Dancing In The Storm •Fred Weasley•

Chapter 6

•This story takes scenes from the Harry Potter series. I want to make it clear that I don't own those scenes. That's owned by
J.K. Rowling. Thank you•

~Claire~

I sat on my desk in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, my legs crossed as I flipped through the Daily Prophet.

"Anything new?" Remus questioned from where he sat in the chair for his desk, rather than on the desk.
"They think they've spotted Sirius," I mumbled, absentmindedly playing with the rings hanging on the chain around my neck.

Remus walked over and noticed the rings.

"What's that?" He questioned.
"Hm? Oh. Well, Albus said I couldn't where the rings on my hand, so I've put them on this chain. There's also the dog paw, of course," I explained, glancing down at the necklace that once just held the dog paw. But now it held the rings that should be on my left hand.

Remus frowned at me sympathetically.

He went to say something, but we were cut off as the door was pushed open, and a bunch of fifth years walked in.

There were a handful of Slytherin girls chatting with scowls on their faces. Slytherin boys drooled over them as they stared admiringly.

Then the Gryffindors' started gathering. First a few unfamiliar faces – although most were unfamiliar – and then some familiar. Angelina walked in first, followed by Alicia and Scarlett. Then Lee, Fred, and George walked in.

"Good afternoon!" I exclaimed, smiling at the teenagers.
There were a few hellos from the Gryffindors' and a few grunts from the Slytherins', but then there were the, er, energetic Gryffindors'.

"Good afternoon Professor Bennet!" Lee exclaimed.
"Hi Lee," I chuckled.

Lee gasped dramatically.

"Are we doing first names now, Clairesse?" Lee questioned.
"No, Mr. Jordan," Remus corrected with a glance at me.
"Oh don't look at me like that Remus," I scoffed playfully.
"What about us?" Fred and George questioned.
"No," I laughed.
"What about me, Mum?" Scarlett snorted.

A few confused murmurs sounded around the room and Scarlett smiled sheepishly at me.

"No, Ms. Bennet," I stated, and Scarlett frowned at me.
"That's rude, Mum," Scarlett mumbled.
"That's Professor Bennet to you," I corrected.

Scarlett leaned back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest.

"Right then," said Remus, "If you'd follow me."

Everyone got up and followed Remus and I down the deserted corridor. Finally we stopped outside the staffroom door.

"Inside, please," I said, opening the door so that everyone could enter.

The staffroom a long, paneled room full of old, mismatched chairs, was empty. Other than the old wardrobe where teachers kept their spare robes.

It wobbled as Remus walked over to it, causing all of the students to jump.
"Nothing to worry about," I grinned.
"What was that?!" A panicked Slytherin girl demanded.
"A boggart," I replied simply.
"Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," Remus explained.
"Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks – I once met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and Professor Bennet and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give our students some practice," Remus said.