway through packing his new robes into the magically expanded trunk Harry passed the bedroom door and stopped when he saw Anton.

'Are you going somewhere?' he asked curiously.

Anton looked up, he and Dumbledore had somehow managed to keep his appointment quiet even though the minister had tried hard to discover who it was.

'I'm doing Dumbledore a favour' he answered 'so I'm going away for a while.'

'Are we going to see you again soon?' Harry said looking surprised Anton was leaving.

'Probably a lot more than you're expecting,' Anton said enigmatically 'and I'll be coming back to see you and the others before you leave for Hogwarts.'

'I suppose you can't tell me what you're going to do,' Harry said hopefully.

'You'll find out really soon,' Anton smiled.

'Well good luck with whatever you're going to do.' Harry grinned walking off.

Anton smiled again and went back to packing his trunk, this time pushing books in one on top of the other, and to his disgust potions.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

It was lunchtime when he flooed into his quarters with his luggage, he climbed out of his fireplace and gazed at his living space with childish excitement, dumping his trunk on the floor he kicked it open and began pulling out the items and putting them where he wanted them.

A whine came from the corner of the room, Anton swung around to see Pyra climbing out of her fire proof bed and scurrying over to his side.

'Hello sweetheart,' Anton said softly crouching down to rub her fiery head.

She whined again and coughed a small fireball out, Anton skilfully caught the flames and tossed it like a rubber ball from one hand to the other with the salamander jumping up and trying to seize it.

The door leading to the corridor opened and Professor Dumbledore stepped in smiling as he spotted Anton playing with his pet on the floor.

'We took the precaution of fireproofing your living quarters,' Dumbledore said twinkling 'I see that was definitely a decision well made.'

'I was more prone to causing accidents when I wasn't used to my powers,' Anton admitted 'once I had the misfortune of setting fire to some valuable and irreplaceable books, I was never forgiven for that.'

'And now you have a pet fire lizard…' Dumbledore smiled 'I would suggest she is kept away from the potions in Severus's dungeon.'

'Are all the teachers back?' Anton asked curiously.

'All except for Hagrid,' Dumbledore replied 'though a lovely woman called Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank who has agreed to temporarily take over the post until Rubeus finishes peace negotiations.'

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

An hour and a half later Anton had finished his lodgings and had moved on to his office, another bed for Pyra was next to the desk and she dropped into it with bored interest as she watched her master work.

Anton charmed the painted walls into a deep red that went well with the black desk and furniture, then he put the lie detector Moody had given him on the desk next to a few other dark art detectors he'd picked up.

Next to one side of the desk he put a potted plant and on the other side he wordlessly conjured a turret of wind and sealed it in an invisible cage to stop it escaping. For the next ten minutes Anton simply stared at the empty space behind his desk before gritting his teeth and hanging the painting he had gotten for his birthday, he gazed at it for a few moments more before muttering.

'If you could see me now you'd be laughing,' he smiled weakly 'who would've pegged me as a teacher.'

The faces of Gia/Ginny and Rhoan/Ron gazed back silently staring into a place Anton couldn't see.

Shaking his head Anton left the office and turned his intentions on his classroom. He created a duelling platform at the front and a scoreboard behind it, on the white walls he put scattered pictures of duelling battles and of the results of curses, he'd left off the victims being tortured by the Cruciatus as it was eerily reminiscent of the Longbottoms.

'Come on Pyra,' Anton called 'I suppose I'd better get ready for dinner.'

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

That evening Anton emerged from his quarters wearing black trousers his dragonhide boots a back shirt and a black open robes lined at the bottom in thick red, he'd left his sword off and placed his wand in a holster at his hip with his hair tied back he looked sophisticated but bad.

The other teachers were already seated at the table at the top of the Great Hall and when Anton walked towards them Dumbledore stood up and greeted him.

'Anton welcome to Hogwarts, may I present you the rest of the staff.'

Dumbledore introduced him to each individual professor and Anton smiled politely at each of them before sitting down in the empty seat between Snape and Flitwick. Pyra scuttled behind Anton's chair and curled up sleepily.

'It's good to have you as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher,' Flitwick chirped 'you're a lot better than the Ministry's choice, unbelievable even suggesting such a thing.'

'The Ministry obviously believes it's is within its right,' Snape cut in 'Fudge will do everything he can to paint us as frauds and this school as corrupt, what do you think Anton?'

'Maybe he thinks we're poisoning there minds,' Anton said wryly (he had decided to treat Snape as if he had never known him).

'Their minds are to filled with rubbish for us to poison them,' Snape replied 'maybe this year we'll get someone who's halfway competent, I can't even begin to dread trying to force knowledge into their dense heads.'

'You're to harsh Severus,' Flitwick said 'I think we've had some really exceptional students over the last few years, there's David Jobbins in seventh year, Ginny Weasley in fourth and Hermione Granger in fifth.'

'Neville Longbottom is very good at Herbology,' Professor Sprout said cheerfully from next to Fitwick 'I fear he gets a rawer deal than many other students.'

'Neville Longbottom is one of the most incompetent potion makers I have ever come across,' Snape said sneering 'and the hat put him in Gryffindor though, one would ask why.'

'If it put him in Gryffindor then maybe he's destined for great things,' Anton offered keeping a knowing smile off his face.

'If he's going to be great I'd hate to see what the competition is,' Snape returned taking a drink of his mead.

'You never know what the future will bring Severus,' Anton this time did smile 'he may save your life one day.'

Snape smirked in disbelief and opened his mouth to speak but Grubbly Plant spoke over him.

'The rivalry here is a little excessive,' she said to him kindly 'Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are okay, it's the Slytherins and Gryffindors you've got to watch, never know when they're going to get into conflict.'

'A little rivalry never did anyone any harm,' McGonagall said defensively 'leads to more interesting Quidditch matches.'

'Do you play?' asked Madam Hooch.

'I'm a pretty good seeker,' Anton admitted 'my brother and I considered going professional, but circumstances changed.'

'What position did he play?' McGonagall said interested.

'He was keeper,' Anton replied 'and he was a decent player, we played on under eighteen teams when we were younger.'

'So you'll be watching the matches?' Snape said curiously.

'I hope so,' Anton answered seriously 'I always enjoy Quidditch.'

'So who will you be supporting?' he said carefully, as he said this McGonagall, Sprout and Flitwick all leaned in interest each hoping he would choose their house.

'I'll be remaining neutral,' Anton laughed 'or unless one house wins me over.'

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

As everyone was leaving the hall an hour later Madam Pomfrey cornered him.

'You need to come to the Hospital Wing tomorrow for me to give you a check up and if necessary modify the potions you're taking' she said leaving no room for argument. 'I'll see you at eleven.'

Anton couldn't even attempt to look vaguely pleased at the prospect to he just nodded and walked towards the staircase.

Pyra scampered along next to him sniffing at anything and everything, Anton reached his door and spoke the password.

'Incendio.'

The door clicked open and Anton realised he'd never seen a door like this on the third floor before, though he did remember a hideous tapestry in his first year, a garish picture in his second, he couldn't recall what had been there in his third and fourth but in his fifth he recollected a hanging that Hermione had turned her nose up whenever they went past, of course only now it occurred to him that she had known it was the quarters of the current DADA.

Anton held his wand and flicked his wrist transfiguring the door into a sheet of mirror glass that stretched to the height and width of the door that had flashes of red swirling through it. Anton said the password again and the smooth surface turned to liquid, Anton stepped into the mirror and came out in his quarters. After waiting a few moments Pyra hesitantly followed.

-=-=--=-=-=

The next morning Anton had breakfast in his living area brought to him by a couple of house elves, he curled up on his settee wrapped in a thick expensive dressing gown which was 100% silk and was deep red and midnight black with swishes of amber threaded through it which had been chosen by Mrs Weasley who had insisted it brought out his eyes.

Pyra was curled up next to him eating slowly the raw red meat Anton was feeding her. Anton was reading a book and glancing at the clock wondering how long he could leave it until he had to go to Madam Pomfrey, at half ten he reluctantly pushed Pyra gently off the couch and headed into the bathroom.

Ten minutes later he strode through his door in black trousers and a plain black shirt the pendant standing out with it's redness glowing he had a plain black open robe on top.

-=

'You're late,' the nurse said as Anton walked through the door.

'It's eleven,' Anton protested 'that's the time you told me to be here.'

'It's five past,' she countered 'now sit on the bed.'

Anton reluctantly sat down, Madam Pomfrey ran her wand over him while she read a file.

'The poison has left your body,' she murmured 'though your immune system is still extremely compromised. There are also quite a few missing sections in your patient history, though according to this you've had thirty two broken bones in varying places, been stabbed at least eleven times, been unconscious more times than you can recall and have lost count of the amount of times you've been cursed.'

'That sounds about right,' Anton shrugged 'I've led an adventurous life.'

'There's adventurous and just plain dangerous,' she said still scanning him with her wand.

'So can I come off the potions?' Anton asked hopefully.

'You're on four potions to take twice a day,' she said lowering the file 'is that right?'

'Yeh,' Anton confirmed 'so can I come off them?'

'If you didn't have an allergy to the Root of Nightindrade it would be a considerable plus,' she said candidly 'as it was pumped straight into your veins it nearly killed you, I think the best option would be to put you on an entirely different potion which will rebuild your immune system and make it stronger.'

'So what I just take this potion and I'll be fine?' Anton said.

'Not quite so simple,' she replied 'it's a rare and complex potion but unless you want to be reliant on potions for the rest of your life it's necessary.'

'Is it that bad?' Anton asked amazed 'I thought this was a short term problem.'

'No,' she said simply 'The Idris potion is a supremely difficult potion to brew and is not commonly for sale.'

'So what's the point if I can't get it?' Anton said confused.

'I never said you couldn't get it' she said.

'But…?'

'Severus has consented to make the potion,' she said 'he confessed he was interested in making a rare potion and this is no doubt a suitable challenge.'

'So when should I be cured?'

'If you take the potion five times a day you should be fully healthy by Christmas at

the latest,' the nurse replied.

'But the Healer Rowley said I'd be nearly fine by now' Anton protested.

'The Healer in St Mungo's was dealing with short term solutions,' Madam Pomfrey 'I am here to ensure you are fully healthy and able to give your students the best teacher.'

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The first dose of his potion was delivered that night after dinner and Snape brought it directly to his quarters in a silver goblet.

Anton regarded the contents pensively, it was thick glutinous black that had bubbles popping on the surface.

'How much do I have to drink?' he said unenthusiastically.

'At least half,' Snape replied, it occurred to Anton he looked positively cheerful at the fact he'd created the concoction.

'I should say thank you Severus,' Anton said taking the goblet 'but I'm really not looking forward to drinking this.'

'Start drinking,' Snape said tapping his watch 'it needs to be drunk when it's still warm.'

Anton took a gulp and gagged almost immediately, it was like thick oil in taste and texture, Anton retched and paused before forcing more down. He managed to keep it down for a total half a minute before it came spewing back up, Anton ran to the bathroom and threw it all into the toilet. Pushing the handle he pushed himself back up and staggered out of the bathroom feeling ill.

Snape looked at him carefully before saying 'well as you wasted all of that potion you need to drink the rest which is in the goblet.'

'But I've already drank the foul stuff,' Anton grumbled picking up the cup again.

'And I'm sure the toilet appreciates it,' Snape said 'but if you don't drink it you will die within the next year.'

'I think that would be preferable,' Anton muttered forcing it down his throat.