Somewhere

yeah i know you've already had one today but i know what's coming and i feel the need to get it out fairly quickly.
i wanted to reply to some of the comments as well and thanks to everyone *kisses for you all*

enjoy

------------------------------------x------------------------------------


“Oh Harry, that’s beautiful. You say he just gave it to you?” Hermione said, handing him back the dagger.

“Yeah. He said it was his grandfathers,” he replied, strapping it back around his thigh.

“Wow, that’s some present,” said Ron who was currently feeding scraps to Shale.

When they’d come down for breakfast that morning, after a long night of talking, Shale and Blue had come too, refusing to be left behind. So as it was Shale was currently being fed by Ron and Dean, while Blue was eating small pile of Rice Crispies that Harry had given him. Just then Professor McGonagall arrived with their new timetables.

“Morning Professor,” said Ron, feeding Shale another titbit.

“Good morning Mr Weasley. May I ask why there is a kitten on the table?”

“He’s mine. He wouldn’t stay behind this morning. He’s still only a couple of months old and I think all the people are scaring him,” he said.

“I’m not scared,” muttered Shale through a mouthful of food.

“I see. Well as long as he stays out of the way I’m sure it will be ok. Should I even ask about the blackbird?” she said with a slight smile.

“I wouldn’t,” he grinned.

“I can see that this year could prove interesting. Do try and stay out of trouble, won’t you?” she said, handing them their timetables.

“We’ll try, but trouble usually finds us,” he laughed as she moved further down the table.

They’d all agreed at the end of last year that they would take the same four subjects, ones that would help them in the war to come and the final battle. So they had settled on Charms, Transfiguration, DADA and Potions. Hagrid had been a bit upset at first that they had dropped Care of Magical Creatures but he’d understood why he’d done it. Ron and Harry had been only too happy to drop Divination and Hermione had finally realised that she needed to cut back on her work load if she was going to be properly prepared for what was to come.

“Potions first,” Harry said.

“Yeah and we’re still with the Slytherins,” sighed Ron.

“Don’t let them goad you Ron. You heard what the hat said, we need to work together,” said Hermione.

“Mmmm… the thing is, are they willing to try? I’m all for being friends but I don’t think they are,” said Harry, thinking that he and Severus were perhaps the exception.

“I don’t know but for now come on. I don’t want to be late on our first day,” she said getting up.

Following her they headed back to the dorms to pick up their books and bags, Harry encountering a problem when Blue and Shale once again refused to be left behind.

“You can’t come.”

“But we want to see Severus,” said Shale.

“This is my class. No one can know that me and Severus are friends. It would put us both in danger.”

“Ok, but we’re still coming,” said Blue.

“You can’t! I’m not taking you.”

“Then we shall simply follow you once you have left,” said the bird.

“Gah!” he cried.

Reaching out he searched for the bond between himself and Severus, finally finding it and giving a mental tug on it, hoping his idea would work.

“Can you hear me?” he asked, being met with nothing but silence. After waiting a few seconds he gave up and went back to arguing with the animals on his bed, so it took him by surprise when a minute or two later a familiar silky voice filled his head.

“Yes. What did you want?”

“It worked!”

“Yes, it would appear that it did.”

“I have a problem.”

“Yes?”

“Blue and Shale refuse to be left behind.”

“And just what do you expect me to do about that?”

“Ummm… I was wondering if I could bring them with me?”

“You could, as long as you are prepared to be shouted at and have loose some points. They have to stay out of the way as well.”

“Ok, I think I can do that. See you soon.”

This lesson was going to be interesting to say the least.

“Severus said that you can come with me but ONLY if you stay out of the way. This is the only time mind. you can’t come with me to my potions lesson because it’s dangerous and you have to pretend that you don’t know Severus as well,” he told them.

“D… dangerous,” stuttered Shale.

“Yes. It’s dangerous for me and I can protect myself, you can’t.”

“Ummm… I think I’ll go and see Severus later,” said Shale, diving underneath his bed.

“I shall stay with Shale,” said Blue, quickly waddling under the bed to join the kitten.

Ok so that wasn’t what he’d intended to happen but it was a bonus he thought with a laugh.

“In that case I’ll see you both later,” he said picking up his bag.

“B… bye Harry,” said Shale.

Running down the stairs two at a time he joined the others and together they made their way down to the dungeons. When they got there they found that the door was already open. Worrying that they were late they hurried inside, only to find the room empty. Taking their normal seats near the back they waited for a while until Severus came out of his office.

“Potter. Early for once I see, but just what makes you think that you can bring an animal into my class?” he sneered.

“They didn’t come,” he said with a smile.

“I beg your pardon?”

“They stayed behind.”

“Oh,” he said, just as they heard other voices approaching from outside.

“You could have given me some kind of warning.”

“Sorry, I thought you’d notice.”

“Well obviously I didn’t! Just be thankful that there were no other students in here or questions would have been raised,” he scolded.

“Sorry,” he muttered, just as more students entered the room, taking their seats.

“Everyone sit down. You were very nearly late,” he growled.

When everyone was sat they waited for Severus to begin the lesson. It was then that Harry noticed the empty seat.

“This is your final year and as such I will not tolerate slacking from any of you. If you are here it is because you have the ability and are capable of passing my class. Your NEWT’s are at the end of the year so you will be pushed. Do not make the mistake of thinking that this year will be easy, I will in fact be surprised if all of you make it to your exams. There will be a mid-term after Christmas and anyone who does not pass will be dropped from the class. You have been warned. After all that if you now think that you do not belong in this class please leave,” he said. A few people shifted nervously in their seats but no one got up to leave.

“Very well, get out your books and we will begin with a review of last year. You will be making a variation of sixth year healing salve,” he said.

Just as they were retrieving their books the door burst open to reveal a panting Draco Malfoy. His hair was mussed, his skin pale and it seemed like he was grimacing slightly, most likely anticipating Severus’ wrath.

“You are late Mr Malfoy,” drawled Severus.

“I know, I’m sorry Sir.”

“Sit down Mr Malfoy and ten points from Slytherin. I will not accept tardiness from anyone this year, do I make myself clear?” he said as he turned and began writing on the board.

“He just took points from his won house,” whispered Ron.

“I know,” said Harry.

Between them they’d all managed to get into the final year of potions, Hermione because she was just brilliant at anything she set her mind to, Harry because of all his extra training with Severus and Ron because between the two of them they’d just managed to keep his head above water. While they studied the recipe for the potion Harry wondered about Malfoy. He was never late, not to Severus’ lessons anyway. Going to fetch his ingredients he suddenly realised where he recognised the potion from. It was the same one that Severus had used on his back at the cottage.

“You have an hour, the instructions are on the board. Begin.”

Filling his cauldron with water he lit a fire beneath it and carefully started to add his ingredients. Forty minutes later and it had gained a viscous consistency with a light creamy colour, like fresh cream. Now all he had to do was let it simmer for five minutes then add the four drops of orange oil.

“You have twenty minutes remaining.”

“This is what you used on my back isn’t it,” he asked Severus.

“Yes. It is an extremely strong healing salve. I thought you should know how to make it with what the future most likely holds.”

“That’s a happy thought. I know it’s going to happen, but let’s not talk about it unless we have to, ok?”

“Very well and pay attention to your potion,” he said.

“Oh crap!” he yelped as his potion began to boil. Quickly he added the orange oil and stirred three times counter clockwise, relieved when it turned a pale orange and thickened almost instantly.

“Ten minutes.”

Taking two jars he scooped the viscous goop out of his cauldron and into the empty containers. Labelling one he discreetly pushed the other into his bag, cleared away his things and went to put his sample on Severus’ desk.

“Mr Potter, what a pleasant surprise. You actually completed a competent potion and on time no less.”

“Git. I took a jar for myself as well.”

“Very well. Now sit down before people start to stare.”

Turning he went back to his desk, passing Hermione as she went to turn in her sample, sat down and twiddled his thumbs. It was then that he noticed Ron’s potion.

“Ron quick, add the orange oil,” he whispered hastily.

“Fuck, thanks Harry,” he said as he added it and stirred quickly. It turned a murky orange colour, not quite right, but good enough to pass. Jarring it up he took a sample up to Severus and put it on the desk.

Five minutes later and everyone was done, neat rows of salve sat at the front of the room in varying shades of orange.

“Now everyone turn to page forty-two. You have half an hour to read and memorize the ingredients and techniques. You may take brief notes and you will be tested on Wednesday. You will begin brewing as soon as you arrive and you may not use your textbooks. This is a test of your skills. It is a simple variant of a fourth year pain relief potion.”

Soon enough the half hour was up and they started to pack away their things.

“Are we training tonight?” he asked Severus.

“If you wish. Just let me know before you come down. Bring your friends if you want.”

“Ok, in that case I’ll see you later.”

Picking up his bag he followed Ron and Hermione out of the door.

“Come on, I want to see who the new DADA tutor is,” he said, grabbing hold of Hermione's hand and dragging her out of the dungeons.

“Oi! Get back here with my girl,” shouted Ron.

“Nope, she’s mine now,” he laughed as he pulled her along. He wasn’t paying attention and nearly ran smack into the two little girls he’d seen the day before at the sorting.

They were walking hand in hand once more, talking and giggling, they’d even swapped ties at some point. When Harry stopped just short of running into them, they looked at him and smiled, before giggling a bit more and moving on, whispering behind their hands.

“See, that’s how the whole school should be,” he said to Hermione.

“You never know, this year might be different,” she said.

“Yeah, I hope so. Come one I want to get there before anyone else does.”

Soon enough they reached the DADA corridor and had nearly reached the door when they heard a loud crash.

“PADFOOT!” came an exasperated cry.

“Did I just hear that right?” asked Harry, moments before a large black dog came barreling out of the door, closely followed by a book.

“Sirius!” he cried running full pelt towards the dog, which quickly changed back into a tall and slightly ruffled looking man.

“Pup!” he cried, sweeping Harry into a tight hug.

“Sirius get back in here and clean up this mess,” came the other voice again.

“Oops, the wife calls. Come on you can try and placate him, he grinned.

Walking through the door they saw Remus stood over a pile of broken glass and a rapidly spreading pool of water.

“Pup!” cried Remus when he saw them.

“Hi Remus,” said Harry as he hugged the other man.

“Sirius clean that up and you tell me where you’ve been pup,” he said, pulling Harry over to his desk.

“I can’t really tell you now but I’ll stick around at the end of the lesson and explain everything, ok?” he said.

“I’ll hold you to that, in fact I’ll get lunch sent down and we can all go to our quarters and catch up. Is that alright with everyone?”

“Sure. Ron, Hermione, is that alright with you two?”

“Yeah, sounds good,” they said.

“Ok, lunch it is then.”

In the time that they’d been talking, Sirius had cleaned up the spilled water and repaired the broken tank. He now sat reclined in the chair behind the desk, hands behind his head and feet up on the polished wood surface.

“Feet down Sirius,” said Remus.

“Awww… you’re so grumpy today Moony,” he pouted.

“Sirius you are a Professor now. Act like one.”

“Wait, are you teaching DADA Sirius,” asked Harry.

“We both are. It’s going to be a joint class,” grinned Sirius.

“Fantastic!” said Ron, just as the first few students started to trickle in.

The class was mostly Gryffindors, with just a few people missing who had left the school completely, who had got into the class because of Harry and the DA. There were a few Slytherins but not many, including Pansy, Blaise and Draco, who once again turned up last, almost late for a second time. As everyone took their seats, Ron, Harry and Hermione sat right at the front, Remus stood up and addressed the class.

“As I’m sure many of you know I’m Professor Lupin. I recognize most of your faces from before and yes everything your parents told you about me is true. I am infected with the Lycanthropy virus but no I won’t be trying to savage you any time soon. Instead I’ll leave that to my colleague,” he said with a smile, handing the floor to Sirius.

“Hi all, I’m Professor Black and yes I am ‘that’ Black, but d no need to worry, that was just a mix up and a bit of a rat problem so I won’t be coming to blow you up into small chunks while you sleep. I’m afraid that your parents will have to have you back in one piece… well mostly,” he grinned, making the Gryffindors laugh, most of who had met him when he’d come to visit Harry after he’d been cleared.

“Now this year will be taught by both of us and we’ll be trying to cram as much as possible due to previous… errr… errors, shall we say. Unfortunately that means a pop quiz, but before you moan half of them are multiple choice and we just need to know what you know so that we can figure out what topics we can skim and what we need to go more in depth into,” Remus said as he levitated a stack of parchments throughout the room.

“Ok, you can have the full two hours so get started,” said Sirius with another broad smile.


------------------------------------x------------------------------------

To the reviewers who put up with my incessant ramblings

Dragonsnurse -- omg *hugs you till you pop* a cello! you have no idea what that did to my brain! i thought of someone to add to the list as well... Haji... haji plays the cello and he is GOD! a cello will hopefully make an appearance and what the heck i might try and slip the stargate in there somewhere aswell just because i'm a fan... you could add jack tot hat list as well if you want *realises that she has an older men fetish* hmmmm... strange... what kind of archaeologist carries a gun.... ermmm, i do.... ok bad example.... ahahahahaha that bit made me laugh like a drain! as for my exams... i do hope i pass!

ladyroo88 -- don't worry the time is getting nearer! it will be in chapter 32!! that's just two chapters away! depending on how much i get typed tonight dictates whether i get it up... possibly tommorrow.... if not thursday hopefully but definatly by the end of the week! thankies for the cookies and the hug *passes a lemondrop to her mouse friend* he says thank you as well

bumblebee -- hehe i take you up on that promise! it really is fantastic! and not two chapters, but three!

Kurai -- oh i am so far ahead of you on that one i am afraid. i've just written that bit in my notebook and draco plays a BIG part. he shakes things up quite a bit *evil laugh* mwahahahaha as for ron and hermione... ewwww! i'm not sure why but that just squicks me out! lol

Werewolf Mistress -- calm down calm down! *hands you a smoking cup of wolfsbane* that'll help. it's not for a while and it's not as bad as you think but he is a right bastard when it happens. as for filch and his broom.... that's truly sadistic even by my standards!

dominique -- two chapters, just two chapters!!

Mie -- lol boozy archaeologists rock! *swigs her beer* hick.... hot potatoe chips?! what the heck is a hot potatoe chip? just hot as in chilli spicy? ehehe oh funny idea...! *smirks at evil plan* poor poor severus. as for the dagger you get to find out about it in five chapters, everything will be explained then and ron's reaction is in seven chapters... there that's something to look forward to isn't it?

Amanda Rose -- *since she can't steal the llama she sneaks in and steals the weapons* i have a weapon fetish... and if you may not have guessed an older man fetish but don't worry llama is safe. you like my DA account?! awww shucks it ain't that good!!

kaasan -- two chapters! in two chapters love will emerge!!

TWO CHAPTERS PEOPLE!! i might put the next one up tonight as it's only a short one but then the next one is the biggy... for now at least.

enjoy and don't forget suggestions... i've got some weird ones so far!