A Time For Courage

A/N: Just a note since my italics didn\'t show up. Anything in between these { } is in Parseltoungue. SpiritChild

Chapter Two

Rico and the Werewolf

\"I can\'t believe you\'re going to be a professor.\" Jewel said as she chucked a book at Althea.

Althea deposited it in her trunk and glanced around. \"I know. That\'s about it, right? Except for my Nimbus, quilt, and Antares\'s cage.\" The grey owl opened an eye at the mention of his illustrious self. \"You should get on to Hogwarts and make yourself cozy in the owlery.\" With a muffled hoot the bird took off. Grey wings cutting through the air with unadulterated grace.

Serena laughed at the display. \"I swear that ruddy bird gets cockier with each passing day.\"

\"Don\'t insult my owl! I\'m the only one with that right!\" She cocked an eyebrow at the two sisters, causing a bout of laughter. Picking up the cage, she muttered. \"Scourgify.\" Then shrunk it and tucked it into her trunk. \"I still feel like I\'m forgetting something..\"

\"You sent Rupert on last night, didn\'t you?\" Jewel asked as she placed the folded quilt into the trunk and snapped the lid shut.

\"Yes. Hagrid should be utterly thrilled.\" Rupert was a Wyvern Yearling she had been looking after since she had found his egg abandoned the previous summer. At first glance he looked like a small dragon, only the size of a Clydesdale, with navy blue scales and nearly transparent wings. The only difference being the wyvern is a strict vegetarian and breathes violent surges of corrosive acid, rather than eating meat and breathing fire like a dragon. \"I made sure to attach a note to his collar explaining his arrival to Hagrid as well.\"

She walked over to the fridge and pulled out a Code Red. \"Wand, check. Rupert, check. Quilt, check. Broom, check. Antares, check.\" Her eyes widened. \"Bugger! Rico!\" She bolted over to her bed and pulled the remaining blanket and sheet out of the way. Coiled up at the foot of the bed lay an albino Ball Python. Upon loosing his warm nest, he raised weary pink eyes up to Althea.

{\"Glad you didn\'t forget about me.\"}

Althea knelt down and let him wind about her wrist. {\"Sorry Rico. I wouldn\'t have forgotten you, though, sugar. I swear.\"}

{\"I\'ll hold you to that next time. May I go back to sleep now?\"}

She grinned and held him up to her throat. He slithered in and made himself comfortable. He would be completely invisible once her hood was up.

Serena shuddered. \"It still creeps me out when you go all Parselmouth on us. It\'s considered bad luck in Japan you know.\"

\"Yeah, I know. Guess that\'s it, then.\" She picked up her wand and a small scroll, then went over her appearance one last time. Flared, cobalt leather hip-huggers, hung over her laced-up, knee-high black leather boots. Her robes were made of crushed black velvet with three buckles down the front bearing Celtic knots, with an eight inch section from the front removed so the fabric allowed her to walk freely. The rest cascaded down her back and sides to the hem of the leathers. Finally, black, satin, elbow-length gloves covered the tattoos on her forearms.

She had pulled her mahogany curls up into a tail, which she now covered with a hood that shadowed her face and hid Rico rather well. Althea looked at her reflection and sighed. She wished she could cast a Concealment Charm on her tattoos, but the Order would notice any magic on her person. She was intent on making a good impression, so had forgone any spells that might trip their sensors.

\"Take good care of yourself, and owl us when you get settled in.\" Jewel embraced her tightly.

\"We\'ll keep your bed free so you\'ll know there is always a place for you to come back to.\" Serena whispered taking her turn embracing her friend.

Althea smiled at them. \"Thanks, I\'ll bear that in mind when all the little brats get on my nerves.\" The three shared a laugh. \"See you guys later.\" She shrunk her trunk and dropped it into her robe pocket, grabbed her Nimbus and headed out of the apartment and down the stairs to the Floo fireplace. Hand shaking slightly, she unrolled the parchment. Leaky Cauldron 2 p.m. today. Remus Lupin will meet you and escort you to headquarters. M. McGonagall. \"Well, here goes nothing.\" Grabbing a handful of Floo Powder, she stepped inside the fireplace. \"Leaky Cauldron, London!\" In a rush of emerald flames, she was gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remus Lupin lounged comfortably in his chair at the Leaky Cauldron. He had just finished a bowl of quite delectable vegetable beef stew, he would have to get that particular recipe from Tom. Minerva had told him to meet the new DADA professor here. She was supposed to Floo in at 2, but it was nearing half past and no one had yet come through the grates. He let out a sigh and rubbed his temples tiredly. It was only two days past his last transformation and he was still recovering.

\"Likely why I got this assignment instead of going with Tonks on hers like I usually do.\" The thought of his clumsy, sweet, bubbly, fiancee, brought a smile to his face. He had proposed to her the week before and the way she had stumbled and fell right on top of him in shock still made him chuckle even now.

Emerald green flames shot out of the fireplace, catching his attention, and he watched a hooded woman with a broomstick in her hand step out. The woman placed her broom against the wall next to her, pulled out a wand, and cleaned all the ash from her clothes with a quick cleaning spell. Must be her. Remus stood up and strode across the room towards the woman. \"Althea Montrose?\"

\"Indeed I am. That must make you Remus Lupin.\"

\"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Montrose. Though I must point out that you are late.\" Remus sniffed the air slightly and noticed something odd. Althea had no scent. Of course there was the usual hint of shampoo and soap, a subtle fruity perfume, but no underlying scent of..well, anything. Her body had no identifying scent to it at all. Moony\'s hackles were immediately raised, but outwardly only a raised eyebrow showed any change in behavior.

\"I know.\" Althea stored her wand away and took stock of the man in front of her. He was staring at her funny. It was a slightly unnerving stare, somewhere along the lines of quiet contemplation. She felt Rico nudge up against her. The python lifted his head up to speak into her ear.

{\"Werewolf. Pretty strong scent. Likely one since early childhood.\"}

It was moments like this that she was grateful for Rico. \"I have to make a quick stop at the Magical Menagerie to get supplies for my familiars. Don\'t worry about my tardiness. Minerva\'s quite used to it, as I am never on time for anything.\"

Remus simply stared at her for a moment, then chuckled. \"Alright. As long as I can blame everything on you.\" He would keep an eye on this one. Minerva would likely reveal everything once they returned to Grimmauld Place anyhow.

\"Quite so. You can do that.\" She spun on her heel and headed out the back door and into the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley. Her mahoghany eyes glanced about at the place she hadn\'t been to in over three years. \"This place has changed.\" She whispered.

\"Fear\'ll do that.\" Remus replied softly. \"Shall we get what you need?\"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco sat up with a languid stretch. He had been finishing an essay for Arithmancy in the parlor with the Black family tree. Rolling up the scroll, he stashed it and the rest of his supplies in his backpack and decided to go in search of Mrs. Weasley. He may not have been on the best of terms with the rest of the family, but Molly had warmed up to him almost as quickly as she\'d decided to \'feed him up\'. Draco had reasoned that having raised as many children as she had, the woman had to become a genius in the kitchen. Quite inevitable. He chuckled as his stomach growled in agreement.

He passed the door to the room he shared with Harry and smiled. It had been two weeks since he had first seduced the Gryffindor, and as far as Draco was concerned, it had been the best two weeks of his life. He had always felt \'something\' for the raven-haired boy, but it wasn\'t until fourth year he had realized what \'it\' was. Which led to him trying even harder to piss the boy off in every way possible. The only person he had ever talked to about it was Moaning Myrtle.

As Draco approached the kitchen, he heard voices. One he recognized as the jovial laughter of Molly Weasley, the other was Remus. There seemed to be a third, but he wasn\'t sure. Slipping into the kithcen quietly, he caught the end of a very amusing tale, it would seem.

\"...and so she strides right up to the guy, picks up the snake, and says. \'How dare you! For all you know this could be the reincarnated form of your grandmother!\' The look on the man\'s face was priceless!\" Remus chortled.

The three, Draco had been right about the third presence, were sitting around the table. Molly was wiping tears from her reddened face. \"Oh my. Hogwarts could definately use your spice. I\'m sure the children are going to love you, dearie.\"

Draco stood in the doorway for a moment, before Remus noticed him. \"Oh, Draco. Come in, son. Did you need anything?\"

\"Just a little peckish, is all. What\'s going on?\" He stared at the hooded woman sitting by Remus. Being a Malfoy, he decided to just come out and say it. \"Who are you?\"

\"Draco!\" Molly chided, placing a sandwich in front of the teen. He sat down with a shrug, giving the red-haired woman an appreciative smile.

\"No worries, Molly. His blunt manner is actually quite refreshing.\" Althea grinned. \"Althea Montrose, new Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Mr. Malfoy.\" She watched the shock spread over his face. \"Yes, I know exactly who you are.\"

Draco swore if he could see the woman\'s face, she would be smirking. He picked up his sandwich and took a bite. \"Thanks, Molly.\"

Mrs. Weasley smiled at him. \"Oh no problem dear. Have you seen Harry today?\"

He shook his head. \"Not since he left our room this morning. Said he had a few things to take care of before leaving for school next week.\"

Remus nodded. \"I see. Some things will never change. Harry has always been one to do things his own way.\"

\"Yeah, and it\'s bloody frustrating!\" Ron grumbled, having caught the last of the conversation. He entered the kitchen with Hermione and Ginny.

\"Got that right.\" Draco muttered with a nod. Ginny sat down next to Draco and leaned against his shoulder with a smile. Harry had pulled everyone aside one-by-one to explain his developing relationship with Draco, and Ginny had been suprisingly supportive. Hermione sat next to Mrs. Weasley, and Ron joined her after hugging his mother.

\"Who\'s our guest?\" Hermione asked, looking to Remus.

\"This is your new Defense teacher Miss Althea Montrose.\" Remus replied.

Hermione looked at her curiously and was about to ask a question when the door opened again. McGonagall and the majority of the rest of the Order of the Phoenix filed in. \"I see you finally decided to show up, Althea.\" She said curtly.

Althea chuckled. \"You know me, always fashionable before punctual.\"

Draco hid a snort and Minerva pursed her lips. \"Everyone take a seat, this will be quick.\" The door opened a final time and Hary slipped in. \"Good to see you decided to join us, Mr. Potter.\" Harry shrugged and slid into his vacant seat next to Draco.

Harry slipped his hand into Draco\'s and reassured the boy with a smile. \"Where have you been all day?\" Draco whispered.

\"Downstairs finishing my Potions homework.\" Harry caught Draco\'s unbelieving gaze. \"Honestly.\" The blond boy nodded before they turned their attention to McGonagall.

\"Some of you have already met our newest member, but for those of you that haven\'t.\" She gestured to Althea. \"This is Althea Montrose, she will be joining the Hogwarts staff as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.\" Everyone turned their gaze to Althea.

Harry had just noticed the hooded woman a few seats away as McGonagall pointed her out. He watched her for a few momnets, before returning to McGongall\'s lecture. Fifteen minutes later they were all dismissed. Harry stood up, still holding Draco\'s hand, and headed towards the door. He walked past Remus, squeezing the man\'s shoulder in an affectionate gesture. Tonks had not made it to the meeting, likely her mission had kept her late. As he passed Althea, he heard a low hissing, and froze in his steps.

{\"Hope the rest of these meetings aren\'t that boring.\"}

He turned slowly to stare at Althea. \"Professor Montrose?\"

She turned around in her seat. \"Yes Harry?\"

\"Do you have a snake, Professor?\" She nodded. \"May I see it?\"

\"Of course.\" She reached into her hood and, to the horror of most around her, pulled out Rico. He wrapped lazily around her arm, his head resting on the back of her hand.

Harry let go of Draco and held out his arm to the python. {\"Hello, there. What is your name?\"}

Althea\'s eyes widened. Harry Potter was a Parselmouth! She would have to be really careful around him for sure. Rico on the other hand seemed utterly delighted and soon had coiled himself around Harry\'s outstretched arm.

{\"Rico.\"}

Harry smiled, gently stroking the snake\'s smooth skin with his other hand. {\"That\'s a very nice name. I\'m Harry.\"} He looked up At Althea, wishing he could see under her hood. \"Your snake is very polite, and also very beautiful.\"

\"Thank you.\" She accepted him back, and to others\'s returned horror, allowed Rico to resume his position around her neck.

\"Will you be staying here tonight, or going straight on to Hogwarts?\"

\"I think I\'ll stay if that is alright. I should firecall Hagrid first though. He\'s got another of my pets staying with him.\"

Harry, Hermione, Draco, Ron, and Ginny all blanched. \"And just what kind of pet would Hagrid be interested in keeping for you?\" Ginny asked in a small voice.

\"A Wyvern.\" Althea replied cheerily as she stepped around them towards the fireplace.

\"Oh dear.\" Hermione whispered. \"There\'s two of them now with a penchant for monsters as pets...\"