Band of Gypsies

Chapter Fifteen

"Excuse me?" a voice from behind startled him. Harry turned to look directly into Hermione's face.

"Yes?" Harry growled. He had to work hard to control the hand that automatically went to his head to cover his scar. He struggled with the memory of his face reflected in the mirror at The Leaky Cauldron the morning he left for Hogwarts.

Hermione swallowed hard. "Last year...I... several students were part of a group. We called ourselves the Defense Association. We sort of held the group in secret so we could learn to defend ourselves, you know learn Defense Against the Dark Arts. We had a very poor teacher last year."

Harry stood silent.

"Well.. we did have a very good teacher for our group. He was a student here. I don't know if you knew about... about Harry Potter." Hermione choked.

Harry clenched his fists. "I heard he died."

Hermione flinched and tears welled in her eyes.

"Whattaya ya crying for?" Harry asked. He knew he was being mean.

"Well..." She pulled herself together. "I just wanted to invite you to the group that's all. We've decided to continue to meet.

Leave it to you, Hermione, to invite a Slytherin, Harry thought. "Whose gonna teach it?"

"We, ...I thought those of us that were in it last year, thought we would take turns," she said, hurriedly. "Since you're new to the school, we weren't sure if you might need the extra help." She looked in his face, "or maybe you know a lot and you can teach one of the classes."

"Don't think so." Harry turned to go.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing? Leave her alone," Ron was advancing on him with his wand out.

"Ron, it's alright!" Hermione said.

"You leave her alone, you dirty stinkin', Slytherin!" He stopped and started to utter a curse, his wand pointed into Harry's face.

Harry's reflexes were too quick. He had his wand out, "EXPELLIARMUS!" Ron's wand flew from his hand.

Hermione stared at him, her mouth open in astonishment. Ron reached for his wand that slid mysteriously across the floor to his feet. He stooped and picked it up very slowly.

Harry turned and walked very quickly down the hall. When he turned the corner a hand reached out, grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into a dark classroom.

"That was very clever, PANE," Snape said.

"I just reacted without thinking," Harry answered coolly, straightening his robes and turning to look at the man.

"You went to a lot of trouble to change your identity. That could have cost you a lot," Snape's voice was cool but not cold.

"Don't lecture me," Harry said angrily. "I know when I've made a mistake.." He turned to leave.

"By the way," Snape said, his face in shadow, "just how are we related? In case someone grows suspicious?"

"Why Snape, you're my Uncle Bulbie!"

"Very funny, Potter," Snape whispered.

Harry put his finger to his lips, and said, "Now who's being careless?"

Snape was looking at him with a strange look on his face. "You've done all of this to be able to fight the Dark Lord someday. I have come looking for you because I have found someone to teach you."

Harry studied him. "And that person would be? You?"

Snape shook his head, "No, Mr. Pane, not me. I am not good enough to teach you what you need to know."

"And why would you do this for me?" Harry asked.

"To delay the inevitable, " Snape said.