𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 ;𝐑.𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲

"My dads the best."

Malfoy still claimed to be injured until Thursday morning, which pissed Rachelle off so much that Ron and Harry had to hold her back from beating Malfoy to a pulp when she passed him in the halls.

It didn't help matters that he would fake feeling faint from blood loss or pain when he looked at the look on her face.

The four Gryffindors had gone to Hagrid's house the other night and comforted the big man successfully and the visit had ended when Hagrid realized Harry wasn't under the safety of the castle.

Malfoy had swaggered into the dungeons in the middle of potions acting as though he was some heroine or survivor of a tragic accident.

"Does it hurt much Draco?" Pansy Parkinson's simpered loudly when he settled down into the seat next to her.

"Yeah." He gave a pained look as he said this.

Rachelle rolled her eyes and began chopping up her daisy roots with much more vigor than before.

"Father's not too happy with my injury and he complained to the school governors." Malfoy drawled.

"Another foul word and I'll give you a real injury." Rachelle hissed from behind the boys, causing an eye roll from Hermione.

Hermione had to cover Rachelle's ears when Malfoy's mouth opened again and she almost lunged for him.

"Just chop the roots, Elle."

The lesson ended with the discovery of Sirius Black nearby, an annoyed Harry, Rachelle looking pissed as ever, a mad Ron, a Hermione with her hair at its frizziest since first year and a toad that remained alive but with house points taken away. "Biased little—" Rachelle began and Ron clamped a hand over her mouth as Snape looked over to them.

Ron however still fumed at Snape when they were leaving the classroom. He waited for a response from Hermione but he got no reply.
"Where'd they go?" He asked Harry. "There." Harry said, turning around.

Rachelle and Hermione were rushing up the stairs, the latter of the two panting slightly. "She had to back for something, sorry." Rachelle said as Hermione handed her some books as she dug through her bag for something. Ron peered at the covers. "Why are you bring all those around? We only have DADA this afternoon."

"Yeah, you know how many subjects I'm  taking this year. I can't wait for lunch, I'm starving." Hermione said vaguely and marched up the stairs with Rachelle at her heels.

Ron raised his eyebrows inquisitively at Harry, who could only shrug.

Professor Lupin was not in the room yet when the students arrived for his lesson.

"Good afternoon,' he said when he arrived. 'Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today's will be a practical lesson. You will only need your wands.'

A few curious looks were exchanged as the class put away their books. They had never had a practical Defence Against the Dark Arts before, unless you counted the memorable class last year when their old teacher had brought a cageful of pixies to class and set them loose.
'Right then,' said Professor Lupin, when everyone was ready, 'if you'd follow me.'

Puzzled but interested, the class got to its feet and followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom. He led them along the deserted corridor and around a corner, where the first thing they saw was Peeves the poltergeist, who was floating upside-down in mid-air and stuffing the nearest keyhole with chewing gum.
Peeves didn't look up until Professor Lupin was two feet away, then he wiggled his curly-toed feet and broke into song.
'Loony, loopy Lupin,' Peeves sang. 'Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin –'

Rude and unmanageable as he almost always was, Peeves usually showed some respect towards the teachers. Everyone looked quickly at Professor Lupin to see how he would take this and too his surprise, he was still smiling.

"I'd take that gum out of the keyhole, if I were you, Peeves,' he said pleasantly. 'Mr Filch won't be able to get in to his brooms.'

Filch was the Hogwarts caretaker, a bad-tempered, failed wizard who waged a constant war against the students and, indeed, Peeves.
However, Peeves paid no attention to Professor Lupin's words, except to blow a loud wet raspberry.

Professor Lupin gave a small sigh and took out his wand.

'This is a useful little spell,' he told the class over his shoulder. 'Please watch closely.'
He raised the wand to shoulder height, said 'Waddiwasi!' and pointed it at Peeves.
With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeves's left nostril; he whirled right way up and zoomed away, cursing.

'Cool, sir!' said Dean Thomas in amazement.
'Thank you, Dean,' said Professor Lupin, putting his wand away again. 'Shall we proceed?"

"I love my dad." Rachelle whispered as they continued their walk, the class looking at the Professor with a new respect.

"Inside, please,' said Professor Lupin, opening it and standing back.

The staff room, a long, panelled room full of old, mismatched chairs, was empty except for one teacher. Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair, and he looked around as the class filed in. His eyes were glittering and there was a nasty sneer playing around his mouth. As Professor Lupin came in and made to close the door behind him, Snape said, 'Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this.' He got to his feet and strode past the class, his black robes billowing behind him. At the doorway he turned on his heel and said, 'Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear.'
Neville went scarlet. Harry and Rachelle glared at Snape; it was bad enough that he bullied Neville in his own classes, let alone doing it in front of other teachers.

Professor Lupin had raised his eyebrows.

"I was hoping Neville could help me with the first stage of the operation. And I'm sure he would do it admirably." Lupin said pleasantly and Snape left with a huff.

"Like I said. My dads the best." Rachelle said.