Old friends and new ones

Hermione didn't show up for lunch and neither did Professor McGonagall, they seemed to be in conference for hours now. Hermione had never been suspended in her life and such a thing could ruin her perfect score sheet, making it hard for her to enter the Ministry program.

Maggie was well aware of that and felt guilty for it, she wanted to undone the harm, but didn't know how. She barely had anything to eat. Remus kept holding her hand and telling her it was the right thing to do, but she knew she had taken it too far. Besides, being a student didn't seem so good anymore, there were things that no one had thought about.

Dumbledore told the students it was her birthday and most of them sang cheerfully, except the Gryffindors. Harry was upset, Neville did not know what to do or feel and Ron keep staring at the letter he had in his hands... The moment he saw Hermione things got worse.

"This is over Hermione, I should've never dated you." Hermione was obviously in shock and had been crying for hours, but she wouldn't hush. She wasn't the same sweet girl she used to be, she wouldn't let anyone hurt her, not even Ron. "Well Ronald, you are the biggest mistake I've ever made!", she took off to her room.

Neville took off looking for Jean a while after that, leaving Harry to talk to Ron. They were best friends and best friends should tell the truth to one another... "Mate, you're overreacting." Harry cleared his throat and went on, without looking at Ron's reproving look "Look Ron, she's obviously upset, she doesn't mean it" But Ron didn't care, she had lied to him and the proof was in his hands.

Ron didn't say a word, he just gave Harry the letter and he read it. It was a friendly letter, it mentioned some things that have been happening lately and that things with Ron weren't as happy as everyone thought. "So, I had to figure out we are having issues through that letter." His anger kept raising and Harry didn't know what to do to calm him down. They kept arguying about Hermione and their relationship and how Ron always stood up for him, to the point of having issues with Hermione "No, no, don't blame this on me now!" But Ron did "She was obsessed on figuring out who Marie is, all because of you. Can't you like someone normal? Someone like Luna? Or Ginny?"

Harry then realized what was bugging Ron. "This is not about me and Ginny, is about you and Hermione. You are lucky that she hasn't figured out yet that you cheated on her Ronald. And I hope for her sake she never does. You cannot tell her a thing. This is a friendly letter, and she's devoted to you, you jerk!" Neville came in to split them up and Maggie was right behind them.

"Hello guys, is Hermione around? I'd like to have a word with her" Harry mentioned she was in her room and Neville went looking for her (since he still had the "Head Boy" patch, she could come into the Girls' dormitories). Maggie stayed standing there, didn't ask what the quarrel was about, it was pretty obvious.

When Hermione came down her face was all red with tears. Harry checked on her but she kept looking at Ron with hate and pain, she didn't know what Maggie wanted with her, but didn't really care. She sat down and Maggie walked towards the sofa herself, asking the guys to leave them alone.

They obbeyed, but stayed behind the door to listen to them.

Maggie looked right into Hermione's eyes. They were both wrecked to pieces for different things. "Hermione, I came here to apologise." Only silence and a hurt look came from Hermione. "I didn't mean to cause all these problems with Ron, and if it was in my power to turn time back, i wouldn't hesitate and do it." Still silence. Maggie looked at the fire and thought she might be there next week, dressed as a student.

"I respect what you did, you were trying to figure out who I really am, and you were protecting your friends. If I were a student here, I'd feel so proud and grateful to be your friend." She kept staring at the fire "But I'm not. And I understand why you did what you thought it was best. So that you know, Charlie accidentally found that letter, Viktor never told him about it." Hermione smiled a bit, after all there was one person that was true to her. "And you won't be suspended. I already talked to Dumbledore to remove the suspension, you were doing what you do best." Hermione interrupted "Minding other people's business?" Maggie then smiled "Nah, not at all. You were protecting the ones you love and using all your skills to figure out if I'm lying."

They looked at each other with honesty, no more dismay or anger. "I'm not a bad person Hermione, I wish you see that. And If I had to lie or hide something in any way from you, it wasn't by choice. It was Dumbledore's orders." Maggie was tired of lying, specially to someone as smart as herself.

"I know that Professor, don't worry. No harm done really. Ron and I, this," she started soaking slowly. "This was bound to happen one moment or the next" Maggie took a handkerchief from her pocket and gave it to her. Hermione smiled slightly. Maggie looked at the Boys' Dormitories and talked outloud: "Guys, could you stop doing that? Grow up already."

"How does she do it?!" Ron took off to his bedroom, followed by Harry "Well, she's one scary witch bloke."

"Hermione, I know I shouldn't tell you this but-" Maggie looked at the fire and then to Hermione's eyes. She was already a wreck, she couldn't tell him about Ron's sneakouts at night. "I don't Ron deserves you. I mean, you were just protecting your friends, and you sent a letter to a friend of yours that could help you. I read that letter, it's completaly harmless really." Hermione nodded. "Yes, he is overreacting, but I don't care anymore. I'm tired of going around him in circles." Hermione started remembering everything she had went through with Ron and started crying heavily, Maggie held her and she didn't refuse.

Maybe this was the beggining of a beautiful friendship.

***

Friday's lessons were dull and boring and none of the Gryffindors seemed excited about the Ball except for Neville. It was going to be his first (and last) Ball as Head Boy and he had Jean for a date. He owed those 2 things to Maggie. She believed in him when no other teacher had, and that had given him such a sense of self confidence that he couldn't even believe it. He also owe it to Harry, he was the one that created the moment for him to ask Jean to the Ball.
Beautiful Jean... He looked at her from his side of the Classroom and paid absolutely no attention to Prof Flitwick's question. He realized he had been asked when Draco hit him in the arm to wake him up "Bloke, the teacher, wake up." Neville asked Flitwick to rephrase his question and then answered it in a very Hermione way.

Harry felt deep down that all this kindness coming from Draco was just a part, a silly part to impress professor Matthews. The worst of all, is that it seemed to be working for him. Whenever Harry walked in to have his private lessons with Maggie, she no longer looked angry or upset, she looked proud. What he could sense coming from her was patience and kindness, the same sort of feeling he felt when Maggie was around her brother, but not what they both felt when Harry was close from her.

He knew in his heart that she had feelings for him. He no longer thought she might, he knew it. He could feel the butterflies in her stomach when he looked at her in the eyes, and the sudden burst of energy going through her spine when he touched her unintentionally. But she wouldn't do anything, she couldn't. And neither could he. They were student and teacher, at least until the end of the year.

Maggie interrupted the class apologising in as many ways as she could. She wanted to check with Professor Flitwick if he could take Maggie's charm leveling test on monday "I'll be picking her up in London on Sunday, I wonder if Monday worked for you." Flitwick had no problem, "great then, she'll take your test in the morning and then she can go to the divination tower and then on tuesday she'll take potions and defense, awesome!" She thanked him and was about to take off when she asked for 2 mins to talk to the class, to which Flitwick agreed.

"Great, thanks, so class, since we have the Ball tomorrow, just sit back a bit with those tests and you can give them to me or Remus on wednesday, or no, better, next Friday allright?" They all cheered at the comment. "2 more things before I forget, the private lessons today, if you want guys you can practise with Minerva for the Ball or for the Quidditch game on Saturday allright? You're all doing wonderfully so, no biggie." Hermione then remembered her she was gonna tell them 2 things. "Riiiite, almost forgot. So you hunny and Neville here will open the Ball, do you have your dates?" Neville said he did and Hermione was in the burst of tears again when Harry talked holding her hand "I'm going with Hermione Miss." Maggie smiled at the gesture and took off.

Hermione smiled thankfully, she didn't have to say anything really.

***

"You know how much I want this Remus, but, we didn't think this through." He couldn't believe his ears. All the arguments the had to put up with Dumbledore to make her a student... and now she wanted to give up everything. "If you want to quit, do so, just go to Dumbledore's office and tell him yourself. But forget of ever getting this chance again Magdaline!"

He was right, she couldn't believe they actually had conviced Albus once. "You're right, I know you're right. But I have a point too. Hermione got too close, I mean, she found out about my parents Rem" He had to agree, something had to be done. He still wondered how exactly she managed to look at those files, they were classified.

"I cannot be at 2 places at the same time, and I know what'char gonna say, but even if you do take the polyjuice, who has never tested in werewolves if may i add, she's gonna be suspicious. And not only her, everyone will, is just a matter of time." Remus asked her to sit down and started massaging her shoulders. "You don't have to worry about it allright? Leave that to the real teachers, okay? I'll figure something out, I'll ask someone to be you all the time and maybe after a while we can make Marie Matthews dissapear or something, we'll see, now Maggie, you need to relax and study for the test" he smiled cheerfully "and choose the dress for the Ball! You are going to the Ball, right?"

Someone knocked on the door and Remus realized what time it was and decided to go to his own chamber. Harry was at the door. "Yes Harry?" He told her he didn't want to practise for Quidditch and that he needed a word with her. She let him in and he sat in his sofa. She poured some coffee in a mug and sat beside him.

He wanted to tell her how she felt about her and kissed her. He didn't care about anything else. "Look Marie, I need to tell you something" Maggie slipped her coffee intentionally and got up, walking away from him. He got up to follow her, but saw a picture of her and Charlie, a magical photo, which was odd among all her muggle things. She looked slightly younger and Charlie was hugging her from behind kissing her cheek.

He took the picture with his right hand and looked at her. Maggie turned around and saw him looking at that picture. Harry took off with some excuse after five minutes, not before Maggie told him she was very happy for Hermione for having him as a friend.

She placed the picture above the fireplace again. It had served its purpose.

Chapter XIII - News News News

We should be getting a letter any minute now. Either way, I've been doing some research on Salem School of Witchcraft and I hadn't found anything relevant." Hermione was quite upset, she hadn't been able to find anything else on their teacher, just some background information on the other Marie Matthews. She was a student in Hogwarts around the time Harry's parents were there, she was a member of the Order of the Phoenix like Marie had told them, but that was it. All the students records were sealed and she couldn't get to them.

Hermione kept walking holding Ron's hand and smiling at him while Harry was chasing Neville through the alley. They stopped when Neville bumped into Jean and started studdering. He had meant to ask her out since she came back from St. Mungo's but never got the nerves to it. It was pretty obvious she liked him too. She smiled at them and said hi to Neville while walking away. Harry stopped her and took her friend away for a moment, leaving Nev alone with Jean.

After two minutes or so they saw them smiling at each other and heard her "Yes! I'd love to." They started walking towards the Defense Room, only to find a surprise inside.
Remus was bringing a big muggle cake, and Dumbledore, along with Hagrid, Professor Snape, Minerva and Chris Matthews were singing Happy Birthday to Maggie. Harry felt like getting her a present but they couldn't get close from her.

Professor McGonagall asked them to leave and close the door behind them. They were shocked but agreed without making any comments. Harry was obviously upset about not being able to come in.

"Now, dear, this is our birthday present." Remus gave her an envelope from Hogwarts, written down by Minerva. "I'll take the polijuice potion here and there so no one suspects and you can change your eye colour, hair, wear glasses, I don't know."

Maggie was speechless. She just hugged him so tight he could barely breath. She whispered to his ear "I don't know how you convince them, but thanks" and she kissed him in the cheek. Then she hugged Minerva and also thanked her from the bottom of her heart. "I'll prepare the Potion myself and take it when Lupin can't." Maggie felt like insulting Snape and telling him to sod off, but he was doing her a favour. "Thanks Severus."

It was Dumbledore's turn to talk. "Now Magdaline Smith Matthews, you have to be very sure of this. Here are the conditions: you will keep being Marie Matthews and give the afternoon lessons in this classroom and the additional lessons, and when Remus cannot cope, then you'll cover both morning and afternoon classes. We'll make something up for Maggie Smith, there are tons of things that can happen to a student, but very little to a teacher. No one can suspect anything. You'll be sorted into one of the houses and will have to cope with whichever house you get sorted in. You will have to look radically different from how you look now. You will have to change your attitude as a student and still be resposible as a teacher. Do you agree to this terms?"

She did without thinking twice. "Very well then, we'll let the students in and you tell them a new student will be joining us next week and that Remus will be taking over the morning lessons."

One thing bothered her though "What are we gonna do about Hermione? I've been trying to avoid her, but she's bound to figure it out, if she hasn't yet."

A silent filled the room. They all knew Miss Granger's temper and attitude towards a mistery, though they had no idea she had sent a letter to Viktor. Ron didn't know this either, he thought she had sent a letter to his brother.

Minerva spoke "If she mentions anything, do all in your power to shut her up, suspend her if you have to and send her to my office. I'll explain her the situation without revealing much." They walked away.

***

As the 6th and 7th years walked into the classroom, Chris came out, bumping into Ginny Weasley. He smiled at her and kissed her softly in her cheek, almost in her mouth. She looked over the shoulder and saw Hermione and Harry looking at it with surprise.

She decided to take it further and kissed Chris fully on the lips causing a huge silence in that classroom doorway. Thankfully, no other teacher but Maggie was around, though she wasn't pleased.

Chris took off saying hi to the guys and looking at Harry with dismay. He stopped him. "What are you doing mate? You want to get suspended? You can't go around kissing girls in the doorway!" Harry sounded jealous but he wasn't, he was just worried about Ginny, and what she was becoming.

Chris told him that he was just jealous and warned him to get away from his sister or else he'd regret it and took off. Hermione told him to come in and gave Ginny a reproving look. When the red haired came in she could feel the piercing look of Maggie going through her skull.

"Miss Weasley, you and Mr. Matthews are getting detention. You know the school rules." Ginny meant to argue it but Maggie wouldn't let her. She came really close to her and almost whispering she said "If you are using him to make Potter jealous you'll regret it, understood?" Ginny's hatred towards her increased by the minute.

Maggie came back to the desk and told the 6th years to sit on the back of the classroom and paid no attention to them. She told the 7th years to pick a piece of cake if they wanted, since there was plenty for everyone. It didn't seem to end, the pieces would multiply themselves.

Hermione sat down and for a moment forgot about Ginny. She asked Professor Matthews a simple question: "So, how old are you now?" Maggie was perplexed. "Older than you Hermione, older than you. 22 if you must know."

She tried but couldn't stop looking at Ginny with despise. She had been dating her brother for the last month, but she knew in her heart Ginny didn't love him. She was using Chris to make Harry jealous, and it wasn't working.

Maggie started explaining why Remus was back at Hogwarts: there was much work with all these new schedule and she'd be coming back and forth from the Ministry figuring out who attacked the school during the Auror Testings. Besides, there were too many teaching hours due to the new plan and just one teacher wasn't enough.

Draco told her then that Professor Snape could take over the lessons and he mentioned again that Lupin was a werewolf. "I know that Malfoy, but thanks for the reminder yet again. As I said before, we are aware of that. I know what Remus is capable of, probably more than you, and I know in my heart he will never hurt any of you. Anything else?" The class remained silent.

"Okay well, there's something else before we start with the class. Or nope, let's do this first. I want you 7th years to team up with one of the 6th years that are NOT from your House, allright? You will teach that person something you've learnt in our classes and then both of you we'll write a report. We'll compare them and that will be your first mid term. You have until next monday. 20 pages."

They started pairing up, and when Ginny sat next to Draco, Maggie snapped. "Find other teammate Weasley" Ron thought she was talking to him. "Not you Ron, your sister. Come on, gettup." They all wondered why and Ginny was reluctant to follow her instructions. The red hair got up defiantly and asked why, after all Draco was a Slytherin and she was a Gryffindor.

Maggie turned all red with anger and the room started feeling cooler than usual. It was snowing outside. "Well, let's see, I could give you millions of reasons, like, let's see, you were possesed by the Heir of Slytherin once, so, a part of you was Slytherin like, but well, I don't have to give you any explanations on my decision, cos, that's a perk of being your teacher!" She had an evil smile on her face. "Unless you want more detention for not following my orders." Ginny kept insisting and Maggie finally told her something more understandable "I happen to care about Draco and I don't want YOU corrupting him like you've done with my BROTHER! NOW DO AS I SAY BARBIE!"

The room went silent. A teacher had not only abused her power but insulted a student. Ginny was paralized and Draco decided to get up and talk. He asked Professor Matthews for a word in her office and she agreed, leaving Neville in charge of the class.

Neville asked Ginny to find another partner and smiled at her giving her confidence, though he didn't approve her behaviour towards Chris Matthews. Then he came back to his place and paired up with Jean's kid sister Louise.

The Gryffindor friends were in shocked and didn't know what to say or think. Maggie had taken it too far but at a point it was understandable. Neville defended Maggie's position as usual and Harry wasn't sure what to think. Ron was completaly mad at her, until Hermione spoke. "Look Ronald, she snapped. How would you feel if Ginny was used by someone else to make some other girl jealous?"

Hermione placing herself in Maggie's shoes was more shocking than the whole scene they had just seen. Ron got very mad at his girlfriend, as he used to all the time lately. He sat down quietly and started talking to a 6th year girl from Hupplepuff.

They sat down as Maggie came out of the office with Draco, smiling.

"Allright guys, there's one more thing I'm supposed to tell you before you start with your mini lesson" they all stood silent and she kept staring at Ginny with hatred. "Allright, Hogwarts will have a new student next week." She breathed in slowly. "Her case is quite unusual and basically she's a 7th year that will be joining one of your houses. She's never been in a magical school in her life, so it's all very new to her, allright? Be patient with her." Draco asked her how come she'd manage to get into the school if she's never been to one.

"Well, she's been having magical tutors all her life, I was one of them actually. She's one of the smartest witches of her generation according to Dumbledore, no offense Miss Granger. Anyway, she'll probably get to Gryffindor or Slytherin due to her family line so..." she looked at Hermione and Draco "Please behave."

Draco smiled and nodded approvingly and so did Hermione, who asked her one last thing. "What's her name?" Maggie smiled "Magdaline Smith, rings a bell?" The guys knew there were on the right track, and that Marie didn't want to keep the secret from them.

Hermione smiled her l-know-it-all smile and started writing down in a quill. Harry wondered who this new girl really was...

Maggie started giving some lines for the lessons but she was interrupted by a noise in the window. She waved her eyebrow and the window opened, letting a lot of snow in, feeling up Ginny Weasley with snowflakes and letting an owl in.

Hermione recognized the own right away, it was Krum's... the timing couldn't be worse. She got even more frightened when the owl dropped something on Maggie's desk.

Maggie's face lightened when she saw the envelope. "Oh, a birthday card from Viktor and Charlie! How sweet!" Hermione a cold shiver and Harry felt sick. Maggie's face changed and looked straight into Hermione's eyes.

The room went colder than it was. "Well well well" Maggie got up, having two pieces of parchment in her hand. "So, I swear I really tried to like you Hermione. I tried to overlook your dismay towards my lessons, your know-it-all attitude that got in my nerves. You are a Gryffindor, I'm the co-head of Gryffindor, I had this stupid thought of us maybe liking each other. But no. You little brat."

Harry and Ron knew Hermione had never been in trouble like now. "What did you expect me to do? Sit here and do nothing? You ARE hiding something and I will-"
"You will SHUT UP, I'm not done." She waved her hand and Hermione's voice went away. Maggie started reading Hermione's letter outoud "Dear Viktor" So, you wrote to your ex, makes sense" she coughed. " -" It's been two months since my last letter and I needed to talk to you" - how touching Miss Granger." She knew perfectly well Ron would get upset about it and say something. "You wrote to Krum?"

"Oh, Mr. Weasley, I should've known. Did you know anything about this Harry? Neville? Any OTHER noisy Gryffindor?" She was irate. "Allright, I won't keep reading this sweet letter, is confiscated from now on. Well, That's it."

She shut up and went to her desk. She turned around and crossed her arms. "You really thought that Viktor wouldn't tell Charlie about this? Do you really think that if I have something to hide and Charlie knows about it he's gonna tell you? Charlie Weasley is my friend, is one of the oldest friends I have. If you want to know anything about me Hermione, you ask ME, understood? You don't go around sending letters to your ex or anyone else, you ask me or Professor McGonagall or even Dumbledore." She went silent again. She was upset about the whole situation but she also knew (as well as the teachers) that it wouldn't take long for her to find out the truth.

"If I have something to hide, you really think I'll be able to cheat Dumbledore? I'm here because he asked me to, and that's all you need to know. You are suspended for the next week." She waved her hand at her and sat on the desk. "WHAT? Me? Suspended?"

"Oh, you have a hearing problem? You... Are... Suspended... For a Week. You should've thought about it before sending this letter. Don't piss me off more or it will be two weeks. And you Weasley, you'll get Detention for the Next Month." Hermione started soaking.

"Please, don't make a scene here Granger, I'm trying to give a class. You've drawn this upon yourself. Now, go to Professor McGonagall's Office and beg for her mercy or whatever."

She run away crying.

Maggie felt bad, but she had to do it. She had to put an end to this and also this would help Harry to see her differently. "Anyone has any questions about me? I'm free to answer. None? Allright, class dismissed." Draco argued about not having classes.

"Now you want to have a lesson Draco? Gimme a break dude, its my birthday, I've just ruined Hermione Granger's perfect School Report. Go away, don't you have girls to chase, Gryffindors to bully, anything?" Draco laughed at this usual comment. Professor Matthews wasn't that bad after all.

Most of the students went away, except for Neville, Harry and Ron.

"I know, I was too hard, but she went over the line guys, honestly." Harry decided to speak "Professor Matthews, could you not suspend her? We all knew about that letter, you should suspend us all."

Maggie would have loved being Hermione then, having all her friends standing up for her. "Harry, nice try. If you want to take the blame not to ruin her perfect report, do it, but she wrote to Krum. You want detention? Fine, you'll all get detention. Now, go go go."

Harry was puzzled, didn't know what to think about her. What Hermione did was excessive, not to mention idiotic, considering she wrote to her ex, but what Marie had just done was cruel. He walked away along with the rest of the students. Neville talked to her about Auror training (he was too, giving her a reproving look) and Ron stood silent. "I'm not gonna suspend her for real. I just wanted to make a point. I AM her teacher and she HAS to respect me Nev, don't give me that look please." Neville understood and started walking away, but stopped when he saw Ron standing still.

"Professor Matthews, could I have that letter please? The one she wrote to Krum." Maggie asked Neville to go.

When they were alone, she started talking to him "Ron, Hermione loves you. She's a stubborn little brat but she does love you. If she wrote to Krum it was to figure out who I really am. She should have asked though." Ron kept asking for the letter and she kept refusing.

"You don't understand Miss, she lied to me, she told me she was no longer writing to Viktor." Maggie coughed a bit. "Well Ron, you've lied to her too. I've seen the way you look at Parvati and I recall seeing you last thursday outside with her."

Ron stared at her, he didn't know what to do or say. "I'm not gonna say anything. I mean, you shouldn't sneak out like that at night, the school is under constant attacks Ron. And you shouldn't cheat either. Specially not to Hermione, she's a nice girl."

At last, she gave him the letter. As he was walking away, she regreted saying who was the letter directed to.

"Happy Birthday Mags" she picked up a piece of cake and saluted her own reflection in the window. She was gonna be one lonely student...

Chapter XII - Muggle Medicine

The Ball was canceled due to the attack. All the children were gathered in the Great Hall and slept there, just like on 3rd year.

Neville and Harry joined Hermione and Ron later that same day and told them all about the attacks... or almost all of it.

Late at night Dumbledore called for Harry, who was pretending to be asleep. When he reached his office, he found Marie and Minerva arguing with Dumbledore and Snape. They all shut up when he came in.

"So Harry, you found Jean. Did you see anyone else around?" Harry said he didn't. He still wouldn't say anything about the message on the wall. "Did you see anything else unusual around?" Harry cleared his throat and told them the message on the wall. Maggie went all white.

One of the old Headmasters started talking from his portrait. "Albus, Jean will be fine, Dr. Finnigan just came out of surgery I think is called." They all sighed. He also mentioned her parents were there and will be coming to school when she felt better.

They were too part of the Order and wouldn't disclose any information. Harry then realized there was a lot more going on that he even suspected. Maggie asked if she was needed further because Draco was almost alone in the Hospital Wing and didn't want him to. Dumbledore asked her to stay a bit longer.

"Who do you think is after this attacks Marie?" It was a straight question that needed a straight answer. Snape remained silent looking down. There was something about Marie that made him hush. "I think it was Lucius Malfoy. After all, you hadn't been able to reach him yet."

Dumbledore sniffed dissaprovingly. "Oh dear." But Marie didn't change her expression. "It's the same phrase Albus, it is him." Minerva told her that made no sense, Lucius wouldn't attack his own son. Harry talked "He would if he wants the attention to be driven away from him."

They all stood silent. Snape then talked, still looking down. "I don't think it was Malfoy. He would never use a muggle thing, not even a weapon."

Marie sensed a great feeling of sadness coming from Snape. Almost the same she felt for her parents. "Allright then, if you won't hear my ideas, can I go? I wanna ask Draco if he remembers anything." Still Dumbledore wouldn't excuse her.

Harry was sent away instead, but he wouldn't leave. He had questions.

"The last part of the message mentioned traitors and heirs. Does it refer to the Heir of Slytherin?" They all went silent. "I believe so, the truth is Harry, we don't know what it means yet."But Harry knew. And so did Maggie. And so did Snape.

He would start looking after them, both of them, without them knowing.

Harry left the office with Professor Snape and headed back to the Great Hall. While walking there, Harry asked him about something Marie had mentioned, another attack. Snape was reluctant to talk, but he slipped something. "Years ago, a couple was murdered and part of that phrase was written down in the wall." Harry thanked him for the information and joined his friends, but didn't mention anything about their conversation.

***

Dumbledore had asked Marie to stay for different reasons. For one, he wanted her to respect his decisions. "She would have died Albus, Minerva agreed with me." The other thing was about the Vampires and who, besides Lucius, she tought might be after the attacks. "I told you already, but if you don't want to believe your precious Malfoy would kill his own son, well at least you have to accept the fact that it was the same person that killed my parents and Mike."

Dumbledore wouldn't. She got up. "Allright, whatever Dumbledore. We have another problem besides this." Minerva looked at her with concern. "Hermione knows about my parents. This whole teacher's character is pointless now." She left them speechless.

***

When Draco woke up he saw Maggie asleep in a chair next to him. She had brought him back from that limbo he was in somehow and took that awful muggle thing out of his arm. He owed her his life.

He whispered "Professor" and she walked up with a startle and made a blue circle around them, then she realized she had fallen asleep and Draco woke her up, the circle vanished. "Sorry about that. How are you feeling Draco?" He smiled at her and thanked her for saving his life, she mentioned that if it wasn't for Neville's help, she wouldn't have done it. "I'll thank him too when I see him." And Maggie felt thankfullness and kindness coming from him, and that surprised her.

She smiled. "Allright, now that you're up, do you remember anything of your attacker?" Draco started feeling pain in his left arm, she looked at the wound and she saw a small deadmark on it. She went blank for a minute but then she led energy to his arm using both of her hands and chanelled the curse out of Draco.

He sighed and thanked her again. "I don't remember much, whomever attacked us was more interested in Jean I dunno. It was a tiny person, the size of a tall house elf but it had a cloak, a dark cloak." He swallowed. "Like a Deadeater's cloak?" He nodded. "Then it took this black thing that hit my arm and the next thing I know is I'm in some weird limbo and I hear your voice and then I wake up. Sorry."

She smiled at him again and held his hand. "No problem dude, really. Now, we hadn't been able to reach your father, do you know where can he be?" Draco started feeling despise, just like when he was close from Harry. "No idea, probably with that new woman he's seeing, I'm not sure. Still, promess me you won't tell him about this. You'll never get the end of it."

Draco seemed to mistrust his father as much as Maggie did. She promised. "Minerva will want to call him anyway, we'll just tell him you got a bad curse in the Auror Test, allright?" He agreed and then asked her about the test, if it'll be taken again. "Nope, either way, you both passed, vanquised the demons and trolls on your way. I just hope Jean can come back and see it for herself."

Dr. Finnigan came into the Hospital Wing around 7 am. He checked Draco's arm and congratulated Marie for her job. He still wanted to take Draco to St Mungo's to do some X-Ray and maybe put him a casquet for a few days. Draco looked at him with mistrust. Snape came along to go with Draco, and Maggie reasurred both of them that Finnigan knew perfectly well what he was doing. She also told Severus about the Deadmark on Draco's wound, and that the same thing might be happening with Jean.

Draco decided to trust her and walked away followed by Severus.


Marie had just realised of all the things that had happened in the last 24 hours. She wanted to cry and she was terrified of what might happen next. She knew who the traitors were and had a pretty good idea what the graffitti meant when it said Heirs. Minerva held her and she couldn't stop the tears anymore.

"Maggie, listen to me, this is not your fault darling, whoever did this is after Harry, not you, allright?" She kept crying. "I'm going to talk to Albus, we'll find a way to make you a student, this whole thing is ridiculous." Maggie smiled but kept crying, feeling guilty.

She felt guilty and powerless, just like when that Deadeater killed her parents. Maggie took a long breath "Uncle A will never agree, it's allright Minerva really, I'll be fine." But Minerva was tired of all as well.

"I'll change his mind, don't worry dear. I'll call Remus for backup. You'll be one of them."

***

Two days had passed with no lessons, and no excursions off grounds, not even out of the Great Hall. The doors opened and Minerva came in, followed by Maggie, who was wearing a black cloak. That didn't seem like a good sign.

Dumbledore was missing and so was Professor Snape & Professor Flitwick. The children had no news about Draco or Jean and not many people knew what had happened. Minerva sat down at the Headmaster's chair and Maggie approached to the tables. She cleared her throat and started talking.

"Good morning. As some of you may know, the Auror Tests were taken on Monday, and two of our students were unfortunately hurt." Harry could see the tears in her eyes. "Both Draco Malfoy and Jean Marx are currently at St Mungo's Hospital being looked after by the Heads of their Houses, their parents, doctors and healers. Draco will be back at Hogwarts by the end of the week. As of Jean..." Her voice broke.

"Jean is very sick. She has entered a comma, which in wizard language is like being asleep under a curse. The doctors are not sure when or if she'll leave that comma." She sighed and kept talking. "In the views of what happened, the Ministry has been consulted and it's been decided that the school will remain opened since it was just an unfortuned event. Professor Dumbledore due to personal issues will remain in this school but our Deputy Headmistress will take over his position for the time being. As of me, I'll be the Head of Gryffindor until Professor Lupin join us, also by the end of the week."

The room was silent. Everyone of them knew there was more to it than what she had said. She hushed, looked at the Gryffindor table and asked Hermione for a word.

"I need your help." Hermione looked at her with dismay. Maggie took her away from her table. "Harry is in danger, whatever attacked on monday we'll return, look after him." She took off to the teacher's table. Hermione stayed on the spot for a moment looking at her, realizing Marie liked Harry, and that she was in pain as much as he was.

"I've been a fool."

Her friends came towards her asking what happened, but she lied saying that the security measures were high and that Marie wanted her help until Lupin came back. Harry didn't believe her. He zipped a little bit of alcohol and kept staring at Maggie.

***

Classes were dull and bored and most of the teachers were covering for others, even Hermione covered for Professor Flitwick during the week. Neville was named deputy Headboy until Draco came back and was in his full capabilities, which happened on Friday.

He was brought to school by Professor Snape and Professor Lupin. They entered the Great Hall during lunch, and all the student applauded Draco coming in. Maggie run to Remus and they hugged each other twirling. "As soon as I found out about the attack I had to come and see you." Maggie was extremely happy of having him at Hogwarts.

Draco joined his table and even the Gryffindors were happy for him. Lupin sat on a chair between Minerva and Maggie and kept giggling and talking to her. Both Harry and Neville were jealous of him, but for different reasons.

Later that day Professor Flitwick came to Hogwarts, with relatevely good news. Jean had woken up from the comma but she had no recollection of what happened... during the last year. It was a very odd side effect of a bullet, or even of the curse.

Classes went back to normal and so did the teachers, though students could sense that everyone was on guard, expecting something to happen.

***

"I'm glad to be back at Hogwarts. I hope you welcome Professor Lupin once again in our midst since he is one of the best teachers this school has ever seen, and we can never have enough help in teaching." Dumbledore coughed severily, it was being obvious for every student that he was very sick. "Allright allright, well, the Ball and the Quidditch tournament have been postponed long enough, so the games will begin this weekend, and the Ball we'll be on October 16th, you have almost 2 weeks to find your partners." He smiled at the Ravenclaw's table, where Jean was sitten down. "We have many thing to party upon. Both Mr. Malfoy and Miss Grey are back among us and Professor Lupin is joining us." He meant to say something else, but Minerva coughed making him stop. Dumbledore waved at all the students and sat back in his chair.

Snape was not pleased at all to see him around, and neither was Draco. He liked werewolves even less than mudblods (even though he was sure Marie was a mudblood and had saved his life).

Draco made that point quite obvious during that afternoon lesson. It was one of the last Maggie would give on her own. "Professor, I understand what you say about Lupin, but he IS a werewolf. I don't think 1st years' parents will want a werewolf teaching their children." Maggie got upset.

She couldn't believe Draco would tell her that. Harry wanted to talk on Lupin's behalf but she wouldn't let him "Look Malfoy, we are all aware that Remus is... special. And so are the parents, besides, the Ministry agreed and so did the parents. And Hogwarts might not be as safe as it used to be, but there's NO chance a teacher would hurt a student, even if they are different 3 days per month. Understood?" Draco nodded.

At the end of the class, Neville gave Draco his Head Boy badge back, but Draco wouldn't accept it. "I never thanked you for saving my life Longbottom." Neville looked surprised at him and so did Harry and Hermione, who were right next to him. "I'm in no condition to be Head Boy, you should, you've done great so far. See you around." He smiled at Neville and walked away.

Harry looked at Maggie, who was smiling at Neville and Draco proudly. "So Harry, ready to rock?" "Huh?" Maggie giggled (she kept on giggling a lot since Remus had joined them). "I meant if you're ready for Saturday's game, remember? Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw?"

Harry had completaly forgotten about Quidditch, he excused himself and went away looking for Ron, but Hermione stayed. "Can I have a word with you Professor?" Maggie said she couldn't since she was in a hurry.

Hermione didn't know what to do. She hadn't received an answer from Romania, she felt Marie and Harry liked each other, but still, she couldn't trust her. She was a teacher using a fake name and even if she wasn't so bad after all, she had to know what she was about.

Chapter XI - Phillys and Bullets

Harry was finishing a quill with the full Quidditch Team layout and was exchanging ideas with Ron about the plays they should do next saturday. Ron even offered to knock out Malfoy just for kicks, but Harry wouldn't take it. He zipped a bit of alcohol and kept writing.

He was feeling better about himself, still, he couldn't let go of that tiny little bottle. He could hear Marie's voice in his head "you're not a murderer Harry" but he felt he was. Still, he was more cheerful than usual.

Hermione walked in and Ron demanded to know where she was, since it was so late at night. "I was with Professor McGonagall." Harry knew perfectly well what that was about. They were almost alone, except for Neville, who was reading in the airchair, practising telekinesis.

"So Hermione, what did you find out in Hogsmeade?" She went completaly pale, as if she had seen a ghost. She remembered the Marauder's Map. It was pointless to deny anything.

"I found a name. And there is no record whatsoever on our teacher." She said this last part whispering, and looking over the shoulder to Neville. He looked right at her and got up. "Look Hermione, I know you don't trust her, but if she's hiding something, don't you think Dumbledore probably knows about it? He's not stupid you know."

All 3 stared at him. He definetly knew more than what he said, still they knew he wouldn't talk.

Harry disregarded Neville's comment and asked Hermione what was the name. She told them about the footnote in the trial, but didn't mention anything about the children. "I'm sure she's related, I mean, they're called the same way, it cannot be a coincidence." Ron mentioned she might be Phillys' wife. "Maybe she found a way to hide, I dunno." But that made no sense. She wouldn't use the same name and she'd be as old as Lupin at least. "No, its not that Ron, but she has to do with it, I'm sure of that."

Harry remembered then what he had seen that same afternoon after the loud thunder.

It wasn't the same old Scabbers' nightmare he used to have, this one was different. It was a little girl, next to a crib, facing a Deadeater.

"Ask her tomorrow, we'll see how she reacts." Neville didn't approve of that but he had no way to let Maggie know.

***

The Auror Tests were around the corner and Maggie was to take them, like the other senior student that'll go to Auror College. The only difference was that she was their teacher, and didn't have to look like she was taking them as well.

Class started on thursday morning like any other class, talking about what they've seen the previous one and practising a bit. In this case, they wouldn't practise. She wouldn't let the guys throw the Drilling Curse on each other, nor Oblivion.

"So Draco, how do you get rid off those curses we saw last monday?" Draco didn't like so much attention in this class. He told the class there was no way to get rid off those curses, except having the person that threw them killed. Maggie didn't agree. "Well, that's not entirely true. With some rest and muggle medicine you can cure yourself from Sectusempra. Oblivion is a bit harder, you need a drop of blood of the one you love. But the drilling curse, well, you have to excercise TK in order to break the curser's wand. That's the way." She looked at him. "It was a good try though."

Hermione raised her hand, which was shocking. "Yes Hermione?" Maggie sensed she was after something. She looked at Hermione but she had learnt Occlumency, so, she couldn't look at her thoughts. "I'm doing a research for my Court Application." Silence followed. "I'll study Law next year, I'd like to work at the Ministry, and I've been doing some research on the Dark Trials."

Maggie kept listening, but she started writing the countercurses for Sectusempra and Oblivion. "I was wondering if you knew who Phillys Smith was." Maggie's chok broke. Silence filled the room. Maggie turned around and looked puzzled. "Where ehm, where did you hear that name?"

They knew they were on to something. "I read it in one of the Trials at the Library, do you know who he is?" Maggie sat down in the desk as usual. Harry's scar started hurting again, it had never stopped hurting actually, but no one knew.

Maggie put her hands together and started closing the right one, she seemed to be in pain. "I believe arm, that he was a Deadeater, like Snape. He turned and help the Order, which got him and his family killed. Is that good enough?" Hermione looked at her and saw pain in her eyes. After a while of looking at nothing, Neville asked her about the Auror Tests.

"I can't tell you when they'll be Neville, but you'll be fine don't worry." Then she looked at Hermione and smiled. "Hermione..." She knew that sooner or later she'll figure out who she really was. "What else do you want to know about him? Not that I know much of course." Hermione realized Maggie didn't care about it, it was as if she wanted Hermione to find out more.

"Well, what really got my attention was his wife's name." Maggie giggled "Yeah, she was named just like me, that always called my attention, ever since I first heard the story from Dumbledore." That was a magical word, naming Dumbledore would make anyone desist.

"Anyway, where were we?" Jean was telling her about the counterspells and deriving curses when they heard an alarm. "Jean, Draco, Nev and Harry, come with me. Hermione, lead the rest to their respective houses. FAST!" They took off separate ways. Neville was pale and Draco was eagered to finally see some action.

"Where are we going Professor?" Maggie didn't know what to answer. "You are to be Aurors, you'll help the teachers with this alarm, let's go."

***

After 10 minutes of wondering around the corridors and seeing no teacher besides Maggie, Draco told them it was probably the Auror's Test. Maggie didn't say anything but nodded. They came to a turn and split in 2 teams, Neville and Harry with Maggie and Draco and Jean on the other side. "Guys please, if anything happens at all, ask for help, please." Draco winked at her and took off.

Harry got slightly jealous at the gesture and Maggie a bit upset. "What the? Men... All the same." She hit Harry's arm and started walking the opposite way when she felt an excruciating pain in her right arm. It was too strong to bare. Harry tried to help her but his scar started hurting. Neville then looked up and saw a giant vampire, dressed as a Deadeater. His mind went blank and his friend and his favorite teacher were passing out.

Neville started fighting the vampire, keeping it away from them, which were an easy pray, slowly they started feeling better. Harry run to a chair and broke it and threw the wood to Neville, who catched it in a second and stabbed the vampire in the heart. It vanished in brown dust. They helped Maggie up and saw her hand all reddish. "I'm fine, it's just an old wound." She stepped next to the dust and she felt her heart stopping for a minute. "I dont think this was a part of the test, we have to find Jean and Draco."

They started running towards the Slytherin and the Ravenclaw but found a shapeshifter and a troll instead. "We'll take the Troll, you take the Shapeshifter." Harry was getting in charge and she couldn't be more proud. Harry and Neville took care of it in less than 5 minutes and though it fought back they left almost unharmed.

Still, on the heat of the fight, they had also lost Professor Matthews and the Shapeshifter. They decided to stick together, just in case something else like the vampire would come along. They entered the Trophees room and found two professor Matthews wrestling. They were more than puzzled. A weird demon grabbed Neville from behind and Maggie told Harry to help him but Neville told him to help Maggie.

Neville was taken away and Harry stayed on the room, staring at the Maries. They were both saying the other was the Shapeshifter and Harry knew that if he aimed at the wrong one, he could kill Marie. He thought of asking them what she had given him for his birthday, when the Marie on the floor told him "I gave you a Quartz Stone." He vanquished the one on top and helped her up.

She looked at him with dissapointment "Oh Harry, haven't you learned Occlumency two years ago?" She started walking faster to catch Neville, who was finishing off the Demon. She was very proud of him. They started walking slowly again, and Harry asked her about Draco and Jean. "Oh, don't worry about them, Snape should be with them by now." She didn't want to worry the guys, after all she was their teacher.

She started walking faster "So guys, that was the Auror test." She whispered in between their heads "You both passed." They both stopped and stared behind her and Harry's scar started hurting again. Maggie looked at his scar and their faces and was afraid of turning around.

When she did, she found Draco on the floor, surrounded by blood. Something was written on the wall, something the guys couldn't understand. "One by one they'll die." They run towards Draco and she checked his pulse. He wasn't breathing.

"Harry run for help, Snape HAS to be around, see if you can find Jean, go!" Harry looked at her. "Neville, remember what I taught you about CPR? Let's do that." Maggie looked at Harry again. "Go Harry, I trust you, you'll be fine, now GO! She might be worse than him!"

Harry run away through the alley and saw a path of bloody footsteps, that ended next to Jean's body. Next to her there was another note on the wall "First the Traitors, then the Heirs."

When he read that last word, he realized it will never be over.

***

Maggie was breathing air into Draco's mouth and Neville doing the compressions to his heart when Harry came to them carrying Jane. "She has a pulse, she's just unconscious." She was also bleeding. He didn't mention the last part of the phrase.

Draco was not coming back and Neville was about to give up when she breathed on his mouth one last time. She closed her eyes and put her left hand over his forehead. Draco started coughing and was very dizzy.

They all smiled "Draco, Draco, who am I?" Malfoy looked at her "The most annoying teacher I've ever met." Neville smiled. "You're right, can you get up Malfoy?" His arm hurt and itched. She hadn't paid much attention to his arm until that moment. She saw a burnt in his shirt and a round hole. She touched it and checked his back. "You don't have an exit wound, damn, you need a doctor." Neville helped her carry Draco and they all headed to the Hospital wing. She then checked Jane's belly (where she was bleeding from) and she had also been shot.

Neville asked her what were those things, but Harry answered instead. "They've been shot." Neville looked puzzled. "Someone used muggle things against them."

Jane was looking a lot worse than Draco and they both needed a muggle doctor. Madame Pomfrey tried to heal them but magic wouldn't work on that. Dumbledore refused to take them to the Hospital.

Draco was whining, begging for attention. Minerva was trying to talk senses into Dumbledore but he wouldn't. Maggie asked Harry to get her celphone from her room. "Go, the password is Ewan, go go." Dumbledore asked her what she thought she was doing when he saw her breaking Draco's and Jane's shirts. "I'm checking their wounds. Sarah taught me. Oh this looks bad, she really needs a doctor Albus, GET A FREAKING DOCTOR ALBUS!"

They all went silent. Harry came in with her celphone and was shocked about it. Maggie asked him to make compressions on Jane's tummy and asked Neville to look for medical supplies.

Professor McGonagall told Dumbledore she'll call Jane's parents and also Seamus's dad. He was a doctor. Dumbledore couldn't believe his ears. "Albus, Marie is right, this is serious."

Maggie dialed a number and started talking next to Draco. "Hi auntie, yeah it's me. I need your help, fast." Harry kept switching towels and tought of leading some energy to Jane, see if that helped her.

Once Neville brought her the supplies she asked him to hold the cel for her. "Allright, I'm listening. No, we don't have lidocaine." She took off her belt and told Draco to bite it. He looked at her with mistrust. "Look Malfoy, I'm the closest thing to a doctor we have right now. You're gonna bite that stupid thing and keep it together like a man. This won't hurt a bit." She said that last thing looking at the wound with disguse.

"Yeah, well, how do I remove the bullet? Yeah, I got it." She got some silver scissors, washed them with alcohol and sticked them in this wound. Neville was holding a handerchief around her mouth since she didn't want to spit on his wound or anything. Draco screamed in pain and Harry turned around. Jane was bleeding less and had more colour.

Maggie then realized what he was doing "Harry don't! Stop that right now. That's an order." But Harry wouldn't. "She still has a bullet inside of her, if you close the wound it will stay in. It might get infected." She looked at Jane and extended her hand "Petrificus Totalus."

If she was petrified, she wouldn't bleed, she'd stay catatonic for a while.

She finally removed the bullet from Draco's body. It was a small golden thing. Draco looked at it and her and felt like fainting. She cured the wound. She kept saying ok or yes to whomever was on the phone. After that she stitched is arm and put a bandaid on it. Then she smiled to Draco.

"I'm very proud of you Malfoy." She told Mme. Pomfrey to give him a painkiller and she moved to the next bed, not before washing her hands. She looked at Jane's wound, which was a lot smaller than before thanks to Harry.

"I don't get it. This was muggle inflicted, you shouldn't have been able to do this." Harry looked at her and told her maybe it was a muggle artefact but with some sort of enchantment. Besides that, he was Harry Potter after all.

"Yeah, you are the Golden Boy. Hadn't thought of that." Minerva came into the Hospital Wing saying she hadn't been able to locate Jane or Draco's parents but that a portal was ready to take them to St Mungo's. Seamus' dad will be waiting for them there. She looked at Draco's arm and heard Neville's short description on what just happened.

Minerva smiled with pride and took Jane to the portkey. They vanished after a while. She remembered the cel phone and picked it up. "Thanks auntie, I'll call you later."

"This was definetly not a part of the Auror Test." They sighed and sat on Jane's bed, which was next to Draco's. He had passed out now.

Everything was quite a mess for all of them. Dumbledore not wanting to get a muggle doctor, bullets in Hogwarts, Marie using a celphone to call someone... and that phrase written in blood in the wall...

Too many questions, and yet, no answers.

Chapter X - Oblivion

Maggie was sitten down in her armchair, with her legs over the coffee table. She kept staring at the phone she had next to her feet. She kept thinking she had screwed up, twice already.
She had been teaching there for almost a month and she hated pretty much every minute of it.

She missed her muggle highschool with her muggle friends, listening to old music and going to the soccer games. She was never much of a cheerleader or anything, but she enjoyed those games cos her friends were there, specially Timmy. Timmy was the geekest of all geeks. It was a muggle version of Neville, that was probably why she cared so much about Nev in the first place.

Tim was her best muggle friend. And Charlie Weasley was her only wizard friend. And she slipped that, in front of no other but Hermione. And she had also snapped in front of the whole class about Snape.

She couldn't remember precisely what she had said but she knew for a fact Hermione was gonna look into it. She had to let Charlie know. The last thing he knew was that she was joining the senior students, not that she was to teach them. She was scared. What if it was too late? She should've thought of this before.

She picked up the phone and dialed long distance. A male voice with a strong accent picked up. It was Viktor Krum.

Viktor had joined the Dragon's Colony after he busted his arm in his last Quidditch game of his school. He had always been the dark type, but despite what people thought of him, he never turned. He was a loyal friend of Hermione and he was an active member of the Order of the Phoenix.

He also happened to know Maggie.

"Hi Viktor, this is Maggie Smith, remember me?" Viktor said he did and they talked for a while. Then she asked for Charlie. Viktor put her through to him and she explained the whole situation to him. "Don't worry kiddo, if we get a letter from Hermione, I'll let you know Professor!" They kept giggling. "I'll lie to my in laws and family for you, don't worry hun."

She hanged up wishing to be older for real. Charlie...

***

It was passed midnight and the guys were asleep. Hermione sneaked into their room and took the Marauder's map and the Invisibility Cloak from Harry's belongings. She sneaked out and got to Honeydukes through the secret passage. It was over one already. She broke a glass in the store and sneaked out through there, heading to the Courthouse.

The Courthouse had specific hours of entrance but the library was opened to the public 24/7. The only problem was that she needed to be someone else. In fact, she had to be older in order to get to those Trial Records. She hid under a bush near the entrance and took a little potion from her left pocket. She zipped it quickly and felt like throwing up, but after a while it was over.

She took off Harry's cloak and walked into the Library.

The librarian looked up "Oh, Minerva, isn't it a little late?" Hermione smiled at the person and thought the polijuice potion was wonderful.

She went through the files of the hearings but couldn't find much on Snape. She casted a spell to highlight where Snape was named. The only thing that called her attention was a small footnote, written down in one of the trials: "Severus Snape and Phillys Smith were former Deadeaters that worked for the Order of the Phoenix. Snape retired to teaching and abandoned his Auror position at the Ministry when the latest was murdered along with his wife, Marie Anne Matthews. There is no information on their children's wereabouts. Albus Dumbledore. August 10, 1993."

It was too much of a coincidence.

***

It was 4 a.m. when she managed to restore the Cloak to Harry's belongings. She went to the Common Room to ponder for a while. She wrote down in her journal her findings (it was enchanted, no one could read it) and then got some quills and parchment and started the letter to Romania.

***
"Good morning class!" Marie seemed in an usual good mood. She started asking the guys about unforgivable curses and the ones that are not quite unforgivable.

She asked Draco to name at least 3 curses that weren't unforgivable but as damaging as those. Draco got up and looked straight into her eyes, she looked down. "Well, there is Sectusempra, Oblivion and, the other one, the one that petrifies you and extends your pain, but I can't remember the name."

Hermione raised her hand, which was normal in any other class but Marie's. She completaly disliked her. Maggie looked at her puzzled. "Yes, Hermione?" Hermione looked at her with dismay "The Drilling Curse." Maggie nodded.

"Very good Hermione, and very good Draco. Now who can tell me the difference between Obliviate and Oblivion?" Neville answered this time, followed by Jean. Obliviate will make you forget everything about an event, oblivion will make you forget who you truly love.

"If you ask me, that's the worst curse anyone can throw upon you. Just imagine what it'd be like, forgetting who is the keeper of your heart... awful. I'd take an avada kevadra any minute." Maggie was looking at nothing and then came back to the class, looking straight into Harry's eyes.

"I know you heartbroken kids will want to get a mirror asap and casted it on yourselves, but, remember, when a mirror gets in the way, nothing but bad things can happen. You have to swear you'll never cast it on yourselves."

Harry thought that'd make things so much easier on him, but, it wasn't worth it. She didn't like him, she didn't even want to dance with him at the Ball, so, it was her loss. He had got tired of feeling sorry for himself. He whispered something to Ron and he smiled.

Ron whispered something to Dean and the chain kept going on until Maggie questioned about it. Harry got up with a defiant look and told the class they were going to win the Quidditch Cup. Maggie smiled at the comment and Draco cursed at it. He was once again the Seeker of Slytherin, and not only that, he was also the Captain.

Maggie sat down in the desk as usual. Everyone went quiet though they wanted to keep cheering for their respective houses. "Guys, sit down please. If you like, you have the rest of the class off." Everyone started gathering their papers and stuff "But only to see a game between Gryffindors and Slytherins in the Quidditch Court." She smiled naughtily.

Hermione started talking with McGonagall's tone. "But we shouldn't! This only feeds the Houses hatred." Maggie looked at her wondering if she really meant it. "Our houses already hate each other, as much as Potter and Malfoy do. Relax Granger." She started walking out giggling with Neville and Jean, and the rest followed.

***

Dumbledore took his white pill. He waited 4 and a half minutes and took his red pill. He walked towards the Pensieve and left a memory there. A memory of him in a Muggle Hospital, getting tested.

Minerva rushed in and he knew Maggie had done something, yet again. He started walking slowly next to Minerva to the Quidditch Court. "You should retire Albus, this is not good for you."

Albus looked at her through her spectacles and caressed her face slowly. "Always looking after me... Well, I have to be here, you know perfectly well why, I can't leave Harry alone with his past. He doesn't know is not over yet."

Minerva sighed. "It'll never be over Albus, that's what you don't understand." Albus nodded approvingly. "You are right I know that, but I must stay."

Dumbledore called upon the Snitch and they all knew they were getting detention. "All of you, go to the Defense Room, Professor Snape will continue with the class. Professor Matthews follow us please." Maggie looked at Harry like a wet puppy and couldn't help but feeling sorry for her. Hermione was happy.

She kept remembering the footnote, she knew something was off. Maggie looked younger and terrified of Dumbledore's rage. Maybe things weren't what she tought they were.

***

"I trust this will be the last time you suspend a class for a match that is not even estipulated. You stole that Quidditch equipment? What's next?" Dumbledore was in rage, but suddenly he started lacking air. He sat down and zipped some water.

"You should relax Uncle A, it was just a game. Guys know perfectly well what to do, besides we are ahead of schedule and I thought it'd be fun to-" Dumbledore looked at her and then Minerva.

Minerva gave Dumbledore a reproving look. "Dear, I know what we asked to do was a terrible thing, I know you want to be a student more than anything but that's impossible right now Maggie, you'll have to accept it darling. Now go to your room." Maggie's eyes were full of tears, she walked out slowly and bumped into Harry.

"What's wrong?" He looked right into her eyes and saw that same young sparkle he had seen at Diagon Alley. The potion was wearing out and she was looking younger again, though she didn't notice. She just wanted to cry. She kept walking slowly towards her room and he followed her silently. When they passed the Passage Doorway he asked her to stop. He touched the witches' nose with his wand and the passage door opened. "Get in."

Maggie was confused but walked in without hesitation. Harry asked her again what happened but she couldn't talk. She just started crying and Harry held her really tight. When she was more calmed she smiled at him and thanked him. Before she started walking away, he held her hand and they both heard a loud thunder. They looked puzzled. She felt the soft rain hitting her face and the hatred inside. And she knew it wasn't her, it was him whom had felt that.

"That. I saw that same thing when we met. It's the night when you killed Scabbers, isn't it? That's been tormenting you ever since." He looked at her and said she was right. "Harry, you shouldn't feel sorry, you saved Dumbledore. Even if you wanted him dead, you had no choice but killing him. You are not a murderer." She kissed him in his cheek. He just feel like moving his face a little bit to kiss her but contained himself.

"I wanted him dead Maggie, I enjoyed killing him. That's what's tormenting me." Maggie knew perfectly well how he felt. "I know the feeling, you're not the only one with a past. Now, go to your House, I'll go to my room, is over 6, we don't want more troubles do we?" They splitted up, but he didn't go to the Common Room, he went back to the passage way. He was sure he had stepped on something that wasn't there before.

He found the Marauder's Map there. He had to talk to Hermione seriously.

Chapter IX - Silence

"Dumbledore, you wanted to see me?" Maggie was being formal towards her uncle since she was a teacher. The room was darkened and he was taking pills, once again.

"Why are you taking muggle pills Uncle A?" Dumbledore looked at her while she sat down in front of him. Fawkes came towards her (he always did that when she was around). Dumbledore smiled at its gesture and changed the topic.

"Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy and Jean Marx from Ravenclaw will taking private lessons with you, so please, handle your schedule to be able to see all of them, agreed?"

Maggie was upset. Why Malfoy? She hated Malfoy, all the pride and contempt she could feel coming from Draco, she had felt it before, years ago. She did not want to be close from him, further more teach him.

"Do you think that's wise? He's the son of a Deadeater, wouldn't it be harmful? Look at the Sucubus the other day... I'm not-" Dumbledore looked at her with piercing eyes and she shut up.

"Why don't you like him? He is in fact the son of a former Deadeater, but Lucius has proven himself to be worthy of our trust." Maggie looked at him in shock. What was wrong with Dumbledore?

He could never be worthy of anyone's trust. Albus knew that perfectly well. "Besides Marie, he's not his father, I believe Draco can, in fact, surprise you." Maggie looked at him with disbelief. "He reminds me of your father in many ways. He bullies Gryffindors and is extremely proud of his pure blood ascendance, still I'm sure he will do the right thing when the time comes. He's learnt to be fair and though he is most of the time reckless, well" Maggie breated heavily, she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

She got up thinking "Whatever" and walked towards her classroom.

***

"Have you picked the topic Hermione?" Neville was the one most excited about the DADA class, which was odd, the only class he had ever felt comfortable in was Herbology. They all looked at him with disbelief. "What?"

He started walking towards the class. Behind him, Harry was walking with a hangover and Ron, next to him, trying to talk him out of drinking. "You can't keep doing this to yourself, listen to me mate." But Harry wouldn't.

When everyone was in their desks, Maggie greeted them and gave the news. "As you might know by now, 4 of you will be taking your private lessons with me. We'll be focusing in attacks and defenses, which will be the first test you'll have to pass in order to get to the Auror Career next year." Everyone stood silent.

"The ones that would like uptrainings in different areas will be either with Professor Snape or Professor McGonagall." Maggie looked at Neville who was about to have a heart attack "Don't worry Nev, you and Harry are with me." Then she looked at Jean and Draco and told them the same. Draco was furious.

"Look Malfoy, when the class is over stay for a while, I need to have a word with you." He nooded, reluctantly.

"Now, have you picked the topics?" She had written down all of them in the blackboard, and started putting a bar next to every one that got a vote. Telekinesis training and Shimmering were the most popular ones.

Only 3 people were missing. Harry told her she'd like to be trained in Telekinesis, while Hermione whispered "Psicokinesis" without even looking at her. Maggie smiled at Neville, who was the last one to answer.

He got up and cleared his throat. Draco laughed at him but stopped when Maggie threatened him with detention. "You'll be spending the next 2 weekends with me and Potter, you want one more?"

Neville smiled at her. She made him feel comfortable with himself and the way he was. He was slowly gaining confidence. "Well, Professor Matthews, I know this is not in the list, but I was wondering how you healed me the other day, and if you could teach us that." He blushed a bit but started smiling when she told everyone that was a wonderful idea.

She gathered them in groups of four and started teaching them the basics of Healing. Grounding was the primary thing "No, under any circumstance, use your own energy to heal another. That will heal the person but might leave you unconscious for all time." When she was sure they all had learnt the basics of Grounding, she taught them how to lead energy.

She got Harry's right hand and apparated a knife. It was a nice athame, silver, double bladed, with a tiny blue stone in the hand. A second after that his hand was bleeding. "Heal him Hermione" Hermione looked at her surprised "You cut him! You're not supposed to do that to students!" Maggie looked at her and breathed out.

"For being one of the two brightest witches of your generation, you are extremely cautios you know?" Maggie then healed Harry's hand in a second and cut her own left hand.

Seamus Finnigan tried to heal her and was quite good, though it left her a scar. She cut it again, Jean Marx gave it a try, then Draco (who gave her a shock, having one himself). Draco looked right into her eyes, without contempt or despise, he was frightened. But not of her, just frightened. Then it was Harry's turn.

Harry just couldn't do it, furthermore, she started bleeding heavily. That was a side effect she didn't expect. Neville then put her hand in between his, like he had seen her do in the Quidditch Court.

Her hand was perfect and she was very proud of him. "Here you go, that's was perfect Neville! 20 points to Gryffindor, you're the only one who did it the right way! You watch people, keep doing that, you can learn a lot from a person just by seeing how they react to things" she said this last part looking right into Hermione's eyes.

Hermione had to find out what was this teacher about.

The class ended until that same afternoon, for the senior students starting this year had double shifts of Defense. This was the first time Defense against the Dark Arts was Neville's favorite subject. But Harry hated it.

***

"Draco please wait" Maggie closed the door of the Class, leaving him locked inside with her. "Look, I know we started with the wrong foot." He wasn't looking at her, he was looking down, nodding.

"I like this idea of teaching you as much as you do, still, is what Dumbledore wants" He looked at her eyes and then looked away. She knew something was wrong, something was definetly wrong since he tried to heal her.

"Are you allright?" He looked at her, trying to look proud and disrespectful. "Anything else Professor?" He said that almost spitting.

"Nope, that's all. We might learn from each other you know?" Draco walked away.

What was she supposed to do? Neville was feeling proud of himself and that was great, but Harry hated her... and Draco... what was wrong with Draco?

*** ***

"As you all know by now, this is a very unusual year at Hogwarts. The Quidditch Tournament should have started weeks ago, but it hasn't. There is no specific reason for it besides the fact that the Magical World has been through some radical changes last summer and so has this school. I'm glad to see progress on the Elder Students thanks to the kind help of Professor Matthews and the rest of the staff. I can only hope that the rest of the school year will be as gratifying as this first month." Dumbledore coughed a bit, Maggie gave him a glass of water and he went on. "Allright then, the Quidditch Tournament will start this weekend, so gather your teams. And since we have many things to party upon, the first Ball of the Year will take place in two weeks. So get ready and find your partners!" Dumbledore sat down and took his pill. Maggie got him some more water and kept asking him and Minerva what was going on, but she'd get no answer.

Maggie suspected the obvious, Dumbledore was very sick, but she couldn't quite figure out why he hadn't retired. It was meant to happen one day and everyone knew Minerva would be the Headmistress. It made no sense, he needed some rest.


"So, Harry, who's going to be on the team?" Ron was one excited Keeper. Harry had completaly forgotten he was the captain of the Quidditch team. He kept staring at the teacher's table and thinking on the private lessons they were getting. He just wanted the clock to work faster so he could get to the lesson they had that afternoon.

He knew in his heart she had feelings for him as well. He could see it in her eyes, could sense it whenever she came near him. "I'm not sure Ron, you pick the team." He kept playing with his food and the Gryffindors fear they'd lose the Quidditch Cup to Slytherin...

Neville was reading some of his notes and was carrying books, one was from Salem Witches. "Oh you have that book, I've been looking all over for it!" Hermione was determined to find anything that would give her a clue about the teacher. She had sneaked into Professor McGonagall's files and searched for any sign of Marie Matthews, but hadn't found anything.

"Well, I'm sorry Hermione, I'm doing a research on the way they perform magic, you can have it when I return it after the midterms." Hermione looked at him surprised. Ron asked what was all that about. Neville cleared his throat and told them that he was going to the Auror College next year and he wanted to be aware of his full potential. Then he got his books and walked away.

"I guess you're not the only one with a crush on the teacher Harry" Ron thought it'd be fun saying something like that, but Harry didn't take it that way. "Choose the team and let me know Ron, we'll meet for pratice on wednesday." He got up and walked away.

Hermione and Ron looked at each other. Things were so different between them.

"I'm sending a letter to your brother." Ron agreed with her. Marie was hiding something. Hermione thought of looking for Snape's file. "The Deadeater Trials files are public, we should be able to find something in Hogsmeade Courthouse." Ron wondered how they'd get there, but then he remembered the passages and Harry's cloak. "We can't take his cloak Hermione, we just can't, maybe she's just young. Why do you always have to think the worse?"

Hermione was very upset, she knew in her heart she was right. "Fine Ronald, I'll do it alone, as usual."

***

Harry went near the Forbidden Forest, where Marie had told him to go. He saw Draco cursing her and Marie putting a wall of blue light in front of her. His first instinct was running to help her, but then she realized they were just practising. Draco looked upset about the private lesson, but not as much as Marie.

"Allright Malfoy, you did good today. Remember to practice sneaking out and the right hook. I'm sure you'll find some Gryffindor to bully." Draco smiled at that last comment. She was a mudblood for sure, still she was cute and the only teacher under 30 they ever had. He decided to do some research on her as well.

Malfoy waved at Harry and said bye, which was odd, Malfoy would never assume he existed, unless he wanted to pick up a fight. Harry thought it might had to do with his father turning to their side in the end, or maybe Draco was changing. Either way, that wasn't important. Marie was looking at him.

"So Harry, been practising?" and she just hit him off guard and sent him away. "I guess not. Always on guard Harry, always!" She came closer to him to help him up but he cursed her away. She smiled "Good, I didn't see that coming."

She got up and they kept practising, she told him they were gonna get tested soon and that the test would be a piece of cake. "The other two are nightmares, but I'm sure Neville and you will pass them. You're my best students." They started cursing each other and avoiding eye contact, but somehow after a while they were very close from one another. She was making some notes on this handbook she had over a log and he came closer to her.

He was determined to kiss her, to show her how he felt. He didn't even think about getting expelled for making a pass at a teacher or the fact she might plain reject him. He knew in his heart she liked him.

She was sitting down in the floor and he sat right next to her and started mocking her handwriting. It was kind of messy, still, all lefties are messy. He started messing with her pen and she started laughing pushing him away and he started tickling her and she just didn't feel like stopping him.... just pretending she wanted him to stop.

After two minutes like that she was laying down on the grass, he was holding her hands above her head with one hand and tickling her with another. She looked right into his eyes and his powdy little lips and just wanted to petrify that moment and make it last forever. But she couldn't, it was too risky.

They stopped laughing and he kept looking right into her eyes and her sweet lips and was getting closer from her when she said "Harry stop it." He apologised and got up, helping her up as well.

She decided to finish the class early and went away. Harry stopped her and asked her to save him a dance "Oh, Harry, that's very sweet, but I'm a teacher, I can't dance with students at the Ball." She walked out. She was clear and concise. She was a teacher and he was a student. Nothing could change that, at least nothing she could do could change that.

Harry walked to the Lake and stared at the calmness of the water, regreting ever coming back to Hogwarts for his last year.

Chapter VIII - Go Potter Go

All the students were gathered around their new teacher, who was full of surprises. "Allright guys, I'll pair you up so I can teach you a few things about standard one on one attacks, the muggle way", she said this last thing smiling towards Draco, whom was quite upset.

"So Miss, why should we learn muggle fighting? We ARE wizards, we perform Duels", Draco said this last part showing off this Wizard pride. "Yeah, well, no one will expect you to right hook someone, it gives you an edge Malfoy" and she winked at him. "Ok, you team up with Potter, I'm sure you won't have a problem practising this".

She kept on pairing them up, even Neville who was definetly stressed out. Hermione got better at the right hook thing when she started remembing that Parvati kept on talking to her Ron. Maggie even had to break them up. After a while, Neville fell over his arm and she walked towards him, pretty much everyone stopped with the hitting except for Draco and Harry.

Maggie got Neville's arm between her hands and they all saw blueish light coming back and forth from them. After a few minutes Neville's arm was feeling better than ever and they were all intrigued about how she managed to do that.

"Oh, well, my mother taught me, I'll teach you one day, is quite simple. You just have to ground and direct energy" and she realized they were all smiling at her, stunned. She realized she was teaching them something they could use and she felt powerful and wanted somewhere. Even Hermione smiled at her.

Maggie's smile didn't last long though.

"BREAK IT UP NOW!" Harry and Draco were all mixed up with mud, blood and right hooks, you couldn't tell where the Slytherin ended and the Gryffindor began. Maggie got quite upset and tried to split them up but Draco pushed her down to the mud as well. Neville rushed towards her and directed her wand towards his friend and his foe, casting a freezing spell over them. Then he helped her up.

"Thanks Neville. You two are getting detention. In 5 minutes the spell is going to wash away and you are gonna BREAK IT UP" (she said this screaming in Draco's ear) and you are gonna go with me to the Hospital Wing while all of you guys are going back to the classroom, and please, pick up the subjects you'd rather see first. Neville, please lead them back". Neville smiled and Hermione and the rest followed (the Slytherins followed reluctantly).

The spell washed away and they got up slowly. Harry had a cut above his eye but she couldn't heal him. Her energy was drained. "I can't heal you, darn" She started walking behind them while Draco started cursing slowly. "If you keep saying those things, you'll spend the rest of your weekends in detention Malfoy. You should both be ashamed of yourselves".

She walked away, still close from them. Harry needed a drink.

***

"Magdaline! Gosh! Fist fighting? In the Quidditch court? What were you thinking?" Minerva was yelling at her like mad while Maggie slided in the chair with guilt. "Minerva is right Maggie, you were supposed to teach them about fake vampires, instead you did whatever you wanted! This is Unacceptable". That did it.

"Too bad Albus. I was supposed to be a Student!! You brought me here under false pretenses and now you expect me to do as YOU say? Think again". She got up. She could feel her energy rising around her and inside of her. For a moment she was afraid of what her bad temper could do. "Look, ok, I screwed up, teaming up Harry and Malfoy was not a good idea". Albus looked at her through her spectacles. "Picking up on Malfoy is not a good idea either, his father might be coming any minute".

Maggie couldn't believe Albus was afraid of Malfoy senior, and neither could Minerva.

"Well, I'd love to meet him". Silence filled the room. "I'll try to stick to the program and I will not teach them anything "harmful" without Minerva's consent, agreed?" They shaked hands. When she was at the door, she turned around "By the way, don't EVER send Snape to help me again".

***

Maggie was on the phone with Remus telling him all about her first day as a teacher, how sweet Neville was and how Hermione suspected her. It was pretty obvious that Maggie was hiding something, and that Hermione couldn't wait to figure it out. Also, she mentioned Potter. "Harry had a cut in his face and I couldn't heal him. And then I could feel energy rising when I got upset, I dunno". Lupin cleared his throat with a little cough, the moon had just changed from full and he was still weak. "Maggie, you are as powerful as your mother if not more and remember than later this year some of your gifts will part to your brother, is only natural that things change. Besides, I think being close to Harry is doing something to you. You like him, admit it". He was laughing inside, his little girl in love with no other than Harry.

Maggie was speechless. She couldn't answer and turned red, as if Lupin was next to her. "Maggie, are you still there?". She was, and yes, she liked Potter, but she wasn't allowed to like him, at least not like this. Someone knocked at the door "Look Remus, I gotta go, someone's at the door, take care, miss ya". She hanged up before Remus could tell her "I miss you too little lady".

Harry was at the door. "Afternoon Miss, Professor McGonagall told me I should come to see you since I'll be starting the Auror Training". He was cold and she could see he was slightly drunk. "Allright, come right in". She closed the door and put the phone back on top of the fireplace.

Harry sat down in a sofa that was next to it and looked around. It seemed nothing like Hogwarts. It was a small flat, very muggle like. The only witch element he could see was a wand, in a long black box. He picked it up "I take your wand found you, even if you don't like them". She put it away and looked right into his eyes. "Look Harry, I owe you an explanation, so, here's the thing-" He made her hush and mention he was just there for the tutoring, that he didn't need nor want any explanations. He was still cold.

"Ok I guess, so... tutoring. Give me your whisky, I want you sober". He looked confused and on denial, but had to give her the little bottle eventually. "This stupid thing can kill you Harry. Come this way". She led him through a door to another little room, with a wall full of books and a lot of space. She served him a coffee, dark with no sugar. "Bottom's up". They drank coffee and then she started asking him why he wanted to be an Auror. His answer, rather reluctant, was "why not?" She asked for an honest answer, but he couldn't give her one.

He was getting sober, and the Quartz stone lighter. He knew it was her who made it lighter. She made his life a lot easier to live in. He found himself looking at her eyes thinking this things and he couldn't really know why he felt so many things towards her. He didn't really know her, he just knew she lied to him, yet, he felt there was more to it. A part of him knew what she was about and couldn't help falling for her.

They stayed talking for a few hours until dinner time, when Ron came to her doorstep, worried sick about his friend. "Yes Ron don't worry, he's here." She looked at Ron, and though she dislike him for some reason (her first impressions were always right) she couldn't help seeing Charlie Weasley in him. "You are so much like your brother Charlie, Ron" and she walked away smiling.

Hermione heard that too. She had another clue.