I can't believe that I can actually start writing a new chapter so quickly after the last one. I must really (unconsciously?) be excited over this story. Not to say that I didn't know I was excited, just not really excited.

Harry's going to have his Olcumency lessons sooner in this story. My reasoning is that Dumbledore most probably knew about the visions when he was having them.

I had the second and third chapters of this story on my computer already. I figured I could just combined them.

Enjoy reading!

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, Umbridge would have died in the same chapter she showed up in.

Harry's POV

Breakfast the next morning was awful. The food was great, of course, but the stares and whispers were almost killing him by the time he received his schedule.

"Professor," he heard Hermione say, "There's something wrong with the schedule. It says we're having Defense with all four houses."

Harry looked at the paper in his hands. He was surprised when he read that his own schedule said that as well.

McGonagall nodded her head. "That is correct, Miss Granger." Then, she left without another word.

"What do you reckon this is about?" Ron asked. He didn't receive an answer.

-LINE BREAK-

The Golden Trio entered the DADA classroom later that day. As Harry looked around, he noticed for the first time just how small his year was. The room was able to sit all 32 kids comfortably. Professor Everpine was at her desk reading.

He sat down moments before the professor put down her book. "Well," she began in an American accent, "I'm impressed. Some people skipped the first day of classes when I went here. Five points to each of you." Hermione raised her had. "Yes, Miss…?"

"Granger," the brunette supplied. "I just wanted to know when you attended Hogwarts. Your accent is American, but I've never found any record of the American wizarding world in the library. I assumed we didn't have any interaction with it."

The blond nodded. "That's a good question," she said. "I came here every six months out of my years of schooling. My parents thought that I would benefit from learning here then going to The Witchcraft Academy for Girls back home to catch up on lessons that aren't taught here." She smiled. "Those lessons, along with some of our ideals, aren't quite…accepted here, so our societies don't really have anything to do with each other."

She then turned to the blackboard and wrote 'Sharing Time.' She turned back to the class and said, "Miss Granger actually started something I want to do to start off the year. I don't know you guys, and you guys don't know me. So, I would like to go around the room and have each of you state your name, House, favorite subject, least favorite subject, and what your favorite activity is." As she listed each of these, the chalk moved on its own to put them on the board. "I'll start. My name is Cassiopeia Everpine. I was in Slytherin. My favorite subject was Potions. I hated Care of Magical Creatures. I like to visit with my friends. Miss Granger, why don't you go next?"

The girl smiled and said, "I'm Hermione Granger. I'm a Gryffindor. I like Transfiguration. I dislike Divination. I like reading."

A few minutes and students later, it was Ron's turn. "I'm Ron Weasely. I'm in Gryffindor, and I love Divination." He threw a smirk at Hermione who glared at him. "I hate Potions, and I love Quidditch."

Harry was sitting by Ron, so he began talking after his best mate stopped. "I'm Harry Potter." He waited a second in case of a reaction to his name, but continued when the professor only nodded at him. "I'm in Gryffindor. I like this class the most, funnily enough. I hate Potions, too. "I really like flying."

The class continued like that until all the students had gone. After that Professor Everpine told everyone they could talk amongst themselves for the rest of the period. She seemed to be thinking and writing something down.

"Wasn't that interesting?" Hermione asked her two friends when she came to sit with them.

Ron snorted, "A wastes of time, more like. The only thing we really learned was that she's evil."

The girl turned to face him. "What part of that indicated anything of the sort?" she asked.

"She was a Slytherin," the redhead replied, as if it were obvious. "All Slytherins are evil. Look now, I best she's writing about how she can kill everyone who isn't a no good, rotten snake!"

Harry looked at the blond at the front of the room while his friends bickered. She didn't seem evil. She'd been polite to everyone, as far as he could tell. She even smiled at Neville and encouraged him to speak louder when it was his turn.

Without thinking, he asked, "Why don't we talk to her after the lesson?" Everyone in fifth year had a free period after DADA because of the weird scheduling. He was pretty sure it gave everyone, students and teachers free periods. Hermione enthusiastically agreed, and Ron reluctantly followed.

-LINE BREAK-

Cassie's POV

The fifth years were leaving to enjoy their breaks. Cassie sighed. She wanted to do this to help with House unity. Albus was reluctant to agree to it, but had to give in when the other teachers became excited over the idea of more free time.

It didn't make her job much easier, however. She was staring at her notes on the students when she heard footsteps approach her. She looked up.

"Miss Granger. Mr. Weasely. Mr. Potter." She acknowledged with a smile. She didn't know why they were here, but she didn't let it show. She was a Slytherin. They didn't do surprised.

The girl of the group spoke up. "Hello, Professor. We were wondering if you could talk to us for a few minutes."

"Sure," replied the elder. "What would you like to talk about?"

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Harry cut her off by asking, "Are you going to teach us something to use against Voldemort?"

Seeing the other two flinch amused Cassie. Really now. There's nothing a name can do to you. She thought for a moment before replying, "I'll be teaching you various spells. Their usefulness against Voldemort, however, is hard to say. He's powerful. There's not much I can teach you in this class that would seriously hurt him."

"There must be something," the dark haired boy pressed.

"I'll think about it," the professor assured.

"Anyway," the other boy piped up, "you're rather close to Snape." Hermione glared at him.

Cassie giggled at his attempt to subtly get defaming information on her. "Oh, Severus and I go way back. We were really close when I attended here."

"When did you attend Hogwarts," Harry asked furrowing his brow.

"The seventies," the blond replied. She could practically see something in his head connecting. It made her slightly nervous yet proud.

"So you knew my parents," Harry said. The light in his eyes was almost too much, but the woman nodded anyway.

Time to end this, Cassie thought as she smiled and politely asked the students to leave. She had work to do anyway.

-LINE BREAK-

Later That Week

Harry's POV

It was official. Fate hated Harry Potter.

Dumbledore wanted him to take lessons on Olcumency from Snape! Snape! All he did was tell the headmaster about his weird dreams. There was no way he could stay in a room with that greasy git for an extra hour each day. There had to be some way to get out of it. Surely there's another professor who could help him instead.

That thought caused an idea to form. He just needed to wait until class.

-LINE BREAK-

Harry was the first to sit down in DADA that that day. He was sure this would work. If not, then at least he tried. Ron sat beside him as Professor Everpine acknowledged the class.

"Today is going to be slightly aggravating for most of you," she began as a Hufflepuff ran into the room. "One point from Hufflepuff. Please don't be late again, Mr. Smith," she said without missing a beat.

"Back to the point," she said, "You'll each be put into a group. Four people will make up each group. Every group member will be from a different House." She ignored the groans from around the room.

"It actually worked out quite nicely. There's the same number of fifth years in each House. The second, third, and seventh years are all uneven. It made my life that much more difficult," she said, ending with a sigh.

She shook her head then continued, "There will be various group assignments this year for you. What's more, you have to ask your group members if you need any help with individual work in class. Their grade will affect your grade and vice versa. If they can't help, ask me. Do not ask anyone from another group while you're in this room."

The professor then held up a sheet of paper. "I picked groups judging by the talk we all had yesterday," she informed the class.

Harry didn't listen much as the blond listed the groups. He only caught that Hermione was in Group Two with Hannah Abbott, Stephen Cornfoot, and Theodore Nott, and Ron was in Group Five with Michael Corner, Zacharias Smith, and Pansy Parkinson. He also caught that he was in Group Seven with Justin Flinch-Fletchley, Padma Patil, and Blaise Zabini.

"Now, get into your groups. After that, I want each group to think of one good and one bad thing about each House," ordered the professor, "Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of your comrades, is essential for success in a battle.

-LINE BREAK-

Cassie's POV

Cassie wouldn't admit it to any of her colleagues, except maybe Severus, but the looks of displeasure on her student's faces was making her want to laugh. This was for unity in the school, of course. This would cause people to see passed prejudices and find friends in people that they wouldn't've ever considered otherwise.

Each member of every group had at least one thing in common with their fellow members. Group One all liked Herbology, Group Two hated Divination, Group Three liked drawing, Group Four liked Potions, which Group Five hated, Group Six hated Transfiguration, Group Seven liked Defense against the Dark Arts, Group Eight hated Astronomy, and Group Nine liked swimming. Some students could fit into multiple groups, but all could be put into one.

It was interesting to see how the kids interacted, though. Some groups needed to work together more, while others got along with ease. She looked over to Group Seven. Harry was trying, that was clear. He kept on sending Blaise nervous glances and casting longing looks towards his friends, but being taken out of your comfort zone can do that to you.

He'll have to get over it, she thought, nobody can win a war while being uncomfortable around their allies.

The blond spoke up from her seat. "Alright. Write your group's pros and cons on each House. All group members must sign it. Have it by next class. Have a nice day."

Harry's POV

Harry could admit that he might be being overly cautious. Zabini had never hurt him or his friends, but he was still a Slytherin. He didn't know if could last a whole year of this class if he had to work with a potential Death Eater. He decided to talk to Professor Everpine about it along his request.

"Mister Potter," the professor looked at him as he approached. Slight disappointment shown in her eyes. The boy grew anxious from that look. There was something about this professor…

He put that thought away for now. "I have a problem with my group," he stated.

"Really?" the woman raised an eyebrow before continuing, "This problem wouldn't be because one of your group members is a part of my old House, now would it?"

Harry cringed internally. He had forgotten this kind and friendly woman had once been a Slytherin. He sometimes even forgot she was a professor, with how she interacted with her students.

Said woman's eyes softened, and she sighed. "Harry, I won't be changing groups for anybody. Not even you. Think of this as a way to get to know different types of people. I know for a fact that the Zabinis go to Italy and Iceland often. Maybe you could learn about different cultures while making a new friend. I'll see you later."

Deciding to think more on that later, he asked, "Actually, Professor, I need to ask if you would tutor me in Olcumency. It's something Professor Dumbeldore wants me to learn."

The professor looked as if she might decline, but then nodded. "I'll… I'll do it. Yeah," she said. He left the classroom after that.

-LINE BREAK-

Cassie's POV

"What was I supposed to do, Severus? Just leave the kid hanging?" asked the woman in an exasperated tone. She looked across a small table towards her best friend. She clutched a coffee cup in her hand as she sat in the living area of her personal quarters. Nervousness filled her.

He looked at her worriedly. "Why didn't you? If the boy is able to enter your mind in an attempt to barricade you from his, he'll be able to see your memories, memories that he doesn't need to see!"

Cassie bit her lip. Was she good enough at Olcumency to keep him out? Maybe. Was he probably be going to see her memories anyway? There was no doubt that he'd be good enough to do that. Was she regretting agreeing to help him? A little. Did she ultimately want him to find out…? Yes.

TBC…

I'm actually kinda surprised none of the teachers in the books had 'Sharing Time.' All the teachers I had did that on the first day in some form or another.

Anyway, you'll find out what Cassie has planned soon.

Please comment.