One Step Forward

No monies coming my way. I'm only doing this for entertainment of the free variety.

Thank you hugs and smoochies to Dungeon_Butterfly, Looney2, and EverMystique for helping me clean up my mistakes. I really appreciate the beta help. Thank you very much to Pookah for being the shoulder I needed to write this chapter.

Also, a huge thank you to DuchessOfArcadia for my lovely banner.

~o 25 o~

One Step Forward

Hermione could hardly believe that Alecto was still ranting about the atrocities of the witch hunts of the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. As if that was the only thing the woman knew anything about – only she was so historically inaccurate, Hermione was certain that the witch had never actually studied the history of the witch trials. It was like listening to Professor Binns and his bloody Goblin wars – only at least he taught facts.

Hermione kept her head down and never once raised her hand, but that didn't stop Alecto from picking on her to answer questions, grilling Hermione on each one of her made-up points. No matter what her answers were, they were the wrong ones, and each time Alecto used her wand to secure Hermione's hand to the desk so she could whip it savagely with her riding crop to punish her. By the end of lessons, her hand hurt so bad it felt like the skin had been flayed.

Hermione hurriedly stuffed her things into her bag and ran from the room, ignoring both Draco and Cillian as they followed after her. All she wanted was to run cold water on her skin to ease the pain.

"I said to wait," Cillian snarled as he rounded the doorway of the girl's loo.

Hermione refused to answer him as she thrust her hand under the cold tap, allowing her tears to fall freely, unchecked down her face. Cillian walked over, the anger in his brown eyes softening as he approached. He leaned against the wall and waited quietly. "What? No snide comments or scathing remarks about running," she sneered softly, wishing he'd leave her alone and not just stand there and watch her cry.

He shook his head. "You should use murtlap essence..."

"It doesn't work unless I have cuts," Hermione snapped, wiping her tears with her sleeve.

Three girls entered, glancing at Cillian and shyly taking the stalls at the end. Cillian cast a charm to block any sounds.

"Hermione, don't let her get to you," Draco said from the doorway.

Hermione turned and faced Draco. "Oh yes, Ferret, let's see how long you can take her abuse – no – wait, I forgot. You're one of her favorites. Never mind! You have no idea what it's like – every single day to be singled out for this torment." She turned back to the sink and thrust her hand under the water.

"You don't–" Draco started to say until Cillian raised his hand to cut him off.

One by one the girls exited their stalls and came by the sink to wash their hands, one of the girls snickering until Cillian shot her a reproachful glare. Hermione turned off the tap and walked out of the loo without drying her hand. Cillian held Draco back, both walking behind her as she headed for the library. She saw Ginny sitting at a table with Janilynn and Jenny, and the redhead looked up, smiling as she waved at her, indicating for Hermione to sit in an empty chair at their table. Hermione joined them, sighing as Draco dropped his bag on the space next to her. Janilynn frowned at him, then looked up at Hermione apologetically while Jenny merely shrugged with a reproachful glance at Draco and resumed writing.

"I need to get some books," Hermione stated, more for Cillian's benefit than the girls.

Ginny smiled. "Hurry back."

As Hermione scanned the shelves for the books she wanted, she heard hushed whispers from some of the younger students apparently passing around some Skiving Snackbox treats. She smiled, hoping that they wouldn't get into any trouble, and half-heartedly wished that she could use them to skive off Muggle Studies and Dark Arts, too.

She selected Unveiling the Muggles' Lies and walked around the stack into the next aisle, smiling at the startled sandy-blond third-year Gryffindor boy dispensing brightly wrapped toffees to his friends. "I wouldn't use the Nosebleed Nougats, if I were you. Amycus likes to see Gryffindors bleed," she stated offhandedly with a smile. "But the Fainting Fancies would work. He might even think you'd been hit by a hex he didn't know the counter curse to."

"See, Euan, I told you the Fancies were better," the boy said as Euan turned and thanked Hermione.

"I won't tell on you, but be sure you don't get caught by Professor McGonagall; she knows all about Fred and George's Skiving sweets," she warned them as she pulled Muggles' Most Horrifying Torture Devices in History off the shelf. She selected Method and Methodology of the Muggle Mind and Muggle Corporal Punishments Moste Cruel: Historical Interrogation Methods for her latest essay for Alecto.

Hermione returned to the table and began reading the books. The grotesque descriptions and drawings made her swallow in nervous sympathy for the victims. She diligently tried to find the answers Alecto wanted for her questions in the books written by wizards against the evil Muggle inquisitors.

She felt the disquieting feeling of being watched and glanced up, getting odd looks from Glenwynn Glenwrythe and Theodore Nott who were sitting at the next table. Nott looked down at his paper, but Glenwynn stared openly, the slightest curve to her mouth. For a moment Hermione thought of the Mona Lisa's smile. Hermione returned a small smile, and Glenwynn turned to Nott.

"You okay?" Ginny asked, breaking into Hermione's thoughts.

"I heard that Glenwrythe and her friends are talking to you now," Draco said, obviously having watched the exchange.

Hermione shrugged. "Yes, although I think it's to warn me off of you," she replied noncommittally, turning her attention back to her books and the repulsive images.

"Warn you off me?" Draco asked, looking at Glenwynn and Nott.

"Yes," Hermione stated, turning the page. "Apparently Pansy was getting jealous of the attention you've bestowed upon me lately."

"Oh, that," Draco said, resuming his writing. "Don't worry about Pans."

"Oh, I'm not," Hermione said, glad that she didn't have to say any more on the subject.

That afternoon in Literature, Professor Adienne Greenblatt had assigned the class to read and translate the tome, The Epic of Gilgamesh: the Babylonian Epic Poems and Other Texts in Akkadian and Sumerian, then compare the story to other contemporary authors. There were seventeen poems, twelve known to Muggles, copied from the original clay tablets written in the Ancient Akkadian dialect, and from the Babylonian and Sumerian clay tablets, about the great King of Uruk. Professor Greenblatt had introduced the early Mesopotamian literature last year, though Hermione found last Thursday's lecture on their historical and literary background interesting.

The poems originated as a series of Sumerian legends, but there were a few magical historians who believed the stories held their basis in actual historical facts. The wizarding world recognized Enkidu, Gilgamesh's companion in the legends, as being a half-blood wizard who had remarkable 'insight' and skills of persuasion.

They were to finish the translation of the story of Gilgamesh and the Serpent Goddess and Gilgamesh and the Veiled Arch of the Underworld, two of the ancient Babylonian tablets the Muggles thought were missing, but had been actually been archived in the Great Wizarding Library of Ancient Magical Antiquities in Alexandria, Egypt. However, Hermione had translated them a long time ago and knew that she had her translations in her trunk. So instead, she tried concentrating on organizing her thoughts and memories into her hidden room as she blocked out the chatter of her classmates, the occasional scrape of a chair and the other noises around her.

When the end of class bell toned, she packed up her things and headed for the door. "You were distracted today," Cillian said as she fell in step with him.

"I've read them already. Well, I had to translate them in order to read them – so I'll find those pages in my trunk later," she said, catching his amazed look from the corner of her eye. "I read the story of Gilgamesh and the Horntail Lair in hopes of helping Harry find a way to fend off a dragon our fourth year – he was one of the Triwizard champions, you know. The story Gilgamesh and the Veiled Arch of the Underworld I'd read in my sixth year, after hearing about Sirius passing through the arch in the Department of Mysteries."

"I suppose that makes perfect sense. Do N.E.W.T. level translations to help a friend fight off a dragon," Cillian scoffed.

"Steal an egg from a nesting female. Didn't you read the Prophet? They covered the tournament all year," she said, albeit a bit snidely as she also recalled what else Rita covered.

Cillian snorted as he chuckled. "I also recall that Potter was weeping over the loss of his parents, and you were rather a bit of a hussy, dumping Potter and then became cozy with the Bulgarian Quidditch player."

"Harry and I were never a couple; we're friends," she said tersely.

"I'm well aware of that," he said while opening the door for her. Hermione saw Hannah Abbott with Ravenclaws Geraldine Smothers and Claudia Ramirez, who were now 'friendly' with Seamus and Terry Boot, sitting clustered together by the windows in the library sharing translator guides and decided to join them.

Hannah moved her books aside to make room. "Hi, want to help us with the runes translations? This tablet rubbing is really tough," Hanna asked as she watched Hermione sit. Cillian took a seat at the next table and leaned back in his chair.

"Sure," Hermione said, turning her attention back to her friend. Her DA coin vibrated, and she pulled it out, hoping that Harry or Ron was trying to reach her. The coin read, 'Clear go.' Not sure what it meant, she answered Geraldine's question about the various rune combinations they'd been assigned.

"You make it seem so easy," Claudia said, rubbing out the answer she'd written and wrote down the last one Hermione had given them.

"I find it easy. It's mostly memorization and knowing which translation book to look in," Hermione said while rubbing her thumb on her DA Galleon in her hand. She wished fervently that Cillian wasn't sitting so close, reading a Quidditch book as she checked the grammar of her translation.

"Hermione, you seem awfully distracted," Hannah whispered softly beside her.

Hermione looked up, surprised that Hannah was leaning so close, as if reading her essay.

"Are you all right?" Hannah looked at Hermione's hand and sighed. "Can't make it work without your wand?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Do you need to send a message? You may use mine if you like," Hannah offered, slipping her wand into Hermione's lap.

Hermione forced her expression to remain as neutral as she could, quickly glancing furtively at Cillian, then back to Hannah's wand. "Really, you don't mind?"

"Sure, I don't mind," Hannah urged her, nudging her gently with her arm. "Go on." She placed her left elbow on the table and leaned her head on her hand so her body shielded Hermione's hands from Cillian's view. Claudia noticed and copied the pose, effectively closing Hermione from both sides and quietly asked Hannah about a passage in the text.

It took a two tries to make the wand work properly, finally activating the initials for Harry on her coin. Her coin vibrated on her palm. 'HG is U? '

Making her movement as determined as she could in the confined space she made the coin read 'Yes me,' then changed it to, 'How is the hunt?'

The coin vibrated, the messages reading, 'Still have L,' then 'No C,' and changed again to read, 'No others.' Hermione sent the message, 'Destroy L.' The Galleon vibrated as Harry said 'Can't,' then 'Tried,' and then 'Can't' again. She wished that she could ask him why not, but knew that it would be hard to explain this way. She sent the message, 'Know what the,' and 'others are? ' and waited.

His response was a disheartening, 'No.' The Galleon vibrated again and his question of, 'Do you?' made Hermione's gut clench.

So he isn't anywhere closer to finding out what the other Horcruxes were, she thought dejectedly. 'No,' she responded and added, 'Will try lib tom.' His next message was, 'Need 2 know,' as if she wasn't aware of that. 'I know,' she answered, adding. 'I'll look up.'

She tapped Hannah's wand on the coin, then sent, 'Found spell 4 mirror.' 'Need mirrors,' she informed him, then added, 'Need anything, food or warm blankets?' in three segments. Sending messages in pieces with a wand that was sluggish to respond to her was really aggravating. She wondered briefly why Ginny's wand was so much easier to use.

Oddly the coin vibrated and read, 'Wait!' She stared at it in confusion for a moment, before it vibrated and changed again. He sent 'Ron got,' then 'Dean fish,' and 'Stove warm.' She was about to send another when the coin read, 'Got to go,' 'Dean say hi.' The coin went cold in her hand.

"Good news?" Hannah asked as Hermione returned the wand.

The galleon vibrated again and the coin read, 'Wait!,' again.

Hannah shrugged and picked up her quill.

Hermione noticed Glenwynn Glenwrythe, Daphne Greengrass, and Felicia Lockhaven watching her from another table, but turned her attention back to Hannah's questioning face and forced herself to frown. "Harry, Ron, and Dean are alive, and apparently Dean can fish, I think. They said to say hi." She smiled and quickly glanced at Cillian, glad that he wasn't paying attention to them.

"But that's good news right?" Geraldine asked with a confused smile. "They're alive."

"Shh... We don't want her follower to be suspicious. Good, he's not looking," Claudia whispered, making a quick glance up at Cillian. "I'll tell Neville and Seamus tonight. Geraldine and I are meeting them later."

Hermione nodded, glancing slyly at Cillian. "Tell Luna too."

"Oh, the message will get around, don't worry," Geraldine said with a smirk. "I'm glad they're all right."

Hermione saw Cillian glance their way. "I should go. I want to drop off my bag before dinner."

Hannah placed a hand on her arm, restraining her. "But we haven't finished..."

"Really, you should stay a while," Claudia urged her, picking up one of Hermione's dictionaries.

Hermione slipped it from her fingers. "You only have a few more and they're not so hard if you use the same translation theory as in questions four, nine, and eleven," she suggested, collecting the rest of her books. "Thank you for – you know – the help."

The galleon vibrated again in her pocket.

Hannah's answering smile seemed strained. "Are you sure you won't stay?" she asked as Geraldine pleaded, "Please stay."

Hermione shook her head, kind of pleased that they wanted her company so badly. "Not tonight, but maybe after dinner we could meet up again," she replied, hopefully.

"Sure," Claudia said, biting her lip and looking at Cillian

Hermione turned and waited for Cillian to get up, then led him out of the library. They walked in silence to the gargoyle. "Bye," she said as the statue jumped aside.

"For now," he replied with a smirk.

When she entered the Headmaster's office, she smiled at Severus seated at the large desk, reading a particularity long scroll of parchment. For the first time in a long while, he wasn't surrounded by piles of parchments. She stopped in front of him and dropped her bag on the floor.

He looked up at her when she placed her elbows on the desk and leaned her head in her hands. "Hermione, I'm busy."

"I see that," she said, smiling up at him.

"Did you want something?" he asked, setting down the scroll.

"You are always so busy," she said, examining his face. He didn't look too bad, but the signs of stress were there: a slight puffiness under his eyes, worry lines pronounced around his eyes and forehead, his lips pressed thinly.

"The Dark Lord is considering Umbridge's proposed changes to the school charter," he said, his dark eyes narrowing under her scrutiny. "If you don't have anything else to do – go practice your Occlumency."

Hermione sighed. "I do. Nearly every evening, between revision times, in the bath..."

"Legilimens," he said with a smirk, his wand flicking at her so quickly she hardly had time to react.

Images of the girls in the library quickly changed to a view of the corridors. Hermione concentrated on her memory palace and the corridors became clear, however several snapshots of her lessons, and one of her hurrying past VanHalal and Rowle when they were making snide and rude comments to her flickered in her mind. Hermione smiled inwardly until she felt him push harder, searching. She inadvertently showed him various snapshots of her revision times with her friends in the library, Draco talking to her in the sitting room. Hermione shoved hard at the memory, recalling her library, and the image of a book opened. He pushed past the book and caught a glimpse of Hannah and Claudia both leaning toward her over a book, and she pushed it away, hoping he didn't see the wand in her hand. The thought of a wand brought up Charms club, which she also pushed away, starting to feel frustrated with herself.

"Not bad, but too slow. I shouldn't see any of this," she heard him say, as if in her head. "Now, where were you Saturday?" he asked and pushed harder.

She saw the bedroom in her mind, the fire, the house-elf ears poking up behind the bed, and he forced her to focus on the memory of following Peren down the stairs to his office. She tried to bring back memories of Peren in the bedroom again, putting away her school things, but he laughed, making her angry. Peren's small bedroom came into view, revealing Kwink. Hermione shoved it away as he pressed in on her, and the image changed quickly to when the elves gave her the brownie and sliced apple the kitchen.

"I was hungry," she said defensively, shoving back at him, the corridor appearing in her mind. The connection broke, and Hermione staggered, landing undignified on her bum, staring up at him leaning over his desk from the floor.

Severus walked around to her and helped her to her feet, pulling her to sit on his lap. Hermione relaxed, laying her head on his shoulder and burying her nose into his neck. "You are doing much better," he said softly against her hair. "I wasn't really able to feel the stronger emotional leads."

"So I'm improving?" she asked hopefully, thinking that her attempts were great considering he didn't see what she didn't want him to find.

"But I think you're showing me what you think is benign. It's not, Hermione. Even what you think is innocuous – isn't." He turned his head to look at her, and one of his hands rose up to push her hair back from her face. "You're improving."

She closed her eyes from the sensation of his fingers stroking her hair. His hand moved, and she lifted her head with his hand, wanting the feel of his touch to linger. She opened her eyes, shifting in his lap a little.

He was watching her intently and smirked. "Minx," he said softly, cupping her cheek and turning her face to kiss her.

Hermione wiggled slightly so she could kiss him properly, eliciting a moan from him. "Do not do that," he growled softly, more like a warning purr. "Not right now. I do have to walk to the Great Hall in a few minutes."

"Do what," she asked innocently, then smiled when his hand on her hips clamped down tightly. "I like kissing you."

"I'm glad, but this is neither the time nor the place for this," he said abruptly. He pulled her head close to his mouth. "Never in the office. Portraits."

Hermione blushed, her eyes darting toward the portraits of sleeping past headmasters and headmistress. "Later?" she asked.

"Count on it," he said softly and kissed her cheek. He was smiling slightly when she leaned back to look him in the eye.

The bell tolled the dinner hour, and Severus made Hermione get off him. "Peren will put away your bag," he said and placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her from the office. He asked her about her treatment in class and inquired about the images he saw of her classes. Hermione admitted to doing fine in her lessons, refusing to talk about either Alecto's or Amycus' classes.

When they descended the stairs to the fourth landing, Hermione gasped in shock. 'Dumbledore's Army now recruiting' was spelled out in bright red letters on the wall.

"This wasn't there a moment ago," she said in shock.

Severus was scowling darkly at the graffiti, making those students who had stopped to read the writing scurry away. "No, Cillian would have brought it to my attention," he said in his deep dangerous tone. "Besides you left the library and came to the tower – that's in the other direction."

As they continued, they saw 'Dumbledore's Army – the Right side – the side of Light' had been written on the third floor, and 'Dumbledore's Army Now Recruiting' on the landing of the second floor. Severus' jaw clenched as his expression became stony, and he deducted points from the students who didn't run past them quickly enough.

Hermione held her tongue, not wanting to infuriate him further by telling him he was being unfair. It was hard not to stop and stare, thinking a Notice-Me Charm might be in place on the writing.

On the first floor, both in the corridor and on the landing, someone had written, 'If you don't believe in Witch-hunts, join us! Dumbledore's Army.'

Severus expression was that of controlled rage, his posture stiff and his tone bitingly sharp as he ordered the students to move on, taking ten points each.

As they descended to the Entrance Hall, Hermione saw the same words, 'If you don't believe in Witch-hunts, join us! Dumbledore's Army Now Recruiting. Join the Right side – Join the Light!,' had been written in huge bold letters. Many of the students lingered, gathering in front of the wall and staring at the bright red writing. "It has a Notice-Me on it," Hermione finally stated.

"I'm aware of that, Hermione," Severus snapped coldly.

Alecto came up to them followed by Filch and Professor McGonagall. "Don't bother telling me, Alecto, I can see it for myself."

"Red. Gryffindor red! It's the DA – you see – it's them," she sputtered, her arm waving as she indicated the wall.

"It's blood red, Alecto, not Gryffindor crimson," Cillian said, having arrived.

Severus turned and looked at him, glaring darkly. "The color is irrelevant." He faced his staff and squared his shoulders. "Minerva, Alecto, I will require your assistance. Mr. Filch, if you'll collect about twenty scrub brushes and mops please," he said with forceful authority. He grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her with him into the Great Hall.

"It's them DA hooligans! Did you know that my third- and fifth-year students from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff all had been hit with various hexes to skive off my lesson today! Amycus told me that his students, the second- and fourth-year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students, all had fainting spells to avoid his practical? It's bedlam, Severus. You have to–"

"Enough, Alecto," Severus snapped, cutting her off. "I'm aware of it. Madam Pomfrey will deliver her report to my office tonight."

He held Hermione's arm and forced her to stand next to him in the doorway to the Hall. "If I call your name, get over here immediately: Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Finnigan, Miss Weasley, Miss Lovegood, Miss Brown, Miss Patil – both of you, Miss Abbot, Miss Bones, Mr. Macmillan, Mr. Boot, Mr. Corner, Mr. Smith..."

Hermione cringed as she watched all her friends from the original DA rise reluctantly and come forward. Professor Flitwick and Amycus were hurrying along the tables as well.

"Miss Waithe, Miss Wang, Mr. Coppersmith, you too," Severus ordered and turned to look at the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. "Mr. Summerby, Mr. Cornfoot, Miss Ramirez, Miss Smothers – you as well."

Hermione watched as the girls looked at each other and rose slowly. She jumped when Severus shouted, "Now!" When the students he'd called all stood in front of him, he ordered them into the Entrance Hall, dragging Hermione along too. Filch was still pulling mops and buckets out of his supply closet. "Professor McGonagall, if you would oversee Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Finnigan, Miss Weasley, Miss Patil," he said pointing at Parvati, "and Hermione cleaning that off the walls here, I'll have Alecto take Mr. Boot, Mr. Corner, Mr. Cornfoot, Miss Ramirez, and Miss Smothers to the first floor."

Alecto looked positively delighted at her appointed task as Severus turned to look down at Professor Flitwick. "Professor Flitwick, if you'll monitor Miss Waithe, Miss Wang, Mr. Coppersmith, Miss Bones, Mr. Macmillian, and Mr. Summerby on the second, and Flitch will take Mr. Smith, Miss Brown, Miss Abbot, Miss Patil," he said, pointing at Padma, "to the third."

Professor Flitwick nodded with a stern expression on his face as Filch smiled smugly, apparently pleased that he wasn't required to clean off the offending graffiti.

Hermione was outraged at his unfairness. "But Geraldine, Claudia, and Hannah were with me in the library, they couldn't have written the words on–"

"Silence," he snapped, not even turning to look at her. "Professor McGonagall, your group can clean the fourth floor as well. You may need to produce ladders for the students. Please see that no one falls or injures themselves. Also, Professor McGonagall, you will oversee this lot in detention the rest of the week doing lines."

"Lines! You've got to be kidding me–"

"Yes, Alecto – lines." He turned back to Professors Flitwick and Filch. "When each group is finished cleaning off the walls, they may scrub anything else until everyone is finished cleaning these words off the walls. I'm sure that Mr. Filch can find something in this castle that needs scrubbing. Then they are to be sent to their dorms without supper."

"As you wish, Headmaster," Professor McGonagall nodded and started to separate the students into their assigned groups.

"No talking," Alecto snapped, pleased to be in charge of her part of the detention.

When Hermione turned to face the defaced wall, three sturdy double-sided ladders now stood at even intervals for their use. "Well, you heard the Headmaster. Grab your scrub brushes and buckets," Filch snarled, pushing buckets at the students being shuffled to the stairs.

Hermione grabbed a bucket and climbed up one side of the ladder with Ginny climbing up the other side to face her. "Sorry you were sucked into this," Ginny said, solemnly. Behind them Neville was talking softly to Parvati.

"No talking," Professor McGonagall admonished them.

Both girls pulled out sopping wet scrub brushes and started trying to get the writing off the wall. The solution worked well, but made the red paint or ink run down the wall. "Looks like we'll be cleaning this all the way to the floor," Ginny whispered.

They worked their way down the wall, moving down each rung of their ladders until they landed on the ground. Hermione dropped her brush in the bucket and started to mop up the mess now on the floor. Parvati did the same thing as Ginny, and Seamus and Neville finished the last streaks of red off the wall.

When they were done, Professor McGonagall ordered them to pick up the buckets as she shrunk the ladders. "Mrs. Snape and Miss Weasley, bring the ladders," she said and hustled them up to the fourth floor.

On their way up, Hermione saw her friends, all on their hands and knees, scrubbing the corridors on each floor they passed. "Don't dawdle," Professor McGonagall said sternly. With a sigh, Hermione set down the ladder and Professor McGonagall made it grow to the necessary height. "Get a move on. The sooner you finish the sooner your friends will be done."

The lower year Gryffindors entered the corridor and scurried quickly by on their way back to the common room, a few snickering while others looked at them with sympathetic glances. Like before, the red oozed down the walls and had to be mopped up off the floor. By the time they were done, Hermione's arm, back, and neck were sore.

"All right, Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Finnigan, Miss Weasley, Miss Patil, you'll return Mr. Filch's ladders and buckets to his broom closet, and then I expect the four of you to return to your dorms," Professor McGonagall instructed. "Mrs. Snape, I will escort you to the Headmaster's tower."

Cillian stepped into the corridor, apparently having been waiting at the top of the stairs for Hermione. "Professor, I'll see her back," he said, holding out his hand for Hermione to come to him.

"Fine, Mr. Gwynek," she replied, turning her attention to the other four.

Hermione was glad that the clean up was finished and stretched before starting up the stairs with Cillian. "Just so you know, Alecto and Amycus are livid about the detention." Hermione looked up at him and he smirked. "A weeks worth of lines is hardly what she would call a proper detention."

"What does she think is a proper detention?" she asked concerned. "Flogging?"

His answering smirk nearly made her stop and gawk at him. "She likes whips and floggers, yes. Filch has quite an assortment of chains and such... Believe me, you're getting off easy."

"But I didn't do it – and neither did..."

"I know," he said, cutting her off. "I was there, remember. I also saw Miss Weasley and her dorm mate, the one with short, sassy, dark hair and dark eyes, not the Asian with long dark hair, in the library after you joined the other girls."

Hermione smirked to herself at his description of Janilynn and Jenny. "But you didn't say anything..."

"This was a punishment for the students we know are involved with Dumbledore's Army, and before you say anything, your name is on the top of the page," he said, glaring at her. "So, you were all made to pay the price for angering the Dark Lord."

"The Dark Lord..."

"Will know about the graffiti from either Carrow or his security officers," he said sternly. "Everything gets reported to him in one way or another. At least I can say you were not a participant."

"Will you vouch for my friends – the ones you saw in the library?" she asked, watching him carefully.

He turned to look at her. "Why?"

"So they don't get in trouble either," she replied.

He laughed and stopped, turning to face her. "He doesn't care about them." She scowled at him and Cillian shook his head, still laughing silently. "If he asks."

Judging by the dark look on Severus' face when she entered his office, he was in a sour mood, so she hurried past him and up to the sitting room to finish her essays.

~o0o~

Once again the students rebelled against the Carrows the following day. The second- and sixth-year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students had outbreaks of fevers, boils, nose bleeds and symptoms of various hexes, and the third- and fifth-year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students apparently had fainting spells in Dark Arts, putting many of them in the hospital. Severus was called down in the afternoon to assist Madam Pomfrey with diagnosis and potions remedies.

Hermione had wanted to ask Professor Flitwick about the theory of combining Protean and Conjointment Charms after Charms, but Draco had walked up to her to walk with her to Arithmancy.

During her afternoon revision time, he'd managed to find her in the library and insisted on sitting with her. Hermione caught a glimpse of Pansy talking to Goyle. "Wouldn't you rather sit with Pansy? I mean, I've loads of reading to do, so maybe you should spend some time with her."

"She's sitting with Goyle," Draco said, scowling at her.

"Suit yourself," she replied, selecting a thick book from the shelf and adding it to her pile. Hermione simply ignored him as she sat down next to Cillian to read through the books she'd collected.

In Herbology, they had to cull the new shoots off the Devil's trumpets without getting bitten or strangled by the larger parent plants. Fortunately, Neville and Hannah knew just how to handle the Devil's trumpet, so their group was able to cull out the young shoots easily enough with only a few of the plant's tendrils getting snagged in their hair and obtaining a few cuts and scratches, but Ernie did get a black eye. However, Neville had to help Stephen Cornfoot and Della Maggiora untangle Isabel MacDougal before she was strangled to death when Crabbe had chopped one of their baby shoots in half. Professor Sprout was trying to rescue both Pansy and Draco from their angry parent plant. Draco, Pansy, Goyle and Isabella were escorted to the hospital after class.

Hermione made Draco a get well card during her revision time before dinner at Cillian's urging. "It will appease the Dark Lord to know you're at least trying," he'd insisted.

She figured he was right. She folded a piece of parchment in fourths and traced a leaf on the front with Jenny's color-changing ink, adding the words 'Hope you are feeling better soon,' inside the leaf shape. She copied a poem from a book in the library that she thought he might like and signed her name. It was childish and crude, but all she had available. He'd probably hate it.

She slipped up to see him before her detention with Professor McGonagall.

"So what, you came to gloat did you? That bloody plant nearly killed me," Draco said a bit condescendingly, obviously shocked to see her.

"I saw that, and I'm sorry. I just wanted to see if you're going to be all right," she replied, setting the card on the table with the others. "I can't stay, I have detention."

"Fine, go," he said crossing his arms.

Hermione shrugged. "I just – I hope you're feeling better soon. Bye." She turned and walked away, but when she'd glanced back at him, she saw him reading the poem she'd written in the card.

Detention with Professor McGonagall hadn't been too bad. She had everyone in her classroom spaced apart in every other desk and had them write 'I will not deface school property' for an hour. Afterwards she asked them to please feed her animals and change the cedar shavings in the cages in the adjoining room. Then she allowed them to work quietly on their essays for another half hour before dismissing them.

Back in the bedroom, Hermione concentrated on focusing her wandless ability to make the DA coin connect to Harry's that night. After a few tries, she saw, 'HG? ' appear.

Thrilled, she made hers read, 'Yes.' The coin warmed and 'DT' appeared. Sighing, she managed to make the coin read, 'where HP? ' The response of 'sleep,' made her smile. She thought, 'Still have L?' and smiled as the coin reflected her question.

He replied, 'yes', followed by 'creepy.'

If the locket was anything like the way Ginny had described the diary, she didn't doubt it, but his reply of 'makes bad dreams' alarmed her. She asked, 'No C,' hoping he'd know what she meant without having to spell it out.

He replied 'No luck,' making her sigh again. 'Destroy L' she told him and he sent back 'Can't,' then 'Tried.'

'You have 2! ' she told him, now worried. He repeated back 'Can't we tried.'

Sighing, she read, 'know another? ' 'No,' she replied, the wandless ability actually getting much easier now. 'Need 2 know' the coin on her palm read. 'I know trying,' she lied to him. She'd been so busy she'd not been researching anything about the founders.

The coin vibrated and read 'HG? ' again.

'Who?' she asked. The coin now said 'RW' followed quickly by, 'How is GW?'

She suppressed her flair of happiness and focused on the coin. She managed to make it read 'Fine' then asked 'U ok?'

His quick reply of, 'Yes,' then 'U?' made her spirits rise. She told him she was 'Alright.' Several messages flashed, happening too quickly.

When the coin was still on her palm, she made her coin read 'didn't get that.'

His next message was typical Ron. 'Hungry.'

She thought a moment then sent, 'Call Kreacher' through the coin. 'Harry not' was quickly followed by, 'want 2.' She'd let that go for now. Kreacher had turned on them during their last Christmas together. 'Destroy L' she said, only to have 'I know' appear and changed into, 'Can't.'

The coin vibrated again with, 'Gotta go,' spelled out and became inert on her palm. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she went over the conversation in her mind.

She slipped her coin in a safe place and went to take a bath. Lying in the warm water, she tried to remember everything Harry had told her about the memories Dumbledore had shown him about Tom Riddle. There wasn't that much. There was the obvious connection to the founders – there was Hufflepuff's cup and Slytherin's locket, so that left Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. The sword is obviously not a Horcrux – Harry had used it in his second year, and it hadn't tried to posses him. Gryffindor – what would he own? He was a knight – a fighter... a knife possibly... a sword and wand? Odd combination for a wizard. A ring maybe? Ravenclaw... lovely Ravenclaw – books, smart... female. Jewelry perhaps...

Harry thought they'd have plenty of time to discuss it while in hiding. But then that parchment had mucked things up and she was stuck here and had no idea where the guys were. She needed to figure out what the last two items could be, but she needed to talk to Harry to work it out. Dumbledore hadn't shared the memories with her that he'd showed to him, and she wanted the details that only he'd remember.

Frustrated, she resumed her usual bath time occupation. She tried to segregate her emotions, carefully keeping the memories with the strongest emotions – especially the ones she never wanted the Dark Lord to see behind the now hidden rooms and smallest doorways.

The last Occlumency lesson hadn't been a failure in her mind, regardless what Severus had said. With only a few exceptions, he hadn't seen anything she had wanted to keep from him, really. She sent the creatures of her nightmares into the forest, where nightmares belonged. Her strongest places were the stone corridors and the library. It was the DA memories she worried about the most and the times planning for the Horcruxes with Harry and Ron, which she tried desperately to segregate into her hidden Gryffindor common room.

~o0o~

Amycus stood up as the class took their seats. He walked down the aisle, making a stack of thick books float in front of him. With flicks of his wand, books began to fall on several desks with loud thuds. When Amycus returned to the front of the class, he turned to face them with a cold smile that had Hermione wanting to slink down under her desk. "Now you know how to cast Dark Arts. You have to want to. So I want to see you doing it."

Several of the students exclaimed in shock at the pronouncement as he flicked his wand at the blackboard, making a list of spells appear. Hermione gaped at the list of curses with a sick feeling in her gut. Needling Hex, Knife-Edge Curse, Antler Hex, Stabbing-Pains Curse, Piercing-Pain Curse, Shooting-Pain Curse, Stinging Hex, Itching Hex, Tongue-Blisters...

"Well, you are gonna do them today," Amycus said as he faced the class.

Hermione stared nervously at the spells on the list. She turned in her seat to glance at Cillian, licking her lip nervously at his stony stare. Only he wasn't glaring at her, he was glaring at Amycus. The crack of a ridding crop on her desk made Hermione jump and face Amycus. "Pay attention."

Hermione nodded silently.

"I'm gonna pair you up, and today is gonna be a practical exercise. Crabbe, you is gonna go with... Longbottom. You'll hex or curse while Longbottom defends. Malfoy, you're with Mrs. Snape. Goyle, you try your luck against Finnigan; Finnigan – you're to deflect what he fires at you. And, let's see, Miss Parkinson, you're with Miss Brown, and Miss Bulstrode, you with... Miss Patil. So C'mon up here and let's see how you do." Charlene Weston and Breanna Enfield both sighed in relief as Elizabeth McFaul and Blaise Zabini both crossed their arms in annoyance.

As the pairs moved to the front of the class and spaced out, Amycus made their desks shrink and fly to the side of the room. Cillian moved forward, his wand drawn. The other students, except McFaul and Zabini, all tried to move further back, away from the coming fight. "Who goes first?" Cillian asked the same time Amycus shouted, "Start."

Five flashes of light shot from the Slytherins' wands, most successfully deflected by the Gryffindors. Parvati screamed in pain as her foot turned into a stick. "That is not on the board, Miss Bulstrode. Five points for ingenuity," Amycus said as Cillian turned Parvati's stick leg back into a foot. "Again!" Once again, the Slytherins' struck, Crabbe and Goyle given points for hitting Neville and Seamus. The next time, all the spells were deflected. The fifth time, Hermione had the impression, as she hung upside-down wandless, that Draco wasn't really trying to hurt her.

"Liberacorpus," Draco uttered, making her crumple on the floor and hit her head.

"Mr. Malfoy, curses, not hanging her up like laundry," Amycus grumbled as Seamus gave Hermione a hand up and handed her her wand.

The next few times Crabbe, Goyle, and Bulstrode fired with more viciousness, their curses hitting Neville, Seamus, and Parvati. Pansy was reprimanded for going easily on Lavender, even though Lavender was now limping and her skin was covered in what looked like scales. The next round, Millicent was reprimanded as Cillian tried to reverse the Tongue-Blisters Curse on Neville. Seamus was limping in agony, and Lavender was in tears, doubled over.

"This is fun, ain't it, Mr. Finnigan?" Crabbe taunted him.

As the others took aim and fired, Draco snarled, "Glacious Maximus," aiming his wand at Hermione, making her fall on the floor, freezing, feeling like a thousand knives were stabbing her at once.

"Enough!" Cillian shouted. "Reverse the curses, now." Draco quickly complied and was hit by a hex from where the Slytherins stood gloating.

"That's why we have a hospital, Gwynek," Amycus snarled at him. "You're too soft on them." He pointed at some of the students in the back. "Help them to the hospital. Malfoy!" Draco turned to face him. "Fifty points from Slytherin for not even trying. Now carry her to the Hospital. The rest of you are dismissed. I want you to write a foot each on the spells on the board; how to cast them and how to reverse them."

Charlene Weston and Breanna Enfield came up and together helped Parvati, who was in a fetal position on the floor. Theodore Nott picked up Lavender and Glenwynn Glenwrythe levitated Neville. Felicia Lockhaven took note and levitated Seamus as Cillian scoped Hermione into his arms. Adriana Whitehall and Tracey Davis opened the door and followed Glenwynn and Felicia, using their wands to assist their friends with the two guys.

Cillian thanked the girls after they deposited Neville and Seamus on cots in the hospital wing. "We were told to help, Mr. Gwynek," Felicia said, then gave Hermione a sympathetic smile. "I hope you feel better."

Madam Pomfrey asked Cillian to wrap Hermione in a blanket heated with a Warming Charm and give her Pepper-Up Potion as she attended to Neville, Seamus, Lavender, and Parvati. When Hermione's lips turned from blue to their normal pink, she was released to go.

~*~

A loud "Ahem," came from the frame of Headmistress Derwent. Severus looked up, wondering what she'd seen. "You wanted to know if the students you disciplined were sent to the hospital today."

"And..." he said to make her get on with her report.

"The seventh-year Gryffindors are in the hospital wing," she stated, "even your wife."

Severus hurried to the hospital wing and ran into Cillian at the door. "Hermione's fine – just needed Pepper-Up Potion. Malfoy went easy on her. But the others were not so lucky."

"Damn him. I have warned him, multiple times, and he in turn sulks off to our Master and complains about my interference," Severus replied frostily in a soft hiss. He turned and strode angrily to Amycus' classroom. Severus opened the door wide and walked in casually, easily deflecting a rogue spell that nearly hit him.

"What are you doing here?" Amycus snarled. "Stop your wand waving," he shouted at the students.

Severus walked up to the front of the class, his robes billowing but his expression neutral. "It has been brought to my attention that there has been fighting in your classroom, and I came to see if you had need of assistance," he said softly to Amycus as if being discreet, but he knew just how well his voice carried when the students were all silent. Like they were currently.

"I don't need any help from you," Amycus snapped, not bothering to lower his voice, and indicated Cillian with his chin. "What's he here for?"

Severus turned to face the class. "Leave now. You will all report to the library and write out how to reverse the curses listed on the board – five hundred words on each curse, including the affects, with specific emphasis on the counter spell – due next class." The students all scrambled to collect their things, not needing to be told twice. Severus turned back to Amycus. "Apparently you seem to need help with your dueling sessions. Were you not aware that you agreed to follow standard international guidelines for practicing dueling in your classroom?" Severus said smoothly.

"An' I is," Amycus sneered.

"By allowing seven pairs of students to duel in your class at once?" Severus asked smoothly. "Guideline rules state that two qualified referees are required for each dueling pair. I see only two qualified wizards at the present."

Cillian repressed a smirk as Amycus looked around Severus at him. "I gots it under control," he said, apparently not getting Severus' jibe at his expense.

"And when the students get hurt...?" Severus asked coolly.

Amycus bristled and stood defiantly facing Severus. "That's what we gots a hospital for, ain't it?"

"Do you not recall me telling you that each time a student is hurt, sick, or serves detention that we are obligated to send family notices to the student's parent or guardian?"

Amycus' expression of stunned disbelief was utterly comical.

"Every detention and every injury – as mandated by the school charter," Severus said coldly. "And it is reported to the Dark Lord. You're supposed to be teaching them how to do the spells. I'm not sure how well the students are learning how to use Dark Arts when they are lying unconscious in hospital beds?"

"But... I am teaching them how to use them..." he argued defiantly.

Amycus, although quite knowledgeable of the Dark Arts, was proving to be woefully ignorant and completely inept in reversing them. Severus now assumed that he'd never cared, nor bother reversing anything he'd ever cast. It made him a good wizard to have on a raid, but a poor choice for a teacher in Severus' view, but he was stuck with him.

"And exactly how are the students learning them if they're incoherent? If you are going to have dueling, a qualified wizard must be present for each dueling pair. Cillian is more than qualified, as am I, and Professor Flitwick most certainly is. However Cillian is not available, and Professor Flitwick has his own lesson to teach. So either I must attend each of your lessons or you will have to modify your teaching style until you can present me with a list of Dark Arts spells you intend to teach these eager young minds – with their counter spells," Severus stated with authority while maintaining his indifference. He narrowed his eyes and looked down his nose menacingly at Amycus. "But I must insist that you refrain from teaching any spell you cannot reverse yourself."

"I don't need you in my classroom!" Amycus sneered, spittle flying from his mouth, but the wizard cowered slightly.

"If you continue to fill the beds in the hospital with your ineptitude, it may become necessary," Severus snarled back. "Do not think that this is over, Amycus."

"You ain't got no right talking to me like this! The Dark Lord – he told me to teach them how and I'm gonna," Amycus snarled, and a calculating look crossed his features. "You're not his favorite anymore, you know. He will hear about this."

"He already has," Severus said coldly, crossing his arms. "I will be in your office tonight after dinner to further discuss this," he said calmly, turning to go. "Unless you'd prefer me attending all your lessons until you've learned the counter curses yourself?"

~*~

Ginny asked Hermione where the others were when she arrived at the Gryffindor table for lunch, and Hermione told her about Amycus' class. "You're kidding?" Ginny asked, covering her mouth with her hand.

Janilynn paled. "We have him next."

"Forewarned," Hermione said, thankful to be eating hot food.

In Potions, Professor Slughorn started on the complicated Marsayass Potion, a potion that was used to reverse ineptly attempted human-to-animal transfigurations. "Your assignment is for each of you to brew the Depilatory Potion today as well as the base for your Marsayass Potion, which you'll brew as a team. You will have to coordinate your efforts with your partner to accomplish this, and you'll have to arrange who will be making which steps on your Marsayass Potion throughout the rest of the week around your class schedules," Professor Slughorn stated as he rocked on his heels. "Keep in mind that whichever partner brews the better Depilatory Potion – that potion will be added to your Marsayass Potion at the appropriate time... You may begin."

Hermione looked at the directions carefully, pulled out her revision planner and began writing in the necessary brewing times. "You can't be serious," Draco sneered, looking at the planner.

Hermione looked up. "What?"

"You actually have your entire week already planned out to the minute?" he scoffed at her.

"Not to the minute, but I do have my schedule in here as well as yours." She made several entries, realizing that he'd have to do three steps by himself. "I'll copy this down for you."

"Why bother? Just tell me when you need to come down here, and I'll escort you."

She looked up, the brewing schedule half way done. "Oh, it will be my pleasure – considering I don't want you to miss a step or do it late and mess up the potion."

"Fine," he said, setting up the cauldron. "Suit yourself."

~*~

Cillian heard a commotion in the corridor just outside the classroom. Hermione was working diligently on her potion with Draco, and he knew she would not leave without him. He slipped quietly into the corridor and drew his wand. He heard MacCavish's voice and Miss Parkinson's just around the corner.

Miss Parkinson sounded aggravated. "If you value that hand, remove it."

"Awe, doll, your daddy and I go way back," MacCavish said. "I might even see if he would let me court you."

Cillian peered around the corner and saw Miss Parkinson brush his hand away with her arm. "Don't count on it," Miss Parkinson sneered, "I'm practically spoken for."

"Look here, girlie," MacCavish snarled. "You come by all flirting like and expect a guy not to react?"

"Is there a problem?" Cillian asked casually as Miss Parkinson snarled, "I simply said hello to you."

"Miss Parkinson, aren't you supposed to be in class?" Cillian asked, holding his wand casually in his hand, and MacCavish turned to glare at him.

"I have revision time right now," she replied. A flicker of relief flashed in her eyes as she addressed him, then disappeared behind an arrogant sneer. "Aren't you supposed to be watching the Mudblood?"

"She's not all that fun to watch. Besides she's in class. May I escort you somewhere?" he offered, ignoring MacCavish's glare.

Miss Parkinson shrugged one shoulder as she slipped by the other man. "If you've nothing better to do," she replied offhandedly.

She walked quickly until they reached the stairs to the Entrance Hall. "Thank you," she said and hurried off.

Cillian checked his watch and hurried to Severus' office to report the incident.

~*~

Despite Draco's sarcastic comments, they worked flawlessly together, and by the end of the class, they had the base completed and the depilatory part of the potion that would be added on Friday, according to Hermione's calculations. Hermione handed Draco her vial. "Would you take this up for me, and I'll clean up."

"Sure," he said, finishing marking his own sample.

Hermione deposited the ingredients remains in the bin as Draco carried both samples up to Professor Slughorn's desk. She then carried their base to the cupboard the advanced students used to store their work in progress, thankful when Terry magically sealed the cauldron for her. "Thanks," she said, wondering if everyone knew she wasn't allowed a wand.

He smiled and placed his cauldron next to hers. "Not a problem."

"Ah, Mr. Zabini!" Slughorn gushed as he examined the color of one of the potions he set on the desk. "Excellent as always. I so did miss you at my Halloween party. Nothing too fancy, just the Slug Club mind, but you are still a member if you should fancy attending."

Hermione was gobsmacked. With everything going on, he was still hosting his parties?

"My family attended a party at the Malfoys', which we were privileged to attend," Blaise said curtly, smiling at Draco.

"Oh, I know about the party at the Malfoys'. Who in proper wizarding society doesn't? We are having a lovely lunch the end of the month. I would like to count on your joining us?"

Hermione put away her planner as she looked about for Cillian. She was surprised that he wasn't in the back of the room waiting for her.

Padma and Terry returned from the Professor's desk and gathered their things. "Hermione, are you ready?" Terry asked.

"Yes," she replied, wondering where Cillian was.

"So, where are you headed?" Ernie asked.

"I have Transfiguration now," she said as she grabbed her bag. She followed Ernie, Terry, and Michael as they headed for the door, figuring that they would walk with her to her class. She ran smack into VanHalal and MacCavish as she turned from the doorway into the corridor.

"Well lookie here," MacCavish said with a sneering grin.

"There's my little wench," VanHalal sneered as he cornered Hermione against the wall. "Decided you needed a real wizard between your thighs, girl?"

"VanHalal, back off her," Draco sneered loudly, thankfully drawing the attention of Ernie, Terry, and Michael, who had stopped and turned around.

Hermione suppressed the urge to panic. She was wandless, but hopefully Professor Slughorn would come out, or Cillian would show up.

"Or what? You'll send for Severus to protect his toy?" MacCavish sneered.

"Wife, imbecile, or weren't you paying attention at the wedding?" Draco snapped. "You know how protective he is over her."

"It was only a bloody hand-fasting, as I recall, and my name's on the list for when the year is up," VanHalal said, eyeing Hermione lustfully. "Oh, I did love feeling you wiggle under me as I thrust into you, girl. Your screams were such a turn on." His voice was only a whisper, but his breath made her as sick to her stomach as his words did.

Draco seized Hermione by the arm as she tried to duck out from under VanHalal's arm, making her hit her head on his forearm. "I see you like being rough with her as well. Just like your daddy did."

Ernie, Terry, and Michael now had their wands out as they approached. "Wands away kiddies," MacCavish snarled. "Or it's you and me in Filch's dungeon room."

Draco gave Hermione a shove in the direction of her friends. "Go, Granger," he snapped.

Hermione tripped, but Michael caught her arm and helped her regain her balance. "C'mon," he said, pulling her with him.

Behind her MacCavish and VanHalal were laughing coldly.

They hurried out of the dungeons, Draco catching up to Hermione and the guys on the stairs. When they reached the Entrance Hall, Hermione was relieved to see Susan Bones and Gerald Summerby among the Hufflepuffs coming up the stairs. Ernie signaled to Susan and she nodded, getting Sean Nauman's and Paul Peterson's, Hufflepuff's two Beaters, attention. They pushed their way through the other students and ran to meet them.

"What happened?" Gerald asked coming to a stop.

"Those Death Eater creeps accosted Hermione," Michael stated as Severus and Cillian finally appeared. Paul, a large, burly boy for his age, scowled as he glared at Draco. "They said some pretty foul lies to her as well."

Sean moved to shadow over Hermione. "You all right?" he asked in a deep baritone voice.

Hermione smiled and nodded, remembering that Ginny had said the two large guys had joined the DA. "It was unnerving but I'm fine. Thank you."

Sean smiled back and uncrossed his arms.

Ernie was looking at the stairs to the dungeons as Susan looped her arm with Hermione. "Well, you're with armed friends now," she said, walking with her toward the stairs.

"I was with her," Draco snarled.

"Yes, but they don't seem to take you seriously, do they?" Ernie said accusingly.

"Is there a problem?" Severus asked, and Hermione turned, watching her rescuers wave good-bye and hurry up the stairs to get to their own classes.

"Nothing that couldn't have been avoided if she'd only waited for me," Draco snapped. He told Severus what had happened as they walked the Transfiguration classroom. Severus expression was stony when he left them at the top of the stairs and watched Hermione and Draco leave for class.

~*~

Before taking his seat in the Great Hall, Severus pulled Amycus aside and handed him a letter signed by all twelve of the school governors. "Apparently Avery, Rosier, Nott, and Rabastan Lestrange are coming tonight to confer with you about your inability to effectively teach without severely injuring the students."

"They don't need to come," Amycus sputtered, handing back the letter.

"The Dark Lord insists," Severus said smoothly. "You simply cannot teach curses that you cannot reverse."

"But... I don't need them in my classroom," Amycus snarled.

"Until you can produce me a list of curses with their counter curses and demonstrate the ability to reverse them to Avery, Rosier, Nott, and Rabastan Lestrange, you will need to take a more academic approach to your lessons. I am to allow them in the school every night until they feel you've gained the necessary knowledge. They will be staying in the Three Broomsticks." Severus met Amycus' glare with a condescending scowl. "In the meantime, limit your duels to one pair at a time so that you can properly monitor them to make sure the students are learning the spells properly." He turned, his robes flaring, and walked to the Headmaster's seat.

~~o0o~~

Author's Notes:

The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem from Ancient Iraq and is among the earliest known works of literary writing. The magical context of the legends is my fabrication.