Reunions

REUNIONS - Part 1

By Crazy Taxi

Chapter 1

Harry sat in the Great Hall listening to the babble of voices around him. He caught snatches of conversation about the holidays and speculations about the coming year. Ron was teasing Hermione about her appointment as a prefect; Fred and George were whispering to each other, grinning like maniacs. It was good to be back.

The holidays had been the same as ever, just plain miserable. He'd had no chance to go stay with Ron or Hermione, Dumbledore wouldn't allow it, so he'd spent the time counting down the days. He'd thought a lot about the previous year, trying desperately to come to terms with Cedric's death and Voldemort's return, but hadn't had much success.

Harry looked up towards the head table to see the members of staff taking their seats in preparation for the sorting. Dumbledore was smiling, though Harry thought there was a hint of worry behind his eyes, Snape was scowling, so there was no change there, and that's when he noticed the new teacher. For a moment he thought he was imagining things, but no, it was definitely her.

"Bloody hell!"

"What's that?" Ron glanced over at Harry and then turned to look at whatever had caught his attention.

"The new teacher, she lives near Privet Drive."

"What? You mean she's a Muggle?"

"No Ron, she must be a witch."

The three friends looked at the elderly woman sitting next to Professor Flitwick. She was small, although she still dwarfed the tiny charms professor, and her grey hair was tied back into a bun. She looked at Harry and smiled. He smiled back weakly not knowing what else to do.

"Maybe she was working for Dumbledore? Looking after you," Hermione suggested.

"Maybe."

"I suppose we can probably trust her then," Ron added. "Makes a nice change."

They broke off their conversation as Dumbledore rose from his seat. He was just about to speak when the door behind the staff table opened. Several heads turned to see who it was. Harry didn't recognise her. In fact, she looked like a Muggle, dressed in jeans and a Michigan State sweatshirt.

She walked briskly behind Sinistra, Vector and Snape before talking privately to Dumbledore for a moment. He nodded, motioned towards the empty seat between Professor Sprout and Hagrid and then looked back up the hall. As the woman took her seat Professor McGonagall lead the first years towards the sorting hat.

Harry kept his eyes on the new woman. She glanced around the hall until her eyes met his. He knew that eventually they would, and he'd got used to the stares over the years. After a fraction of a second she turned her gaze towards the advancing first years, but there was something horribly familiar about those eyes - bluish silver, and her hair - short, straight and blonde.

Ron leant over to whisper in his ear. "You know who she looks like?"

Harry nodded.

"Dumbledore would never hire a Malfoy," said Hermione.

Harry shrugged. Besides, it seemed like Hagrid was pleased to see her. She couldn't be a Malfoy then, surely.

And then the sorting began.

Harry had not been present at many sorting ceremonies but he still couldn't give it his full attention. The two new teachers had rather put his head in a spin. Could that possibly be Mrs. Figg? She had to be. His mind wandered as the famous Sorting Hat sang. There were new members for all four houses, cheers, polite clapping from the staff and then quite suddenly, it was over. He looked down the table to check out the new crop. They looked very young. A girl with a mess of blonde hair was attempting to talk to a tiny, nervous looking boy to her right. He was staring straight ahead, seemingly in shock, and didn't seem to notice her poke him in the ribs. It took Harry back to his first day in this amazing place.

Dumbledore rose once more and the Hall fell silent.

"Welcome back students. And welcome first years. I hope you will soon become as fond of this place as I am." He paused. "You are, of course, in the safest place in the wizarding world but I feel I must repeat that the Forbidden Forest is so named for a reason. There will be no magic outside of the classroom and I add that, regrettably, all Hogsmeade visits are cancelled."

There was a murmur of dissent.

"On a happier note I would like to introduce two new members of staff." He turned to his right. "Professor Figg has kindly agreed to take over teaching Muggle Studies this year after Professor Amble's retirement." There was polite applause for the elderly witch. "And Professor Escoban." He turned to face the younger woman. "The more well read amongst you may be familiar with her work. We are very fortunate to have her teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts this year." There was more polite applause and finally Dumbledore said with a grin, "now, let's eat!"

And with that the feast appeared.

*****

Later that evening Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in the Gryffindor common room. Ron was still complaining about the Hogsmeade cancellation and Harry admitted that he would sorely miss the trips. Still, there was a damned good reason for the ban. Voldemort might not be able to get into Hogwarts but the village was fair game. Harry shuddered at the thought. What if there were already spies watching the school, could Voldemort have moved that fast? What if there were spies in the school? No, that way lies madness, he thought, mustn't get paranoid. Constant vigilance, sure, but don't get carried away.

"So what's she like?"

"Huh?"

"Harry, pay attention. You said you knew Professor Figg. What's she like?" Hermione asked a little impatiently.

"Er...I always thought she was bonkers actually. Obsessed with cats."

"Oh," Hermione replied, disappointment evident in her tone.

"I suppose she's highly qualified to teach Muggle studies, Privet Drive is the height of Muggle-dom after all."

"That other teacher looked like she knew a bit about Muggles too." Ron grinned. "Dad would love to have her clothes sense."

Harry thought about the many fantastical Muggle outfits Mr. Weasley had worn over the years and smiled. He'd missed the Weasleys this summer.

"Er, Harry?"

Harry turned to find Colin Creevy standing behind him. He sighed slightly.

"Dumbledore needs to see you in his office."

"Oh, thanks Colin," Harry said, getting up off the couch. "I guess I'll see you guys later."

*****

Standing in front of the gargoyle that masked the entrance to Dumbledore's office Harry was at a bit of a loss. He tried lemon sherbet, Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans and a few other possible passwords. And then, just as he was about to give up, the gargoyle moved aside of its own accord to reveal the familiar spiral staircase. Harry stood on the bottom step and waited as he was carried upwards to the headmaster's office. He could only assume that Dumbledore wanted to talk to him about Voldemort. Or perhaps he had news about Sirius or Remus? He knocked and the door in front of him swung inward.

Harry stepped inside the office and was greeted by Professor Dumbledore who was sitting behind his desk. He smiled and motioned for Harry to sit at the chair opposite him. Harry took at step forward and as the door closed he realised that they were not alone.

Professor Escoban was standing by the fireplace. She now wore a long, fitted jacket and trousers under a cloak of raw silk. As she moved it shifted between the deepest shades of blue and green. She smiled at Harry and went to sit in another chair near the desk.

Already seated was Professor Figg wearing a dark green cloak, which appeared to be covered with cat hairs. She smiled at Harry as he took his seat.

"Harry." Professor Dumbledore peered over his glasses at him. "I'd like you to meet Professor Escoban."

The professor held out her hand and Harry shook it.

"Since we have had a somewhat chequered experience of Dark Arts teachers these past few years I thought you might be a little...er...cautious of her. I therefore thought that it might be best if I were to tell you personally that I have the utmost faith in Professor Escoban and that you can trust her implicitly." Professor Escoban looked at Harry and gave him a small smile.

"Er okay." Harry didn't really know what to say although it was a great relief to hear from Dumbledore.

"And I believe you know Professor Figg."

"Er, yes. Hello," he greeted her, shaking her hand. "How are the cats?"

"Very well thank you. I have pictures."

"Bella." Professor Escoban shot her an exasperated look.

"Also Harry," Dumbledore cut in, "I would like you to have a weekly private lesson in Dark Arts starting next week. You will see Professors Figg and Escoban on alternate weeks. You are likely to need a little extra curricular training, I'm afraid."

"How're your Thursday nights looking?" Professor Escoban asked Harry.

"Well, I'm not sure when Quidditch practice will be."

"And what is more important? Quidditch or defending yourself against the Dark Lord?" Escoban's voice was quieter now, with a definite edge to it.

"Er...." Harry struggled to find a reply, disturbed by her eyes.

After an awkward pause he noticed that she was still smiling ever so slightly.

"Relax Harry," Dumbledore stepped in, "I'm sure we can come to a suitable arrangement."

"Oh, right." Harry was still a little thrown. He wasn't quite sure what to make of the new professor. Her eyes were really rather disconcerting and now she appeared to be teasing him. Well, we'll see.

"So, Harry, you can start off with Professor Figg since she won't be teaching you this year. Now get yourself off to bed," Dumbledore said in a firm voice.

"Yes sir, goodnight."

After Harry had closed the door Professor Dumbledore gave Professor Escoban a rather stern look. She shrugged.

"What?" she asked, her face a picture of innocence.

He shook his head. "It's good to have you back."

"Thank you."

"So what have you got planned for our Mr. Potter?"

"The art of observation."

"Ah, very good."

"And I expect he could use a brush up on his duelling skills."

Dumbledore frowned slightly. "Do go easy on him, I don't want you killing the poor boy."

"I'll try to control myself." She gave the headmaster a wicked grin.

"Hmm."

"Speaking of which, you don't mind if I...er...?" she asked.

"Not so long as you're discreet."

She nodded.

"Anything else?" she continued.

"Not unless you've missed anything out of your report."

She shook her head.

"Goodnight then, Professor Escoban."

She smiled broadly. "That's going to take some getting used to. 'Professor', who would have thought?"

"Not I for one," Arabella cut in.

Escoban opened her mouth to reply before noticing a glint in the old woman's eyes. She paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes, then turned.

"Goodnight Albus. Bella."

*****

Four days later Harry found himself outside, in Hogwarts' grounds. The fifth years hurried to keep up with Professor Escoban as she quickly strode across the grass. On arriving for their first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson they had been told to bring only their wands and follow. They had begun to glance nervously at each other as soon as it became apparent where they were going.

"Wait here a moment," Professor Escoban said abruptly.

The students did as they were told as she walked up to Hagrid's hut, knocked and entered.

"Do you think we're going in there?" Neville whispered looking passed the hut.

"She'd never be allowed." Seamus tried to put him at ease.

Harry wasn't so sure though. There was something about the new professor that made him ill at ease. He glanced over at the Slytherins behind him. Malfoy was sneering as usual; Crabbe and Goyle were glancing around rather stupidly. But the others seemed as perturbed as the Gryffindors.

Surely Professor Escoban wasn't going to take them all into the Forbidden Forest, particularly not this year. But just then she, Hagrid and Fang emerged and headed into the forest.

"Come along then," she called over her shoulder.

Looking around at his classmates Harry decided to take the lead. He had been in there a few times after all, but Malfoy barged passed him.

"It's alright, Potter. I'll protect you."

There was general sniggering from the Slytherins as they passed following Malfoy.

"Like he didn't shit himself in there in our first year!" Ron snapped angrily.

Harry noticed that Ron wasn't looking too confident though, probably hoping not to run into any ten-foot spiders. They hurried after the rest of the class.

A little distance into the forest Professor Escoban stopped in a clearing and waited for the students to catch up. Once they had, she took out her wand and muttered an incantation. Immediately the forest came alive. Branches intertwined, vines stretched to seal the gaps. They were soon surrounded by an impenetrable wall of green and brown. Some of the students had begun to panic.

"You are in no danger." Escoban attempted to quell their fears. "You have merely walked into a common trap. Your assignment for this lesson is to get out of it." She paused for a moment. "Right then, off you go."

Harry watched as she conjured a table and two chairs. She sat and took out a pack of cards. Hagrid shuffled his feet for a moment before joining her.

"Er...Professor Escoban," Hermione finally spoke up. "How long do we have?"

"As long as it takes."

"And if we can't get out?"

"Then consider yourselves in detention until you do." Escoban turned to the group of students. "It's really not that hard. You have everything you need."

"My father will have you fired if we get stuck in here." Malfoy was furious. But he took a step backwards as Professor Escoban rose sharply and advanced towards him.

"Mr. Malfoy, a word if you please," she hissed between clenched teeth.

Harry watched as the two walked to the edge of the clearing. He couldn't hear what Professor Escoban was saying but was pleased to see a stunned look on Malfoy's face. Harry couldn't help grinning. But when Malfoy walked back to the group of Slytherins he'd got his sneer back and was looking rather pleased with himself. Obviously he hadn't lost any house points.

"Right." Hermione was getting the Gryffindors organised. "Neville, you know a lot about plants, any thoughts?"

Neville looked shocked that he might have to take the lead, but he soon screwed up his face in concentration as he tried to remember everything he knew. From the frustrated look that quickly appeared on his face, he obviously wasn't getting very far.

"Er...anybody else got any ideas?" Ron asked, breaking the silence.

Hermione shot Ron a harsh look. Ron shrugged. "Well, I mean we need a counter charm or something, don't we?"

Harry looked back at Professor Escoban. She seemed very relaxed. Not at all concerned to be sitting in the middle of the Forbidden Forest with a group of Slytherin and Gryffindor students. The Slytherins had formed their own group of course, centred around Malfoy and Parkinson. He overheard snippets of conversation. They were arguing about something, but didn't seem to be getting any farther than the Gryffindors had. He looked up; Hermione seemed to be trying something.

"Morbiliarbus."

There was a slight pause. Harry shuffled his feet, waiting. Expectancy changed to despondency. This rapidly shifted to alarm though as the trees did, in fact, move. The problem was, they were now moving towards them. Hastily, Hermione cancelled the spell, leaving them in a markedly smaller clearing. They pretended to ignore some very pointed remarks from the Slytherins and got back to their brainstorming.

"Miss Granger." Professor Escoban beckoned her over after quarter of an hour. Hermione shrugged at Harry and joined the two adults.

"How's it going then?" the professor asked.

"Er, not so well," Hermione admitted.

"I see." Her teacher looked a little disappointed. "You have, I imagine, already read the set texts for this year?"

"Yes, I liked your book on Haitian voodoo."

"Don't be a sycophant Granger," she said rather sharply.

Hermione blushed red, an indignant expression written across her face.

Escoban went on. "I was referring to 'The Practical Avoidance of Death and Disaster'. A ridiculous title for a very good book."

"Er....yes I've read that one."

"Good. Better get cracking then." She turned back to her cards.

Hermione looked over at Hagrid. He was avoiding her eyes, sheepishly looking down at his cards. She hesitated for a moment longer before returning to the Gryffindors.

"That weren't nice," Hagrid commented.

Escoban shrugged and laid a card on the table.

"She's a nice kid that Miss Granger," he continued.

"I'm sure she is. She's a Gryffindor after all." Escoban shot Hagrid a wry smile.

"Now, now, don' be 'olding that against 'er."

Escoban looked down, still smiling. "Would I do that?"

"Hmm."

"I'm afraid, Hagrid, that we may be here for some time." Escoban was looking over at her students now. The Gryffindors were in discussion, presumably about the book she'd mentioned. On the other side of the clearing the Slytherins were similarly engrossed. From time to time each group would try a counter curse or charm, but so far they had only succeeded in turning an oak tree blue and Neville had given himself an extra nose. Thankfully Hermione had seen to that.

She sighed; it was going to be a long year. "You know the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs got out of here in twenty minutes."

"Yes, I were there, remember."

"But this lot, they're fucking hopeless," she muttered under her breath.

Hagrid frowned at the profanity.

"Oh well, hopefully we won't miss dinner." She laid her final card on the table. "Ha! Your deal."

Hagrid shook his head as he took the cards. She had always had a rather perverse sense of humour. He suspected that her idea of fun was sitting in a trap in the Forbidden Forest watching two groups of rival students fail to complete an assignment. The only problem was that he was starting to get hungry.

"Come on Hermione, what else can you remember?" Ron asked impatiently.

"That's it. It's a short book and I think I've tried everything."

"Well, that can't be right because we're still stuck in the bloody forest." Ron looked up as he heard the school bell. "Damn, everyone else is out of classes now. This isn't fair."

"Well get thinking then."

"I haven't read the stupid book."

"That's not my fault is it?"

"Guys, guys," Harry stepped in, "this isn't helping. Neville, any input?"

Neville didn't look like he wanted to try anything else. He was still feeling his face gingerly.

They stood in silence. Seamus looked like he was going to suggest something before he evidently gave up on the idea. Lavender sighed quietly. She wasn't helping much.

"Didn't see this one coming did you, oh great seer?" Ron taunted.

"Oh shut up!" Lavender retorted.

They weren't getting anywhere. Harry sat on the grass feeling rather dejected, and hungry. It just didn't seem possible. They'd tried everything in the book and none of it had worked. What was the point of giving them a clue if it didn't help? And then he thought back to the look on Malfoy's face after Professor Escoban had talked to him. Why would she only give the Gryffindors a clue? What if she'd also told the Slytherins, except she'd told them something else, something they needed.

"Oh bugger."

The rest of them turned to look at Harry.

"I think we're going to have to ask the Slytherins for help."

"What?"

Nobody seemed to like the idea.

"It's just, Escoban gave us a clue, right. But it doesn't work. So, suppose it's only half of the clue? Suppose she gave the other half to the Slytherins and we have to work together on it?"

"Do you think she'd really be that mean?" Ron asked.

"Yes." Hermione nodded her head, she was still smarting from Professor Escoban's earlier remark.

Harry sighed. He was going to have to talk to them and better sooner than later. He braced himself and walked over to the Slytherins. He also noticed that, for the first time, the Dark Arts professor appeared to be taking an interest in something other than her cards.

"Er, Malfoy?"

"What is it Potter, are you stuck?" Malfoy sneered.

"Well, aren't you?"

The Slytherins glared at him.

"It's just, I think I've figured something out. Professor Escoban gave us a clue but we can't work it out and we were wondering if she'd given you a clue as well."

"What if she has?"

"We may need both clues to get out of here."

"Oh." Malfoy appeared to be considering his options. "What did she tell you?"

"You first."

"I don't think so."

"Oh bloody hell, Malfoy. Fine. She mentioned a book we should have read, 'The Practical Avoidance of Death and Disaster'."

Malfoy frowned before answering. "Well, she told us about a curse called Herborium finitem."

"Oh. Right. Thanks." Harry went back to the Gryffindors.

"What an idiot," Malfoy said under his breath as he turned back to the other Slytherins.

"That's not what she told you Draco."

"Shut up Trace," Malfoy hissed. "Blaise, have you read the book?"

"Of course I've read it."

"Well?"

"Let me think."

Professor Escoban looked on. She was staring to get hungry now and was becoming impatient. The brief flurry of activity, when Potter had spoken to the Slytherins, had yet again been replaced by hushed whispers and inaction. The two groups had gone back to working separately again. She sighed. How predictable.

Then, Malfoy strode up to the edge of the clearing, took out his wand, cast the correct counter curse and the trap was finally broken. Thank Merlin, she thought, as she walked over to the fifth years.

"Good, well done. And it only took you and hour and forty minutes." From her tone she was not impressed.

"Hang on, how did you work that out?" Hermione said.

Crabbe sniggered.

"You told us the wrong spell!" She was shocked. Professor Escoban found it rather amusing. After all what did she expect?

"Maybe." Malfoy looked very pleased with himself. Harry thought he might punch him.

"So," Escoban cut in, "what did we learn today?"

"That Slytherins are cheating bast-"

"Mr Weasley! When I want an insulting, subjective and frankly moronic comment I shall come to you specifically, five points from Gryffindor."

"But..."

The look she gave Ron quickly silenced him.

"Anything else?"

"Gryffindors are idiots?"

"Five points from Slytherin Mr. Goyle." She glared at him. "Can't any of you think of anything constructive to say?" She gritted her teeth, fighting the urge to turn them all into ferrets. "Well?"

"We learnt how to get out of a trap in the forest," Hermione suggested.

"Yes, true. And?"

"Er..." Harry said hesitatingly "we learned that sometimes we have to work with people we don't like." He glared at Malfoy.

"Yes, good. Five points to Gryffindor."

She waited a moment, but when nobody volunteered any more suggestions she continued. "I think we learned that Slytherins find it hard to trust others while Gryffindors find it a little too easy. And I found out that it's going to be a very long year. In the end, of course, we all get what we want. Which is dinner right now. Five points to Slytherin for getting us out of our predicament. Come along."

"Well that wasn't fair," Ron muttered.

"Mr. Weasley." She turned on him once again. "Who ever told you life would be fair?"

"But they cheated!"

"There were no rules, how could they possibly cheat?"

"But..." Ron's voice trailed off. He obviously wasn't going to win this argument.

Professor Escoban turned and headed back to the castle, with her students quickly hurrying after her.

*****

"I still say it wasn't fair," Ron complained over dinner that evening.

"Ron, I suppose she had a point." Harry wasn't quite sure why he was defending her.

"I think Ron's right."

Harry was shocked, Hermione rarely criticised teachers and her recent appointment as a prefect had only made it worse.

"I mean, why did the Slytherins get five points for cheating?" she continued.

"I supposed they did work it out."

"Harry, what's got in to you?"

"You know what, I have no idea. You're right, it wasn't fair."

They settled into silence as they ate.

"When are you having your first lesson with her?" Ron broke the silence.

"Not for a couple of weeks."

"Do you know what you'll be doing?"

"She'll probably hang me upside-down above a pit of rabid badgers to see if I'll make friends with other species."

Ron grinned and made crazy badger sounds until Hermione smacked him on the arm.

"Oh, look at that," she said suddenly.

They turned towards the staff table. Professor Escoban was talking with Snape. Although they couldn't hear what they were saying it was clear they were having an argument. After a moment Professor Escoban stormed off passed the Gryffindor table and out of the hall.

"Ooh, interesting." Ron was looking more cheerful.

"Guess Snape's keeping up his habit of hating all the Dark Arts teachers then." Harry looked back at the Potions professor. He had an odd look on his face, more one of frustration than animosity. "I don't suppose the old bastard is ever going to get the job."

The three friends laughed some more and began to discuss what Snape might do if he ever did. Rabid badgers would be the least of their worries.

*****

A week later Harry was reminded of his conversation in the Great Hall.

"And if anybody helps the idiot Longbottom you will loose fifty house points and be disembowelling horned toads till Christmas. Is that understood?" Snape prowled between the desks in the potions classroom. "He will never learn if you are continually feeding him the answers."

Snape looked around the room, his eyes narrowed. The Slytherins were looking very pleased with themselves, presumably thinking they would be fifty points up by the end of the lesson. The Gryffindors were looking anywhere but at him. Except Potter. He was staring right at Snape. This would not do.

Snape strode over to where the boy sat. He knew that few had ever stared him down, and Harry Potter would not be among them. He fixed the boy with his most malevolent look. It didn't take long before the boy looked away. Snape smiled, he hadn't lost his touch.

"Now, get on with your work."

He strode back to his desk and got on with marking seventh year essays. How little these students had learnt never ceased to amaze and depress him. It was one of the reasons he was in such a foul mood today. One of the many reasons.

He looked up suddenly. "Fifty points from Gryffindor," he barked.

"What?" Hermione looked at Snape incredulously.

"Don't answer back. You showed Longbottom your book."

"But..."

"I SAID DON'T ANSWER BACK!"

Hermione fell silent. She gave him a murderous stare before returning to her own potion.

Snape went back to the parchments on his desk but his mind kept wandering. He hated this part of teaching above all others. Always the same mistakes, always the same predictable conclusions, never anything to make him hope that any one of his students had the slightest inkling of the beauty of potion making. He sighed quietly to himself.

Still, there were always house points to take away and detentions to hand out. That almost made it worthwhile. Seeing the look on Granger's face a moment ago had cheered him up a bit. Sure, that wasn't why the other professors enjoyed teaching, in fact he'd had an argument in the staff room only the other day on exactly that topic, but for him it was compensation for having to be here in the first place.

It was rather pathetic when he thought about it, which he rarely did. But when your life is completely out of your control it's nice to feel you have a bit of power somewhere. Of course, the power to terrify fifth years was a bit of a come down from the old days, but he supposed he'd have to settle for what he could get.

He looked over his students and sighed. How had he come to this?

*****

The next day was Harry's first private tutorial. He didn't take Muggle Studies so he hadn't spent much time in the small tower where Professor Figg's classroom was. He was a little cautious as he climbed the staircase. It never paid to take Hogwarts for granted, you never knew whether a stair would collapse underneath you or a whole corridor shift while you were trying to walk down it. Thankfully his journey was uneventful so soon he found himself outside her room. He knocked and went in.

Professor Figg was sitting in the middle of her classroom surrounded by objects.

"Hello there dear, I'm trying to catalogue these, don't suppose you could help, they're new."

"Er, of course."

Harry settled down in front of a box that held a Discman. Dudley had one, although Harry wasn't allowed to listen to it. He took it out and tried to switch it on.

"I'm afraid none of them work in Hogwarts dear."

"Oh," Harry said, feeling a little foolish. He'd forgotten about that.

In another box was a set of Lego. Odd, he thought, but at least that worked. Then there was a telephone and a VCR.

"How did you get this stuff?"

"Some we buy and some things are donated from the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office at the Ministry. Arthur Weasley is an old friend."

"Have you seen him recently?"

"As a matter of fact yes. He's well, all things considering."

Harry supposed she meant the current situation with Voldemort.

"Ah!!" Harry jumped as a cat landed in his lap.

"Bad girl, Ariadne." Arabella chuckled to herself. "Do you remember her? She's getting on a bit now."

"Er, I'm not sure." Harry hesitated. "What are we going to be studying?"

"For the moment the art of not being seen...without the aid of an invisibility cloak." She smiled wryly. "We will be covering all kinds of concealment from charms and curses to potions and artefacts. So, let's begin."

She slowly got to her feet and went to sit behind her large oak desk. Harry followed her, eager to get started.

*****

"So how'd it go?" Hermione asked Harry when he returned to the common room later that evening.

"Okay I suppose." Harry flopped down on the couch next to her. "We sorted through some Muggle stuff, I got attacked by a cat, a bedside lamp tried to eat my trousers. You know, the usual."

"Oh." Hermione wasn't sure if he was being serious. "Well, did you actually learn anything interesting?"

"I'm not sure. She talked a lot, I listened. She gave me some books. Maybe you'd like to read them?" he offered, not glancing in her direction.

"Oh, thanks, I'd love to! Hang on, you can't get out of it that easily. You know, there are no short cuts when it comes to Lord Voldemort."

"Will you not say that please?" Ron looked up from the chessboard in front of him. He was thrashing Seamus quite soundly.

"Oh Ron, grow up," Hermione said rather harshly. Harry winced. The two of them had been arguing a lot recently. It was getting rather boring. Fortunately Ron was too absorbed in the game to escalate the conflict that evening.

"She's alright though, Professor Figg," Hermione changed the subject.

"I still don't get why you bother with Muggle Studies."

"It's interesting. Anyway, Figg knows a lot about the subject. And she's funny. She keeps wandering off the subject, and sometimes the cats get out. She comes out with the weirdest stuff sometimes."

"Yes, I've noticed."

Harry thought back to his lesson. It seemed to be going fine until Figg had suddenly started to tell him about her favourite recipe for meat and potato pie. What this had to do with the Dark Arts he didn't know, but once she began talking, there was no shutting her up. Eventually one of the cats needed to be given some medicine and he'd left Figg chasing the poor animal around the room.

*****

Chapter 2

"Well hello there Potty."

Harry grimaced at the all too familiar pronunciation of his name. He had managed to avoid Draco Malfoy almost completely up to that point, but it appeared his luck had just run out.

"What do you want?"

"Just saying hello."

"Yeah, right."

"Touchy aren't you." Draco sneered, peering down at Harry. He had shot up over the summer and was now a good six inches taller than him.

"Shouldn't you be off somewhere teaching Goyle how to read?" Harry shot back.

"Very funny Potter." Draco held up a hand to thwart Goyle's evident desire to pummel the Gryffindor. "Such wit. Is that Muggle humour, or Mudblood. I just can't tell anymore."

Harry refused to be goaded into a response. He merely turned on his heel and left. He had no wish to get into a fight. Besides, it was three to one.

*****

The next day Harry found himself outside the Dark Arts classroom. It was late on Thursday evening, everyone else was in their common rooms and it was time for his first lesson with Professor Escoban. So far he hadn't seen a lot of her as she rarely appeared for meals. There'd been that first lesson in the forest, and then this week they had discussed the uses of counter curses in duelling, with a few examples. That hadn't been as bad as their first lesson. She had also made it painfully clear that there would be no 'silliness' between the Gryffindors and Slytherins. Both houses were down thirty points by the end of the lesson. At least she didn't seem to favour either house, which was refreshing for Harry. She was, however, very strict and had a great turn of phrase when it came to a put down.

As he stood in thought the door swung open. Professor Escoban was standing there, glaring down at him. Harry hadn't grown much that summer, which was frustrating though not surprising considering his diet of bread and watery stew.

"Do come in." She sounded impatient, which was hardly fair, he was only a couple of minutes late.

Professor Escoban turned and sat at her desk. She motioned towards a chair opposite her and Harry negotiated a path between several half empty boxes. It seemed that she still had not unpacked.

"So, Harry." She leaned back. "I wonder if you could think back to last Wednesday?"

"The forest?"

"Yes. Could you tell me what you learned?"

"Erm...that sometimes you have to work with people you don't like."

"I seem to remember you saying that before. I'm afraid you don't get any more points for repeating yourself. I'm looking for something new."

Harry thought for a moment, but nothing came to him.

"I don't suppose you've given it much thought have you? You've a normal fifth year after all with thoughts of girls and Quidditch to occupy your every waking hour." She raised an eyebrow.

"Er...no, I haven't really thought about it," Harry admitted, slightly embarrassed.

"Well, I suggest you pay greater attention in future. Now, don't tell any of the rest of the staff I said this but my class is definitely the most important course that you will be taking this year. It is certainly more important than your O.W.L.'s, though I never said that either. While learning how to turn a tea cosy into a stuffed toy, or how to levitate a banana might be fun, they do not compare to the Defence Against the Dark Arts. You can switch off in Divination, in fact I suggest you do, but not in my class. Understood?"

Harry nodded mutely.

"So, let's discuss the first class. Did you notice anything?"

Harry frowned as he tried to picture the scene. Nothing relevant came to mind. Professor Escoban sighed and leaned forward, her elbows on the desk and her chin resting on her hands.

"Do you know Hagrid?" he asked finally. Maybe that's what she was looking for?

"Er...well, yes, he's been here a while after all. But that's not what I meant. I mean about the other students."

Harry shook his head.

"Fine then, I'll tell you what I noticed." She looked at Harry for a moment making sure he was concentrating. "At least three of the Slytherins did not approve of Draco's tactics. Now, whether that was out of a sense of fair play or because they feared that they might not be getting their dinner without your help, I don't know. The point is that three of them appeared uncomfortable. Can you tell me who they were?"

"Well, not Malfoy, Crabbe or Goyle presumably."

"No, probably not."

"Or Pansy, she hangs on Malfoy's every word."

Professor Escoban nodded.

"Er...I don't know."

"Why not?"

"Well....I guess I didn't notice."

"No, and that was because you didn't look. Throughout your conversation with the Slytherins your attention was fixed on Malfoy. You were presumably trying to gage whether or not he was lying to you when you should have known that he would. It's a waste of time scrutinising the people you know will cheat you, you should have been looking at the others. They would have told you that Malfoy was not playing fair. You would also have found out that, perhaps, not all the Slytherins are cheating bastards...I think that's what Mr. Weasley was going to say."

Harry didn't say anything.

"So, you have no idea who those three were?"

Harry shook his head.

"Well, that's your assignment. To find out who they were. I wouldn't suggest asking them straight out though, that might not go down too well. You may even have to be a bit sneaky about it." She smiled slightly at him over her hands before continuing. "After all, there's more than one way to skin a cat...there are at least seventeen."

Harry didn't want to ask if that were true.

"I suppose you thought the class was grossly unfair."

Harry shrugged.

"Well, in a way it was. I knew how it would turn out after all, and the point was certainly not to get out of the trap. I suppose it was as much for my benefit as for yours. I have been carrying out similar...experiments with all my classes, trying to gage the level of animosity between the houses. As might be expected there is the normal, healthy rivalry between Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors while everyone seems to hate the Slytherins. But then that was always the case. At the present time, however, it would be better for us all to try to put our personal feelings aside so that we all might concentrate on the matter at hand."

She paused, scrutinising Harry.

"Now, I'm not asking you to be best buddies with certain Slytherins. We both know that's never going to happen. But I am asking you to tone down your obvious loathing of them."

"But they're the ones who start all the trouble!"

"Are they? Every time? Well, that's a first. I hadn't realised you were completely innocent in all of this." She levelled a disbelieving glare at him.

"Well...I suppose sometimes I make it worse, but only because..."

Professor Escoban leaned further towards Harry. He shut up; her eyes really were rather alarming.

"I'm sure some of the Slytherins are unbearable at times but it is up to you, not them to heal the rift."

"Why?"

"Because you need them on your side, whereas they don't need you on theirs."

"Oh."

"Some of them may be beyond hope of course, but not all of them by a long way."

"Right." Harry was still sceptical.

"So, other than that, how's life?"

"Er...how do you mean?"

"Well, given current circumstances I would expect you to be a little nervous about this coming year. And given what happened last year I expect you may need somebody to talk to. Now that need not be me, and in fact it would be better if it were a friend, but you can always talk to me about anything. Alright?"

Harry nodded rather surprised at her change of tone. He had no intention of spilling out his secrets to her though, he hardly knew her, although it was oddly tempting. He hadn't talked to anyone about the feelings of guilt that had been growing steadily since Cedric's death. He hadn't talked about the nightmares. He didn't want to bother his friends. No, that wasn't it; he didn't want them to know. He didn't want to appear weak. He didn't want them to see how guilty he felt. He said nothing.

"Right, well here are some books. I'd like you to read the first three chapters of 'The Rise of the Dark Age' and come back in two weeks with a four-foot essay on your conclusions. Okay?"

Harry nodded.

"That's it then. We'll keep it short as I have a lot to do and you can get on with your reading."

Harry got up and put his books into his bag.

"Goodnight then professor."

"Goodnight Harry."

He left. Walking back to the common room he had to admit that the lesson hadn't been as bad as he'd expected. She seemed quite normal really, although maybe that was just in comparison to Professor Figg. Sure, a little harsh, but maybe she'd be fair with him. Then again, a four-foot essay? And the assignment. Make friends with the Slytherins, that was a laugh. Oh well, Hermione might help with that. Ron would rather wrestle a basilisk, but Hermione was usually open-minded.

However his thoughts were interrupted.

"Mr. Potter."

Harry winced. His least favourite person.

"What are you doing sneaking around down here at this hour?"

"I've just had a lesson with Professor Escoban." Harry wasn't going to be cowed by the Potions professor.

"Really? And what pearls of wisdom did she have for you?"

Harry didn't like his tone. "Actually it was very good. Yes, she's a great teacher. Very interesting."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "You don't say. Well, we've already had a complaint about her."

"Well, it wasn't from me!"

"Evidently. You seem to be quite a fan."

Harry bit his lip. He didn't need a detention after all.

Just then Professor Escoban flew round the corner, almost colliding with Snape.

"Ah, Severus. Er...come on!" She dashed off.

"Potter, get back to your common room," Snape hissed before hurrying after the professor, leaving Harry to wonder what was going on.

He should, of course, have gone to the common room. But he quickly realised he wasn't going to. He followed the two professors. When Harry got to the Hogwarts front door he ducked out of sight. Professor McGonagall and Flitwick hurried passed Harry and through the door. Cautiously he followed.

Outside it was dark. There was the slightest sliver of a moon, and clouds blocked most of the stars from sight. Ahead of him he could see several figures heading towards the Forbidden Forest. He was about to follow when a flash of light illuminated the trees. There was shouting, and more lights. Harry hid in a bush where he could still see what was going on. He was torn between going to help and fear of the consequences.

The scene was confusing. He couldn't actually see anybody anymore, only occasional evidence of the fight. Sparks flew from behind Hagrid's cabin and then some more off to the right. He could hear more shouting but couldn't make out the words. Then Harry's heart stopped. A bright green light glowed before fading away, leaving it's mark on Harry's retina. He stared as the area was lit up by red and blue. And then the colours receded further into the forest until he couldn't see them any more.

Harry waited. Had anyone been hurt? Was anybody dead? It seemed like ages before he saw figures emerge from the trees and head back to the castle.

Three remained patrolling the edge of the forest, but he couldn't tell whom. He could make out the huge form of Hagrid returning to his cabin. The rest were returning. He saw Dumbledore then, and heaved a huge sigh of relief. Professor Sprout was next to him, limping slightly. Several others followed. Two more figures brought up the rear. One seemed to be Snape, the other he didn't recognise. They both had their hoods up.

As the teachers passed Harry caught a fragment of conversation. From their tone he soon realised that nobody could have been seriously hurt.

"...get to the infirmary, Hannah."

"Yes Albus, but let me know if they come back..."

"...was bloody close..."

"...not many of them, just a test I suppose..."

The last two passed in silence. But then the taller one stopped abruptly.

"What is it?" The other stopped beside him. It was Professor Escoban.

Snape didn't answer. He simply turned slowly until he was staring right at the spot where Harry was crouching behind the bush. He wished he'd chosen a large one.

"Mr. Potter." There was a note of victory in his voice.

Harry stood up, untangling himself.

"What exactly do you think you're doing, Potter?"

Harry didn't say anything, it wouldn't have helped the situation.

"Was this part of your lesson professor?" Snape looked rather scornfully at the Dark Arts teacher. She shot him a withering look.

"I just thought..." Harry spoke up.

"What? That you might be able to get yourself killed before the first month of the term is out?" Professor Escoban looked almost as angry as Snape.

"I...er...sorry."

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for being out of bounds," Snape snarled. "Twenty more for being an idiot. And a detention tomorrow night. "

"But it's Quidditch practice, you're not supposed to..."

Professor Escoban winced. Not the brightest move the boy could have made.

"Get back to your common room!" Snape snapped before he turned and hurried away, his cloak billowing out behind him.

Escoban merely shook her head.

"Don't mention what has happened to anyone," she said quietly. "No need to alarm the whole school, everything is under control."

Having said that she followed Snape.

Harry felt rather stupid. His curiosity was always getting the better of him. Still, nobody seemed to be hurt, so that was something. Contemplating his detention for the next day he made his way back to the Gryffindor common room.

*****

He stood in a small clearing within the Forbidden Forest. It was dark, and raining. The moon shone through clouds, illuminating the scene. He was alone. At first, he felt nothing but then the familiar feeling of dread gripped him. Someone was there. He could sense them coming through the trees until finally he could see a shadowy form up ahead. The figure almost seemed to be floating towards him. It took out a wand. A curse flew at him but nothing happened. Another curse, but still nothing. Then the figure came closer. He lifted his hood. It was Cedric, his eyes boring into him, accusations, hurt, blame.

Harry woke up in a cold sweat.

This wasn't the first such dream, not by a long way, but they hadn't ceased to effect him. He stumbled over to the sink in the room to get a drink, stubbing his toe on Neville's trunk on the way.

Suppressing the urge to curse Neville's untidiness he splashed water over his face.

"You Okay?" It was Ron.

"Yeah, I'm alright, just needed a drink."

Ron looked at him doubtfully. He didn't mention that Harry had woken him up several times since they'd got back to school. He didn't think the other boys had noticed and he didn't want to bring it up. Harry would talk to him when he was ready. He just wanted to prompt Harry a bit.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm fine." It came out a little harsher than Harry had wanted.

"I was just asking." Ron was a little hurt. Harry had been distant this year, far more so than before. And then there were all these special lessons he was having. He couldn't shake the fact that there was something his friend wasn't telling him. The conversation seemed to be over though. Harry had got back into bed and turned to face away from Ron. He was at least pretending to be asleep. Ron sighed and nodded off.

Harry lay there listening to his friend's breaths become deeper and longer. He felt bad about keeping Ron out but didn't fancy talking to him either. What could he say? Half the time when he determinedly didn't think about Voldemort and what happened to Cedric, he filled his time with classes, homework and Quidditch. But the rest of the time, when the castle was quiet, when he was lying in his bed, he couldn't shut it out. He just felt so damned guilty. Sure, if Cedric hadn't insisted that Harry should win the tournament he would have gone to his death anyway, and alone. Sure, there was nothing anybody could do about blocking the killing curse. But somehow Harry knew he should have done more.

In the end though, he knew what he should have done. He should have been the one to die. He never did of course. He always bloody survived. He was The Boy Who Lived. Shit, didn't anybody know what that meant? It meant the Boy Who Lived While Those Around Him Paid the Ultimate Price. Why did they all die? He knew, of course. It was because everybody was so intent on protecting him that they ignored the rest. The spares.

Harry stared at the wall willing his mind to go blank. He didn't want to have to think about this again. But his mind whirled. Bollocks. He resigned himself to another sleepless night.

*****

The next day Harry was summoned to Dumbledore's office. He knew what it was about.

"Harry, I have been informed that you were out of bounds last night."

"Yes sir. I'm sorry. I just..."

"Harry. Do you understand why it is so important that we all follow the rules, especially this year?"

"Er...yes sir, I think so."

"Really?" Professor Dumbledore fixed him with a penetrating stare. Harry wondered, not for the first time, if he could read minds.

"You have a reputation for rule breaking, you know that I suppose. Certain members of the staff have brought it up recently."

Harry could guess who.

"It is of vital importance that you do not go wandering about in the middle of the night."

"But why?"

"I'm sorry? I don't understand."

"Why? Why is it so important?"

"I would have thought that would be obvious."

"Well it isn't. Nobody will tell me anything. Everybody treats me like I'm special, like I'm some sort of saviour just because of something I did when I was a baby, but nobody will tell me why. Why did Voldemort attack my parents, how did I manage to kill him?"

Albus sat back in his chair, somewhat surprised by the outburst. He shouldn't have been, he supposed, if it had been him he would have wanted to know.

"Harry, I'm afraid I don't have all the answers. I don't know why he went after your parents, I have no idea how you killed him or if, indeed, you did. Nobody else was there so nobody knows what happened. Since that day many people have been working hard on that very question. Thus far no one has come up with an adequate explanation." The Headmaster paused, pushing his glasses back up his nose. "All we do know is that, somehow, you are important, and until we know why we are going to do everything in our power to protect you. Please don't thwart those attempts."

Harry felt a stab of guilt. Albus Dumbledore had a great capacity for eliciting that response in him. Time and again he had put himself in danger thinking little of the consequences. Each time Dumbledore would talk kindly to him while, simultaneously, making it quite clear how worried he had been and how hard he had been working to keep him safe.

Professor Snape often reminded Harry of how irresponsible he was, and he didn't care, but when Dumbledore said the same thing he couldn't look him in the eye because of the disappointment he knew was there.

Mumbling apologies he left the Headmaster's office.

*****

A week later all thoughts of midnight Death Eater raids and irresponsible behaviour had been banished from Harry's mind.

He stood, in silence, listening to the applause. The Gryffindor team was being introduced. As the Lee Jordan announced the last name, "HARRY POTTER...Potter...Potter." The seven players kicked off and flew onto the pitch.

Wild screaming assaulted his ears. Ahead of them the Slytherin team was already circling close to their own stand. All fourteen players then landed and stood in a circle around Madame Hooch, who would be refereeing the game.

"Right, I want a clean game. No barging, no hacking, no wrecking. Understood?" She glared at several members of the Slytherin team who glared right back at her.

She opened the wooden box in front of her and released the two Bludgers and the golden Snitch. Harry watched as the tiny golden orb flashed out of sight. Moments later Madame Hooch blew her whistle, sent the Quaffle skywards and the teams took to the air.

Harry quickly positioned himself high above the field, his eyes searching for any sign of the Snitch. Nearby Draco Malfoy hovered watching his every move. It had been two years since they'd faced each other on the field of play, but neither of them had forgotten what had happened the last time.

Suddenly Harry noticed a flash of gold behind Malfoy. Below him his teammates were in possession of the Quaffle and were tearing towards the Slytherin goal. Harry focused on the Snitch and took off. Malfoy, realising what was going on, followed him.

He was barely aware of the cheers. The crowd had seen the Snitch now and were going wild. Below him Katie Bell scored bringing the score to ten - nothing, Gryffindor. Harry flew on, oblivious to the excitement around him. He could feel Malfoy behind him. His broom was faster, but Harry was a better flier so when the Snitch dropped into a sudden dive the Slytherin over shot. Harry was almost there now. Just...reach...out...and....HE HAD IT!

Triumphant, he held the Snitch up high.

"GRYFFINDOR WINS!!!" Jordan screamed. "ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY POINTS TO A BIG FAT ZERO!"

Three quarters of the crowd went wild. The rest sat in stunned silence.