𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 ;𝐑.𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲

"Why do we have to kill werewolves?"

Sir Cadogan had replaced the Fat Lady, and no one liked it. He spent more time challenging students to duels than admitting them into the common room. The rest of his time was spent thinking of complicated passwords that he changed at least twice a day.

"If he resets the password one more time, I will find a way to put myself in that portrait so I can murder him." Rachelle growled after Sir Cadogan refused to admit her into the Gryffindor common room when the password she gave him was 'not pronounced correctly'. By luck, someone was leaving and she snuck through the hole.

Unfortunately, all the other portraits were too scared to take up the role of the Fat Lady, and the Gryffindors were stuck with him until further notice.

Rachelle noticed that Harry was now being closely watched after the break in. Teachers, including her father, would find reasons to walk with him in the corridors and Percy was following him around like a pompous guard dog. Ron and Harry suspected he was acting on Mrs Weasley's orders.

•••

The day before the Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, the winds were howling loudly and the rain fell harder than ever. It was getting so dark that extra candles were being put up around the school.

The Slytherin Quidditch team were looking extremely smug and Malfoy would groan loudly about how he wished that his arm was better, all the time smirking at Harry.

"Oh shut it, Blondie. You're not fooling anyone with that childish act of yours. The least you could do was make it convincing." Rachelle berated during DADA when Malfoy once again sighed dramatically.

Sadly for her, Snape chose that exact moment to walk in. "10 points from Gryffindor, Ms Lupin." he snarled. Rachelle huffed and sat down silently, glaring at the professor the entire time.

"Where's your dad?" Ron whispered from two desks away.
"He's sick. Don't worry, it's just his immune system isn't that strong. He'll be back soon." Rachelle said briefly.

Snape started the lesson, but Harry hadn't arrived. "Where's Harry?" Hermione hissed to Ron and Rachelle, both of whom shrugged.

Ten minutes later, Harry skidded to a stop outside the classroom.

"Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin, I –'
But it wasn't Professor Lupin who looked up at him from the teacher's desk; it was Snape.
'This lesson began ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it ten points from Gryffindor. Sit down.'

But Harry didn't move.

"Where's Professor Lupin?' he said.
'He says he is feeling too ill to teach today,' said Snape with a twisted smile. 'I believe I told you to sit down?'
But Harry stayed where he was.
'What's wrong with him?'

Snape's black eyes glittered.

'Nothing life-threatening,' he said, looking as though he wished it was. 'Five more points from Gryffindor, and if I have to ask you to sit down again, it will be fifty.'
Harry walked slowly to his seat and sat down. Snape looked around at the class.

'As I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far –'

'Please, sir, we've done Boggarts, Red Caps, Kappas and Grindylows,' said Hermione quickly, 'and we're just about to start –'

'Be quiet,' said Snape coldly. 'I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organisation.'

Rachelle's cheeks tinted pink but she held her tongue.

'He's the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had,' said Dean Thomas boldly, and there was a murmur of agreement from the rest of the class. A small smile found its way onto Rachelle's face at their support.

Snape looked more menacing than ever.

'You are easily satisfied. Lupin is hardly over-taxing you – I would expect first-years to be able to deal with Red Caps and Grindylows. Today we shall discuss –'
they watched him flick through the textbook, to the very back chapter, which he must know they hadn't covered yet.

"—werewolves." said Snape.

Rachelle felt her eyes widen and a hateful glare found it's way onto her face. She adjusted her long hair to cover her pink cheeks and angry expression.

"But, sir,' said Hermione, seemingly unable to restrain herself, 'we're not supposed to do werewolves yet, we're due to start Hinkypunks –'

'Miss Granger,' said Snape, in a voice of deadly calm, 'I was under the impression that I was taking this lesson, not you. And I am telling you all to turn to page three hundred and ninety-four.' He glanced around again. 'All of you! Now!'

With many bitter sidelong looks and some sullen muttering, the class opened their books.
'Which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?' said Snape.
Everyone sat in motionless silence; everyone except Hermione, whose hand, as it so often did, had shot straight into the air.

'Anyone?' Snape said, ignoring Hermione. His twisted smile was back and seemingly directed at Rachelle. 'Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you the basic distinction between –'
'We told you,' said Parvati suddenly, 'we haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on –'

'Silence!' snarled Snape. 'Well, well, well, I never thought I'd meet a third-year class who wouldn't even recognise a werewolf when they saw one. I shall make a point of informing Professor Dumbledore how very behind behind you all are ...'
'Please, sir,' said Hermione, whose hand was still in the air, 'the werewolf differs from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf –"

"That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger,' said Snape coolly. 'Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all."

Hermione's went red, putting down her hand and staring at the floor with glossy eyes. Rachelle reached over and wrapped her friend closer to her, rubbing Hermione's back and shoulders, all the whole glaring at their professor.

It was a mark of how much the class loathed Snape that they were all glaring at him, because every one of them had called Hermione a know-it-all at least once, and Ron, who told Hermione she was a know-it-all at least twice a week, said loudly, 'You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?'

The class knew instantly he'd gone too far. Snape advanced on Ron slowly, and the room held its breath.
'Detention, Weasley,' Snape said silkily, his face very close to Ron's. 'And if I ever hear you criticise the way I teach a class again, you will be very sorry indeed.'
No one made a sound throughout the rest of the lesson. They sat and made notes on werewolves from the textbook, while Snape prowled up and down the rows of desks, examining the work they had done with Professor Lupin.

Rachelle's eyes narrowed with each unkind remark he had and by the end of the class she seemed extremely pissed.

When at last the bell rang, Snape continued to hold them back.

"You will each write an essay, to be handed in to me, on the ways you recognize and kill werewolves. I want two rolls of parchment on the subject, and I want them by Monday morning. It is time somebody took this class in hand. Weasley, stay behind. We will sort out your detention."

"Why do we have to kill werewolves?" Rachelle asked, apparently no longer able to stop herself.
Snape glanced at her, giving her a warning look.

"Why do we have to kill werewolves." Rachelle repeated, standing up. "Their just regular people. As long as when the full moon is out and their isolated theres no harm. The only thing they can hurt is themselves."

"Detention, Lupin." Snape declared, and Rachelle glowered at him.

a/n: since i'm currently on holiday from school i hope to have more chapters written to finish up third year maybe? have a nice day/night!
-yenne