Martyr

The next morning passed quickly for the three Gryffindors and late in the afternoon they changed into their Hogwarts robes and went down to the Great Hall. They didn't have long to wait as the main doors opened and the rest of the school entered in a black clad horde of noisy teenagers.

"Hiya, Ron, Harry, Hermione," Fred said loudly as the twins sat down opposite them.

"Hey! Fred, George... I reckon we've found every single passage you two have, if not more," Ron said smugly.

The twins broke into laughter at this statement and as Ginny sat down next to them she looked across at them with a resigned expression.

"What did you do this time?" she asked warily.

"Thanks Gin, why is it always something we've done?" Fred asked innocently.

"Yeah, what do we do that ever is funny?" George added.

"For the person you just played the prank on, never," Ginny said, beginning to grin.

"For your information, Ginny, we just happened to be engaging in some light comic relief by laughing at our brother Ron saying, and I quote, 'I reckon we've found every passage you two have,'" George said, doing a credible impression of Percy's voice and attitude.

Harry and Hermione laughed while Ginny smiled. Ron looked livid.

"What's so strange about that? It's not only you two who can find things you know," Ron snapped.

"Woah, calm down Ron, it was just a joke," Fred said, looking at his brother strangely.

Ron hadn't a chance to reply as McGonagall led the new first year students in to be sorted, the hall falling quiet as they filed in, all looking nervously around.

McGonagall stopped in front of the head table and placed the battered old Sorting Hat on a stool, before stepping back and looking at it expectantly.

The tear near the brim of the hat opened and it began to sing:

'In ages gone and long past,
While the world was young,
And the unknown lands vast,
A new age was just beginning.

From across the land,
There came four mages,
Each alike and yet unlike,
Whose deeds would echo down the ages.

Kind and caring,
Wild and free,
Full of courage and daring,
Gryffindor was them all.

Toiling and busy,
They are always at work,
Within a home of effort,
Hufflepuffs will lurk.

Sly and quick,
Devious and shrewd,
These ones are not thick,
In Slytherin you will brood.

Smart and bright,
Knowledge is power,
In a Ravenclaw's sight.

So, if you're worried,
Remember, you won't be hurried,
Just place me on you head,
And your answers will be thought, not said, And I'll do the work in your stead!'

The hall echoed with polite applause and Harry noticed Professor McGonagall glance questioningly at Dumbledore.

"Is it sick? That was almost embarrassing!" Ron whispered in disgust.

"Ron, how can a hat be sick?" Hermione asked scathingly.

He was prevented from answering however by Professor McGonagall making her customary speech to the first years.

"When I call out your names, you will sit on the stool and place the hat on your head to be sorted, Asworth, Melinda!"

Harry's mind wandered as the first years were sorted, applauding mindlessly when he saw his companions doing likewise. His eyes focused on Dumbledore and the thought that the old headmaster looked weary flitted through his mind.

"Hey, who's that good-looking teacher next to Sprout?" George said suddenly, knocking Harry out of his reverie.

"Huh? Oh, that's Professor Hawkins, she's really nice," Harry answered, glancing at George. His eyes were wide and his jaw slack. Harry smiled but didn't say anything.

"Pickett, Robyn!" McGonagall called.

"Samudra looks pretty bored, doesn't he?" Hermione whispered worriedly in Harry's ear.

"Who?" Fred asked, catching the name and looking confused.

"The Indian teacher with the really dull look on his face," Hermione answered as the Sorting Hat shouted 'RAVENCLAW!'.

Fred looked round and whistled between his teeth.

"He looks more bored than Snape! I didn't think that was possible!"

"Mmm. Snape's been acting funny, he almost pales in comparison to Samudra. Don't try anything with him..." Harry warned.

"Huh! Looks like he needs a good joke pulled on him," Fred snorted but his eyes looked worried.

"Veira, Timothy!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry applauded with the rest of the Gryffindors as the small sandy haired boy ran over to join their table. Timothy seemed to be the last first year as Professor McGonagall rolled up her parchment and went to take her place at the teacher's table. As she sat down, Dumbledore stood, a grave expression on his features.

"Welcome to all our students to a new year at Hogwarts. I'm afraid I must be the bearing of some grim news..."

At Dumbledore's pause a deathly silence filled the hall, the dominant thought in the minds of the students was: 'Not the Quidditch again!'.

"Over the holiday break, Argus Filch, the caretaker was murdered near the Forbidden Forest." Dumbledore continued.

The students sighed with relief mentally but only the Slytherins looked outwardly pleased at the news.

"We have found no clues that have helped in our search for a culprit and the Ministry is similarly baffled. In light of what has happened, for your own safety, no student is to leave the castle without the company of at least two others.

On a lighter note, we have two new teachers to welcome, Professor Hawkins, who will be taking Potions,"

A murmur spread around the hall at this announcement and all heads turned to either Professor Hawkins or neighbours. Hawkins smiled and waved happily, gazing around at the students. A few hesitant claps started a din of welcome, even the Slytherins joining in reluctantly.

"And Professor Samudra, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures." Dumbledore finished.

Samudra looked viciously around, as if daring anyone to clap. In the silence, Lee Jordan's comment was clearly heard.

"Wonder if I can transfer out?"

Harry held his breath and looked at Samudra. The vein was standing out on his forehead again and he looked furious. Dumbledore, sensing the tension, waved his wand quickly and food appeared on the plates before them all.

The murmur of conversation started up gradually again as the hungry students began to eat.

"Whew, that was lucky," Hermione breathed.

"What do you mean Hermione?" George asked, intrigued.

"Oh, its just that Samudra has one hell of a temper. I wouldn't have put it past him to try and have Lee expelled for that comment," Hermione answered.

"Very funny, not even Snape would do that," Fred said sarcastically.

"No, Herm is right. He went right off at me for making a joke about Snape, it took Dumbledore to stop him then," Ron added, stuffing a forkful of mashed potato in his mouth.

"Really...," Fred said, looking unconvinced, "Ah, that reminds me... what is Snape teaching now?"

"Yeah, and who's the new Dark Arts teacher?" George joined in.

Harry, Hermione and Ron looked at each other with worried glances. Fred and George didn't seem to be near working the answer out but Ginny was another story entirely.

"Snape. He's teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts isn't he?" she asked fearfully.

Harry nodded silently, glancing in the direction of Snape. Odd, he thought. It looked like Snape was daydreaming, but that wasn't like the Snape they all knew and loathed. While he looked, Harry noticed that both Hawkins and Samudra were missing from the teacher's table.

"What? Oh no. He can't be, that's one of my best subjects," George spluttered in desperation.

"There is a good point. Now we won't and have to put up with Snape and the Slytherins in the same room for any subject," Harry said consolingly.

"Huh. I suppose so," George said glumly.

"Hiya Harry!"

Harry looked round as his heart sank, knowing who the voice belonged to.

"Hello Colin," he said looking at the Gryffindor fourth year. Harry had hoped that Colin might have outgrown his fascination with him by now but it didn't seem that way unfortunately.

Colin had dragged a couple of other fourth years with him who looked slightly bored compared to Colin's boundless enthusiasm.

"Harry! Is it true? People are saying you were here when Filch was killed! There's even a rumour that you killed him!" Colin said in an excited voice.

Harry sighed inwardly. Ah, yet another year where I'm suspected of attacking people, he thought sarcastically.

"Harry's wand was used to kill Filch, but there's no proof he did it yet," Ron said flatly in a voice that didn't sound like his own.

Harry's jaw dropped. What did Ron think he was doing? The last thing Harry needed right now was for that fact to get out.

"Wow! Did you hear that?" he said, turning to his friends, his eyes wide, "lets go tell Craig!"

Harry watched depressed as Colin sped off down the Gryffindor table, his voice shouting that Harry's wand had killed Filch at the top of his voice.

"RON! What the hell is wrong with you?" Hermione snapped furiously.

A growing silence began to expand as eyes turned towards Hermione and Ron.

"What? All I did was tell the truth. Am I supposed to lie all the time?" Ron shot back, his face colouring.

"I don't know what you're playing at Ron, but even you know that adding fuel to a rumour that Harry killed someone is stupid!" Hermione raged.

The silence had now expanded across the hall, all eyes on the pair. Hermione was on her feet, her arms crossed and a furious expression on her face. Ron was bright red, his fists balling but he remained seated.

"For all we know, Harry did kill Filch! He's hated him since we first arrived!" Ron shouted.

Harry gaped and the blood drained from his face. Was this the same Ron he knew? The same person he had been friends with since the first day on the Hogwarts Express?

Hermione staggered back as if she had been struck, her face white and shocked.

"Ron... Ron, you don't really think that do you?" she asked in a small voice, her eyes wide.

Ron didn't answer. His face turned from bright red to a ghastly white within the space of a few seconds and his eyes darted around wildly. He saw Professor McGonagall striding towards the table and his blue eyes flickered with fear. Standing up so quickly his chair was thrown to the ground Ron fled the hall.

Hermione sat with a thump on her chair as McGonagall arrived, a worried expression on her face. Harry's insides felt as if they had been put in a blender and he pushed his plate away, staring glumly at the table.

"What happened?" McGonagall asked in a shocked voice.

Hermione shook her head, too stunned to speak. Fred and George were pale and silent, their eyes alight with concern. Ginny, meanwhile was nowhere to be seen and Harry assumed she had gone after Ron.

* * * * *

When Harry walked into his dorm with Neville, Dean and Seamus, Ron was already in bed, his curtains drawn. Sighing, Harry changed into his pyjamas and slid under the covers of his own bed, placing his glasses on the table and lying back.

Harry lay there for a long time, his eyes staring into the darkness of the room, listening to the snores coming from Neville's bed. Eventually he began to drift off to sleep but a sharp tapping caught his attention.

Sitting up, Harry turned to the window and tried to look outside. The gloom combined with the lack of his glasses made this impossible and his hand scrabbled on the table, picking his glasses up.

Putting them on, Harry looked out the window again and saw a large white owl. Hedwig! He had forgotten all about her! Ever since he had come to Hogwarts the night of the attack on Privet Drive had been driven from his mind, closer concerns taking precedence.

Swinging his legs out of bed, Harry tiptoed to the window and opened it, allowing Hedwig to sweep into the room, relieved to be able to stop trying to hover. Hedwig perched on the head of Harry's bed and looked at him, her eyes glowing by the light of the moon outside the open window.

Harry quickly took the parchment from her leg and Hedwig took off again, soaring out the window and presumably to the school owlery. Unrolling the parchment, Harry looked over its contents.

Dear Harry,

Sorry this took so long, Hedwig probably had to fly the length of Britain twice with all the travelling I've been doing. Since I've seen you recently I know you are fine, but why didn't you tell me about your dream when I was at Hogwarts?

I have no idea what the dream means, I suggest you talk to Dumbledore, he may know more than me.

Sirius

Harry crumpled the parchment up and threw it into the bin near his bed. Why had he forgotten to tell Sirius when he was at Hogwarts? He sighed wearily and got back into bed, removing his glasses once more.

* * * * *

When Harry woke the next morning, Ron was already gone. Dressing quickly, Harry went down to the Great Hall with Seamus and Dean, not seeing either Ron or Hermione on the way.

When they reached the Hall, Harry saw that most of the school was already present, looking over timetables and talking happily while eating their breakfast. A slight murmur ran through the students as Harry arrived and took a seat at the Gryffindor table, evidently the rest of the school was still thinking about the possibility that Harry had murdered Filch.

"Hi Herm," Harry said wearily, sitting down next to her. Looking round Harry couldn't see Ron in the Gryffindors and looked questioningly at Hermione.

"He's already left. I managed to get here while he was still eating but he didn't want to talk to me and left pretty quickly. I don't know where he went, but he'll be in Potions. We've got the usual double with Slytherins first thing," Hermione answered flatly.

"That won't be so bad," Seamus put in, "we don't have Snape anymore,"

"Yeah, when do we have him now?" Dean asked, looking over Hermione's shoulder at the timetable she was holding.

"Find it yourself," Hermione snapped, shoving a pile of timetables towards him.

"Woah, what'd I do?" Dean asked defensively.

"Oh, sorry. Nothing, it's not you... I'm still rattled from last night, that's all," Hermione answered, sighing.

"Last thing tomorrow," Harry said, having found Defence Against the Dark Arts on the timetable.

A flurry of wings filled the air as dozens of owls swooped through the open windows of the Great Hall and circled, looking for the recipient of the parcels they bore. Harry looked up as a large owl landed in front of him, a piece of parchment tied around its leg. Frowning, Harry pulled the paper off the leg of the bird and watched as it took flight again.

"Who's it from?" Hermione asked, looking over at him.

"Dunno, there isn't really anyone who needs to owl me..."

Harry opened the parchment and flicked his eyes to the bottom, no name said who had sent the letter. Frowning further, Harry read the contents.

Harry Potter,

Fear Danger lurks Beware the anger That corrupts us all... Hate will turn

"Hah! Sounds like a weirdo who watches Star Wars. Fear leads to anger, anger to hate. Hate to the dark side. Ignore it Harry." Hermione snorted in disgust.

Harry nodded, still looking at the cryptic message. It was written with black ink, in a neat and flowing hand that looked oddly familiar. Was it a joke, or was it a warning?

Silence fell on the group as they ate their breakfast slowly, not looking forward to Potions with the Slytherins, even if it wasn't with Snape. Harry's thoughts still pondered the message, his mind turning over possibilities and rejecting them.

Eventually they all finished and they began the walk towards the dungeons after picking up their books from their rooms. They arrived just before Professor Hawkins and had no time to check if Ron was present before she had opened the door and they were entering the dank dungeon which served as a classroom.

Harry scanned the heads of the group, looking for the bright red hair that marked a Weasley out in a crowd. As he saw it, his stomach turned a nervous somersault, wondering how Ron would respond to him.

Harry joined Hermione at a desk, watching as Ron sat alone and apart from everyone, refusing to look round or give any sign he knew he wasn't alone.

Hawkins sat down at her desk and pulled out a register. After going down the list and looking at all the students in turn she sat back and looked at them all.

"Right. For all those who don't know me, I am Professor Hawkins. First of all, as you will be aware, this year you take your O.W.L.s. I have been informed by Professor Snape that the majority of you are up to standard and are ready for what I will teach you. However, if you have problems at any stage, please don't hesitate to ask for help,"

Draco sniggered and looked pointedly at Neville when she mentioned 'majority'. Harry glared at him with pure fury but he didn't seem to notice or care.

"Now, a little quiz to start us off. There will be two teams, Slytherins and Gryffindors, and I will ask a question of each team in turn. If they are unable to answer the question it will go to the other team. Each correct answer gets five points and it is first to thirty," Hawkins continued, oblivious to the tension between her students.

"First, to the Gryffindors, what are the ingredients for a 'Draught of the Living Death'?"

"Asphodel in an infusion of wormwood," Hermione called out quickly.

"Correct, five points," Hawkins said, marking the score on a piece of parchment in front of her.

"Slytherin, name three ingredients of a Polyjuice Potion,"

"Professor, Polyjuice Potion is in the fifth year course, we haven't done them yet," Draco said arrogantly.

"Are you saying you have not studied during the past four years?" Hawkins replied coolly.

"Lacewing flies, leeches, powdered bicorn horn, knotgrass, fluxweed picked at the full moon, boomslang skin, and a piece of who you wish to turn into," Draco stated coldly through gritted teeth, glaring at Hawkins.

"Correct, though in future, Mr. Malfoy, you will answer only the question, no more. If you continue again I will take points off," she said calmly, marking her scorecard.

Harry looked at Hermione with a grin spreading on his face, maybe Potions wouldn't be so bad this year!

"Gryffindors, what potion would I use to extract a truthful confession from someone?"

"Veritaserum," Harry called out, eager to please Professor Hawkins.

"Correct, though it wasn't the potion I had in mind, a simple Truth Potion would have sufficed. May I ask how you know about Veritaserum?" Hawkins said.

"Uh, Professor Snape told me about it last year," Harry answered, looking sheepish.

Professor Hawkins nodded and marked her card. The quiz continued, with Hermione and Draco answering most of the questions. In the end, Hawkins banned them from answering and threw a question open to both teams to break the tie.

"What is a Billywig?" she asked.

The class was silent, even Hermione looked confused. At last, Hawkins smiled and stood up.

"A Billywig is an insect native to Australia and its sting can cause levitation. Now, today we will be brushing up on the basic skills needed for potions. Get out your cauldrons and ingredients thankyou,"

The rest of the class proceeded smoothly and Harry found Hawkins to be an excellent teacher. She spent her time wandering around the classroom, correcting a potion here, commenting there. Even the Slytherins seemed eager to have her examine their potions.

By the end of the class everyone was in a good mood and even Professor Hawkins giving them an entire chapter of homework didn't dampen their spirits.

"That was great! What have we got next?" Harry asked Hermione as they left the room. His mind had been distracted from Ron and he didn't notice as a flash of red hair skirted around him and down the corridor.

"Care of Magical Creatures and then Transfiguration," Hermione answered glumly, her mood taking a sharp plunge as she examined her timetable.

"Is Samudra really that bad?" Neville squeaked in horror, looking at Hermione's downcast face.

"Yes" Harry stated with finality, his cheery mood fleeing his mind rapidly.

The Gryffindors and Slytherins trudged out the castle and towards the Care of Magical Creatures fields. The fear of Samudra seemed to have spread, not even Draco was making snide comments about the Gryffindors as the group made their way to the second subject they had together.

As Harry walked across the green grass he noticed Ron wasn't with the group. Looking around, Harry was surprised to see Ron already standing by the fence of one of the fields, several metres from Professor Samudra.

"Hurry up!" Samudra roared across the distance separating them. A shiver of fear ran through Neville but the group nervously sped up.

"Since you all think that wasting five minutes of the class is acceptable you will all stay back five minutes at the end of the class," Samudra snapped as soon as they reached him.

This statement was met with cold fear from the students. It was unthinkable. All the other teachers accepted the fact that the castle was large and sometimes awkward to navigate, allowing a few minutes leeway. Harry was thankful the first years didn't have to take Care of Magical Creatures yet, they'd be kept back for more time than they were meant to be in class afterwards.

"I am Professor Samudra. It is my task to attempt to 'teach' you about magical creatures. A task I think will be almost impossible by the look of you,"

Samudra glared around at them, as if daring them to deny the fact that they were imbeciles.

"You!" he shouted, pointing a finger at Neville.

"What is a Streeler?" Samudra asked coldly, glaring into Neville's terrified face.

Neville mumbled something that sounded like 'I don't know' but Samudra turned livid.

"It's a giant snail that changes colour every hour," Hermione said in a small but firm voice.

Samudra wheeled around, staring at Hermione as if she was a slug on the bottom of his shoe.

"Gryffindor," Hermione answered nervously.

"50 points from Gryffindor!" Samudra roared, spittle spraying out from his mouth, "You will never answer a question directed at another imbecile! If this is how you act just because you're meant to be the top student in this year, I will throw you out of my class!"

Every student stood stock still, breathing as quietly as possible and avoiding making eye contact with anyone, especially Professor Samudra. Harry's mind reeled with shock at the behaviour of Samudra. Gryffindor had just lost 50 points before they had earned any!

"Wait here, if I find even one of you has moved when I come back, I will give the lot of you detention," Samudra spat and stalked off, dropping out of sight behind a hill.

The ambiance of shock still held the students and no one spoke or moved at all. A small whimper from Neville was the only sound as they waited for several minutes. At last, Samudra returned, a huge box hovering in front of him. With a flick of his wand, the box thudded onto the ground. A low growl emanated from behind the wood and Neville whimpered again.

"Anyone who screams or runs will never return to my class," Samudra hissed menacingly, glaring at Neville.

The class held its collective breath as Samudra raised his wand, the wood of the box falling back to reveal a steel cage.

Inside the cage, a huge creature with the head of a man, the body of a lion and a scorpion's tail paced angrily, glaring at the class outside its cage.

Dean's hand clamped around Neville's mouth, muffling the scream of terror that threatened to spill from his lips and Seamus' hands wrapped around Neville's arms, holding him in place.

"You!" Samudra yelled, pointing once more, but this time towards Goyle.

"What is this?" he asked, gesturing towards the monster with his wand.

Goyle looked confused, as if he didn't understand the question, which was probably true.

"Step closer and take a good look," Samudra said patronisingly, glaring at Goyle.

The dull look of stupidity on Goyle's face was obvious. How he had got this far was a mystery to Harry.

"Uh, what was the question?" he asked stupidly.

"Do you think the cluster of cells you refer to as your brain can remember the complex instructions I just gave you?!" Samudra exploded.

From the castle, a clear bell ringing could be heard and Harry held his breath. If Samudra carried out his threat from the start of the lesson, they had five minutes left.

"Good... look?" Goyle asked dully, his voice thick and stupid.

"GET OUT! LEAVE NOW! You will never return to this class on pain of expulsion!" Samudra roared, spit landing on the closest students. No one made a move to wipe their faces, or even to do anything else for that matter.

"All of you! GO!"

The class didn't need to be told twice, Neville broke free from Seamus and raced across the grass towards the castle, the rest of the class not far behind.

"Do you think we can last a year of that?" Harry asked Hermione as they ran.