Jennifer idly doodled on one of her parchments, drawing a little dragon and random patterns. Next to her Fred and George Weasley were playing exploding snap under the table. Some students were reading magazines on their knees and Jennifer was pretty sure that at least six people were asleep. There were still forty-five minutes to go on but it felt like they had been here already at a time when Dumbledore had been her age and more. Binns was droning on and on about some Giant War, not that anyone cared about it. From the bits and pieces she had cared to listen in to, she knew that a Giant King started the war by sitting on a noble Lord and then she had lost interest again. Jennifer stopped doodling and her eyes followed specks of dust, dancing in the air illuminated by the ray of sunlight from the window. How nice it would be outside right now. The sun was shining and while it neared the end of September, it was still warm. Probably one of the last warm days of the year. Maybe she and her friends could use this afternoon to go down to the lake and bath a little in the sun. That would be nice, Jennifer thought, while looking at her tan arms. She had been in Spain this summer and quite a lot of sun had gazed her skin. She missed the warmth. And she missed that cute Spanish guy she met, Iosu. Wide arms, ripped abs and warm brown eyes to die for. They had met on the beach the second day she had been there and he had been so wonderful. They talked all day and in the evening she had sneaked out of the small flat they rented for the summer to meet him. They had walked along the beach in the moonlight and he was such a romantic. He had kissed her so sweet Jennifer thought she would die at that moment and was okay with it. This is the way they continued. At first they met at the beach and at night she snuck out and they met again. She blushed a little thinking about what they did only a week after they met. Iosu had brought a blanket and they were lying under the stars, kissing when his hand had wandered a little. She hadn't stopped him. Even though she knew it wouldn't last, it was a summer fling with a muggle boy, she had still slept with him. Jennifer wanted to live her life to the fullest and there wasn't a much better was of having fun than sleeping with a very handsome guy under the starlight. Okay, she might have been okay without the sand, she thought a little grumpy. It had made the end of the whole thing a little...scratchy. Yet it was nice and it wasn't like she had given him her virginity she thought, drilling her gaze into the back of Cormac's head, two rows ahead. How could she have thought he was the one? They had dated two months and two weeks before summer holidays, she had found herself in the broom closet with him, heated kisses and inexperienced fumbling. About four minutes later it had been over and she had felt a little underwhelmed. This had been sex? She had thought there was more to it. The bad part had been when after that Cormac had just dumped her. He hadn't explained just said it was over. Jennifer had been heartbroken. She had cried for days, trying to talk to Cormac but he just ignored her, getting annoyed when she came close. Her best friend Amy had tried helping her. She held her in the evening when Jennifer had cried, she had whispered to her sweet nonsense about the future and her finding someone better.

Jennifer hadn't believed her. Not until they rode home in the Express. She had walked down the cart because she wanted to go to the bathroom when she came upon the compartment where Cormac was. But he wasn't alone, no he was snogging some Hufflepuff bimbo. Jennifer had felt her eyes burn and she had fled the corridor, almost throwing some Ravenclaw girls to the floor and hadn't left the compartment she shared with Amy and her friends for the rest of the ride, crying her eyes out about this stupid asshole. How could he do that to her? He had said he loved her, had said he would be with her and she had given him everything only for him to step on it. She had cried even more than before and her parents had been at a loss. She had been sad for the whole first two weeks, almost not eating and only grumbling packing her luggage for Spain. But that sadness had turned. Iosu, even though she knew he had just been a fun thing, had shown her that Cormac wasn't her world. He wasn't the one and the only thing he would get from her would be a life of pain. Hence her place of sitting in this class at the place she was sitting. Now seemed a good time. She ripped a piece from her parchment, scribbling something on it and handed it over to Fred next to her.

Are you guys for hire?

Fred turned his head for a moment, blinking at her with a surprised look. Jennifer still stared upfront, like she really listened to Binns talks about the giants march to the south. Fred and George whispered for a few moments next to her, before she heard frantic scribble and a piece of parchment sliding over a table.

Who, why and how much?

For a moment Jennifer contemplated how much she would tell them and decided to go with brief honesty.

Cormac, he broke my heart and played with me. How much it would ever take for him to pay for that.

Again there was short whispering, then new scribbling and parchment sliding.

Done. No price needed, not with that reason.

Jennifer mouthed thanks at Fred and George and they nodded. Still, forty minutes left and Jennifer felt, she wouldn't make it this time. So she raised her hand. And waited. For about a minute. Binns kept droning and either ignored her or more likely wasn't even aware of the people who were in the room with him.

"Professor?" She asked with a raised voice, making the ghost raise his head from his notes for a moment. He blinked like an owl for a moment, stopping in the midst of his sentence. Usually, he wasn't interrupted, at least not in this class. There was this fourth-year girl with the bushy hair who tended to ask questions, but that was the only one.

"Yes, Miss Ports?" The monotone voice of their ghost professor had a tint of annoyance in it. Jennifer frowned a little.

"It's Parks, sir. I need to use the bathroom."

Again the ghost blinked at her like an owl and for a moment she wasn't sure if he even understood what she was saying. His body floated there then he nodded, turning his head back to the parchment in front of him. Jennifer rose from her seat.

"As you see King Ashbok thought tha..." Binns' voice trailed off and he called out. "Wait, Miss!" Jennifer turned, looking at the owling professor.

"You said your name was Parks?" He asked. Jennifer frowned nodding. "Yes Sir, Jennifer Parks."

Binns nodded, looking at her oddly. "Do you know if you are related to Lord Jonathan Parks the First?" He asked tilting his head. Jennifer was confused but shook her head.

"Not likely sir, my parents are muggles. It's more likely Lord Parks would have been related to Merlin than me." She said. He nodded absentminded and Jennifer was about to turn away when the professor froze. He wasn't moving at all, only his eyes darted back and forth and he had a very concentrated look on his face.

Professor Cuthbert Binns' mind was racing. He had long been fascinated with Merlin and the people surrounding him. In his life, that was the only thing that really was fascinating, except with the complex and really interesting history of giants and goblins. They were far more interesting than wizards and witches because you could just open a history book and read it. Goblins and Giants had no own written history so theirs was much more intriguing. He had tried to explain it to students but had given up at some point. Yet Merlin was special, so special that every self-respecting historian would be fascinated with him and all connected to him, like Lord Parks, one of Merlin's students. He had almost finished work about Parks back then before his change of...'lifestyle' but after that, he hadn't come around to it really. It had a piece missing and he hadn't thought about it in a long time. But what that unruly girl that interrupted his lecture had said rung a bell and he had felt this jolt through his...not body. Binns was thinking. If Lord Parks had been Merlins son, that would mean his actions would be in a totally different light. There were facts that could support this and...

"Professor are you all right?" A female voice next to him made Binns turn his head and he stared at the interrupting girl. The second time she interrupted now. He blinked at her, his mind still at his thoughts.

"Oh yes Miss Ports, oh yes, I just had this thought and I think it is..." Binns' voice trailed of making the girl look at her peers in a little worry.

Harry had Dawn perched on his knee, nuzzling her belly with his nose. She was cooing and chirping happily, fluttering her wings a little. Harry smiled and kept on playing. The small snake he took care of was curled around his neck, seeking warmth. He really needed a name for him. The snake wasn't really nice calling him since he understood Harry. Harry thought for a moment.

.: I would like to call you Gryf. Would that be okay for you? :. Harry asked. He thought it would be a wonderful joke to name a snake, the house animal of Slytherin after their biggest rivals. The small reptile raised his head staring at Harry for a moment, taking his smell with his tongue.

.:I like it.:. The snake hissed and Harry smiled. He raised his head and looked over when the portrait slid to the side and someone stepped in. But it wasn't Hermione or Ron, just Oliver with a stack of books in his arm. He nodded at the black-haired boy and Harry waved back before Oliver made his way to a corner. Gryf slightly changed his position, his head poking out of Harry's collar.

.:Why do you shake your front paw like that?:. The light hissing caused Dan to hop closer and look up at the snake in curious thought. Harry knew his familiar was curious about their newest addon and tried playing with him, but Gryf was mostly interested in sleeping and occasionally hissing at her. She had tugged his tail last evening and he hadn't liked it at all. He had tried to snap at the taller bird but he was to slow. Yet before she could start heckling him Harry had picked her up and explained that she shouldn't bully the infant snake. He understood Dawn only wanted to play but the newly named Gryf didn't seem to want to play really.

.: That way humans greet each other:. Harry hissed back, petting his dark feathered familiar. Dawn cooed and chirped, playing with his finger. Then again the portrait slide to the side and Hermione stepped in, a book in her arms and smiling when she saw him and Dawn. She quickly made her way over.

"Hey, Hermione." He smiled waving at her. Hermione slumped on the couch opposite of him, smiling herself.

"Hey there." She placed the book she was carrying on the table and then she raised an eyebrow.

"Uhm Harry, why is a snake waggling her tail at me?" She pointed at the boy's collar. Gryf had peeked his head out again and raised the end of his tail, waving at the bushy-haired girl. Harry laughed for a moment.

"Ah, this is Gryf. I found him hurt in the forest and Professor Scamander asked me to take care of him. I think he is trying to wave at you. Mind waving back?" He said with a little smirk on his face. Hermione blinked for a moment, then she raised her hand and waved a little awkward at the small snake. Gryf stopped waving, made a satisfied sound and then he returned under Harry's collar into the warmth of his clothes.

Hermione chuckled. "You turn into a living zoo Harry. Oh and hey there little one." Hermione finished when Dawn hopped over the table in her lap, obviously demanding attention, to which the girl happily complied. Dawn cooed and chirped, almost hugging her fingers with her black wings and nipping on Hermione's index finger. Her amber coloured eyes looked widely at the smiling girl before she rolled up in her lap and purred slightly falling asleep.

"Awww." Hermione was delighted and couldn't stop smiling. Harry felt content seeing how at ease his friend and his familiar were together. Hermione kept petting Dawn, her eyes totally focused on charcoal black feathers and a tiny almost golden beak. Harry waited for a little while then he asked.

"So, did you have a conversation with Professor Cambridge?"

Hermione looked up with an odd look then she nodded. "Yes. It was a little weird. He isn't all this vile pureblood supremacy spewing type like Malfoy, but he doesn't seem to see anything wrong with the current state of affairs. I asked him about the separation of power again and he just waved it off with the statement that it worked for something like muggles but not for the wizarding world. While he did seem to take me seriously he wasn't moved by anything I said. He was so sure the wizarding world was right in what they did." Harry frowned shifting a little. Hermione wasn't someone who liked when her ideas were waved of or downright ignored. On the other hand, she had the tendency of thinking she knew best in everything and would get unreasonably mad when someone didn't agree with her assessment of a situation. But he could not really answer.

Once more, the portrait opened this time Ron got in. He hurried over, his robes a little ruffled and his book bag in his hand. He scanned the room and quickly made his way over, his robes billowing behind him.

"You guys." He called out when he flopped down on the couch next to Hermione. The shaking woke a little Phoenix and she made clear that she didn't like it by chirping angrily around. Ron stopped for a brief moment.

"Sorry Dawn." He mumbled still shaken. Harry tilted his head and frowned at his best mate.

"What's wrong Ron? How was muggle studies?" He asked, embracing a grumpy Dawn. Being woken from what Harry had felt had been a happy dream she was grumpy and now demanded cuddles by her soulmate. Harry was very well on board with cuddling and nuzzling his beloved feather ball. Dawn nipped on his nose and cooed at him, making him chuckle.

Ron shrugged while taking off his robes. "It was good I guess, I mean, Malfoy tried to get himself out of it but the Professor had none of it. That was hilarious, you should have seen his face for the rest of the class. Also, the professor is pretty cool actually, really calm guy, I like him." Hermione nodded in agreement, she had met the muggle studies professor last year. Harry nodded, smiling.

"Cool. And why are you looking like Peeves has stolen your underwear?"

Ron's eyes widened a little and he shook his head chuckling himself.

"First of mate, don't jinx it all right? Second, I don't know he told us a few things that just didn't seem right, like how many muggles there are. He said about 8 billion."

Hermione and Harry exchanged a gaze but nodded both. "That sounds about right." Ron paled a little bit, then he asked another question.

"Also he said some strongarm guy flew to the moon? With fireworks?" He said, snorting like that was really a stupid idea. Hermione nodded.

"Yes, Neil Armstrong. He flew to the moon in 1969. There are a few people who believe it was all fake and didn't happen, but these people probably would read the Quibbler. It is pretty certain he was up there since the Russians said nothing about it." Hermione finished. Ron stared at her.

"So it is true? And why the Russians? I thought he was American." Ron asked dead confused now. Hermione nodded, while Harry concentrated on Dawn, knowing a lecture was coming. Hermione raised her chin.

"Well, after the second world war America and the USSR, that was Russia at that time, didn't like each other much. Both wanted to show that they were stronger than the other, in the military, in society and in science. They couldn't fight each other because they were both nuclear superpowers so they engaged in something called the cold war. Each had the power to destroy the other but couldn't stop the counterattack, so neither could attack the other without being destroyed themselves. A little bit like Slytherin and Gryffindor never act out too much, to avoid mutual expulsion. Anyways, one of the 'contests' was the so-called space race. Russia brought the first person into space but America countered by getting the first person on the moon. Since the tension was so high between both factions it is utterly impossible that the Russians didn't observe the entire thing closely. Since they never said America faked it, even though they would have loved to catch the USA red-handed, it is only logical that it really happened. Like...uhm, like Slytherin would love to accuse Harry he didn't really catch the snitch in Quidditch but wouldn't do it because he did and they would look stupid doing so."

Ron stared at Hermione for a moment before he slowly nodded. "That makes sense." Hermione looked a little surprised. She would have thought that he would argue or say he didn't understand. Ron wasn't the most adept and intelligent of boys, even though he was a good and loyal friend. But that he understood so easily? Maybe she should start more often explaining things with Quidditch that seemed like it helped.

"What is a nukula Superpower?" The redhead asked when the portrait slid to the side a third time. Before someone could say anything Fred and George hurried into the room.

"Binns is gone!" They called out. The golden trio turned their head, looking at them surprised.

"Binns is gone? What do you mean he is gone?" Hermione asked with a frown. Fred and George made their way over, smugly swaying.

"Well, you see, dear Miss Granger.."

"When we were in class today, minding our own."

"Business, one of our peers, Jennifer Parks asked to go where even ladies go alone."

"Or not, anyway, she had a short conversation with Binns, then he froze like."

"Ronninski when he sees a spider."

"Oi!" Ron called out only being shooshed by Harry and Hermione.

"And then he whispered something like"

"I never saw it like that, and he just poff."

"Gone, like fog in the sun."

"Poor Jenny was dead confused. She is with Dumbledore at the moment, probably telling him what is going on."

Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other, surprise in their minds. Fred and George leaned closer grinning at the bushy-haired girl.

"Granger, you probably have sooooome kind of idea, what is going on don't you think?" Hermione frowned at their question and chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, while all the boys waited for her to speak.

"I do remember reading that while most Ghosts decide to stay here, some of them stay because they have this deep feeling of connection to this world, like unfinished business. They don't stay forever, but instead until they fulfil that business. Maybe Binns was like that. Of course, I have to go to the library to confirm anything." She said with a little shrug. Harry nodded, his fingers slowly ruffling through warm dark feathers, feeling a sleeping purr against his chest. Fred and George stood straight again, nodding.

"You do you, Granger." Then they both looked through the room, before turning back.

"Anyways, we will be off, we need to find McLaggen. If you see him, let us know." Fred said, winking at them. With that, they basically vanished. Ron turned to Harry.

"With Binns gone, who will teach History? Do you think they will just drop it for this year?" There was hope in Ron's voice, but Harry thought it was misplaced. There would be someone. Normally their teachers vanished at the end of the school year, not after only half a month. They would replace him.

Bella skipped down the path through the woods, humming to herself, while her wand was swirling between her fingers. She had finally gotten out of these ugly rags from prison wearing proper clothes, becoming of a mother. It would have been a disaster if little cute Nev had seen her in these awful clothes. What would he think of his mother? It wouldn't do. At least Lucy had been good for one thing. Her long black dress matched her hair. Or at least the way her hair had been before Azkaban. Now it was all grey and stained. She was taking nutrition potions and hoped it would turn back. She had to be perfect when she finally FINALLY got her little Nev. Nev would want a pretty mommy, a mommy that loved him and cared for him! A caring mommy always knew a new lullaby. She would think of a new one, that would probably do. She had created quite a few toys back at Malfoy Manor. A huge stuffed snake, because of course her lovely Nev would be in nothing less than Slytherin. Then there was his new mobile made up of hanged muggles and dark marks, spinning slowly in a circle. She had contemplated a stuffed version of the dark lord, but she felt it wouldn't be appropriate. Yet the thought of her lovely Nev sleeping, hugging his Dark Lord plushy made her heart swell and lit her loins on fire. He was such a sweet sweet boy, mommy will show him only love, all the different forms of love. She would hold her boy, feed him, help him burp and tuck him in bed. He would be a good boy and he would love her so much as she loved him. He would sit on her lap when she sat to the Dark Lords right and her Master would be so proud of her for being a good mother and a strong servant. She would show that at least she wasn't worthless. Bella frowned a little. Lucy that stupid idiot. Not only did he deny their Master, saying he was controlled no he even let Cissy run away. That idiot deserved that she had put that tiny, tiny torture hex on him, making him bleed from the eyes. How could one not control her damn little sister, it wasn't that hard. Cissy had always been weak and a sniffling child. Bella had tried her best hardening her for the world, so she wasn't a coward, but she had only cried and hidden behind their father or their blood traitor cousin. When she had come to Hogwarts, Bellatrix had been so glad, seeing his baby sister to finally grow up. She had done so well, securing House Malfoy for their family, had gotten to be such a good girl. It had been perfect. Or at least almost. Bella shivered when she thought of that day when her blood traitor sister Andromeda had neglected her duty to their family and ran away with that disgusting mudblood. The engagement contract with family Lestrange had fallen onto Bella instead and she had hated it. Lestrange was a brute and a dimwit. He thought with his cock and nothing more. That first night, when he had stumbled drunk towards the bed, Bella still got a wolfish grin thinking about his wide eyes, when she had cast Cruciatus on him, showing him quite clearly who was in control in this marriage. Oh, his eyes had been so wonderful at that moment, the only time he had been something only slightly resembling beautiful. He had tried from time to time again to touch her, but she had been clever and way stronger than him. After a while he stopped it, sulking and going to Knockturn Alley to visit one of the whore houses there.

Of course, Bella had to make sure that no one asked stupid questions. She had quickly spread the rumour that her husband couldn't perform in bed and that they had tried numerous times without any success. With a quick spell one night she had made sure that the rumour was closer to the truth anyway. She had contemplated to just cut him and be done with it, but instead, she had a more viable plan. Using a curse from the depths of the Black Library, she had changed him, so he could only perform on muggle women. He wasn't strong-minded or noble or anything that the noble houses would stand for and therefore he had no right to get pureblood heirs.

After that, her husband had used the raids to get his own 'entertainment' as he had called it. Not that she cared. He could have his fun with a few low life whores and what he caught, as long as he understood, that she picked her prizes first and wouldn't share. Torturing muggles was such fun, they were so utterly helpless and yet each of them cried and begged and pleaded like they could change her mind. Her mind was set on the wishes of only one man, this one man, to whom no one could hold a candle. This one who would rise the purebloods and wash away all the filth. Him and her wonderful beautiful Nev. And she would be at his side, being his queen and Nev would sit on her lap. Soon, very soon. And to hell with anyone who tried to stop her. With that angry thought, she exploded a boulder nearby.

Fenrir followed a little behind Bellatrix, his mind is in a far more controlled manner. His eyes were on her back and he calculated. Bellatrix Lestrange was like a fire. Destructive and useful to smoke out the prey, but difficult to control and it needed control or it would burn you. She had a feral mind and while Greyback appreciated her wildness, he hated her for her lack of control. A true hunter was in control of himself, ready to strike when the moment was right. Bellatrix was like a bloodhungry hound, not a patient hunter. Fenrir knew this partnership had an expiring date, one reason she was the one walking ahead. No one knew what was going on in her insane head. He wasn't stupid enough to think she wouldn't shoot him in the back. She was a loose wand and he needed to be careful. But a wand none the less and he had a plan. Now that they had Malfoy between their jaws, they could finally use the floos. The plan was simple. They would raise a little hell down south for a time, until the stupid Aurors were chasing them down here, pulling away forces from the north. When the time was right they would floo north and enter Hogwarts through the forest. He would let loose Bella somewhere in the castle, so she would draw the attention onto herself, while he would use the time to bite as many children as he could. That would bring the change. After that, he would abandon Bella, let Dumbledore eradicate her and be done with it. Simple but good plan.

Bella stopped in front of him, and Fenrir stepped next to her. In front of them was a tall wall of red bricks. Over the wall, both of them could see a manor. White stones and a dark roof. On the top was a statue. White marble showed a standing bear roaring out. Fenrir nodded to himself, concentrating on the wolf inside of himself. Quickly he felt the pain of the transformation get going. Werewolves transform at the full moon, what bullshit. Yeah, that was the time when they were forced to, losing all of their minds and turning into rabid dogs, but they could do it always, just most of them didn't want to, because they were weak and denounced their true heritage. He was a proud and strong wolf, he had strong ties to the tribes, he didn't try to hide. He was Alpha! The cracking of bones and the intense pain of the transformation filled Fenrir's mind and he felt his senses shift to more smell and sound-based focus. His jaw lengthened and he growled rumbly deep in his throat.

Bella next to him giggled, twirling her wand again. Then she pointed at the wall.

"Bombarda Maxima." She almost laughed. With a white flash, a large portion of the wall exploded inwards and crashed to the floor. Somewhere in the manor, a shrill sound was roaring. Raising her wand to the sky, Bella laughed loud.

"Morsmorde!" She called with such delight and a stream of green and shadow poured from her wand tip. The stream rose to the clouds on the night sky and formed with a boom a large skull between the coils of a snake. It was a genius invention of their Lord, of course, who else but the greatest Wizard of all time could create such a wonder of magic. Not only did the dark mark show that the servants of the true lord were here, doing their holy work in his crusade, no it also shut down all Portkeys and Floos in the area, making it almost impossible to flee. Bella hopped over the rubble on the floor still laughing and dancing, before she turned to Greyback, on her face a feral grin that showed she had her own inner animal.

"Ahhh, Longbottom Manor. Haven't been here in a while."