11

Chapter 11: Black and White

"Bye Neville!"

"Bye, Happy Birthday, Neville!"

"Thanks for inviting me!"

"See you later, Golden Boy!"

The guests filed out, activated their portkeys, and were whisked away, leaving behind the forms of Neville, Hasan, Luna, and Draco.

"Can we do it now?" Draco asked impatiently. "Honestly! No Christmas present should be delivered this late! You might as well wait till next Christmas!"

Hasan shrugged, looking at Draco's white-blonde hair in the darkness.

"I suppose that was supposed to be sarcastic?" Hasan questioned innocently.

"Oh, Salazar!" Draco cried out. "Just give me the potions already! I've trained with Sev all summer!"

"You have to see Professor Snape in the summer?" Neville cringed. "Oh, I couldn't deal with that!"

"Well he is my godfather." Draco informed him. "So are we doing this or not?" His eyes strayed to where Luna was busy staring up at the full moon, the light illuminating her pleasant face.

"Oh, I love secrets!" Luna called from her position. She straightened and walked next to Hasan. "I wonder what animal you'll be...I won't tell." Her face was full of hope and trust, and it was mutually decided that she should stay. (Since she knew enough information to indict them anyway.)

"Neville, when you're finished the preparation, you'll do this too." Hasan told him. "But for now, keep it safe, yes?"

Neville nodded as he watched the two Slytherins with interest. Neville and Luna were off to the side as Hasan and Draco backed up into the field. Augusta had already fallen asleep to the rowdy young wizards' chatter, and the night was theirs.

"Bottoms up?" Draco called.

"Yes." Hasan said, and Draco tilted back his head and downed the entire vial.

He shut his eyes, hoping that whatever he was, wasn't hideous. Trust a Malfoy to be concerned about ascetics and not about potentially fatal side-effects...

Draco felt nothing at first as the cool liquid slid down his throat. Then there was a tingling in his fingertips and toes. Hasan, Neville, and Luna waited with baited breath...and then Draco began to glow in soft silver light. The light surrounded him, yet did not cast its glow on any of their surroundings and alert Augusta of their...activities.

Draco gasped audibly as the light went inside of him. What the hell? Was this normal? Sure he had read up on it and all, but no one had mentioned this part! His bones snapped in half, as if an invisible hammer was breaking him and building him back up from the inside out. He couldn't help it- he cried out in agony, though it sounded more like a whine as his legs shortened and pelvis rotated forward...

"Oh my!" Luna gasped, taking in Malfoy's new form.

"Wow." Neville echoed, squinting into the darkness.

Twenty feet in front of them, where a second ago stood a writhing Draco, now sat a gorgeous white lynx. It seemed to smirk at them before licking its large white paw with a deep purr.

"That makes sense. In an odd way." Hasan murmured, looking blankly at the feline. He was certainly large, and majestic, beautiful too, really. Hasan wouldn't put it past him to actually kill someone in this form just to see if he could. "Tu aimes, non?" Hasan asked.

The lynx roared and prowled beside Neville. The Golden Boy reached up tentatively to pet it, and most surprisingly, the lynx lowered its head and complied. After a minute, it shut its large silver eyes, and transformed back into a (thankfully) fully-clothed Malfoy.

"Ha! That was amazing, Hasan." Draco laughed. "Merry Christmas!"

"I'm glad you like yourself." Hasan smiled, before raising the vial to his own lips. The icy potion rolled down the polished glass into Hasan's waiting mouth. He wondered vaguely if being Hasan and not Harry had any bearing on his Animagus form, but didn't have long to think before the sensations took over. Hasan wasn't one that people would usually describe as 'emotionally-in-tune,' in fact, he was downright apathetic. But what people didn't know, was that inside, beneath all those layers of Hasan, was a Harry. Not that they were separate...but Hasan enjoyed the comparison. And currently, Hasan was very much wrapped up in his Harry side. The emotions were overwhelming: his heart, his pulse, the grass, his lungs, his friends.

A light green mist surrounded him. A cry ripped from his lips as his body melted down, shrinking, shrinking, breaking, solidifying. They hadn't said it would be this bad! Granted, only fully grown witches and wizards had undergone the transformation on the record. Still, it would have been nice to have a little warning! His arms shortened, legs shortened, nose elongated...eyes, well he didn't really know.

Suddenly, a squeal shot through the air, accompanied by a peal of laughter.

"Oh, Hasan!" Luna squealed, then laughed with a twinkling sincerity. "Ah! This is wonderful! Absolutely you!"

Neville beside her was squinting. "What the heck, Lumos!...Oh! You've got black fur!"

"Hey, get over here, Hasan! I want to pet you!" Draco laughed as Hasan gaped.

"Aww! He's so cute!" Luna murmured.

Hasan sighed and got to his feet, swishing his fluffy black tail in the air. He turned gingerly, feeling the blades of grass he crushed beneath his padded paws, and blinked at his friends in surprise. They were all watching him with adoration. Was he really that cute? What in Salazar's name was he? He shook his lean body out and sensed a tail, little paws, and a snout. A dog? A kitten?

He stared questioningly at the trio and sat in front of Neville with a flick of his tail. What?

Neville cleared his throat. "Hasan, y-your eyes...they're emerald green."

"It's kind of spooky actually." Draco admitted, reaching out to stroke his little ears.

Well that's just great, Malfoy! Now if you could-?

"I don't know. They're beautiful, Hasan." Luna murmured truthfully. "Like the Avada Kedavra."

The two boys stared at her in shock, gaping candidly as her silvery eyes widened.

"What?" she asked. "The shade is perfect!" Luna reached down and pulled Hasan gently into her lap. Hasan sighed, he couldn't transform back now! "You're much smaller than Draco. I bet I could fit you in my purse." Luna said conversationally.

"Don't you dare!" Draco said.

"I agree. I don't think he'd like it much." Luna concurred amiably. She set him lightly onto the grass in her palms, and beamed down at his tiny figure. Hasan sighed out in relief and shifted back into his human form, recognizing with great pleasure that the switch was now painless.

"What was I?" Hasan demanded.

"Oh, sorry-" Draco said laughing, "I forget in my amusement."

"Well?"

"You were a black fox kit!" Luna informed him sweetly. "Really quite adorable. I bet you could sneak into all sorts of places being that small. But your eyes were rather pretty."

"Scary, more like it." Draco muttered.

"Well, I'm glad I'm not completely defenseless." Hasan commented. "But I did like your lynx. Well done, Draco."

Draco beamed under the praise, and asked Neville what he thought he would be. But all the while, Hasan watched Luna's wondering eyes, and he knew who the fourth vial was going to be. The four departed, Neville to his house, and the rest whirled away with their portkeys.

For Neville, it was the best birthday ever.

.oOo.

Severus found himself later that night pacing around his office at Hogwarts. He entered into his private chambers and fell onto the bed, head pounding furiously. Each summer, Severus Snape had taken up lodging within the school, despite owning the deed to his childhood home at Spinner's End. His youth had been most distasteful and he much preferred the comfort of Hogwarts, even if it was filled with little cretins for 75 percent of the year.

He had a lot to think about.

Remus Lupin had received his dose of Wolves' Bane Potion yesterday, and was probably curled up in the side of his mutt friend (Black confessed to being an Animagus to further the validation of Pettigrew's testimony), Sirius Black, at number 12, Grimmauld Place. Black made it no secret that he hated the house, but after being released from the horrors of Azkaban, there wasn't much time for planning.

So it seemed that the two did have something in common after all.

Snape turned his attention towards other things, like Hasan Castell and his damnable father, Altair. The boy was adopted, and yet, Snape had never heard of him until this year. It just proved that Altair was fully able to hide some things. A statement proven by his rather emotional afternoon with the Malfoy's.

What could it all mean?

Seven years missing from Lucius' memory. Taken supposedly by Altair to keep him loyal to the Dark Lord. Hasan Castell suddenly appearing at Hogwarts, even though his name had only just appeared three summers ago. And then, those beautiful, heart-wrenching emerald eyes that flashed briefly at the end of term. How was it that Hasan was able to battle the Dark Lord and win? And then it seemed that the Dark Lord summoned Peter Pettigrew, for what? Surely not resurrection! Not yet!

Yes, there was a lot to think about and yet so little time. Some good did come out of it, however: Lockhart was dead, and Peter was receiving the Kiss. Justice at its finest!

With these comforting and turbulent thoughts, Severus prepared for bed.

.oOo.

On July 31st, Hasan and Altair began to ready for Hogwarts. His school supplies were ordered by owl post, meaning Hasan would consequently have to wait at the local market (under heavy anti-muggle spells) to receive his books. His homework for the summer was finished, finally, and the two resumed their training in dueling. Altair made profiteroles with chocolate sauce and heavy whipped cream for Hasan's birthday. And Hasan was gifted with what he dubbed the Black Blood Book by the mysterious L.A.M and A.D.C. He didn't know many people's middle names, but the first and last matched Lucius Malfoy and Altair Castell, perfectly. And yet the man was dangerous? A betrayal? Oh! How exciting! It was just like his Lord of the Rings books!

Speaking of books, Hasan had shoved the diary in his school trunk. He had already worked out the anagram in his mind, and the diary did indeed belong to Lord Voldemort. He didn't dare open it at the estate, least Altair's ability picked it up, so Hasan placed heavy protective wards over it, disguising it with his own magical aura as were all his possessions. Hopefully he could spend more time with both books in school.

August passed in a breeze! With Hasan learning to move around in his fox form every time Altair was out of the house, he quickly mastered the art of prowling silently, and learning to examine the scents that filled his nose.

It was amazing really how Altair could hide from Dumbledore, Voldemort, and the Ministry, but not notice that his son could turn into an animal. It seemed that his aura hadn't changed at least, which Altair now saw every day because he refused to let Snape know his whereabouts at any given moment. Which, unfortunately (or fortunately in Hasan's case) meant that Altair had no access to the Daily Prophet, and thus had no knowledge of the events occurring last June. For Altair, the Dark Lord was still dead, and Hasan was determined to keep it that way. He wondered how long Altair would put up with the headaches before contacting Snape and uncovering the whole fiasco... Hasan shrugged. The man would find out eventually.

Hasan thought of Draco in his lynx form, white as fresh snow with large gray eyes. Then pondered what Neville and his new acquaintance, Luna, would be. Could one's Animagus be a plant? Hm, Hasan would be thoroughly amused if that were so. But where would the transformation even take place? They would surely complete their studies within the school year. Hasan vaguely recalled a portrait talking of a come-and-go room...perhaps he'd ask the house-elves...?

.oOo.

It had been a two weeks since the party, and Lucius was no sooner getting the name 'Castell' out of his mind than he was two weeks ago. He was going insane, he felt it. He barely slept anymore and even then he was dreaming of a low chuckle and light blue eyes. Altair Castell.

He had done his research, assuredly, and it had infuriatingly coincided with Snape's version of events. The man was declared dead after his disfavor with the Dark Lord was known. It seemed that Lucius'...association, however and whatever that was, remained undiscovered. Lucius could only think that Altair had erased his memories to protect him...but this was wishful thinking. Good intentions? Towards him? And even if that was the case, how in hell was this suffering doing him good?

Lucius sighed and sat up in bed. It was 3am but he wasn't in the least bit tired. Just then, a large brown owl battered its wings against his window. Tang! Tang! Tang! Lucius alighted from the bed gracefully and welcomed the owl inside, figuring he might as well. It was a friend, it must've been for the owl to arrive at his personal chambers...

He untied the letter from the owl's leg and sent the owl back outside, knowing that his own eagle-owl would be willing to make a reply trip later if necessary.

Dressed in a black and gray striped dressing gown, Lucius Malfoy settled at his desk and unfurled the parchment. His breath stopped.

"Dear Lucius,

You have questions. I have answers. All I demand is secrecy to the utmost and you may know everything. But only if I get what I want too.

I propose an exchange, a classic Slytherin quid pro quo, and you may ask me as many questions as you like in exchange for a few simple tasks. Follow my instructions and you may still hope to salvage those precious seven years of your life.

But I warn you. This information will disrupt your perfect life. Accept with caution, but refuse with even greater caution. This is a onetime offer. Of your enquiries, I will send back three answers once I've seen that your task has been completed. Please think carefully and enclose your reply within this envelope.

Best regards,

Altair Dean Castell"

.oOo.

Somehow, in the hustle and bustle of the Hogwarts Express, Hasan found himself in a compartment with Draco, Luna, Neville, Tracey, and Ginny. Ginny latched herself onto Neville's arm (literally) and Neville himself was getting a little bit flustered. Twice he had to leave the room and escape to his fellow Gryffindors to get away from the ginger haired maiden. Daphne and Theo were with the other Slytherins, like Blaise and Pansy, down the hall. Theo had momentarily thought about sitting with Hermione (who had been making puppy dog eyes at him) but decided it would be entirely inane to associate with the Gryffindors. Especially with Ronald Weasley in the same room. It seemed that Hermione was still not over Ron's crassness at the party, but only remained with him because of her inability to make friends.

"Did you see that new professor?" Luna asked mildly once the trolley rolled away.

"For DADA, yes?" Hasan asked.

Draco snorted, "Obviously. Father says there's a jinx on the position put there by the Dark Lord."

"Oh yes, I can sense it." Luna said, which was met with silence.

"What did he or she look like?" Tracey inquired politely, her blonde hair falling forward as she leaned closer to the girl.

"His name's Remus Lupin, and he's asleep in Hermione and Ron's compartment." Luna continued. "I'm actually surprised that those two are sitting together. Ron really shouldn't have said that."

Neville was surprised that the girl remembered as much, then again, Hermione did run out crying...

Remus and Romulus...Lupin, Lupine. Hasan thought quickly. Well wouldn't that be ironic if...Well, Dumbledore hadn't had a problem with hiring Quirrellmort, so perhaps the man really was a werewolf. Hasan decided that he'd ask Snape later, but really it was so blaringly obvious that he didn't think he had to. All that remained to be seen were the days of his absences. But Hasan didn't have any sort of prejudice against dark creatures. If he had, he most certainly wouldn't be conversing with a snake on a mostly daily basis.

No, Hasan hated stereotypes and categorizing people, and he resolutely determined that he should meet this Professor Lupin first, before judgment should be made.

"Did you hear they were going to hire that fool, Lockhart?" Draco laughed. "The man was a fraud! He just obliviated everyone that he wrote about so that he could continue his scheme. I can't believe Dumbledore would hire someone like that! Oh wait! I can!"

Draco chuckled to himself as Tracey smiled kindly.

"And that rat animagus, Pettigrew. They're going to have Dementors around the school now because of him." Neville piped up nervously.

Hasan felt so out of the loop. Without the month old Daily Prophets, he was now a summer behind the times. Neville seemed to latch onto Hasan's confusion for he promptly explained, "Um, the Potter's went into hiding when V-voldemort (he had been practicing over the summer) went after them. They had performed the Fidelius charm and set Sirius Black as their secret keeper, but...apparently they switched to Pettigrew, and Pettigrew betrayed their location to V-voldemort."

"So what happened," Tracey continued, "Was that Sirius Black went after Peter Pettigrew for revenge, and Peter killed a bunch of muggles and escaped by turning into a rat. Sirius Black was sentenced, without trial, to life in Azkaban."

"Oh." Hasan said. That was pretty stupid. Sentenced without trial? And they should really have a better hold on this Animagus epidemic. It was just so easy nowadays for schoolchildren to turn Animagus...

"But you know, it all works out!" Luna said happily, "Sirius Black was released, causing Lupin to reemerge. It's a shame about the Dementors though. I'd really hate to be kissed by them-"

At that moment, the train began to decelerate, slowing to an agonizing stop with ringing breaks. Luna's silvery eyes went wide and she pulled out her Quibbler to hide her face behind. Even Draco wasn't looking so good, what with his already pale skin turning ghastly white as the color drained from his face.

Hasan recognized the effects of the Dementors immediately: His breath came out misting before him, and the window began to fog up with frost. Not to mention that the train lights flickered out at once (why were they electric?), sending them into near total darkness. Tracey was looking at everyone wide-eyed, as Ginny squeezed the life out of Neville's arm. It seemed the only one not freaking out was Hasan, who had whipped out his wand and prepared for a confrontation. He wasn't a master by any means and his Patronus was hardly corporal, but anything, even a wisp, was better than nothing...

Screams, echoing from the front and back of the train, more terror than anything, before the outcries seemed to move on as the Dementors floated through the halls. What idiot left them to roam? Hasan thought bitterly. The screams of terror were nearer now and Ginny was whimpering pitifully into Neville's chest. That's when the cold settled in, dowsing them in ice, to the very core of their souls.

"Lumos!" Luna muttered quietly as she peaked over the top of her magazine. The compartment door was illuminated by her wand light, just in time for it to roll open. Tracey stifled a cry as something beneath the Dementor's hood sucked in a gasping breath. The figure was covered in a cloak that reached the ceiling, two skeletal hands, wrapped in thin rotted flesh, protruded out from under it, reaching out deliberately and patiently as if blind and searching.

Hasan felt his chest contract, his heart begin to race, "Expecto Patronum!"

A thin stream of silver light emitted from his wand, floating towards the creature in a pitiful mist. Its hands tore the protective magic away, like one tearing down a cobweb, and advanced upon the source. Damn, Hasan thought. His training only went so far, and by this, he meant his father in a robe. All he could think, as his eyes rolled back, was that hopefully the Dementor didn't want to kiss him...

A white mist surrounded him, and Hasan himself didn't know where he was. Then the white took on shapes and figures and sounds. He made out the Castell Estate, and then, was that the diary of Tom Riddle? On the table? Yells of "It's one of them, yes. The first. Don't touch it." but the voice too hazy to be recognizable. One what? First of what? Why shouldn't he touch it? Then he felt a hand on his shoulder,-

"Hasan, come back. Professor Lupin's coming." Luna whispered urgently in his ear, and he was suddenly jerked awake to find himself sitting on the floor. The lights had been returned to full power, and his friends peered at him curiously. Quickly, he slid up onto his seat, a hint of rose pooling in his otherwise emotionless face.

"Hasan, are you-" Draco began as the new DADA professor knocked and fluidly opened the door.

"Is everyone alright in here?" His voice was thick with what Hasan assumed was sleep, and there were myriad wrinkles lining his face. His hair was thin, yet a full and healthy brown, freshly dyed. He seemed nice enough, pleasant, and concerned enough for a werewolf. "Oh, it's, it's Hasan Castell, isn't it?" he said pleasantly, looking Hasan straight in his jade green eyes. Hasan nodded numbly.

"How?" So it wasn't a proper sentence, but Lupin figured it out.

"Professor McGonagall mentioned that she taught you a thing or two. And of course, Professor Snape has talked of all of his snakes." He smiled and reached inside his dapper brown robes for some chocolate. "Here." He broke off a piece for everyone and left to rescue the occupants of the next compartment.

Hasan chewed his chocolate slowly, (after sniffing it for poison, drugs, and various miscellaneous things), and let the sweetness spread through him. He really did enjoy chocolate, and after that dementor-induced frost, there was nothing better in the world.

"So, er," Neville cleared his throat. "Are you alright, Hasan? You kind of just blacked out on us."

Hasan blinked and shrugged. His thoughts wandered to the diary stowed beneath his homework, and wondered when he would next get to investigate it. "No, I'm fine."

In all honesty, he hadn't been terrified. He had a rather active imagination, perhaps the mem- no- dream had been just that- nonsense? Yet he had a distinct feeling it wasn't so.

"Oh, alright." Tracey said.

"Professor Lupin seems like he'll be better than Quirrellmort." Draco drawled. "I hope he teaches us to make a Patronus. His was a wolf, by the way, chased the dementors right off the train."

Well that settled it, Remus Lupin was a werewolf, as if Hasan needed more proof.

"But your attempt was pretty nice, Hasan." Tracey said sweetly.

"It didn't do much though, did it?" Hasan said, "Thanks by the way, Luna." he murmured, and Luna beamed beside him.

.oOo.

Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy had just sent Draco off to Hogwarts and returned home in a timely fashion. Narcissa was happier it seemed than usual, and was even giving Dobby some off time. The abnormal little elf actually appreciated it, and then disappeared to god knows where until Narcissa called for him again. Lucius, if it could be said, was also in high(er) spirits. His sleeping patterns evened out, and the bags under his eyes gradually disappeared.

Narcissa didn't suspect a thing. Why would she?

But Lucius had a secret, a terrible one: every night he would read the letter sent from Altair Castell and debate whether to reply or not. And then what exactly it was he was supposed to say. It made him so inexplicably joyful that he wasn't completely insane, that this Altair Castell did indeed exist, and yet, was it worth it? Yes, he had the perfect family. The perfect house. The perfect job. He was in favor with the Dark and the Light, and was financially secure (for the next hundred generations).

Why disturb this?

His flashbacks had evened out, the memory blanks weren't even detrimental. When would someone ever ask him what had happened in those years? But it was the simple fact of not knowing that drove Lucius up the wall.

What were the tasks? Who was this man? Was he dead? Why was he thought dead? Why was Lucius involved? Without even being aware of it, he had magically secured the room and had begun to write. The curiosity was back in all its ferocity and Lucius couldn't take it anymore. He had waited for Draco to leave so as not to worry him, but Draco was gone, and Narcissa was no longer prying. He needed to know, or so help him he was going to bloody kill himself!

"A. Castell,

I accept. I only ask that you send owls during the night to avoid suspicion. My questions in no particular order are: Who are you? How am I involved with you? Why are my memories gone from those particular years? Why do I have glimpses? Why did you write? Why are you thought dead? Why was the Dark Lord after you? What did you do to displease the Dark Lord? Are you Light or Dark? Are you the man I saw in Diagon Alley? Is Hasan your son? Is he really adopted? Who is the mother or father? Did you tell him to befriend Draco? Do you live in France? Why am I to complete these tasks?

These questions are not limited, but surely you can find three to answer satisfactorily.

Regards,

L. Malfoy"

Lucius sealed up the envelope with plain red wax, not daring to place the official Malfoy insignia upon it, before performing the usual anti-theft spells. He called up his eagle-owl, attached the letter, hoping that its inherent sense of direction would suffice, and sent it on its way.

.oOo.

Hasan, Draco, Tracey, Daphne, and Theo took up their resident seats at the Slytherin table, leaving Neville to find his place among the lions. Luna and Ginny had rushed off to be with the other first years as soon as the train arrived, so they entered separately with Professor McGonagall leading the way. Up at the staff table, Hasan noticed Snape looking at him peculiarly, and his immediate thoughts headed towards the diary and then to the events on the train. Had Luna been too slow? Had Lupin seen him on the floor through the glass and alerted his head of house? Hasan's jade green eyes rose dully to the challenge, staring blankly at the onyx eyes until Snape looked away. Something was different though, a connection or recognition of prior discoveries? What did Snape know? How did Snape know? And why did he seem more tired than usual? His black hair fell lifelessly to border his sallow face, but his entire demeanor seemed to scream 'late night work'.

Beside the Potions master sat the werewolf, Professor Lupin. He had brown hair and kind eyes, and seemed very much to be enjoying the lively school atmosphere. His gaze wandered over the Gryffindors with a melancholy expression, and Hasan realized suddenly that this man must have been a Gryffindor, but more importantly, that he seemed to be searching for Harry Potter. Yeah, him and the rest of the world.

Albus Dumbledore took center stage, plum colored robes sweeping the floor.

"As you may have noticed, we have dementors guarding the castle this year." The whispers and murmurings started, and Albus raised a silencing hand, "I did not wish for this. But the Minister has insisted that proper measures be taken. Over the summer, the mass murderer and Death Eater, Peter Pettigrew, has been detained and kissed." Hasan noticed Lupin's face drain of color. Perhaps they had known each other? Which meant sense if Lupin returned because Black was released, because Black knew Pettigrew on the minimum basis of betrayal. And Pettigrew and Black knew the Potter's well enough to be their secret keepers. So Hasan's birth parents must have known Lupin,-"To protect the students of Hogwarts from future attacks by Lord Voldemort's supporters," here, many kids winced, "we must tolerate these guardians until the threat has been declared null..."

"Yeah, some guardians," Draco muttered, "Bloody soul suckers."

Dumbledore, obviously ignoring the thousands of horrified faces, plunged on with his uplifting speech. "As you have also noticed, we welcome a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin!"

This elicited many cheers from the many who had received chocolate on the train. Even Draco appeared to be pleased that this teacher seemed to know what he was doing.

"Unfortunately, Gilderoy Lockhart couldn't make it this year after a run in with a vampire clan, but I am sure you will all enjoy learning from Professor Lupin!"

The speech ended in applause (more so because the speech was finally over, than love for the headmaster,) and the sorting began...

"Lovegood, Luna!"

The silver-eyed girl brightened considerably at her name, and rose from the crowd of first years to glide elegantly over to the stool. There were many odd stares at her walk and demeanor, and a few pointed glances at the rolled up magazine sticking out of her pocket. She sat with her hands clasped in her lap, her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders like a shawl. Professor McGonagall dropped the hat over her head, smiling faintly at the girl before her vision was swamped in darkness.

"Ah! A Psychic!" the hat nearly shouted in joy, "What a pleasure it is to look into such a mind!"

"Oh, you can sense that?" Luna wondered innocently. "I had a feeling you might."

Luna had known since she was four that something about her was different. Her father was different, very different, but he was insane and obsessed with nonsensical things. Luna was different in a different way. She had premonitions, feelings, enhanced intuition,...but wasn't a seer by any means. Not only could she not see the future, but she often times couldn't decipher half the things she sensed. When she did, it was always a small victory, and recently, she had been experiencing a lot of those.

"Of course, Miss Lovegood. I can see everything inside your mind, don't worry, I don't pry. So where to put you? Surely you have some idea." the hat almost sounded amused, if such a thing could be said of a hat. Then again, usual head accessories didn't talk or sing, or read minds, so what did Luna know?

"A diadem. I sensed a diadem one day..."

"Yes, the lost diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw. Someone else asked that a long time ago. Funny how people think all headwear know each other..."

"So it's real?" Luna asked eagerly. "I remembered wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure but couldn't put a memory to it. Some things just appear, and we can't make sense of them either way. But this seems pretty clear cut: I think I should be in Ravenclaw. What do you think?"

"It's clear, I shouldn't stall, you belong to-

"RAVENCLAW!"

A cheer went up from the Ravenclaw table as Professor McGonagall took back the hat, and Luna went happily off to join her housemates. A pretty Asian girl introduced herself as "Cho Chang," and Luna immediately found herself wrapped in a conversation about drop-dead-gorgeous-Cedric-Diggory, a Hufflepuff student a year ahead of her. Halfway through the conversation, Luna glanced at the Slytherin table to meet dull jade eyes, and Luna smiled as an inexplicable warmth flooded through her. Another sign she couldn't quite understand. She turned her dreamy eyes back to Cho, just as the youngest Weasley scampered off the stool to wrap herself around the waist of the Boy-Who-Lived. Hermione looked on in disgust...

.oOo.

Sirius Black had stubbornly insisted on two things once he was out of Azkaban. 1) That he be introduced to Harry 2) That Remus, for once in his life, take care of himself, properly.

After being exonerated from the heinous crimes of which he had been accused, the Black family vault had once again been unlocked and bestowed upon the last legal heir.

Remus had predictably resisted any such special treatment, insisting that Sirius had just gotten out of Azkaban, and that he shouldn't indulge his past relations. Time had passed. But Sirius hadn't changed. Remus still deserved the very best, and Sirius had the money to squander. He didn't feel the least bit guilty about it either. What care he if the fortune was built generation upon generation of detestable Black relatives? Up until a few months ago, Sirius was to die an unjust death in Azkaban! Plus, it was all worth it to see Remus blushing in embarrassment.

He really was quite cute when he did that.

A few days later, Dumbledore and Minerva had dropped by the Black's ancestral home to offer Lupin the DADA position. How they figured he would be there wasn't truly a genius' work: Sirius and Remus had been quite publicly dating in their last few years of Hogwarts, a relationship desecrated instantly that fateful night eleven years ago, when Peter, not Black, had betrayed the Potter's to Voldemort.

It hurt to even think about, and the pain of having to tell him now...Albus, the ever sensitive grandfather, was quick to stab it where it hurt.

"He's missing. Quite possibly dead."

The one thought, hope, and dream that had kept Sirius alive through Azkaban, shattered in those few callous words. Good going, headmaster, Lupin inwardly thought. But readily accepted the position. If he were to reenter Wizarding society, (he had stayed with a werewolf pack in the south of France) it was best to start with a job. Few people hired werewolves these days due to their prior loyalty to the Dark Lord. And by few, it was implied none. Albus offered, Lupin grabbed.

So here he was, Professor R. J. Lupin of Defense Against the Dark Arts, in fashionable brown wizards robes, a head of totally brown hair, and wondering 'where on earth was Harry Potter?'

.oOo.

The feast ended with dreadful singing, much applause, and lovely food. Hasan gave a sympathetic (blank) glance to Neville, as he and Draco exited the Great Hall and turned right, down into the dungeons.

Hasan couldn't wait to uncover the diary at the bottom of his trunk. It had been pressing on his mind all night, further agitated by the...flash he had experienced with the dementors, and he truly hoped to have some answers soon.

Draco wished him good night and shut himself in his room, leaving Hasan to his own devices. He sent Raven to the owlery before rummaging through his trunk for the diary. He placed it on his desk and sat down, quill in hand, inkpot freshly opened on the table.

He flipped through the pages again, but everything was blank. It seemed too odd: the old cover, the crinkly, yellowing pages, the obvious age of the book (if you did the math) from Voldemort's childhood or teen-hood till now. (It was a clearly old book, so Hasan assumed the Dark Lord had used it during Hogwarts. What type of full time Dark Lord had time for journaling?)

Hasan dipped his quill in the ink, carefully running the quill over the paper.

"Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort. It is an anagram."

He figured that it was neat enough. It was how he took notes in class. He sighed and rested his chin on his palm just as the ink began to disappear.

Hasan's breath quickened as he hastily dipped his quill in ink. His writing had just been sucked in! It was a magical diary! How fascinating!

Before he could continue to write, however, words of the diary's own creation blossomed across the page.

"Who are you?"

The writing was delicately slanted in a fine round cursive.

"I call myself Hasan. How old are you?" Hasan scrawled as neatly as he could.

Immediately there was a reply.

"I am 16." The words to be replaced by, "Hasan, nothing else?"

Hasan thought for a minute. This book was responding to him. It had a mind of its own. It was dark and therefore dangerous. And yet, what could a diary do to him?

"Hasan Castell. What house were you in at Hogwarts?"

"Slytherin."

Well that was admittedly predictable.

"What are you?" Hasan asked. "What are you really? There are more of you, aren't there Tom? But you're the first."

A pause so great that Hasan was about to close the book ensued, until Tom finally deigned to reply.

"I am exactly who I say I am. I am Lord Voldemort, the sixteen year old version imprinted forever in this diary. As for the first, I had not been aware there were more. Until later, Hasan Castell."

The ink seeped from whence it came, and Hasan again stowed away the diary. Somehow, Tom Riddle had managed to preserve himself in a book, and yet, Hasan was ignorant as to what purpose. Perhaps he should have started out by asking that, but he hadn't wanted to be too bold. Ask the basic questions first, get into intent later. Still, the diary was enthralling in its own way, and Hasan found himself wanting to converse more with this Tom Riddle...

.oOo.

The very first DADA lesson of the year was quite eventful to say the least. Professor Lupin had waited for everyone to settle down, the Gryffindors and Slytherins, before making an entrance from his office at the top of the stairs.

"Hello! Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts!" Hasan noticed that he appeared considerably more lively, probably having gotten over the shock of a school without Harry Potter. But why? Hasan couldn't help himself asking. All they wanted him for was to defeat Voldemort! That was pretty clear from the way Dumbledore's twinkling eyes would land on Neville sometimes. So why was it that this Remus Lupin still seemed so affected? Perhaps James Potter and Remus Lupin were good friends? It would be worth getting to know him better...

"Today's lesson will be hands on, in the sense that you need only your wands! So books away, quills away!" he smiled happily as they all shoved their books back into their large bags, gaze wondering innocently over to Miss Granger who had taken out many other books. She sensed his gaze and flushed, knowing she should have just left the extra reading to the Common Room.

Draco glanced at Hasan excitedly, obviously curious as to what this new teacher would have in store for them. Hasan himself was just happy to be introduced with a competent instructor. Altair was knowledgeable, but it was always good to have a second opinion, especially when that second opinion taught how to defend against useful, everyday spells, not full on Death Eater massacres...

Neville was looking pretty ambivalent, a mixture of apprehension and eagerness. While Ron beside him was staring dumbly onward.

"We can all stand up, class. How about around this wardrobe, yes?"

It reminded Hasan of the Narnia book, written by C.S. Lewis, a friend of J.R.R. Tolkien. Suddenly, the lesson just got very fascinating. He looked at the old wardrobe piercingly, wondering what on earth could be hidden in its interior.

"Filch has let me borrow this for my lesson today for it contains a boggart. Now who can tell me what a boggart is?"

Hermione's hand shot in the air, but it was Hasan he called on despite his less than enthusiastic nod.

"Mr. Castell?"

"A boggart is a household pest that likes to reside in dark, confined spaces. It takes on the form of the viewer's worst fear, yet no one knows what it looks like alone."

Hasan hadn't ever combatted a boggart in training yet, for Altair had seemingly something to hide within his fears, and Hasan had never pressed the issue, not prepared to give up such vulnerability. But hell to that! Now he was here in front of half his year, but not panicking. Only wondering idly what it would be.

"Very good! Ten points to Slytherin!" (Hermione looked put out, but otherwise didn't comment.) "Now, the incantation for getting rid of a boggart is 'Riddikulus.' It works in conjunction with bringing humor into your fear, for boggarts hate laughter. I shall demonstrate to give you all an idea, but first, any questions?"

Neville raised his hand, "Sir, can we opt out if we want...not that I want to, it's just."

Lupin smiled kindly, "Of course, anyone who wishes to simply watch or try in private may step to the side."

The kids all looked at each other, the peer pressure brewing, the mutual fate of all solidifying. Remus nodded curtly.

"Right, well stand back!" He flung open the wardrobe with her own hands, and a bright full orb came floating out. It hovered before the Professor, glowing innocently before the Professor shouted, "Riddikulus!"

With a crack, it fell to the floor as a cockroach, and Professor Lupin forced it back into the wardrobe with a spell.

"He fears...white balls?" Draco asked in disbelief. Hasan suppressed rolling his eyes. How Draco could be so blind, and Lupin so obvious, was beyond him. Still, Hasan didn't think any less of the Professor. It made sense really, and it was rather poetic in a strange way. If anything, Hasan respected the man for displaying such vulnerability in front of them. Perhaps DADA would be fun this year after all.

"Wow..." people breathed, some quite shaky now as they envisioned their own worst fears descending upon them. Hermione's brow was furrowed in thought and Neville looked like he wanted to run for the hills.

"So shall we begin?"