Whither Thou Goest

4- Secrets

HARRY'S POV

Harry plunked down moodily at the Great Hall for lunch. His mind was still on his first Divination lesson. Sure, McGonagall said that Trelawney predicted a death every year and that none of them had died yet. But considering his past adventures at Hogwarts, could he die soon?

Ron spooned stew on his plate, but didn't dig in yet.

"Harry," he said in a low, serious voice, "you haven't seen a great black dog awnywhere, have you?"

"Yeah, I have," said Harry. "I saw one the night I left the Dursleys'." He left out the fact that there was a cat perched next to it.. He did not want his friends to worry about him any more.

He tuned out Ron and Hermione's argument. Instead, he wondered if Trelawney was wrong. He  hadn't seen a Grim, he reasoned. Just an unusually large black dog and a cat.

He got pulled out of his thought by Hermione stalking away and Ron whispering, "What's she talking about? She hasn't been to an Arithmancy class yet." 

Harry only shrugged in response.

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ANNA'S POV

Already, she began to grow weary. Teaching was absolutely no fun, due to her impatience. She mostly watched the classes, but assisted from time to time. 

Later, she'd have to teach Gryffindor third years, which Harry was in. She could not bear to say, let alone hear his last name. Or see his face.

Right now, she and Remus were in their room, eating lunch. They didn't want to go to the Great Hall, because "it was their first day".  Anna had used that excuse so they could have some alone time.

"Are you alright?" Remus inquired.

She shrugged. 

"I'm really glad to be back- I mean, we've been away for too long, haven't we?"

She didn't respond. Let him talk, she thought cruelly. I don't want to be here. There was a reason why I wasn't in Gryffindor. I'm not brave. I can't face my fears. I hold grudges and run away.

"Hey," Remus said, as if he just now realize that her gestures were half-hearted. "It will be alright. Don't think of James. Just think of Lily. She would've wanted you to treat Harry nicely. Do it for Lily."

Anna nodded, her pulse quickening.

Do it for Lily.

"Wait, what time is it?" Anna said, to change the subject. Remus jumped to his feet. "Holy shit, we're late!"

She laughed. All their years at Hogwarts, Remus had been deceivingly quiet and well-mannered. However, those who knew him knew that he had a dirty mind and could curse like a sailor.

Throwing on a more professional outfit, she raked a brush through her hair (which only succeeded in making it messier) and ran down the hallway, Remus hot on her trail.

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HARRY'S POV

Professors Anna and Lupin weren't there when they arrived at his first DADA lesson. When they came in the room, their clothes were wrinkled, their hair mussed up, and faces red.

A few students giggled.

Professor Anna raised an eyebrow. "Yes, we're late, and no, we were not snogging."

A few more students laughed. "Uh-huh. Now who wants detention?" she asked.

The room was silent.

Lupin cleared his throat. "Good afternoon," he said. "This will be a practical lesson, so if you could put your books away and follow me..."

They did as told and followed him out the classroom and into the corridor.

After an interruption (courtesy of Peeves), they arrived at the staffroom, where Snape was lounging on an armchair.

As Lupin closed the door, Snape said, "Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this."  He got to his feet and strode past the class. "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 glared at Snape. 

Lupin raised his eyebrows.

"I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," he said, "and I am sure he will preform it admirably."

Snape moved towards the door, but Professor Anna, who had been silent the whole time, whispered angrily into his ear. Snape scowled and slammed the door behind him.

Lupin raised his eyebrow again, but let the matter slide.

"Now, then," Lupin continued, beckoning the class to an old wardrobe, which gave a sudden wobble. "There's a boggart in there. They like dark, enclosed spaces. But can anyone tell me what it is?"

Hermione put up her hand. "It's a shape-shifter," she said. "It takes the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us the most."

"Couldn't have put it better myself," Lupin praised.  A strange look came over his sister's face, as if she was remembering something or someone.  Harry couldn't have thought of anyone similar to Hermione- she was one of a kind.

Staring at Professor Anna, a strange feeling came over him- he had seen her somewhere, once, a long time ago. But when and why?

She caught his eye and didn't give him her usual glare, but the same look she wore earlier: a mixture of sadness, rememberance, and resentment.

Harry looked the other way, only to be greeted with the sight of Snape in drag. 

There was a roar of laughter, and immediately, everyone eagerly awaited their turn. 

But what was he afraid of? Voldemort?

Another image floated to his mind: A rotting, glistening hand, slithering back beneath a black cloak... a long, rattling breath from an unseen mouth... then a cold so penetrating it felt like drowning...

A spider came to his feet. He raised his wand, ready, but-

"Here!" Lupin shouted, hurrying forward. 

Crack!

The spider vanished. A silvery-white orb hanging in the air had taken its place.

"Riddikulus!" Lupin said, almost lazily.

Harry looked around. So no one had noticed. He glimpsed Neville's triumphant face, Professor Anna's raised eyebrow, and Malfoy's bored expression.

As he left the classroom, a single thought nagged him: Why hadn't Lupin let him tackle the boggart?