A Change Of Seasons

Harry was decidedly wishing this day would end and quickly. Professor McGonagall had decided to check up on him when he hadn't shown for the late breakfast, and handed him the new schedule for the year, causing Harry to internally sigh. Four classes with the Slytherins this year, how much worse could it get! The only class really though he worried bout was potions. He knew Hagrid would never pair him off with Malfoy, nor would Professor McGonagall for that matter, and he highly doubted professor Sprout would give them a partnering lesson the first few days. No, potions would be the only problem, mainly because Snape always seemed to have a grudge against Harry and would be more then happy to see him miserable by partnering him up with Malfoy just for spite, as had happened more then a few times in the past 6 years.

"Harry? You up here?" Ron said walking into the room and interrupting Harry's gloom-filled thoughts.

"Yeah, I'm here Ron." he said trying to sound less depressed then he felt.

Ron came in and looked him over wondering what was so wrong that he'd miss even breakfast for. "You okay mate? 'Mione and I were worried when you didnt come down for breakfast. Who'd you get partnered with anyway and what did Remus and Snape want with you anyway?" He said sitting down next to Harry on the bed.

"I'm fine really, dont want to talk bout it Ron okay? How long till class starts?" Harry said trying to avoid the issue.

Ron wasn't going to be put aside so easily though. "We've got time dont worry. Awe come on Harry, who'd you get stuck with eh? 'Mione and I were both trying to think who's left but couldn't come up with anyone. That mean you're on your own after all? Come off with it Harry, you can tell me! It's not like you got paired off with some stupid git like um..Malfoy or something right?" Ron said chuckling.

"Actually Ron I umm..." Harry started but found he couldn't bring himself to tell Ron the truth. "Actually they have to find someone for me yet that's right. I'm going to have to forgo going out till they do, sorry Ron." he said hating to lie to his best friend, but right now he didn't want to tell anyone that he really had been partnered with Malfoy.

"Awe thats bloody horrid Harry! You mean you cant even go to Hogsmeade this weekend? But it's the first weekend of the term, we always got to Hogsmeade, you've got to come with us Harry!" Ron said almost pouting.

"Umm, maybe they'll find someone by then who knows eh? Anyway, we best get going, you know 'Mione will fit if we dont get to class on time." Harry managed to give a weak chuckle.

Ron grinned and nodded. "Yeah, we've got DADA first, I cant wait to see if Remus has anything cool for us to learn again this year though I know he will. He's the best professor this whole term!" he said and sprinted for the doorway to head back down to the commons.

Far as Harry saw it, they'd find out soon enough, and soon enough was in his book, far too soon, so there was no need to let on just yet bout him and Malfoy getting paired up. Somehow maybe during one of the classes today or after one, he'd try to corner Malfoy and if possible, beg even if need be, ask him not to tell anyone. He doubted this would work, but atleast he had to try. *Atleast I wont have to deal with him in DADA luckily, that's a plus!* he thought and headed downstairs to meet up with everyone.

By the time Harry, Ron and Hermione got to DADA class he was feeling a bit better. The two of them together was infectious to even his awful mood, and they had him laughing by the time he got to the classroom. That was, until he saw what lay in wait for him there.

"Well dont just stand there, come in!" Remus said giving Harry, Ron and Hermione and smile, and waited while they took their seats.

Harry groaned when he saw exactly who was waiting for him inside the classroom and cursed the schedule he'd seen just moments before. Apparently someone had decided to change the schedules at the last moment, and Harry was none too happy bout this.

"Welcome to a new year everyone! I hope by now everyone's gotten adjusted to their pairings.." Remus said sliding his eyes over everyone and for just a fleeting moment glanced towards Draco who was looking quite smug, and Harry who was looking still a bit sick, "and therefore are ready to get to work. This year I have lots in store for you, including some new creatures to examine, and with any luck, even a field trip!"

"Oh Harry, Ron, did you hear that? A field trip just like in muggle schools, I cant wait!" Hermione whispered to them happily. She had alot of fond memories of her muggle school days and going on field trips to London museums and such.

"Now, you probably are wondering why we've combined the Gryffindor and Slytherin classes together, I know it wasn't mentioned on your schedules for the year, but there there have been a few changes at the last minute. As of right now, all of your classes will be held together, obviously including this one. It will be easier on the teachers, and we felt that since your two houses consist of the smartest and easiest to teach, there was no reason not to have you both learn at the same time." Remus said smiling.

"Professor Lupin? You mean, we'll have ALL our classes together with..with the Slytherins?" Harry said almost involuntarily.

Remus hid a chuckle at the downtrodden way Harry said that. "That's right Harry, all classes will be done together from now on. I trust there will be no problem in this area?"

"Even Divination?" Ron said almost equally as downtrodden as Harry. He certainly wasn't too thrilled at knowing he was going to have to spend nearly his entire day with the Slytherins of all people.

"Ah, yes well I did forget to mention that part. You will not be required to take Divination this year unless of course you want to. 3 Years of Sybil Trelawney is more then enough I think for anyone. In it's place rather, you can opt for either Muggle Studies, a library study period, or you may choose to sit in on any of the other classes for that time if one is available, with permission from that professor of course. If there isn't one at that time of your choice, arrangements will be made with that professor to grant you extra time of his or her own."

"Ohh good I can do an extra arithromancy class or something then?" Hermione said thrilled at this golden opportunity. Though she'd given up Divination back in 3rd year, she'd only been allowed to opt for Muggle Studies instead at the time, and 3 years later she really wanted more of a challenge in the magical classes now.

"Exactly right Hermione, yes. Now, please understand this is because we feel that since you are now at the point where you will be leaving the school at the end of this year, you should be more prepared for what faces all of you out there. Voldemort is still gaining ground, and there are other things as well out there you must be prepared for including your future occupations. There's alot more to life then just graduating and going into a 'ministry' job, or well, 'other' sort of works." Remus said glancing at some of the Slytherins who weren't making much effort to not smirk at that.

"When do we have to make our choice Professor and who do we tell?" Draco surprizingly asked without his usual sneer.

Remus looked actually surprized when Draco spoke up. "Err yes, well Mr. Malfoy, you will be required to inform me in writing before the class is over, and new schedules will be administered to you before the end of your next class, which I believe is Herbology."

Draco nodded and for a split second, so fast that Remus almost missed it, glanced over at Harry with a thoughtful look on his face before hiding behind his normal mask of indifference. Remus didn't need Sybil to guess exactly what was going through his mind right then, and inwardly smiled.

"Now, I will give you time to think over what you want to choose for you class, then we'll go over what I will be attempting to teach you this semester, if all goes well that is. I'll give you 15 minutes, feel free to ask me anything you need, I'll be at my desk." Remus said glancing over his students, and went over to his desk and sat down.

It had been a stroke of luck that Albus had agreed to his request to teach the Gryffindors and Slytherins together. He'd gone to him this morning before breakfast under the pretense of saying that it would benefit the two houses more to have them become more sociable to each other, however he had a sneaky suspicion Albus knew far more then Remus needed to say. When Albus heard the pairings Severus and he had come up with, and noticed Draco and Harry paired together, Remus was sure Albus would know exactly why he wanted to put the two houses in the same places all day. It was no surprize then to Remus when Albus agreed to change the schedules so that the two classes could be together, and he was more then agreeable in the fact that they really didn't need divination any longer. Luckily Sybil wasn't put out either by this, it left her more time to concentrate on her 'inner eye' workings, and in the round, everyone would hopefully be happier...ever 2 certain people he hoped in the long run.

Watching over the class Remus tried to suppress a little grin. The little 'assignment' had basically paired off everyone with their 'partners' to see where they would go, everyone that was except Harry and Draco. Ron and Hermione were too busy he noticed in a small argument as to where to go, leaving Harry pretty much to himself, so Remus had a few moments to observe the boy he virtually considered like a son. For a little while he wondered if he was doing right by Harry by pairing him with Draco, but while watching the two of them he saw something that made him realize he had been right in the first place, and he knew then that they deserved that happiness. The happiness he almost would never have found with Severus had it not been for certain interfering friends, and that he thought, was a happiness everyone was entitled too.

Harry meanwhile wasn't thinking along those lines a'toll. Infact of matter, just the opposite. To him, it just couldn't get worse could it? For a moment he forgot himself, and decided to glance over Draco's way to see what he was up to, but was surprized at what he saw. He found Draco staring right back at him, but not in the usual sneering, snide way. This way was different, all too different, and Harry wasn't sure how to interpret this. He even blinked hard, trying to see if maybe he was indeed seeing things, but he wasn't. Draco really was staring at him, and for some reason he became mesmorized by his gaze. Pulling himself up sharply, he forced himself to turn away from those grey eyes of his, but not before he saw one more look come from those eyes. A look of pure desperation. Of pain, anguish, and torment. And for a fleeing second, he wondered what on earth could have caused that look to come from his advisary and enemy.

For the rest of the class Harry's mind was elsewhere, and he barely even registered what Remus was talking about. Luckily Remus hadn't seemed to noticed Harry's distraction, or if he did, didn't do anything bout it, last thing Harry really needed on the first day back was a detention allready. Either way by the end of class, he realized he hadn't heard nearly a single word Remus had said, and hadn't a clue as to what they were going to be studying this term. Nor had he even put down a secondary choice for the alternative class he realized. As the rest of the class stood up then to hand in their papers, Harry stood too and walked down towards Remus's desk. He still hadn't a clue what to take, and he only had precious seconds left to come up with something. At that moment he realized he was at Remus's desk now, and with a blank paper, causing Remus to look at him oddly.

"Well Harry? Made your decision then have you? Just put the paper down on my desk and I"ll have your new schedule out to you okay?" he said smiling at Harry and turned back to collect the rest of the papers being handed in.

At that moment Harry glanced down at the desk and saw a piece of paper with familiar handwriting on it, and not even taking time to think of where he'd seen the writing, or who's it was, he found his quill and copied down the same class as on the person's paper. He placed it ontop of the other persons and waving goodbye to Remus headed out the door to catch up with Ron and Hermione, trying to get his mind back on track and forget the look that Draco had been giving him earlier. By the time he got to Herbology he'd all but forgotten even what he'd picked for his class, and thankfully during Herbology he was as far from Draco Malfoy as he could possibly get.

Back at the DADA classroom however, Remus was sorting through the papers of the electives, and chuckled when he picked up the last two he'd left to sort out. He had seen Harry's distraction during class, but he knew better to point him out for it, and had basically left him to his 'dreaming', considering Draco wasn't in much better shape. He doubted if either boy had heard a word of what he'd even said during class, but in this instance discretion was definitely the better part of valor, and he'd let them both be. Looking at the two pieces of paper before him now though, he could only smile in confidence.

"Well?" Severus said walking into the classroom and sat down at the edge of the desk.

Remus chuckled. Severus wasn't one to make hedge guesses, and Remus knew all too well what he wanted to know. Rather then saying anything however, he handed Severus two pieces of paper, and waited for the potion masters reaction.

Severus looked down at the papers then looked back up to Remus and actually gave him a small grin. "How long did it take them to figure this out?"

"Let me put it this way Sev, until Harry got to my desk, he'd had a blank paper, and no clue a'toll what to do. It was a little slight of hand to get him to see what Draco was taking, without letting him know it was actually Draco's paper. The two of them were so distracted I dont think they knew who they were let alone where they were by the time the class ended." Remus laughed.

Severus chuckled. "Well then my dear wolf, apparently our little 'plan' is working. How did you manage to convince Albus though to combine the DADA class?"

Remus got up and walked round the desk to where Severus was sitting. He leaned in and whispered into his ear, "I'll be more then happy to inform you later of that my dear potions master, providing you'll be oh let's say, free after dinner tonight?"

Severus put the papers in his hands down on the desk and turned round and drew Remus to him, and whispered back into his ear, "Only if you're offering dessert..." and with that he lightly brushed Remus's lips, teasing them with his own, and heard a soft growl of passion come from deep within Remus and he grinned.

Remus knew now wasn't the time nor place however for this, and pushing down the fire that he felt, responded to him, "I do believe I can provide an adequate dessert.." and returning the light brush against Severus's lips, withdrew himself from Severus's embrace and stepped back round the desk.

Severus grinned and got up and headed back out towards the doorway. "I'll leave you to the new schedules then. Ah, other then them, anyone else by chance pick that particular subject?" he asked.

Remus glanced through the rest of the papers, but shook his head. "Apparently Sev, only those two did, though no offense, I hardly expected anyone would. It's not exactly the topic of choice amongst the school m'dear." he chuckled.

Severus nodded. "Agreed, though cant say I blame them myself. Honestly Remus, other then Granger, those are the only two I'd say even remotely understand the art. I suppose then I shall have to come up with more 'challenging' things for them to do, since they will be alone for that hour hmm?" he said with a sly grin.

Remus laughed. "Go on, your incorrigible Severus Snape you know that? By all means, give them whatever your heart desires, I'm sure they'll be up the challenge. Who would have ever guessed that they'd pick potions of all things, but I have to say Malfoy does have the knack for it. I'll see you at dinner then."

Severus nodded and without even a backward glance headed back to his lab in the dungeons. He'd have never suspected Harry and Draco would have picked his class of all things to secondary in, and with noone else taking it, this opportunity had many, many possibilities. Severus Snape knew exactly what type of potions he would have them start on, and if what he had in mind didn't bring those two together somehow, then honestly it would be a lost cause. And Severus Snape didn't believe in lost causes anymore, because he found that all too often, those causes can be refound, and happiness wasnt just a faire tale.

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