AN

I don't need to issue a warning for the Boggart, who would have thought?

JKRs full moons are not accurate, as so many other dates… Sigh … So I took the liberty of shuffling some events around. The Slytherins have a different schedule, anyway, but the whole of November didn't really work with the irl full moons. But that's next chapter and the one after that.

September to October 1993, 3rd year

"Good morning," Professor Lupin said, smiling at them. "I am sure you have already heard tales from the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws I have had the pleasure to teach yesterday."

They had. Albeit through Pansy and not directly from the other students' mouths.

"Can anyone tell me what a Boggart is?" Professor Lupin asked the class.

Theodore raised his hand. "A creature that can take any shape. They like dark and tiny spaces and usually take the shape of whatever they think their opponent fears most."

"That is correct, one point to Slytherin," Professor Lupin said. "Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when it is alone, but many believe that it has no true form. I have had the luck to find no less than two Boggarts in this castle and both of the third-year classes I had yesterday had the pleasure to face off against one each. Since both the Gryffindors and the Ravenclaws finished their Boggarts off, I unfortunately cannot make this a practical lesson for you, nor the Hufflepuffs, it appears. But I am sure another one will turn up eventually and then we can make good on that, alright?"

Lynea heaved a sigh of relief. She was not the only one. She was fairly certain that most of her fellow Slytherins were secretly relieved. Who would want to face their worst fear, anyway? In front of the whole class at that.

Normal thirteen-year-olds feared spiders and clowns and creepy dolls. But among the Slytherins you had people who were deeply afraid of their parents or the dark or Death, Himself. There was only so much one could do about that with a Ridikkulus.

Even without the practical application, they could immediately tell that Professor Lupin was indeed a competent teacher. He appeared to be in no way inferior to his much more experienced and capable colleagues. He may have not looked the part with his shabby clothes and his tatty old briefcase, but what he lacked in polished appearance, he made up for with his knowledge.

They finally had found a good teacher. Too bad it wouldn't last more than a year thanks to the jinx.

The whole school seemed to agree and Defence Against the Dark Arts quickly became one of the most favoured subjects at Hogwarts. Only one person was not happy with that, one Professor Snape. There had already been some animosity between the two professors even before lessons had officially begun and the situation didn't improve when the story about the third-year Gryffindors' first lesson made the rounds.

Neville's greatest fear, it turned out, was none other than Professor Snape. And Neville's Ridikkulus, it turned out, had dressed the Snape-shaped Boggart in his grandmother's clothes. It didn't even matter anymore if Lynea did her best to prepare Neville for potions, it didn't matter whether he did well or messed up – Snape had it out for him, poor Neville, and there was nothing they could do about it.

Lynea respected Professor Snape on most days, especially as the Head of House Slytherin, but his behaviour towards Neville was truly unacceptable. Yet she could only pick up the pieces afterwards and try to encourage Neville not to lose all hope.

Just as Neville dreaded Potions these days, Harry had begun to dread Divination. And in both cases, it was the teacher's fault. Even the Mabon celebrations couldn't fully cheer them up. At least Harry eventually got Quidditch training to keep himself – and Draco – happily distracted.

"We start training this weekend," Harry said cheerfully on their way to Defence on the first day of October. "I missed flying so much!"

"Were you not allowed to fly at home?" Draco asked, taking Harry off-guard.

"Er –" he said, looking at Lynea with insecurity shining in his eyes.

"You never asked," Lynea said nonplussed.

Harry ducked his head. "I think it just never occurred to me that I might be allowed to, now."

Draco raised his eyebrows at Lynea, who shook her head slightly. This was something Harry hat yet to learn – that he was allowed to do things now, that he could just ask. Lynea certainly wouldn't do it for him.

"Next summer, then," she said and patted Harry on the shoulder, which seemed to cheer him up again.

He instantly deflated again when they entered their classroom and saw Professor Snape at the front, where there should have been Lupin. Harry abruptly stopped and went for the row in the back instead of the one they usually sat in, which was more to the front, nearer to where Professor Snape stood.

"Professor Lupin has taken ill," Snape explained to his patiently waiting Slytherins. "He has neglected to leave any records of the topics you have covered so far and I have therefore decided to choose one, myself."

Daphne raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Greengrass?"

"Professor Lupin has taught us about Boggarts and Red Caps so far. We have just started with Kappas, sir."

Professor Snape stared at her for a moment. "Very well. Thank you, Miss Greengrass. However, as I have already prepared this lesson beforehand, we shall pause your lessons on Kappas for today and instead turn to another type of creature – Werewolves. Please turn to page three hundred and ninety-four."

The Slytherins obediently grabbed their books and opened them.

"Now, which one of you can tell me how to distinguish between a Werewolf and a true wolf?"

Theodore raised his hand. As did Gregory. The others all turned in their seats to stare at him, but Gregory only smiled sheepishly at them.

Snape raised an eyebrow, but his voice betrayed nothing. "Mister Goyle?"

"Well, Werewolves only appear in wolf form on full moons, don't they?"

Lynea furrowed her brows and leaned over to Theodore. "Wasn't there a full moon just yesterday?"

Theodore nodded and his eyes widened.

"That is correct," Snape said mildly.

"And they look different," Gregory continued. "They have shorter snouts and their eyes look more like humans, less like predatory animals."

"Five points to Slytherin," Snape said. "In addition to what Mister Goyle has just told us, a werewolf also behaves differently. No true wolf would mindlessly hunt humans under normal circumstances."

Their lesson went by smoothly enough, even though it was an odd one. Professor Snape was a good teacher (when he wasn't tormenting Neville), after all. Plus, he had wanted to become the Defence teacher for a while now, so it stood to reason that he must have been capable of teaching the subject.

It was odd, Professor Lupin had not appeared to be overly well the day before, but he had still taught his classes. A full moon and Professor Snape teaching them about Werewolves. A coincidence, most likely, but a remarkable one. And Lynea wouldn't put it past Professor Snape to disregard Lupin's class schedule just to spite the man and nothing more.

Professor Lupin returned for their next lesson and the oddity was soon forgotten. Especially when, a few weeks later, the first Hogsmeade weekend was announced on the notice board.

"On Samhain?" Lynea asked. "Why is it called a 'weekend' anyway, if it's really only a Sunday?"

"On Samhain," Draco confirmed. "And I suppose 'Hogsmeade weekend' sounds better than 'Hogsmeade Sunday'."

"Or 'Hogsmeade Saturday'," Pansy chimed in. "Sometimes they are on Saturdays."

"Hm …" Lynea shrugged and let it be.

"Do any of you know what the village is like?" Harry asked curiously.

Draco frowned. "You know, it just occurred to me that it would probably be better for you to stay at Hogwarts, Harry."

Harry blinked. "What?"

"Because of Black?" Lynea asked. "Do you think he might try to attack Harry in Hogsmeade?"

Draco nodded. "His chances would be much higher in the village than trying to get Harry while he's in the castle. He's recently been sighted not far from here, although it was a Muggle that saw him, so we can't be sure whether it was really him. By the time the Ministry got there, he was already gone. Bloody slow, those Muggles with their tell-fons."

"Telephones," Harry corrected automatically. "And we don't know for sure if he's after me."

"The Ministry certainly does," Lynea said. "And sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Do you really think he would attack me in broad daylight in the middle of a village full of wizards?"

"They say he's mad," Draco pointed out. "And a madman doesn't care about anything. We just want you to be safe, Harry."

"And I don't want to miss out on a magical village, because some escaped convict who may or may not be after me might possibly be in the vicinity."

"What about Harry's cloak?" Trace asked suddenly. "The Invisibility Cloak. Do you still have it?"

Harry blinked. "Oh. Yeah, I – I honestly forgot all about it." He turned to Draco and Lynea. "Would that put your minds at ease? If I took the cloak with me?"

Draco sighed. "You won't be deterred, will you?"

Harry grinned cheekily at them.

Draco's eyes locked with Lynea's, who shrugged. "Better than nothing."

o

"What has you looking so upset, Hermione?" Harry asked.

Hermione had showed up late to their meeting in the library, looking frazzled, her hair being even more unruly than it usually was.

"Oh, it's just Weasley, don't worry about it."

Harry frowned. "What has he done now?"

"Ah," Neville said. "Is he still mad at you because of his rat?" He turned to Lynea and Harry. "Hermione's cat somehow got into Gryffindor Tower and chased Ron's rat through the whole common room."

Blaise snorted, not raising his head from his notes.

"Yes," Hermione said with a huff and finally sat down. "I told him I didn't know how Crookshanks did it. What is he angry at me for, anyway? Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong, all cats chase rats."

Lynea thought of her own cat, Choco, who preferred to just laze around all day. But maybe that was just her old age – she was nearing sixteen years already, after all.

Lynea frowned. "Rats are not on the list of allowed pets. How did Weasley get his approved? Or maybe he didn't … He wouldn't be able to go to a teacher in that case and since it is more than likely that he never got his rat approved, I don't think you will have to worry about that, Hermione."

"Apart from his incessant screeching," Hermione huffed.

"I thought you wanted to buy an owl?" Harry asked.

Hermione shrugged. "The witch from the Magical Menagerie said he had been there for ages, no one wanted him. But I thought he was gorgeous – he is gorgeous. I couldn't just leave him there."

Harry grinned. "And here I thought you wanted a 'useful' pet."

Hermione shrugged again and smiled. "I think I am starting to see what you meant when you said pets were more than 'just useful', that they were companions."

"I told you cats were adorable," Lynea said.

"I am starting to think so as well," Hermione said with a nod. "On an unrelated note, though – would you guys terribly mind if I brought someone else along to our study sessions? There's a girl in my house that I think is in terrible need of tutoring. She is one year younger than us."

Lynea raised her eyebrows at that. "Did you ask her whether she wants to join us?"

"No," Hermione said carefully, "but I will, should I get your approval." From the look on her face, she hadn't even considered asking the girl before Lynea had brought it up.

"What's her name?" Blaise asked.

"Luna Lovegood."

"Lovegood?" Blaise tilted his head and Lynea knew he was riffling through his memory to determine their blood status. "Lovegood, Lovegood … Ohhhh, that's going to be interesting." At the inquiring looks from the others, he added, "The Lovegoods are known to be … a bit eccentric, you could say. Quite the unusual family. Xenophilius Lovegood is the publisher of The Quibbler."

A knowing look passed over everyone's face with the exception of Harry.

"That's why I want her to join us," Hermione said. "The poor girl is so caught up in her delusions that she doesn't even realize it is causing the others to bully her."

Lynea blinked at that. "I'm sorry, what?" Had Hermione just said the girl was delusional?

"She is being bullied?" Harry asked with a clenched jaw.

Hermione nodded.

"Then we will gladly take her under our wing."

"If she is willing," Lynea said, "to join us and to actually learn." She turned to Hermione. "And you should not call someone delusional just because they believe in things that you think aren't real."

The other girl's cheeks darkened. "That's – How do you even know that? And they are not real, I will tell you."

"I know who the Lovegoods are," Lynea said. "And I have actually met Luna before. Twice, if I remember correctly. She seemed like a bright girl."

"I thought her stories were fascinating," Harry said.

Hermione snorted. "Because you believe everything as long as it sounds magical."

"You believe in magic, Mione," Harry said. "Are – how did she call them? – 'Wrackspurts' so unbelievable when there is magic?"

Hermione spluttered a few words, but had no proper counter argument to that.

"Just ask her and bring her to our next session," Lynea said. "If she wants to come. Now, Professor Snape kindly provided me with his lesson plan, so today we're going through Confusion Concoctions. This will become important later for our O.W.L. year when we will be learning to brew Befuddlement Draughts, which are quite similar but more delicate in their brewing process."

"Because their effects are more delicate and precise," Neville said, "right?"

Lynea nodded. "That is correct. With Confusion Concoctions we merely want a general 'confusion effect' – confusion, disorientation, the inability to think clearly, jumbled and muddled thoughts, et cetera. Befuddlement Draughts do also cause confusion, but their effects are more precise, more specialized. The most general brew will rob the drinker of the ability to think clearly, another will cause belligerency and recklessness."

Lynea paused to look around at the others. "Who can tell me the basic ingredients of these potions?"

Hermione bit her lip to prevent herself from blurting out the answer.

"Uhm, maybe Sneezewort?" Harry asked. "I know it can induce brain inflammation if grown correctly. And then something to mitigate long-term side effects."

Lynea nodded. "What would go well with Sneezewort? Think about the interactions between different properties of common magical plants."

Harry furrowed his brows and then shook his head. "Neville?"

"Dittany?" Neville mused. "No, I don't think it would be able to perfectly balance out the Sneezewort. Dittany is more useful for external wounds than internal inflammation … Scurvy grass? But that one has diuretic and laxative effects."

"Which can be countered with Lovage," Hermione said.

"And Lovage harmonises with both Sneezewort and Scurvy grass," Lynea said and continued quizzing Daphne about the right temperatures to extract the active agents of each plant and Blaise about probable stirring and simmering to balance out their individual energies.

They would go through most of those topics again the next day, but the other Slytherins were content to use the extra notes Neville wrote down (using his prettiest handwriting) and ask the others for clarification when needed, so they could use the time doing homework or their own research.

It was a bit inconvenient to have two separate groups just because Hermione was muggleborn and certain parents did not look kindly upon that, but they made do. And if Hermione provided her group with more additional information than Neville wrote down or Lynea relayed to the others, then that was their problem, not hers. Lynea also had to admit that smaller groups were indefinitely easier to handle than one big one where everyone wanted to get a chance to speak.

"Same time next week?" Hermione asked when they were finished for the day.

"No can do," Lynea said. "Because Sunday is Samhain and the day of our first Hogsmeade visit, the others wanted to put their session to Saturday."

"And Slytherins take precedence," Hermione said in understanding.

"We don't mind sacrificing our afternoon," Harry said.

"No, you don't need to trouble yourself for us" Hermione said. "I think Neville and I will manage on our own." She looked at said boy, who nodded in affirmation. "And I will ask Luna whether she wants to join us for the Sunday after Halloween."

"Alright," Lynea said. "See you in two weeks, then."