CHAPTER THREE: THE PATRONUS.

The next few days were mostly about classes, and homework, lot of homework, like we didn't have enough last years with the OWL. My first class of DADA was for Thursday. I was impatient to see for myself if what we heard about Lupin was true. It was only his third day and he was already one of the favorite teachers of the school. I heard the third year talking about their first class. It seems that Lupin was a good teacher, and he seems to have a good sense of humor too. It was going to be interesting.

I arrived in the new class for DADA with the rest of my classmate. I don't talk much with the ravenclaw, they are too bookish for me. Well, I don't have a lot of friend apart from the twins and Lee. I tend to be invisible; I don't want anyone putting his big nose into my business. I am a bit lonely sometimes. But I have years of practice now, I know how to be invisible. For the teachers I am just an average student in ravenclaw who doesn't talk much in class. Nothing notable about me. And it was mean to be like that. It's amazing the number of thing you can do under the nose of the teacher when they don't even know your name. I think that even Dumbledore doesn't know I exist apart from the falsified register in his office who says that there is a sixth year ravenclaw whose name is Ana Parker. Nobody in Hogwarts knows my real name.

Until the journey on the Hogwart's express not a single teacher did know that I was powerful magically. I tend to holding back in class. It makes things easier. I probably made a mistake in the train but I wasn't going to hold back when there were dementors around. It was too dangerous, and I wouldn't risk the soul of one of my classmate for the pretext of wanting tobe invisible. The only teacher to know now was Lupin and he was new, so he couldn't really talk about students with the other professors, well I hope he does not.

I sat in the back of the class in the corner as usual. Lupin is already at his desk, he is scanning the class with his sharp eyes. I keep my head down. I will try to be invisible for now. I am tempted to cast a notice me not charm on me, but he is a DADA professor and he seems powerful, he will probably detect it and there will be a lot of questions.

I can feel his gaze on me; it seems that for once I am not invisible. It makes me uncomfortable; I am not used to a teacher knowing of my presence in a class. I put my head up to look at him. His eyes are still on me, for some seconds our eyes locked. There is still something here, disturbing. Amber. Beautiful. His eyes are mostly curious. Mine are maybe a little bit defiant. But I can't help it. There's something that attract me in this eyes.

The class is now full, and he is about to start. His eyes leave me, like he just realizes that there are other people in the room. It is a bit disturbing, I know I made a patronus on the train, but still it is a bit too much, for someone I just met once. I can feel something dangerous about him, but there is also some sickness if I can call it like that. I can feel a bit of darkness, but it's like it doesn't belong to him. It is really strange.

"Well, good morning class, I am professor Lupin, your new DADA professor, welcome to the NEWT level of DADA. I am impatient to see what you learned until now. My colleagues told me that you didn't have a good professor last year, from what I heard, he is still in St Mungo's; I hope I'll do better than he did."

There's some laugh in the class. Lockart was a fraud. Seriously what was thinking Dumbledore when he engaged the man? It was really easy to find out. The books he wrote were a bunch of bullshit; the events couldn't be placed chronologically. And he couldn't cast an experlliamus to save his life.

"So today is a bit of an exceptional class, I heard you never face a boghart before, it's a shame there a least three bogharts in this castle, so today will be a practical lesson and next time we will be reviewing what you have done the last five years so I can plane my class. So who can tell me what a boghart is?"

The lesson was going smoothly, it seems that for now, the professor was faithful to his reputation; he was very good at what he was doing. It was refreshing. I could feel his gaze on me from time to time. I wasn't any better I was watching him walking from one side of the class to another. He was tall, elegant, and he had a way of moving that was forceful and graceful in the same time, it was difficult for me to tear my eyes away from him.

"Very good class. Now wands out, we are going to practice."

The class started to form a line in front of a big trunk in front of the class. I was in the last of the line. The professor gave me a look that was saying he was very curious about what my boghart was going to be, and there was some laugh in his eyes, like if he knows I didn't want to stand out. First class and he was already getting on my nerves. Guh. Like I was going to show him my real boghart.

Yes, anyone with a good practice in occlumency can control more or less a boghart. It depends on what you chose to show to the creature. You can construct wall around your personality. If they are strong enough, you can create different personality for the boghart, and the one in the surface will have a different fear than the one hidden deep in your mind.

I had a bit of time to decide what I was going to choose. It would have to be credible. He already see my patronus, I couldn't go with some arachnophobia.

Half an hour later, it was my turn to pass. I was facing the boghart and let it change into an enormous serpent. I contemplate it for one or two second, it was credible enough for me; I was going to say the incantation when I heard Lupin cleared his throat. I looked at him; he rolled his eyes at me and made a movement of his head in the direction of the trunk. Looks like I wasn't credible enough. I rolled my eyes at him, annoyed, why couldn't he leave me alone.

I let my first wall come down and the boghart started to change. A dementor was now facing me; I shoot the incantation before Lupin stopped me. There was now a dementor dressed with a wonderful pink robe with yellow flowers and rainbow. I stepped aside quickly and let my classmate takes over. Professor casted me a glance, I could tell he was still suspicious about my boghart, after all I didn't have any problem at casting a patronus, but I didn't have any better idea at the moment.

"Can someone tell me what Miss Parker here just did?"

I casted him a murderous glance. Couldn't he just shut his mouth for god sake?

"No one? Miss Parker, could you please explain to the class what you just did?"

It was official, I hated Lupin, he was too good at what he was doing and I already could tell that he wasn't going to leave me alone.

"A boghart use a form of legilimancy to find your fear in your mind, if your mind is strong you can hide it from him and chose to show him something else."

"Really good Miss Parker, fifteen point to ravenclaw."

The rest of the students were passing when I feel Lupin stopped beside me.

"I'd like to see you after class Miss Parker."

"yes sir" I sigh.

I was pretty sure he was going to ask question I didn't want to answer, to bad I couldn't obliviate him right there.

To soon the class ended, and I was facing Lupin. He was leaning against his desk facing me, hands in his pockets, radiating power a mile away. Was he doing this on purpose, seriously I could feel his aura radiating around me. No need to intimidate me, I already am.

"So Miss Parker, can you tell me why you didn't face your boghart like everyone's?"

"I did face my boghart professor."

"I wasn't talking about the serpent or the dementor Miss Parker, I was talking about your real boghart."

"I didn't want to see it professor." I replied defiantly.

Bad option.

"So your telling me that a bright witch like can't face her fear?"

"It seems like it professor."

"You don't look like a coward to me Miss Parker, you can face a dementor without a blink of an eye, so tell me the truth, why didn't you want to face the boghart?"

"Because I didn't want anyone to see it, professor, there are things that are better left alone."

Lupin was looking at me straight in the eyes. I could tell he didn't believe me. Bugger.

"What are you so terrified of Ana?" he asked gently. Was it some concern I could see in his eyes? Why would he care anyway? Nobody cares.

"It is none of your concern, professor and I didn't ask you what your boghart is, so please don't ask." My voice was cold. He was too close to the truth.

"If told you what mine is, would you tell me?" he asked.

Like hell.

"No sir."

"Fine. I let it go for now. But I don't want to see you holding back in my class. Is that clear Ana?"

There was too much tension in the air, it was thick. There was too much things unsaid on my part. I could tell he wasn't really happy about me right now.

"Yes sir."

"Fine, you can go now, good afternoon Miss Parker, I'll see you tomorrow."

I left the room hastily with a quick good bye. I didn't like to be alone in his presence, he was far too intelligent, and I could tell he could see right through me. It was disturbing and annoying. He was radiating power like no one I know but only when I was alone with him. I had seen him at lunch and when he was with people I could tell he was holding back too. When people were around, he was the tired man, with worn closes; he was different, like he was burying something inside of him. This man was a mystery. And I wasn't sure I wanted to solve it. I knew that if I wanted more information on Black and Harry I would have to talk to him at one point or another. But I wasn't so sure I wanted to.

REMUS:

The first week class was finally finished, I was tired. There so many new things to do as a teacher. I enjoyed teaching a lot; there were some promising students in the superior's years. I couldn't wait to see more.

There were two students who were really standing out in my book. There was Harry naturally, and there was Ana Parker.

Harry, because he was my best friend's son, and because there were things in his behavior that were curious. He was really calm, reserved, and shy. He was so different from the little boy I knew. I was starting to wonder what his childhood had been like; I didn't even know where he was during that time. The name I heard on the train was somehow familiar but I couldn't place where I heard it. I still didn't have the time to talk with him; it seems that Dumbledore was always around me, I couldn't approach the boy without Dumbledore appearing out of nowhere. It was disturbing. It seems to me that he didn't want me to talk with Harry. Well good luck with that Albus. You can't stop me from seeing my cub.

Harry's boghart was disturbing too. A dementor.

When I was thinking of it, my thoughts were leading me to Ana's boghart. The two were similar somehow. Ana did control the boghart on purpose, I could tell, I didn't know why, but there was something here. And for Harry, it was a bit similar, except he didn't do it on purpose. It's like the boghart couldn't accede to their worst fear, so it decided to make them relive it. It was disturbing. Somehow Harry's mind buried it so deep into his mind that it takes the appearance of a dementor.

What the two of them were hiding?

I needed to talk to Harry. Without Dumbledore's interference.

As for Ana, the girl seems stubborn as hell. But so was I. I had been curious about her. There was something about her silver eyes. Moony was interested in her, he seems to like her but with Moony I couldn't really tell. When I talked to her alone the first class I have seen her, I could sense Moony rising inside of me. I had looked in the record of the school for her file. There was absolutely nothing special in that file, she was an average student, she passed her OWL with an E in DADA. There was nothing out of place. Except that she could cast a patronus as powerful as mine. If she could cast it like that, it means that she was talented enough to have an O in DADA practice.

And after the demonstration with the boghart and the reaction of her classmate, I could tell she was holding back, it seems they weren't used to her talking in class.

Well for Harry maybe it would have to wait a little. But for Ana's case, I had an idea. It was time for the NEWT classes to learn the patronus charm. I wanted to see her casting it again.

ANA:

Two weeks passed at school, there wasn't anything out of place, the training in quidditch was starting, the homework was starting to be heavy, and Mr Filch was still crazy. Nothing new. The twins and I had played a prank or two nothing serious for now. Luna didn't speak to me at all. I couldn't catch her, no matter how many time I tried, so I had given up, she would talk to me only when she would want to, no doubt about it.

Professor Lupin was a good teacher, his classes were always interesting. He still looked at me with those eyes. I had the feeling he was planning something I wouldn't like.

On Friday when I entered the DADA class, I could feel immediately that I wasn't going to like the lesson of the day. He was cheerful, smiling like he won the lottery or something. Bugger. I cast him a glance that was saying I was certainly not happy.

"Hello everybody," he started cheerfully, "today we are going to study something new. As you all know, this year, Hogwarts has some special guest because of the circumstance: the dementors of Azkaban. I know you already studied them last year. But I have decided that it was time for all of you to learn how to defend yourself against them. So today's lesson will be about the Patronus charm."

I scowl at him. Prick. He was doing it on purpose. And he had the balls to wink at me. I was fuming. No way was I casting my patronus in front of him again. The last time he didn't have the time to look at it properly and it was for the better. I listened to him lecturing the class, like he had found the graal. You are not obvious enough try to be more cheerful, was I thinking bitterly.

I wanted to be invisible and he was going out of his way to make my life miserable. I already had a lot of question from my classmate about the boghart. I didn't want more questions.

The time came to practice. I observed the class for a while, before faking the charm for appearance sake. Lupin has his back on me, maybe I could try to avoid him until the end of the class.

But I wasn't that lucky.

"What did I tell you Miss Parker about holding back in this class?"

I glared at him. There was something mischievous in his eyes. I scowl at him. He smirked. God. That was sexy. I grumbled something under my breath and sigh.

"Miss Parker I am waiting."

I had a sudden idea.

"Maybe I could practice it better if you showed me how to do it professor." I smirked at him. If he wanted me to show him my patronus he would have to show me his.

He raised an eyebrow at me. He looked at me with some challenge in his eyes, daring me, before casting his patronus. The grim got out of his wand. Well for a grim he was absolutely cheerful and crazy; he was running around the classroom agitating his tail. I smiled despite of myself.

"So Miss Parker, what do you think about it?"

"For a grim, your patronus is absolutely crazy professor."

"I must admit that he seems quite happy today. Now, what about your patronus Miss Parker?"

"Professor, I am not sure that it is a good idea for the class to see it…"

"Stop being so stubborn and cast it, I know you can do easily."

I groaned. He wasn't letting me any choice. Well, maybe his reaction would be interesting. I sigh to keep up appearance.

"Expecto patronum."

My wolf got out of my wand. Well it's not exactly a wolf you see. For someone who never seen a werewolf in his life, it looks like a wolf, but for someone who knows about werewolf, well, you can't miss it.

Lupin's face was priceless. He was dumbstruck. Transfixed. He was staring at it, mouth open, but slowly he became white as a sheet. I could tell he was afraid, but I didn't understand why.

My wolf was now pursuing the grim all around the classroom; he was acting like a sick puppy with his new playmate. It was now my turn to be amazed. It was the first time I saw him do that. The two patronus were playing like old friend, like they knew each other. It was very disturbing. Lupin and I were staring at them. They were happily playing all around the classroom.

"That's the first time I see my patronus acting like that," I said.

"You don't say," replied Lupin sarcastically.

And because it wasn't enough, my little wolf started running around Lupin, climbing on his leg like a fucking dog. Lupin and I were staring blankly at the wolf. It was maybe time I regain some control on my patronus.

"Moony, you bloody moron, comeback here!" I whispered so no one could hear me.

Somehow Lupin heard me. If I was thinking he was white before, I think he could compete with the color of the snow, now. Moony came to sit beside me, waving his tail happily. I heard him whispered in my mind.

"Pack."

It was really disturbing.

Lupin pulled me out of my thought.

"Did you call him Moony?" he whispered blankly.

"Yes sir."

"Is it some kind of sick joke?"

"What? No, professor, it's just his name, why does it matter what his name is? It's not like I choose it, it was it who told me his name."

"He told you his name?"

"yes, sir, is there a problem with that? I am pretty sure your patronus has a name as well." I said defensively.

"There isn't any problem."Lupin answered me abruptly.

I didn't understand what was the problem with my wolf's name? Was it because he was a werewolf? The professor didn't seem like the kind of person to have that sort of prejudice. Lupin really didn't make any sense to me. First he pushed me because he wanted to see the charm and then he wasn't happy about it, what was his problem? And as it wasn't enough, Moony's attitude was disturbing. It was like he knew the Grim.

There was also something about the Grim too. There was something in my mind telling me it was important.

I was wondering if Lupin would call me to stay behind at the end of the class, but he seems to avoid me for the rest of the time, he was still a little under the water, and he appeared deep in thought. The class ended and Lupin didn't look in my direction again.

What was his problem? He had mention werewolf in passing in class and he didn't seem to have that much of prejudice against them when he was talking about them, so why was he acting like that?

I was pretty sure it was in relation with his own patronus. But he was afraid of something.

That man was really impossible to read for me, I didn't know what to think of him. At first he was concerned, then he couldn't stop putting his nose in my business and now he was ignoring me.

Fine.

Maybe I could do some research on the grim while Lupin was pouting in the corner. I had better thing to do than think about him anyway.

I wanted to contact Black somehow; if I couldn't find any answer around here maybe I could talk to him directly. Yes, I know I am crazy; I want to speak to an escaped convict to satisfy my insane curiosity. But I didn't really have any idea on how to find him, the whole ministry was looking for him and they didn't find him. The dementor didn't know how he escaped their watching. In fact when you think about logically, if they couldn't stop him escaping, and if they didn't even notice him, I was pretty sure they would be as useful as fudge as a prime minister.

I decided to do something I had never done in five years at Hogwarts, I was going to do some research that didn't concern any classes; a first for me. I started a razia in library, taking all I could about Grim and all. There wasn't really anything interesting in those books, just some absurdity about death and divination, nothing to take seriously, wizards are the most superstitious person I know. To sum it up my research about the grim didn't lead me anywhere. It was really tiring.

It was late when I finally decided to leave the library to go back to the ravenclaw tower. I was tired. I knew I was missing something somewhere.

The next week passed slowly, Lupin was doing all he could to avoid me, ignoring me. It was frustrating. I was returning slowly to my invisibility. It was now obvious that Lupin didn't talk about the patronus to any professor. For them I still didn't exist.

Until one morning early in October nothing happened. I was at breakfeast with my fellow ravenclaw classmate, bored as never before when the morning post came. An owl delivered me my morning paper, the daily prophet. I know it is control by the ministry, but hell, information is information. The first page was occupied by an article on Sirius Black, he had been seen in a muggle town not far from Hogwarts, the ministry didn't catch him as usual. But what got my eyes was the little article on the black family. There was an old picture of a ball before the war with all the black family. I could see Sirius on it, he seemed bored, and his picture self was glancing at his family with grimace and disgust. Anyone could see that he wasn't happy to be at this ball. The picture had been taken at one of the family manor, and in the background, you could see a blazon. It wasn't really clear on the picture, but I could see a black dog and what look like serpent. A black dog. Was it a grim?

I didn't finish my breakfeast, in ten second I was out in the hall walking pretty fast in the direction of the library. I stormed in the library, Ms. Pince casted me a dark look. I didn't pay attention to her, I had to find the worst book ever in this library. I had never opened it until now. And there it was : Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy. But this is where I could find information on the Black family. The section reserved to them was one of the biggest, with the Potter family of course. Maybe I will looking at it after.

And there it was:

"The most ancient and noble house of Black is a pureblood family who was born during in a short period after the construction of Hogwarts by Sirius Arcturus Black first of the Line. The official story says he was the son of two great wizards, and that he started to make fortune in the name of the Black family. It is rumored that he was very powerful and that he defeated a dark lord in his time. The devise of the house is "always pure". This devise can be interpreted in different manner but it seems that the descendant of the first Black interpreted it as a guide line to conserve their line pure. The Black family since then has been repute to have one of the purest blood in the wizarding world.

The blazon of the family is a Grim and a snake surrounded by the stars of the constellation of Alpha Canis Majory as you can see in the following picture.

The grim is there to represent Sirius who is the brightest star of the constellation, and the brightest in the sky at night. Sirius is a part of the constellation of Canis major and the Grim is the somber creature related to a canine this is why it represent the family. The snake represents the cunning and viciousness of the Family, and it is rumored that there had been parselmouth in the black family line over the years.

As a tradition, the son and girl of the line had been named after the name of stars that belonged to different constellation. The name of Sirius comes regularly in the line. It had not been proved, but it seems that each time Sirius's name appeared in the line, trouble seems to come to the wizarding world. After all the Grim comes as a death messenger."

The text was going on and on about the big name of the family, the pure blood and the genealogies. I made a mental note that Dorea Black married Charlus Potter, and that they were in fact Harry's grandparents.

When you were looking for the different Sirius in the black family it was true that it seems to be problem following their history. And contrary to the actual belief of the wizarding community, the Black was not always a dark family. If I chose a color for them I would chose grey because they certainly weren't white. They're seems to be some holes in their history but I had already discovered the most important thing to discover for now.

Sirius and the Grim were related.

Lupin and Sirius certainly used to be friend if they were both friend with Lily and James Potter.

And Lupin's patronus was a Grim. Lupin's patronus was a representation of Sirius Black. And from what I had seen this little grim was a really happy chap. Nothing sinister about him. And magic never lies. If the Grim was his guardian, he couldn't be evil; it means that deep down Lupin knew that Black wasn't evil.

Lupin could avoid me all he wanted, he wouldn't escape this conversation.