News
That Monday morning started with another shocking Article in the Prophet. This time, no one – except Harry – could have expected it.
Multiple (alleged) Death-Eaters arrested!
The headline had a huge picture of an arm of an unidentified person, with a very black dark mark under it. And the article was rather short.
This night at two o'clock in the morning, fifteen different auror strike teams enacted fifteen arrest warrants against Death Eaters. Due to Amelia Bones, who gave us a short statement, new evidence had been unearthed a few weeks ago, that made this action necessary.
'Those men and the one woman had been declared innocent in 1981/82, but none of them was cleared via truth-serum and rumors of bribery did not die down since then, but that was not the reason for tonight's arrest. Unfortunately, due to ongoing investigations, I cannot tell you more at this time.'
Who those 15 persons are is unclear as of yet, but everyone can make an educated guess. Curiously, we at the Daily Prophet could only unearth the names of eight individuals, who had been released after the war. But who were the others? Did we live with Death Eaters in our midst for fourteen years and did have no idea?
Keep your eyes peeled for our next edition with more background information!
Loud chatter and cries rose up from all tables. Even the Slytherins didn't keep quiet. Strangely the Slyth boys of Harry's year stayed quiet. Just sitting there stone-faced.
Harry had no idea how to feel about them. Many of their fathers must have been arrested yesterday and that was great, but he kind of felt sorry for them for having their dads in custody. With an eye on Ron, who sat close by but was 'ignoring' them, Harry refrained from saying so to Hermione.
Even though most of his attention was on the food in front of him, Ron could not miss the news and so he went into attack mode anyway; all plans of ignoring Harry and Hermione forgotten, "Watch out, so you will not be arrested too! You are in cahoots with Death-Eaters too, Granger!"
Harry was so astonished by the accusation, he turned to Hermione and only said, "Huh?"
Hermione snorted and answered, "I had no time to tell you about it yesterday evening. You came back so late! But after Saturday's events, I went looking for information regarding the traditions in this world and found no books but two girls from Slytherin, who introduced the basics to me."
Harry started answering, "That is grea—"
"You could have asked me, not some slimy snakes!" Food was spraying out of Ron's mouth.
"Gods, you are disgusting! Is it so hard to remember the sequence 'chew, swallow, talk'? How could someone as uncouth as you tell me about manners?"
"Shut up!"
"Well, aren't you the eloquent one?"
"Shut up, mudblood." He yelled, so incensed, his few brain-to-mouth filters were all overridden.
Silence. The whole Great Hall was silent. All were staring at Ron open-mouthed.
Professor McGonagall got up and said calmly, "You are suspended for a month from Hogwarts, Mr. Ronald Weasley. Please go to my office and wait for your parents to get you."
"What? You can't!"
"I can and will. If you don't move this minute, it will be 2 months."
"But try-outs!"
"One, two..."
Ron ran out of the Great Hall, dodging past Remus Lupin who came walking in tiredly, looking confused by Ron's behavior.
"Professor Lupin!" came the cheerful cry of nearly all students. Only 1st and 2nd years looked confused by the happy faces surrounding them after the shock, everyone had a few minutes ago.
Harry and Hermione rushed to Remus, as well as some others, and asked if he would teach Defense now?
Professor McGonagall who was still standing said, "Welcome, Mr. Lupin. I see you got Professor Flitwick's Letter. – Students, it's not yet decided, but we hope, he will teach you for now. – We contracted the goblins, to look for the curse, yesterday. They should be here any day now. — You all know of Mr. Lupins affliction, but he will not be at the castle on full moons, so that will not be a problem. — Now, please follow me, Mr. Lupin, I have a free period now, so we can discuss matters after I have contacted the Weasleys."
With that, she led Remus out of the room and the students got ready to go to their first class when someone else came through the doors. It was about twenty goblins!
This time Professor Flitwick welcomed them and they left as well.
"Wow, what a day! And now Potions. Yay." Harry said with a flat voice and Hermione giggled.
Potions class
When they arrived at the Potions classroom, the Slyths were there already. Even more serious looking than was normal. But Hermione pulled Harry to two girls, curtsied, and said, "Heiress Greengrass, Miss Davis, may I introduce Heir Potter? Harry, this is Heiress Daphne Greengrass and her friend Tracy Davis. Both have been kind enough to introduce me to the basics of wizarding society's rules and manners."
Harry bowed perfectly to both girls and kissed the air above their hands. They curtsied and answered with the expected greetings. The rest of their Gryffindor classmates watched it, rather confused.
"You are doing great, Heir Potter. We were told you only started end of this summer with training?"
"Yes, some people kept calling me Heir Potter and I asked, what that was about. I am sorry, all of you, that until now I didn't adhere to our world's social conventions."
Most of the Slytherins nodded.
Daphne Greengrass said, "Please excuse the distracted ones, they had news today."
"Certainly. I am not sure how to ask, but Professor Snape wasn't at breakfast... "
"We do not know the answer to that question."
Just then, the door to the Potions classroom opened and they moved inside. There stood Professor Snape, like he always did. But he looked different somehow. Outwardly he was the same. Tall, black-clothed, sallow skin and greasy hair. But the sneer was missing and somehow, he just didn't look as angry as he did before.
"Please take a seat," he said, with his deep, velvet voice.
"The students complied immediately, and they experienced the best lesson, they had ever gotten from the Potions Master. He talked to them about the potion they would be brewing, a short history of its inventions, and then went into the details of the recipe and what to watch out for, and common mistakes. He went into the ingredients and asked some questions about plant-based ones, that Neville couldn't not want to answer. And when the answers were correct, Neville got points! He nearly fainted. And only after all of that, they were allowed to brew the potions, and it went so well! All of them managed at least an A. Even Crabbe and Goyle, regardless of their distraction.
They left the classroom feeling like they were walking on air. It had been so amazing. Harry had even dared to ask a question about stirring anti-clockwise and the professor had said, it was a good question and had answered it!
"That was surreal," Harry said wonderingly.
"Yes! But so great!" Hermione said dreamily.
Falling asleep hadn't been hard in History class that day, at all.
Remus
Lunch at least was uneventful. The students shared the news, about the events they could glimpse since the morning. Someone had seen Ron Weasley being marched off by his loudly scolding mum.
Someone else had seen the headmaster trying to sneak out of the Hospital Wing, but easily being caught by a huffing Madam Pomfrey. Why he was there was everyone's guess. And they did. Guess, that is.
Many had seen goblins, inspecting the most curious places and the 6th-years reported, that the Defense classroom had been closed and was being examined extra carefully. McGonagall had told the school, that all defense classes would be canceled until further notice and that Remus Lupin would teach them some Fighting The Dark Arts in the room on the fourth floor, next to the armor that burned pink bubbles. (She then had to assure the lower years, that the armor hadn't eaten Madam Umbridge, much to the hilarity of the rest of the students.)
"So different name for the class and a different room. Good idea, so if the curse targets the defense post specifically or attacks the teacher in that room," Hermione nodded. "I wonder why no one thought of that before!"
"Because it would be logical?" Harry mused.
Hermione sniggered and said, "Let's go up to the new room."
Harry nodded and soon they looked into the classroom, where Remus was sitting at a desk, looking through papers, looking a little stressed.
"Hey, Professor Lupin! Good to see you!" Harry said excitedly.
"Harry, Hermione. Good to see you too! I am a little overwhelmed by organizing impromptu classes just now."
"Why not make it a practical class and teach us the first spell, we should learn in 5th year. It's just the second week and Umbridge didn't teach us anything. Hell, you could just start with the first lesson you did for the 5th-years, two years ago."
"You are right Harry; I am making this much more complicated than necessary. Thanks!"
Remus relaxed and grinned tiredly at the two, "Where is the third of your trio?"
"Oh, suspended. He was being an arse."
"Language Harry!" Hermione called out appalled.
"Am I wrong?"
"Uh, no."
"It's a longer story than we have time for now. Him being a prefect did not do him any good and he called Hemione the 'm'-word this morning," explained.
"He didn't!"
"He sure did, perfectly timed, so everyone heard it in the Great Hall."
"Oh, dear."
"So, we are a duo now," Hermione added.
Remus wiggled his eyebrows, "Better not let Sirius hear that! The teasing would be relentless."
"Ugh."
Other students came into the classroom, and all took their places.
Remus was confused, that there seemed to be very little animosity between the Gryffs and Slyths. That was certainly new!
"Well, good afternoon, class! It is nice to see you again, after one and a half years. For your information, the last full moon was just 2 days ago and therefore the next one is at the beginning of October. Should I still be teaching then, I will leave the castle one day before and return one day afterward, to ensure nothing can happen."
"Why one day afterward too? You are not dangerous then, right?" Seamus called out.
"No, but the transformation is very painful, and I need time to recover from it."
"Oh, right, that's why you look so tired!"
Remus nodded smiling and said, "Now, please try to talk about 'Fighting the Dark Arts' class from now on. It may make a difference. So, let's jump right into it. This is your OWL-year after all."
And so, the much more palatable class went. The children were happy to have their best Defe- no Fighting teacher back. They had decided to ask the 7th-years for the book they used in their 5th and Owl-order new ones, if they could.
Remus taught the last class for today to the excited 1st-year students. They were very happy to not to have to sit around and read a boring book, which went mostly over their heads, but were playfully introduced to the art of dodging. Fun!
Afterward, Remus went to the staffroom got himself a nice cuppa, and sat down, sighting in relief.
He was handed a little pouch, smelling of sage by Pomona and was asked to wear it around his neck for the time being. She said, she was conducting an experiment and not to take it off, except when in the shower.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Severus of all people came up to him and said, "Could I talk to you privately for a second, Remus?"
Remus was taken aback. Severus spoke to him like he never did two years ago. Like a colleague. What was going on? He nodded and curiously went with Severus into a corner and Severus cast his amazing muffling spell, silently as always, and slouched into one of the stuffed chairs, which seemed to always be multiplying in the staffroom, and gestured for Remus, to take a seat as well.
"Well, can you tell me, why I need to wear a protection talisman against the mind arts?" He asked while sitting down on another comfortable chair.
Severus nodded and answered, "I knew you would know it for what it is. Yes, I will tell you, but please keep it quiet for the moment."
"All right," Remus was intrigued.
"So, Black told us at the last Order meeting, that someone had used an obscure Legilimency method on him very stealthily and to check our minds for tampering."
"Who? And why are you so amicable?"
"It is part of my story, let me tell it first, then ask your questions, please."
"Sorry, so Sirius suggested, you check yourself for tampering."
"Exactly. First, I huffed and felt it unnecessary, but that evening, I thought, better make sure."
Remus nodded.
"So, I went into my mindscape, and everything was normal, if not a bit unorganized. But Black had said, it had been his emotions, that were targeted, and I don't know how informed you are about the mind arts, but the emotions are located somewhere else than the mind. Though it's all in the non-physical body, mind you. So, I went to look at my emotional center and what I found was shocking. Someone had rearranged my emotions grotesquely. Three emotions were hugely overblown and towering in front of the rest. Hiding them effectively and keeping them corralled. Those emotions were hate, anger, and guilt. There is more to it, as it seems the perpetrator had time to actually differentiate and very precisely define who and what to hate and feel anger at and about."
Remus looked horrified, "Albus..."
"Yes. He is the one who did that. I am in the process of dismantling the forcibly overblown emotions and setting my emotional center back to rights, but it's a process, which will take me weeks. Apparently, the dismantling I already did is very notable. I only dismantled the easiest part in the last two evenings. About half of what was forced out and it makes a huge difference, apparently."
"You were quite angry as a teen, maybe you learned to manage to function, regardless?"
"Yes, that might be. Anyway, I do now realize, that my anger with you and hate of you was mostly unwarranted and I must beg your forgiveness for treating you so deplorably."
"Severus, no! You were quite warranted to be angry at me! But I forgive you if that's what you need! I am still so very sorry for what happened that night!"
Severus nodded, his stringy hair falling into his face. He then took a deep breath and went on, "The thing is, I was not the only one Albus molded into a grotesque caricature of themselves. I looked into the minds of four of our staff by now and only one was protected by an oath, the rest was messed with as well."
"Let me guess, Poppy was protected by her healer's oath."
"Yes. But she has been memory charmed more often than her documentation suggests."
"And Pomona handed out the pouches. So, Minerva probably but... hm, Filius is a half-goblin."
"You are on the right track. But you must know, that even if half-goblins, half-giants, and werewolves have protection against the mind arts, those do not include the emotional centers. So yes, Filius was the fourth."
"Shit."
"Indeed."
"Could you check me as well?"
"If you trust me, yes, I could. By now I am quite practiced." Severus right corner of his mouth twitched as if t tried out a smile. "Why don't you lean back and take off the pouch for a second? Best lay it on the table here. It only takes a minute. The others will just think we are staring at one another in a battle of wills."
Remus chuckled and cast a small ward, to keep people from interrupting and leaned back, looking at Severus, who went right to work.
After he left the man's mind again, he sat back again and said, "Yes. He got to you, too. Do you want to hear it?"
Remus nodded frowning and put on the pouch again.
"Your fear, your loyalty, and your submissiveness were highly increased. It looks like the last was nearly non-existent before. Like you might actually be an alpha. If so, your wolf must be at total war with you."
Remus shook with anger, "Can you take it down?" He was nearly in Severus' face, shouting.
Severus stayed calm, "No. But I know of someone who might be able to."
"Tell me!" Remus had a wild look on his face.
"I will. The goblins have a mind healer named Basilroot who works miracles. She had Filius right as rain in just one sitting. Minerva visits her with Pomona. This evening."
"No! Now!" Remus jumped up
"All right, let's go then. Come," Severus decided, to go along and nodded.
Remus grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the room, dispelling their privacy spells by tearing through them.
Severus had just the time to call out, "Basilroot!"
And off they were. Most of the staff present were confused and worried, but when Filius chuckled and said, "Don't worry. We heads know what they are doing," they relaxed.
