12

Chapter 12: Boggarts and Detective Snape

"So shall we begin?" Lupin asked jovially. The boggart was back in its wardrobe, but shook menacingly from within. "Because there are so many of us, it will be confused as to whom to turn to first. I shall call each of you forward when it's your turn to face the boggart, but first, I would like for all of you to think about what frightens you most and how you will transform it to make it comical."

Uneasy faces slowly closed their eyes as they thought. Hasan however, was looking blankly ahead. What scared him most? Voldemort? Dementors? Altair dead? Him dead? Draco hating him? Time? Honestly, how open ended could you get? But he wasn't about to ask the professor to define what 'terrifying' meant. He knew what it meant- he wasn't an idiot, it was just...what was it that scared him the most? Alice in Wonderland? Having this all be a dream? Waking up on Red Mill's Hill? Or better yet...having Dumbledore appear...or Sauron appear with his Nazgûls. No wait- that would just be awesome.

The heads around him began to pop up as they finished their battle plans, rolling up their sleeves and muttering riddikulus beneath their breath. Draco's head rose with a gleam of determination in his silver eyes, and Hasan immediately abandoned his own plotting to wonder what Draco's boggart could be.

"Is everybody ready?" Lupin asked. "Good! Alright, Hermione, if you please. Will you consent to be the first?"

The bushy-haired witch nodded resolutely with a clenched jaw. She strode to the front of the room, brandishing her wand in front of her.

"On the count of three...one...two...three!"

The wardrobe was blasted open by another spell, when none other than stern-eyed Professor McGonagall stepped out, looking sorely disappointed as she gazed down into Hermione's eyes. The aged woman shook her head sadly, holding up Hermione's end-of-term report card.

"I am sorry, Miss Granger, but you have failed! I am very disappointed in you! Do you know I always thought you didn't have it in you, being a muggleborn and all-"

Hermione staggered, harshly biting her lip. "R-riddikulus!"

A thin stream of light hit the boggart on target with a loud Crack! Immediately, boggart-McGonagall smiled radiantly as she held up a shiny new award. On the plaque was Valedictorian, Hermione Granger, although no one but Hermione really paid that much attention.

Remus clapped his hands. "Simply wonderful, Hermione! Ron, you next!"

The pleased brunette and terrified ginger swapped places and the boggart instantly latched onto its next victim. Where once was the professor, now stood a menacing black spider with long, sharp pincers, ready to gut the red-head from the inside out. He swallowed.

"Remember the charm!" Lupin called pointers from the side as the boy held up his wand. It took Ron a few moments before he gathered his courage and shouted:

"Riddikulus!"

Crack! The spider's legs disappeared, leaving the large and helpless black body to roll around, shrieking pitifully.

"Good! Neville, up! Have courage!"

Ron went back into the crowd, ready to see what the Boy-Who-Lived feared most. Neville, meanwhile, had sprung forward on bravado he clearly did not have, but was attempting to appear as if he had it as per Professor Dumbledore's orders.

The boggart rematerialized as the Neville's Gran, tears running down her face. She wore a long green robe, a vulture hat, and the large red handbag that Hasan had seen at the party.

"How could you, Neville?" she yelled in fury, "Your parents? You're lucky they can't understand a single thing anymore! They would be so disappointed if they knew! You're a disgrace!" she spat, and choked on her own tears. "A disgrace!"

Neville began to tremble as Professor Lupin gazed on worriedly. Should he step in? Save the poor kid? No! Professor Dumbledore had told him to let the child grow without interference (the hypocrite). Remus sighedandsilently prayed to Merlin for reprieve.

Neville wet his lips, eyes darting around nervously on the edge of a panic attack. But before Lupin could do much more than think, Oh, sod it!, Neville had pointed his wand and muttered-

"Riddikulus!"

Crack!

His Gran remained, but this time with a large smile on her face. A full-bellied laugh erupted from her stoic, and overall, no nonsense features, and Neville found himself chuckling. It proved just how harsh his Gran could be, if her laughing was hilarious for him.

Lupin looked on thoughtfully. That was certainly a turn of events.

Many of the following kids passed by quickly, having some (pitiful, Hasan thought) fear of snakes or dead animals.

The Slytherin girls went in succession: Tracey's was a wasp turned butterfly, Pansy quickly opted for an out, and Daphne's was a drowning kitten. It was rather sad.

"Draco?" Lupin called, tearing his eyes away from the kitten turned lion, licking up the invisible pool it had previously been drowning in.

The Malfoy heir rose elegantly from the crowd, head held high, wand at the ready.

"R-" He wanted to get it over with as soon as possible.

The boggart transformed just then, from the lion to his dead parents on the floor. He leapt back in fright, never imagining such a horror. He had at first thought of a divorce contract, something that would rip his family apart, but nothing near remotely as gory as this.

"Ri-"

His parents' eyes snapped opened, hands reaching up towards Draco's face. The blonde froze, mouth agape. Their faces were so clearly dead, but they continued to reach, as if they were inferi.

"R-" Draco shut his eyes as tears threatened to form.

Was this truly his worst nightmare?

Hasan considered stepping in, but decided that everyone had the right to face their own fears. He was surprised, however, that Draco's family did mean so much to him. Suddenly the dagger, the extension of the Malfoy family, meant so much more.

"Riddikulus!" Draco managed to scream, schooling his features into a typical cold, Slytherin mask.

Crack! His parents were forced into Auror robes, healthy again, and were making crude remarks about the style and fit of the Auror trench coats.

"Typical mum." Draco mutter amused, as the blue-eyed witch rubbed at the hemming distastefully.

"Alright, who haven't I called?" Lupin asked, eyes grazing the crowd. Everyone shook their heads and backed away, leaving one, long haired, jade eyed boy staring blankly at the front. "Ah, yes. Hasan."

The boggart had transformed back into a moon, as Lupin was the closest to it, hovering patiently as the next boy approached. All eyes were on Hasan, trained on his wand which slipped discreetly from his sleeve and into his hand.

"I am curious." Hasan said aloud. "I wonder what it will be."

They gaped.

"You don't know? You didn't guess?" Hermione asked shrilly, thinking back to how horrified she would be if she had been unprepared for combat. Hasan shrugged.

"It was rather an unspecific question." he said with a glance towards the werewolf. Lupin was looking at him curiously as if seeing him for the first time. Hmm, so that's what Snape sees in him.

Taking a deep breath, Hasan strode forward, jade eyes trained dully on the moon. The boggart seemed to sense him for it zoomed forward and changed with a crack...

The entire room gasped in one collective breath, mouths hanging open, eyes bugging out...

Harry Potter.

Well this is interesting, Hasan thought as he studied the twelve-year-old before him. Harry had grown to the same height as Hasan, but with vibrant emerald eyes and uncontrollable, wild, raven black hair in place of his dull jade and long thick brown. Boggart-Harry didn't speak, (thank Merlin!) But he smiled gently with a tilt of his head.

"Th-That's Harry Potter!" Neville screamed, mouth hanging widest of them all.

"Blimey! Do you see his scar? It's really him!"

"Look! He's got the scar!"

"And glasses!"

"Do you see those eyes?"

"Like emeralds!"

Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Draco were gaping at Hasan.

"That's Hasan's worst fear?" they echoed, frowning in various states of confusion.

Hasan glanced, rather bored, at Professor Lupin. The man himself was moving his jaw, up and down, grinding his bones, though no words came out. He couldn't bring himself to speak. Finally, he just winced: This would be all over school tomorrow... And how did Hasan know what Harry Potter looked like? It was all so confusing, so emotionally agitating...this was James' son. The very first time he saw Harry since their deaths...and it was in the form of Hasan's boggart.

Boggart-Harry-Potter raised a gentle hand and waved elegantly, a charming smile painted serenely on his face, like an angel had painted it on a whim. The boy pushed back his wild fringe, revealing the pale skin of his forehead and the bold, lightning bolt scar. The class ogled at it for a good minute before boggart-Harry moved on and brought his hand up to his lips. With practiced grace that sent the girls hiding their blush behind their hands, Harry sent them all a single flying kiss.

"Ooohh!" Parvati breathed, before promptly clutching her heart. Lavender Brown beside her simply melted.

"Isn't he gorgeous?"

"Beautiful, I'd say!"

Ah! Now it makes sense, Hasan thought. The attention. Being in the spotlight. The arrogance. With an easy flick of his wand he said steadily,-

"Riddikulus."

CRACK! Harry Potter smirked one last time before he too disappeared, leaving behind a single golden ring which dropped to the floor with a ping. Hasan's eyes widened. It was all true. He wanted nothing more than for Harry Potter, the essence of Harry Potter to just disappear. Become invisible. And it was hilarious, because he was Harry! And Harry Potter only represented the golden boy image, when really Hasan was the real Harry Potter all along!

The room fell silent as they gazed on the golden ring, the intricate script running about it. It even seemed that the room became depressed, wishing that they could gaze upon the charming Harry Potter all day long. When suddenly a peal of laughter rang throughout the room. Hasan laughed! For the first time, he let a genuine peal of laughter slip from his lips.

"Oh! Oh! Merlin!" He doubled over, smiling broadly. "C'est vrai! (It's true)"

Crack! The boggart vanished in a great grey poof, escaping the tinkling laughter generated by this one boy!...

Silence.

The children gazed on puzzled, and yet disappointed. Harry Potter? It finally hit then and they stared at Hasan with a mixture of shock and horror. How could this one boy possibly know what Harry Potter looked like when no one had seen him in years? And why was he something to fear? And what was that ring?

Lupin loudly cleared his throat.

"Well done, Hasan." he said slowly, suspicious and sad and angry and happy and very very confused. "Well done."

Hasan remained impassive.

"Class dismissed." Remus said quickly, with a flick of his hands.

.oOo.

Remus sat with his head in his hands. What the hell had he just witnessed? Dumbledore was convinced that Harry Potter was dead and continued to bolster Neville Longbottom as the Boy-Who-Lived. And yet, something wasn't quite right. It seemed perfectly feasible that the prophecy had referred to Neville, but every time his name was mentioned in the staffroom, there was a niggling feeling that they knew something Remus didn't. It wasn't so hard to figure out that Harry Potter was missing and that Neville was a ruse. But then, why did everyone play along? Neville especially? The answer came easily to his mind: Augusta Longbottom. Her approval meant everything. So then, if Neville couldn't save them, then why weren't they looking for the Harry? Dumbledore insisted that they had been making annual trips to Surrey ever since last year! But that was a pitiful excuse, even by Dumbledore's standards.

So why had Hasan's boggart turned into the Boy-Who-Lived? A perfectly healthy, twelve year old one at that. Was the boy alive? Hiding?

Remus had a headache. The full moon was coming soon and Sirius was to substitute while he was out. Remus only hoped that his mate wouldn't set the children back too much...but that was wishful thinking.

Again, Hasan shoved himself up to the forefront of his mind...Should he tell Albus? Decidedly not. With the choices the headmaster had made lately, Remus was beginning to wonder if the man was just getting too old. Then Severus Snape, the boy's head of house, perhaps?

Come to think of it, perhaps he should ask Snape about Hasan. He hadn't remembered a Castell in his time at Hogwarts, so maybe the boy was not native to Britain? Perhaps his family taught that Harry Potter was someone to be feared? A baby that could defeat a Dark Lord? Obviously dangerous!

But this explanation didn't seem to make sense either. The boy hadn't even seemed scared! Just-just blank. Oddly blank, always blank. Even on the train...

Lupin sighed and got up with obvious effort. He might as well go down to see Snape now...for the Wolfsbane potion, of course.

.oOo.

Snape had had an irritating day with the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs causing their cauldrons to overflow. Then again, he'd just make Ron Weasley (there were too many of them, he certainly didn't use his given name out of endearment) scrub them during detention. Yes, that was a good plan.

After dinner, Severus had immediately swept to his private potions lab, attached to his office, to brew one Remus Lupin one dose of Wolfsbane potion. He couldn't stand Albus' constant praise of the Golden Boy anymore! A pointed glare at Lupin confirmed his appointment to pick it up later that night, but something in his eyes made Snape pause. Surely the werewolf had nothing to confide in him! Him of all people! What with his mutt at home, why talk to the greasy bat of the dungeons? In fact, why not talk to Albus if something was troubling him?

Gryffindors, they never made sense.

He ladled the finished potion into a discreet mug, and cleaned the lab with a flick of his wand, before exiting into his office. His thoughts dwelled on Lucius, Altair, and Hasan. The Dark Lord wasn't far off the mark too, but mainly, he was concerned about the first. During the summer, he had been at the manor nonstop, helping Draco with his transformation preparation, and assisting Lucius (or rather, not assisting Lucius) in cracking the code of his flashbacks. After his visit with Narcissa, however, he hadn't been called back once. No firecall, no spur of the moment floo visit, nothing. Had he given up, just like that? Or had something happened that he wasn't prepared to share with Severus?

As for the Castell's, Hasan was acting as normal as usual, which was decidedly abnormal, and had not contacted him so far for any reason. Then again, school had just started, so perhaps later? Altair was completely MIS. Raven, it seemed, no longer knew the location of the man, and had refused taking the potions bag, period. It grudgingly did so one day, just to return with it two hours later...it seemed Altair was cutting off all ties, even with Severus.

So Lucius was silent, Altair was missing...it was hard to believe they weren't connected. But there was no way Severus could demand to know for sure. He couldn't even interrogate the kids, because they were sure to know nothing. Well, maybe he'd ask Hasan, but he was sure that that would be a dead end.

Somewhere in his musings, the door had creaked open and the brown haired professor had slinked through.

"Lupin." Severus sneered, thrusting the mug into the other's hands. Remus blinked in surprise, but remained standing. "What?"

The werewolf took a deep breath before starting. Severus raised a supercilious eyebrow.

"I...I wasn't sure who to tell." Lupin confessed quietly, locking and warding the room with a fluid sweep of his wand.

"Why not tell your mutt?"

"I think the word you're looking for is mate, Severus, but I haven't even told Dumbledore."

Oh, now this was interesting.

"And what would you be hiding from the headmaster that you would willingly tell me?"

"It's about Hasan." Remus blurted. Severus blinked.

"Indeed. Pray continue."

"And Harry Potter." Remus finished quickly.

Another puzzle piece?

"What?" Snape said sharply. "What has Hasan got to do with the golden boy?"

Remus swallowed. "I thought Neville was-"

Snape rolled his eyes, "Surely you've realized by now it's all a farce. A worthy decoy for time if we actually spent it on finding that damnable Potter," Snape hissed bitterly, "but certainly not a flawless cover. Now how is Hasan related to Harry Potter?"

"Er, that's the thing," Remus said, grabbing a seat across the desk. "I don't know. I've actually had to cast a low level mass obliviation on the class...I'm not particularly proud about that, but I couldn't let them all go running, now could I?"

Ah! So that's why he couldn't speak to Albus: memory tampering of any kind was strictly forbidden. And Lupin was already on his first and last strike because of what he was. Severus' lip curled, feeling more comfortable now that Lupin had only come to him because of lack of options, and not because they were magically friends. Then again, why not ask Minerva? She wasn't exactly happy with the headmaster at the moment and could probably keep a secret better than anyone...

"Lupin, slow down! What happened in class today?"

"Boggarts."

Snape's already pale disposition drained of color. "Hasan Castell's boggart-"

"Was Harry Potter, yes." Lupin finished uneasily. "As head of house, you see why I've come to you. Perhaps you can tell me something of the boy's past?"

No, no he couldn't see why the wolf had come to him of all people. And no, no he couldn't tell of the boy's past! Snape summoned his firewhiskey from the cabinet, uncorked it and poured a glass for each of them.

"Perhaps you can tell me everything." Snape suggested smoothly to the stunned wolf's face. Snape had offered him alcohol. Severus Snape. Lupin took a long draught. Better, much better. His breath was warm as he began.

"He- Hasan was, well, I called him up, and it became Harry Potter. I would have recognized him anywhere. He's exactly like J-james (stuttering because he was sad and because he didn't want Snape to toss him out), b-but I couldn't get a good view of his face, I saw the scar and, well I was just too...in shock to move and get a 360 view." Remus defended mildly, "But, he was charming. Exactly like his father...pulling back his black fringe to reveal his scar, and blowing kisses. I was afraid some of the girls would faint..."

Potter! Bloody attention seeking Potter! Why bother looking for the boy when he was clearly off being pampered somewhere- NO! This was just a boggart, just a boggart. Besides, Harry wasn't James anyway, not with the relatives he grew up with. Snape took a deep breath, careful not to take any whiskey as he continued the interro- er- conversation.

"How did he rid of it?" Severus queried innocently. "What happened after the incantation, you did let him finish it, didn't you?" Snape asked with a pointed look.

He was half worried that Lupin had stepped in. Half of learning about someone's fears was how they absolved them.

"Of course," Lupin said. "Everyone has a right to face their fears." He took another sip of the fiery liquid and Snape noticed it was nearly empty. "Well, he shouted the spell and we all heard something small and hard hit the floor with a 'ping!' Hasan seemed to smile at it, I think it was a ring, oddly enough. The whole class went silent for a moment and then, out of nowhere, he just started laughing."

"Thank you." Severus said finally, and escorted the man to the floo. Lupin seemed a bit bemused that Snape wanted him out right away, but he was too sad to ponder the Potions Master's silly behavior. The DADA professor disappeared in a flash of flames, leaving Snape to contemplate in solitude.

A ring? A ring? Where had he heard of a ring before? He stumbled wearily into his bedchambers, wondering when everything had gotten so complicated. And of course, Albus didn't see a thing. Nobody did. Nobody but Snape.

He flicked his hair clean with a spell, but it would take more than that to get the years of potion residue off of them. With a sigh, he dressed and lay wide awake in bed. And then it hit him.

The Lord of the Rings.

.oOo.

There was double Potions with the Slytherins the next day, and Ron was less than happy. He grumbled about it all through breakfast until Hermione finally got fed up and left to go find Hasan at the Slytherin table. Ron shrugged, callously as ever: He had really tried that first year to be more sensitive and polite, but even after helping the queer quartet, they had left him behind in their moment of glory. His mother, Molly Weasley, had been very thankful he had not followed the others, but Dumbledore was less than pleased.

He wanted Neville to make friends with the Weasley's, not shun them! Unfortunately, Molly hadn't cared about Dumbledore's opinions when it came to the safety of her children, and Dumbledore sighed, 'another piece lost.' Yet, his hope had revived with the introduction of the youngest Weasley. Miss Ginevra was a true treasure, really, latching onto Neville Longbottom like an elegant parasite.

As Hermione left the Gryffindors in a huff, Neville's eyes had followed longingly after her, but couldn't move due to a certain manacle- er, menace, known as Ginny Weasley. Believe it or not, Neville was quite happy to go to Potions because it meant he would be seeing Hasan again. He wasn't sure why he had this desire to talk to him, but he had a feeling it had something to do with yesterday's DADA lesson. Come to think of it, what had happened?

"Nevillllle! You didn't answer my question!" Ginny whined. "Why aren't you trying out for quidditch?"

"Oh, er. I don't feel too comfortable with dementors flying around." Neville said absently. This seemed to sate the young witch for she stopped her infernal pouting.

"You know you can let yourself be Neville when you're around me." she said quietly. "I know I said it before, but I want you to understand, I really want to be your friend."

"Er, yeah...wait, what?" Neville turned to her and she blushed.

"I live in a house full of guys. I don't have anyone to talk to!"

"You...do know I'm a guy, right?"

"Of course I do, silly! But you're not my brother. So what do you say, friends?" Her face was so sincere and hopeful that Neville actually returned the smile.

"Sure, Ginny."

She sat right up and gave him a hug.

"Thanks, Neville." she breathed in his ear. Neville thought her warm breath lingered there a heartbeat longer than necessary.

Across the table, Ron was still blabbering about Professor Snape to Dean Thomas, and anyone else who would listen.

"...and his hair is so greasy!..."

.oOo.

Luna was sitting next to Cho Chang again, listening to the same Cedric-Diggory-Loves-Me speech for the umpteenth time. Her eyes caught Hermione as she huffed away from Ron, and she decided to go for a little trip too.

"Love is wonderful isn't it?" Luna asked to no one in particular and rose to follow the brunette witch.

"Ah! I know!" Cho said dreamily, not even noticing Luna was gone and instantly began chatting with Penelope Clearwater. It just so happened that Penelope was also in the throes of love...

"Hello Luna, Hermione." Hasan murmured without turning around.

"Morning, Hasan. Ron is such a prat." Hermione growled.

"Tell me about it!" Theo called from across the table. Tracey smirked as Hermione's cheeks lit up. Theo smiled further and invited the girl to sit with them, which she took up readily.

"Hello Hasan." Luna said sweetly.

Hasan decided it was only proper manners to turn around at this point in the conversation. He locked her with a warm smile that never quite reached his jaded eyes.

"How did you know it was Luna?" Draco asked quietly.

Hasan shrugged. "Who else would say love is wonderful? The tables aren't exactly soundproof."

Draco accepted this and returned to his breakfast of waffles.

"Hasan," Luna whispered, "I sensed a mild obliviate during yesterday's DADA. I think it's best to leave things be. No use stirring up oil and water, they'll just separate."

An obliviate?

"Lupin..." Hasan breathed. Who else would have done this? And why? And how did Luna know anyway?

Hasan had, admittedly, thought it odd that no one had brought his boggart up yet, but hadn't suspected the werewolf to be the cause of it.

Luna nodded. "I'm not sure what happened. Perhaps I'll explain it to you later." she said thoughtfully. "Oh, and bonne chance with Potions today. Professor Snape is particularly informed, don't you think?"

With that, Luna waved good-bye and returned to the Ravenclaw table. Hasan poked at his sausage.

.oOo.

Double Potions with the Gryffindors no less! Professor Snape was not a happy camper. That irritating know-it-all, Miss Granger continued to mumble instructions to Neville all class, and Severus was under strict instructions from the headmaster not to interfere. How was this helping the boy to grow? The bushy haired witch practically did everything for him!

On the other side of the classroom worked the Slytherin duo of Hasan and Draco, mincing diligently at the salamander skin. Beside them were Tracey and Daphne, and then Theo and Blaise. Pansy was stuck with Millicent, and of course, Crabbe and Goyle were botching their stew in the back.

Severus' keen onyx eyes passed discreetly over Hasan as he scanned the room. The boy's long brown braid fell down his back, tied by a thick brown ribbon. He worked perfunctorily, yet perfectly, in a rhythm of a true potions prodigy. Perhaps he could question Hasan under the guise of tutelage? Suddenly, dull green eyes were upon him and he stalked over to inspect their potion.

"If you could see me after class, Mr. Castell?" Snape said nearly inaudibly.

Draco looked up surprised as Hasan gave a curt nod. Was Hasan in trouble? What was going on?

"I'll stay." Hasan whispered, and continued to flawlessly dissect the spine of his lionfish.

Draco added three drops of rose oil, and their potion turned from brown to a vibrant viridian blue.

"Weasley!" Snape barked, striding away with his robes billowing behind him. Ron gulped and accidentally added the whole phial of rose oil. His murky yellow creation began to bubble violently, before dowsing him, his partner Lavender Brown, and Seamus in a blistering red concoction. "50 points from Gryffindor! Mr. Longbottom, if you could escort them to the Hospital Wing?" Snape snapped, whipping his wand around to get rid of the dangerous fluid.

Draco snickered in his sleeve but stopped as he caught Hasan's gaze. It wasn't even that Hasan was looking down at him disapprovingly or judging him for him immaturity, but that he was so emotionless, it made Draco feel silly. Stupid even. He stopped laughing awkwardly, quickly resuming the crushing of his figs.

Hasan shrugged. Maybe there was hope for the Malfoy heir after all.

Once the little cretins had run out of the room, Severus Snape stepped up to the very last occupant- Hasan Castell. He was carefully slipping his Potions text in his bag, taking his time to make sure all his quills were stashed neatly, before pivoting to face the Potions master.

Hasan waited patiently for the man to start, not really knowing why he had been held back, but making the correlation between Luna's cryptic remark, and Snape's analytical gaze.

"Hasan, it has become increasingly clear that you show a great aptitude for potions."

Hasan...the man had used his name, his first name...and complimented him. Both of which were unheard of, made even more special by the fact that Hasan had received but a handful of compliments in his life. (Not that Hasan really minded. He enjoyed to blend in the background.) But then...both at once? Hasan narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Clearly this man was after something.

So the real question was: Should he confront the man about the boggart? Or see where his head of house went with this?

The latter was decidedly more likeable.

"Thank you, sir." he said passively, biting his lip to appear less like a threat.

Snape nodded and continued. "Not many possess such skill and I would like to offer my private instruction to help guide you."

"Are these lessons to take place inside your private potions lab?" Hasan wondered idly.

"Yes. Though I have yet to work out a schedule."

"So this was spur of the moment, Professor?" Hasan probed, "You have just come to the conclusion that I deserve private training?"

"No, I have noticed it for a while now."

"Which is all very well, except that I don't believe you want to only talk about potions, is it Professor?" Hasan said lightly. "You see, I'm going to have to gracefully decline your offer. But if it will make you feel any better, I am more than happy to answer any questions that may be concerning you. For a trade, of course."

Severus only refrained from gaping at the child from his long years as spy. How had the child deduced everything so simply? Well, there was no need to keep the charade up. Plus, he was too busy with everything going on now, to designate a night every week for some farce.

"Alright. What is it you propose?" Severus asked, the Slytherin inside of him rejoicing at the prospect of an equal- no, not equal! The boy was twelve for Salazar's sake!

"I want to cast a corporeal Patronus. I'm sure you could teach me."

A Patronus? That wasn't even remotely feasible! For a child? Then again, a voice said, he had learned to become an Animagus.

"I could. But what use would it be if all my endeavors come to nothing?" Snape spoke quietly.

"You wish to know my Animagus form?" Hasan queried. "Perhaps I'll even give you a demonstration. When is the earliest we can meet?"

Snape thought a moment. Dumbledore had him reviving some club or other, and Lupin needed a potion brewed every month. Suspicion couldn't be aroused by meeting too often or too late...

"November 7th, three pm, on a Saturday." Snape replied. "And I don't need to explain to you to be discreet, do I Hasan?"

"Was that rhetorical or sarcastic?" Hasan wondered evenly as he grabbed his schoolbag. "Well, à bientôt, Monsieur. I'll see you soon."

.oOo.

What was left of September swept past in a flurry of homework and classes. Sirius Black had indeed made an appearance, but only for a day, as Professor Lupin was eager to get back to teaching. He looked a bit worse for wear on Tuesday, but otherwise betrayed no signs of serious illness. Hasan himself was impressed at the man's perseverance, but quickly figured out that the man must be taking the Wolfsbane potion (accounting for the early recovery), and the most likely candidate for brewing that was Professor Snape.

So then, why was it that Snape and Lupin seemed to resent each other? Pointedly ignoring each other during meals despite sitting next to one another? When Black came in, Snape hadn't been to the Great Hall once. Hasan concluded that Snape didn't like them much, probably from their own time at Hogwarts, and that Severus then disliked his birth father, James Potter. It was pretty straight forward: Lupin, Black, Pettigrew, and Potter were friends. Snape shows signs of extreme dislike towards Black, and tolerance towards Lupin, and it wasn't rocket science to guess that Snape felt similarly for James Potter as well. Except for the simple fact that James was dead.

Hasan found these details rather annoying. Now his conjecture could be proven false by some wildcard like murder! Hasan sighed. So what if Snape hated James Potter?...

.oOo.

The Halloween feast was comparably duller than last year. Orange and black streamers, animated bats, dramatic ghosts...it was all back to normal, and Hasan found himself thinking what a great waste of time it all was. What with no troll and all, the festivities were downright boring. He slipped from the feast with Draco, walking up a flight of stairs to hide from the view of the Great Hall.

"We need to get familiar with our Animagus transformations," Hasan whispered evenly, "A place where Neville can concentrate in peace and time stands still."

He had been wondering when they could begin training all through September, but hadn't yet found an adequate venue, nor a time to converse privately with Draco without causing suspicion.

"I've heard of such a room, called the come-and-go room by the house-elves." Draco informed him thoughtfully. "I've got a house-elf, perhaps he will know-?"

He looked to Hasan for confirmation before commanding, "Dobby!"

With a sudden crack, a little elf with large green eyes and floppy ears appeared before them, in a pressed white pillowcase and holding a pan of...bacon?

"Oh! Master Draco, sir!" His already large eyes dilated to the size of tennis balls and he tried to vanish the pan before questions arose.

"Wait!" Draco shouted, then changed to a whisper, "Wait! Dobby, where were you? We don't eat bacon." he told Hasan beside him. He remembered vaguely a rant about unnecessary oils and fats...

The house-elf muttered some things, head twitching back and forth in a rather physical inner debate.

"Dobby was not forbidden to tell you, Master Draco, but Master Draco should be keeping it secret, yes? Oh! Bad Dobby! Bad! Making requests of Master-!"

He scrambled to the stone wall and started banging his head profusely against it. Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hasan looked on with a shrug. Yes, he could see where Hermione could be offended, but this was Wizarding culture. Ethnocentricity wouldn't get one anywhere. So he stood back and watched with rapt interest. They were nothing like Tolkien elves...

"Uh! No, Dobby, quiet! Stop punishing yourself!"

Dobby stood rigid at once, but his pupils looked longingly towards the wall.

"Dobby, I need you to tell me where you were. I promise not to tell anyone without reason, alright?"

And then...his eyes began to water, "Oh, Master Draco is so kind! Dobby has been staying with his other Master. Dobby be belonging to the House of Black so Dobby been with-"

"Sirius Black." Hasan supplied in a bored voice. "And the other Master? You mentioned plural?"

Draco turned towards Hasan sharply as if forgetting he was there.

"Oh," Dobby said. "I had been staying with the Professor Remus Lupin."

Draco staggered back. "Whoa so the rumors are true!"

Hasan, who had never heard the rumors, had already figured out that Lupin and Black knew each other. How well exactly was now tacked onto their mental files.

"Dobby, do you know of the come-and-go room? I need to use it." Hasan asked briskly.

The house-elf nodded vigorously, "Yes, Dobby be knowing where the Room of Requirement is! It is on the seventh floor corridor, on the left! Across from the portrait of dancing trolls!"

"Wait, Dobby, there's no room in that hallway-" Draco cut in suspiciously.

"It's called the come-and-go room for good reason, Master Draco. You must walk up and down the hall three times thinking hard about what it is that Master Draco needs. Best be specific-oh!" Dobby made a hasty bow and retreated with a, "Be having good luck!"

After the elf's departure with a crack, Draco turned disbelieving eyes to Hasan.

"He's been to see Sirius Black!"

"But more importantly," Hasan steered him on topic, "Is that we now have a room." A room that would encompass anything you wanted...who else had found the room? Used the room? For what purpose? Did the teachers know? How many of the students knew?

"Hello Hasan, Draco!" a kind voice broke them of their thoughts. They turned to find Luna walking towards them. "If it's wanting to know the secrets of the castle, I think the twins would be helpful." She giggled and added, "but I'm not sure why. Ask them for a spare bit of parchment after class I suppose."

Luna turned to leave but Hasan reached out to stop her. She raised an eyebrow in surprise and Hasan hastily continued.

"Four doses. Draco, me, Neville, you." He had to be discreet, for the walls had ears and eyes, but Luna was great at giving puzzles if not equally great at solving them.

"Oh!" Her face brightened and she leapt to hug Hasan quickly around the waist. "I can learn with Neville! Sometimes he works better when the attention isn't on him. Have you noticed?"

Luna practically skipped back to the Great Hall leaving Draco to gape in her wake.

"Perhaps we should wait a month?" Draco wasn't sure he could handle more Luna Lovegood.

"Sure, pourquoi pas? Why not?"

Draco sagged in relief, and together, they trudged down two flights to the dungeons.

.oOo.

Altair Castell sat with Tina on his arm while he stared at the letter in front of him. Lucius Malfoy was cooperating nicely, but what now? Altair was never one to have a backup plan, but in this case, he had several. You could say this was his life's work- that his entire existence- built up until this pinnacle of time.

Basically, how much should Altair tell him and how much would he learn from what was told? Or what he was told to do? He began to write:

"Dear Lucius,

I will answer yours first on the faith that you will do as I wish. Fail to complete the task and you will no longer have this source of information. Need I repeat this is a onetime offer?

Your memories have been reaped to protect you from the knowledge acquired in those seven years. The glimpses from them are the emotions and memories that have latched themselves to your very magic- in other words, not even obliviate can remove them completely."

Altair paused: was this too much information? Could he possibly know that Altair had timed these hints to occur within the year? That Altair had been preparing him, enticing him, baiting him? No, Altair shook his head, Lucius was smart, but not that smart.

"Yes, I am the man you saw in Diagon Alley.

And now for my request: How did you meet Narcissa? Answer the question, this is my first task."

Altair strategically refrained from mentioning why he had to know, but also allowed leeway for a lie. Through this first question, Lucius would either lie (taking the answers and running...figuratively), or summon up the courage to take a chance, go out on a limb, and trust this mysterious person and whatever his mysterious motives were. It was asking a lot of the Slytherin, but Altair knew desperation, knew it very well, and knew that Lucius was so starved for knowledge he'd do anything. (Even if it didn't make sense). And really, it wasn't even a hard question!

"Of course I will send my owls at night. I wouldn't want to worry your wife, after all.

Sincerely,

A. Castell"

He tied the letter to a rented owl (he rented a different one every time), and watched it fly out the window.