Wolves in Wizard’s Clothing
Once you were outside of the compartment, a fair distance away from the trio, you poked at your sleeve.
“It’s okay to come out, no one is out here but us it seems.”
You felt Ahira’s head pop out from your sweater’s collar as she slithered just a bit to rest on your shoulder.
“That was awful. Never do I want to experience that again,” she hissed, shaking her head in discomfort. You wondered if snakes could shiver, but pushed the thought aside. You could ask her later.
You chuckled dryly. “There’ll be plenty of chances once we’re at Hogwarts. Dementors as guards remember?”
She let out a hiss, which you guessed had been out of annoyance. No one was enjoying the fact; true it was out of protection by the Ministry, but who were they really being protected against? Black or the dementors themselves? It seemed like either one had its own set of issues and you did not want to wait to figure it out.
“Good to know that I’ll be dorm bound for most of this year. I don’t think roaming the castle is a good idea.”
She was right. Two months of break had not done much to smooth down last school year’s... trauma. However, you didn’t want to leave her at home alone, especially not since both you and your father were going to be at Hogwarts. Luckily, it had been settled during the summer that you were permitted a snake as your familiar after writing a hefty letter to Professor Snape. Technically, she was considered your pet, but the term familiar was a more respectable term (plus Ahira would’ve probably choked you if you ever called her your pet). You had written your letter, asking permission seeing as only a Head of House could allow for special cases. Not long after, he responded with something along the lines of ‘sure, why not, just don’t bother me during break.’ Good thing you didn’t need to persuade him nor McGonagall at all, that saved you time.
You calmly petted Ahira, smoothing the dark black scales you’d grown to associate her with back. She melted at the touch, having been practically pampered like a spoiled child (which she was due to her lack of sight restoration). It seemed that even during the summer she was only able to distinguish blurbs of color from one another. You were still looking for a way to fix her sight, determined to restore it without giving back her petrifying gaze, but it was taking it’s sweet time.
“It’ll be fine, Ahira,” you reassured her. “I’ve been given permission to have you. And for extra measures, I made sure to use a pretty complicated piece of magic to keep the transfiguration under wraps. The professors won’t get suspicious.”
She was still worried, mostly over the fact of her probably being executed if she were found. You couldn’t blame her, you felt the same way knowing that if anyone found out about your lycanthropy, you’d be hunted down... just like her... like a wild beast.
“I can smell the worry radiating off of you,” she said, slowly retreating back into your robes.
You took a second before responding. It was difficult hiding your emotions from her and it was a new feeling hearing them be told to you. You snorted softly. “So can I, guess we’re both not too far from the same tree, huh.”
She didn’t say much after that.
The echoing footsteps made by your boots as you sped-walked down the hallway thrummed in your ears. Every so often you would peek into compartments to see if you could find the two Slytherins. A few minutes went by, apologizing to other students (and asking younger students if they were okay) as you walked past. You twitched your nose, hoping no one would see your odd behavior to catch a scent of either of your friends, seeing as it would be quickest to go by smell.
After what felt like forever, you walked into one of the open doors and caught sight of the two familiar sets of hair, as well as two others who you weren’t expecting to see.
“Hey, are you guys okay?” You breathed out, hands gripping the doorframe. The four of them turned to look at you, immediately losing the last of their tenseness.
Solaris sighed and got up from her seat to engulf you in a hug. “Oh, thank Merlin you’re okay. We were getting worried.”
“I’m fine, Sol. So are the boys,” you reassured her. She let go of you and that’s when you recognized the two other presences in the room. You smirked, “Diggory, Svens! What are you two doing here?”
The two boys stood up, grasping your hand in a firm hold and bumping their arms with yours (individually of course) in a way most quidditch players did. You made sure they didn’t accidentally squish Ahira, that would be a funny thing to explain to them.
“Jus’ caught a compartment with the two when boarding,” Cedric said, sharing a bright smile the Hufflepuff always had on.
The blonde next to Cedric nodded. “Didn’t think we’d catch a glimpse of yours truly at all during the train ride to Hogwarts.”
You scoffed playfully. “Already missing my beautiful face, Svens? That’s a new record.”
The five of you laughed as the tips of his ears reddened a bit from embarrassment. Alexander Svens, a fifth-year who played a Chaser position for the Hufflepuff team took a liking to annoy you — mostly by flirting, but it was consensual between the two of you. It was made aware that neither of you had feelings for the other, and that playful teasing was something the two of you liked to do. Besides, he had his eyes set on nothing but food and sleep… and perhaps working out.
You took a seat next to Solaris, placing your head on her lap as she played with your hair to soothe her nerves. Once everyone was settled from the initial shock, they questioned if you had encountered the dementor on your way here; that’s when you explained what had happened moments prior in your own compartment. Their eyebrows nearly hid themselves at their hairline when you were finished.
“It almost went into your compartment?” Asked Cedric, shivering a bit at the thought of a dementor. “Nasty things they are. My dad had to deal with one once for a Ministry field task —“ He shook his head to clear himself of the thought.
“Yeah, it wasn’t the best experience,” you mumbled as the unsettling feeling the dementor had made you feel washed over you. You pushed it away, deeming it a side effect that was nothing to fuss over, you had a piece of chocolate before finding them anyway. “Luckily it didn’t get close enough to do anything.”
“So they’re here because of Sirius Black?” Asked Solaris, a hint of fear in her voice. “But why would one get onboard? It doesn’t make sense.” No one had an answer to that, it was odd behavior from a dementor, but then again none of you had any real experience with one to know.
“I can’t believe they’ll be at Hogwarts all year. Why would Dumbledore allow something like this?” Adrian groaned as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Alex shared the same annoyance with Adrian, rolling his eyes at what he thought happened this summer. “Dumbledore probably didn’t have a choice. The Ministry must’ve appointed them regardless.”
“Well, whatever the case may be, it’s not going to be a normal year,” Adrian said. You shared a careful glance with him. He wasn’t as shaken up about the events from the year before seeing as he had time over the summer, but it had still taken a toll on everybody involved… you couldn’t blame him.
Cedric scoffed, but softened his voice as he watched the Slytherin. “When has it ever been?”
- - - - -
Dumbledore started with his usual beginning of the year speech except that he added a few more precautions regarding the new security implementations. He hadn’t explicitly told the student body that the dementors were due to Sirius Black’s escape, explaining that it was due to Ministry business, but you already knew (and many could infer on clues). It was a bit unsettling having something cemented as fact, especially that of Sirius Black; the escaped mass murderer was out there, roaming somewhere. Just before the seriousness of the situation muddled everyone’s moods any further, Dumbledore quickly changed the subject.
“On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year,” he announced, “I regret to inform that our beloved Professor Kettleburn has chosen to take retirement at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. I am pleased, however, to welcome Rubeus Hagrid to the open teaching position for Care of Magical Creatures.”
Applause broke from the students, mostly from the Gryffindor table. You clapped along with them of course, zealous for the gamekeeper. He blushed, awkwardly standing up and bowing quickly as he accidentally bumped into the table. Once he sat down and the applause settled, Dumbledore cleared his throat and smiled once more.
“Next, I want to introduce to you Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.”
Fewer students clapped, but did so regardless out of courtesy for the new teacher. You noticed that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville were clapping a bit more than the rest; your heart warmed a bit at that. Anyway, at the mention of your dad’s name, you began to clap harder. It wasn’t difficult to figure out who it was, some of the Slytherins recognized your enthusiasm and clapped with you (some were considerate to at least try and match your par).
Remus stood up at Dumbledore’s introduction and gave a grateful bow towards the students before sitting back down. He was slightly pink at the attention he was receiving from the Slytherin table, especially from you, and scratched his cheek bashfully.
Once business was taken care of, it didn’t take long for people to start digging into the plentiful food served in front of them. Laughter and conversation bloomed at each table as friends were excited to catch up with each other and recount tales from over the summer.
The end of the feast came faster than expected once everyone had finished with dessert. Slowly, each house began to pour out of the Great Hall. You, however, rather than following the rest of the Slytherins down to the dungeons, ran up to the Higher Table and enveloped your dad in a hug.
“Slow down pup, you’ll make me lose my dinner like that,” he said jokingly.
You quickly let go, but kept the same stupidly happy smile you had on all day. “C’mon let's go see your office. I’ll help put your stuff away and organize.”
Remus snickered. “If that’s your way of sneaking around to catch a glimpse of my curriculum you must try harder than that.”
You gasped, placing a hand over your heart and talking with mock hurt. “You think I’d stoop so low as to do that to my own Defense professor? Let alone my own father? Well, you must be surely mistaken because I already did that when I was helping you pack.” You couldn’t help but laugh at the look of annoyance he had over his face. You assured him that you hadn’t, seeing as it would take the fun out of knowing what to expect.
“Oh great, there’s two of them now,” mumbled Snape as he walked over. At the sound of his voice, Remus’ ears perked just slightly as he turned to look at the man. You couldn’t tell the expression your father had on. It was something like a mix of shame and remorse, his movements slow and cautious as if talking with a scared animal.
“Severus, it’s been a while since I’ve last seen you.”
Snape snorted, raking his eyes over Remus’ lanky figure. “Indeed it has. Time has not been kind to you.”
Remus chuckled softly, disregarding the Slytherin’s comment. “Can’t say that it has.”
Snape was about to retort with something else, but you noticed Hagrid making his way over. You smiled at him, ready to congratulate him when he basked the three of you in a tight hug. You and Remus chuckled as Snape rolled his eyes, threatening the man if he weren’t placed down this instant. Hagrid didn’t take the threat seriously, but placed the three of you down after a few seconds.
“Sorry there, professors. Jus’ a bit emotional is all,” he said as he took in a deep breath. You knew Hagrid dreamed of having the position for years, commenting on how exciting it would be to teach students about creatures of all shapes and species. He would shadow Professor Kettleburn for most of his lessons and even helped with caring for the creatures brought in by him.
You grinned at the giant man and patted his arm. “No need to apologize for your excitement, professor.”
That seemed to make him smile even more than he already had been. Hagrid excused himself, explaining how he had to go and make sure his plans were ready for when classes started. “I’m nervous jus’ thinkin’ that I’ll teach students now. I hope this firs’ lesson’s alright.”
“We’re on the same boat here, Hagrid — I should call you professor now shouldn’t I? Well, here’s to the start of our teaching careers,” he said as he shook Hagrid’s hand before he could leave. That left you, your dad, and Snape standing at the High Table.
Snape didn’t stay much longer once Hagrid left, excusing himself quickly about needing to overview his own lesson plans one final time before tomorrow. You didn’t fail to notice the spike in heart rate or the shaky breathing Snape was exhibiting, but didn’t comment on it. There was something else you noticed, a smell of something you found yourself familiar with when young. You glanced at the man beside you, your dad who, on the other hand, seemed to want to say something.
Remus extended his hand to stop Snape from leaving, but the Potion’s teacher was quick to evade it, mumbling a quick goodnight before leaving the hall. You looked at your dad and caught a crestfallen look on his face, which he pushed aside with a soft smile.
“Professor Snape is usually more… tolerable. Dunno what crawled up his a—“ but your dad tsked, cutting your word short.
“It’s fine, Y/N. He’s always been that way when it came to me,” he said softly, his voice almost apologetic. You gave him a questioning look, but he ignored it. “Anyway, we should start heading to the classroom before it gets too late.”
You agreed and followed him out of the Great Hall to the empty DA classroom. A few cleaning and organizational spells did the trick since the room wasn’t too disorderly, seeing as the elves kept up with their work over the summer. Your dad brought a few of his favorite art pieces and hung them up on the empty wall. You helped set up the record player you encouraged him to bring and organized the records that were brought. Soon, the classroom was looking and feeling a bit homier for the two of you.
While organizing some of the other more boring items, you didn’t fail to see the way your dad would stare into nothing, stuck in deep thought before snapping out of his thoughts and panicking at the mess he made. It wasn’t odd of him to do that at times, he regularly seemed to be captivated by memories from his past (something you learned to know because he would talk to you about them). His heart would beat softly whenever he zoned out, pain and heartache wrapped in a blanket called time.
The closest word you could think of was saudade — a word you had read from one of your mother’s traveling journals from the time she spent in Brazil. She wrote it years ago, yet the word fit for a time even now.
It had grown late and you were sure that you would lose house points if you were caught sneaking around late at night. You bid your dad goodnight once you had finished settling everything into his new office and began your trek down towards the dungeons.
Your thoughts went back to Snape’s interaction with your dad. It was usual for him to be curt with others whom he deemed annoying, but he didn’t tend to do that with people whom he worked with, especially not those he knew little of — no wait, you recalled what your dad had let slip earlier.
‘He’s always been that way when it came to me.’
So they knew each other before. Perhaps ended on bad terms if that’s how Snape reacted. You thought back on Snape’s oddness but felt yourself stiffen as you realized what Snape had smelled of earlier. The thought didn’t settle well with your gut the more you thought about it. He had hidden it well, but when it came to hiding emotions from a werewolf, it was all for naught. The increased heart rate… the scent you had smelled earlier, it all accumulated to one thing — fear.