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CONFUSED CRIMINALS

Halloween came too quickly.

Harry glared after Draco who would be heading off to Hogsmeade without him to enjoy the first Hogsmeade. He had contemplated asking the blond to get him somethings from the village, but had changed his mind as he remembered that this was Malfoy, a boy who despite claiming to own everything under the sun was still prone to stealing other people's belongings.

Grumpily, he started to wander the halls of Hogwarts and reflecting on the past few weeks.

Professor Lupin was easily everyone's favorite D.A.D.A. professor, though most Slytherins wouldn't admit it and Harry did still have issues with that first class, given how it had caused Professor Snape grief since and made the man all the more difficult to tolerate in Potions, where he would all but kill Neville. Divination wasn't any better as it seemed Trelawney was absolutely certain Harry would die every day he walked into her classroom and Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class now focused almost exclusively on caring for flobberworms, which had to be more boring than spending detention with Lockhart.

Then there was quidditch practice starting and, as this would be the last year their Captain had at Hogwarts, Flint wanted to end it with a win, which was no shocker.

"Our first match is against Gryffindor." He had ground at them and then had glared at Malfoy, who was a Chaser on the team. "And you had better be better, Malfoy."

Harry dodged a hallway where Filch was wandering and decided he should probably visit Hedwig in the Owlery.

"Harry?"

He spun around to see Professor Lupin peering out of his office door at him. "What are you doing? Where are you friends? Where's Draco?"

Harry contemplated correcting the man and telling him that Draco wasn't his friend, but instead muttered, "Hogsmeade."

"Ah," Lupin gave Harry a long look before asking. "Why don't you come in? I've just taken delivery of a grindylow for our next lesson."

"A what?" Harry followed him into the office and was surprised at the creepy green horned creature in the tank in the corner.

"A water demon." Lupin replied. "Which shouldn't be any difficulty after those kappas. Cup of tea?"

Harry forced down his frown. "Um...n-no thank you. I'm kind of done with tea for now."

Lupin cast him a knowing smile as he tapped the kettle and steam blasted from the spout. "I can imagine. Professor McGonagall told me about your...experiences in Divination."

"Oh." Harry took a seat when the man offered it to him.

"You're not worried, are you?"

"No." Harry said quickly.

"Anything worrying you?" Lupin's questioned surprised Harry as he had been positive he had been hiding his expression.

"No." Harry fidgeted in his seat and then said, "Yes, actually. You know that day we fought the boggart?"

"Yes..."

"Why did you let Neville humiliate Professor Snape like that?"

Lupin let his gaze drop to his hands where he held his tea. "Well, I would have thought that obvious, Harry."

It was shocking to hear an adult not deny such an accusation and spurred Harry to inquire, "Why?"

"I wanted Neville to learn to overcome his fears." Lupin replied smoothly. "Especially since he was the center of a lot of Professor Snape's ridicule. Of course, I should have known it would become a great dilemma here at school, but...well..."

He looked at Harry for a long moment before finally saying, "I honestly didn't expect you to defend...your Head of House."

"Why?" Harry asked, perplexed all the more.

"Well..." Lupin frowned slightly. "To be even more honest, I never expected to see you wearing the colors green and silver."

Harry muttered "Oh" before glancing at the grindylow so he had something other than his professor to look at. This was something he had begun to grow used to. Everyone was always so surprised to learn that Harry Potter was a Slytherin. Of course, it was only natural that everyone had expected him to join Gryffindor as not only had both of his parents been in the House, but Voldemort had been in Gryffindor's polar-opposite: Slytherin. 'Dark wizards come from Slytherin' was practically the anthem of the House of the Snake and no doubt everyone suspected Harry would become one.

"Harry," Lupin started after a long pause. "I want you to know that a House doesn't define a person, that..."

He was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Without hesitation, he said, "Come in."

When the door opened, Harry was shocked to see his Head of House walk in with a smoking goblet in his hand. He halted when he noticed Harry.

"Ah, Severus." Lupin motioned to his desk. "Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?"

Professor Snape (Severus was his name? Harry had to admit he liked it...) set the goblet down and then let his eyes wander between Harry and Lupin with obvious suspicion.

"I was just showing Harry my grindylow." Lupin smiled at the other professor as he motioned to the tank.

"Fascinating." The Potions Master didn't bother looking at the tank. "You should drink that directly, Lupin."

"Yes, yes. I will."

"I made an entire cauldronful," Professor Snape continued. "If you need more."

"I should probably take some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus."

"Not at all. "The man looked at Harry and added, "A word with you when you are done here, Potter."

"Yes, sir." Harry nodded and then watched his professor leave before turning to look at the goblet with curiosity.

"Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me." Lupin informed the boy. "I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularily complex." He gave the goblet a sniff. "Pity sugar makes it useless."

Harry watched the man take a drink of it and asked, "What is it?"

"It's just a potion that helps." Lupin tried a weak smile. "I've been feeling a bit off-color and am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren't many wizards who are up to making it."

"But what is it?" Harry asked as the man continued to drink it. "What's it called?"

"Why so curious?" Lupin smirked casually.

"Well, I'm pretty good at potions..."

"Professor Snape has told me as much. Excellent at them, actually."

Blush lit across Harry's face as he knew the Potions Master mentioning this to anyone was a pretty big deal. "Er...right...um...well, anyways, I know a lot of potions, but I've never seen one that looked like that before?"

Lupin drained the goblet and pulled a face.

"Disgusting...well, Harry, I'd better get back to work. I'll see you at the feast later."

Harry resisted grimacing as he stood, eying the now empty yet still smoking goblet, figuring he could probably ask the Potions Master about it.

He figured wrong.

Professor Snape had been waiting for him outside of Lupin's office and had instantly asked what they had talked about. Harry admitted they talked about the boggart and how Harry was in Slytherin and then about what the potion was, which Harry then asked his professor about only to receive a, "Don't bother asking about it, Potter, as it is a private matter."

Well, fine. Harry didn't want to know anyways. (Except now his curiosity was killing him.)

"All right, sir." Harry consented and asked, "What is it you needed to see me about?"

"Professor McGonagall has brought it to my attention that you were wanting permission to become an Animagus."

Harry looked up, shocked. He had forgotten all about it in his rage over the boggart and then his disappointment over Hogsmeade. To be frank, he was surprised McGonagall had brought it up to his Head of House, but he was sure she was at least a little excited about the prospect of another Animagus.

"May I, sir?" Harry asked with a hint of excitement.

"No."

Harry's jaw dropped. "What?"

"I said, "no", Potter?" Professor Snape spat. "How many times do you need me to repeat myself, because this will get very old fast."

"But..." Harry's mouth was opening and closing much like a fish. "But..."

"Spit it out, Potter."

"But, sir!" It took all of Harry's will to restrain the whine in his voice. "Why?"

"Do I really need to explain myself to you, Mr. Potter?"

"Yes."

This caused his professor to give him a surely glare that nearly caused Harry to start shaking with fear. As it was, he felt himself pale considerably.

"No..." He whispered in a wilted voice. "B-but an explanation would be nice..."

"Isn't it clear enough, Potter?" The Potions Master muttered, irritated at always having to provide the boy with an explanation since Potter apparently couldn't figure it out on his own. "Becoming an Animagus is a very dangerous thing. Even great wizards such as Dumbledore have never been able to assume an Animagus form. How do you, a rather mediocre wizard, expect to become an Animagus?"

Harry tried to hide his embarrassment. "But McGonagall said it wasn't impossible."

"Professor McGonagall." His professor snarled. "And..."

There was a long pause as the Potions Master seemed to be trying to put together a decent enough reason to why her word was refutable. He hesitated over several beginnings ("She's getting old..." "It's been a long time..." "Not much exciting..." "I'm sure she's growing se..." "There aren't many who would want to try...") before he settled on, "It's simply another foolish attention-seeking attempt of yours."

"I'm not looking for attention!" Harry shouted before he could check his temper. "If anything, it's just another way to disappear!"

He covered his mouth, eyes wide as he watched the stiff form of his teacher stop and then swirl around to look at him. Instead of anger, however, there was only contemplation and a hint of understanding in the man's black eyes.

"Ten points for yelling at a teacher." His Head of House finally muttered.

Harry nodded solemnly, knowing he had earned for worse for hollering at Professor Snape.

"As for this matter of wanting to disappear..."

Harry knew better than to interrupt, but was too embarrassed not to, "It's nothing. I was just..."

"Don't interrupt me, Potter." The cool tone of his professor was far more terrifying than an angry one.

"Sorry, sir..." Harry let his gaze drop to stare at his feet and resigned to his fate.

"As for this matter of...Animagus..." The Potions Master amended. "I will have to give it some thought...and have to see considerable improvement in your Transfiguration grades before I give consent."

Harry looked up, surprised. "Really?"

"Considerable improvement." The man emphasized. "Which will be reflected in your next major Transfiguration test."

"Thank you!" Harry felt an almost uncontainable urge to embrace the man and stepped forward to do just that until his gut wrenched him backwards. "Sorry. Thank you!"

Professor Snape was giving him a suddenly wary look and quickly said, "Just keep up on your studies, Potter. Now, run along."

"Thank you!" Harry repeated again before making his way towards the dungeons. He couldn't believe his luck and was actually starting to look forward to the Halloween Feast where he planned to eat several helpings of sugar-filled desserts.