The next morning, everyone was able to return to their common rooms, including the Gryffindors, as Professor Dumbledore had acquired someone to take the Fat Lady's place until she was repaired. Dumbledore also announced that morning, that due to the circumstances of the previous night, that classes will start an hour later, thus pushing everything back an extra hour. Ron moaned about how they'll be doing school until five.

Everyone was whispering about Sirius Black in the castle, and everyone was also whispering about Grace. She felt everyone's eyes on her from the moment she woke up that morning. Harry and Ron glared at everyone who tried glanced her way, even Neville shot a few people a dirty look when he heard someone whisper Grace's name. The entire morning, she was attached they went to their common room, Grace attached herself to Hermione as they made their way up to their dorm to get ready for the day.

Their first class of day was Defense Against the Dark Arts, and as they made their way to the classroom, she found herself attached to Harry. She looped her arm with his and clung to him, he didn't seem to mind and she was grateful. She didn't know why, but something about Harry seemed to calm her nerves. When they entered the classroom, she sat next to him and pulled out her book. She wondered which teacher was going to step in for Remus this morning.

"Turn to page 394," Professor Snape ordered as the classroom door banged open. Grace jumped and turned to see their potions Professor walk between the desks, and all the shudders to the windows closed at a flick of his wand.

"Excuse me, sir, but... where's Professor Lupin?" Harry asked. Snape waved his wand and all the candles blew out. He pulled something down from the ceiling and glared once he turned around.

"That's not really your concern, is it Potter? Suffice it to say, your Professor finds himself incapable of teaching at the present time," He sneered, his dark eyes flickering to Grace, who sunk into her seat. "Page 394," he ordered again as he tapped the projector that was behind Harry and Grace. She frowned, as she opened her book and flipped the bottom of the pages to find the correct one.

"Werewolves?!" Ron asked confused, and Grace felt dread fill her. She opened her book to the .It was too early!

"But, sir, we've only just begun learning about Red Caps and Hinkypunks. We're not meant to start nocturnal beasts for weeks –" Hermione started. Grace looked up and stared at Hermione with wide eyes, wondering when and where she came in.

"Quiet," Snape ordered, glaring at Hermione, then his eyes went to Grace, who was glaring up at him.

"When did she come in? Did youseeher come in?" Ron whispered, turning to look at Harry and Grace, but he frowned when he saw the dark look on Grace's face. "Gracie?" He whispered, but Grace ignored him. She continued glaring murderously at Snape. She wasfurious. How dare Snape waltz in as if he were the teacher of this subject, and go against Remus' curriculum!

"Now, which of you can tell me the difference between an Animagus and a werewolf?" Snape asked, looking around the class. Hermione's hand went up, but Snape's eyes went past her and were solely on Grace. "Miss Black? Perhaps you can tell the class how toidentifya werewolf?" Everyone turned to look at her, including Hermione – who still had her hand raised. Grace ignored everyone and continued to glare at Snape. "Just because you were found at the disposal of the Dementors last night –" the majority of the class gasped, "Miss Black, does not excuse you from participating in class. Now, how do you identify a werewolf from a true wolf?" He asked again.

Grace's hands balled into a fist, she could feel her nails cut into the palms of her hands as she glared at Snape. "No," she said defiantly.

"No?" Snape sneered, and everyone in the class held their breath.

"No. I will not answer your question," she said sternly, shaking her head.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for blatant disobedience," Snape sneered.

"Please, sir," Hermione spoke up, "the werewolf differs from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf – "

"This is the second time you've spoken out of turn, Miss Granger. Tell me, are you incapable of restraining yourself? Or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?" Snape asked. "Five points from Gryffindor – Miss Black, sitdown," Snape ordered as Grace stood up from her seat with her bag and book in her arms.

"No," she glared. Everyone went still as they watched nervously, their eyes flickering between Snape and Grace.

"Sit down,now–"

"No," She said again. "You are blatantlydisrespectingProfessor Lupin andhiscurriculum!"

"Another ten points from Gryffindor," Snape glared furiously, but Grace didn't back down. "Now,sit down!"

"No!"

"Sit down now, or we'll have a lesson with the Dementors," He threatened darkly, and a shiver went up Grace's spine, but she held her ground. "As Professor Lupin is ill, he won't come when you end up screaming for him again." The class started whispering quietly, but Harry and Ron looked at Grace with concern. Grace glared at Snape, before turning around. "Twenty points from Gryffindor, and detention Miss Black – " Snape snapped, but Grace ignored him as she stormed out of the classroom.

Grace stormed through the castle corridors furiously. She needed to get out of the castle, she needed fresh air before she suffocated. Her legs were burning by the time she reached her favorite spot, the same spot she was at the previous night. It was a tree by the Black Lake. There was a spot that when she sat, was perfect to lean against. She threw her bag and books onto the ground and sat against the tree, bringing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them before burying her face. Then she started crying.

Minutes later, she felt something warm and soft nudge against her, and then there was a familiar, quiet whine. She sniffled and looked up to see Snuffles looking at her sadly. He lifted a paw, and pawed her arm gently, silently asking her what was wrong. Her lips trembled as she looked at him and she blinked away the tears again. Snuffles whined and moved closer, licking the tears from her cheek.

"I hate him," she whispered, wrapping her arms around the dog, burying her face into his fur. "Snape is so cruel," A low growl rumbled from Snuffles' throat. "He-he was trying to out Remus' secret," she started. "He-he skipped to-to werewolves, we're not supposed to learn them until before Easter. But he skipped to them anyway, hoping someone would notice that-that...and tell, forcing Remus to get fired – then he-he tried to force me to explain the signs of a werewolf and-and he's so cruel! I hate him!" she cried.

Snuffles whined as Grace cried into his fur. She sniffled as she pulled away and when she went to wipe her tears, Snuffles started licking her cheeks. She smiled weakly at the dog. "You're far to intelligent to be anormaldog," she stated. "Are you a magical dog?" she asked, and Snuffle's ears perked, and he tilted his head to the side as his tail started wagging. "You are, aren't you?" his mouth parted and he smiled up at her. "I know this might sound silly... but do magical dogs talk?" she asked. Snuffles blinked at her, tilting his head the other way as his ears went back. "I thought so," she sighed and leaned back into the tree.

"Did you see anyone out here last night, Snuffles?" she asked and his ears moved again as he stared at her. "I heard someone last night... he... I think he tried to help me," she continued and Snuffles ears perked up. "I think... I think it was Sirius Black," she added quietly. "He-he's a murderer who escaped from Azkaban over the summer," Snuffles made a sound, it was between a huff and a whine. "He broke into school last night, tried to get into the Gryffindor Common room, that's my house," she said, pointing to the crest on her robes. "Everyone thinks he was after Harry," Snuffles sat straighter. "But... I don't know," she confessed, and Snuffles tilted his head.

"It's strange, though, isn't it?" She started again. "Harry was told that Sirius Black wanted to kill him and if that's true, then why did he wait until the feast to break in to get to Harry?" she continued. "If he's so dangerous and terrifying... why did he tell me to get to the castle? If it was him that is..." she sighed, and looked at Snuffles, who was giving her a curious look. "I'm thinking out loud, Snuffles... I know you can't talk, I wish you could though."

Snuffles barked and smiled at her, making her smile.