When he got to Snape's dungeon office, he found the door locked. Cursing softly to himself in Welsh, he was startled when someone addressed him in a gentle voice: "May I help you, Professor Grimalkin?"

He spun around to see a young girl of about 14, dressed in Gryffindor robes standing there, looking moderately officious holding a large bunch of keys in one hand and some papers in another, and a certain note of authority in her question.

Uh...I was looking for Professor Snape," he said, scratching his nose. "I needed to ask a favour of him."

"Oh.. well I think Professor Snape is in the library looking out some basic alchemical texts just in case anyone turns up for his option this afternoon. I don't think many will opt for it - if at all. However, if you'd like to leave a message or if it's to requisition some supplies from the Potions stores I should be able to help."

Nimue realised that the new professor would have no way of knowing she could help.

"I'm Nimue Hawkwood, Third Year Gryffindor, so I shall be seeing you in DADA later in the week. I've been helping Professor Snape since last term to get his records and supplies sorted out. It worked out so well that he's invited me to continue. So I can really help if it's something to do with supplies even the rare items so long as I you fill in 'Requisitions Register'."

It might come as a surprise to Anders that any student would actually want to assist Professor Snape in this way. Of course he had no way of knowing in what esteem Nimue held the Professor for his holding off the dementors from her in the woods the night of the Yule Ball and that she preferred his formality and coldness as it resonated with her own reserved nature.

Anders listened to Nimue. "Uh...I was actually after some herbs for my medicine," he said. "I managed to buy most of them in Hogsmeade but I..." He stopped, reluctant to admit his poverty. "I couldn't find the others," he finished, a little weakly. "I need Horehound, Echinacea and Plantain. I mean, they're not rare or anything but...uh...I guess the herb store had just run out."

He gave her an almost pleading look. "If there's any of those spare in the stores...I'd be really grateful for them...this medicine is the only thing that helps my cough."

"I am sure we have plenty - we received a fresh supply of Echinacea just this week." Nimue went to the door of Snape's office and took a moment to speak with it. It obligingly opened for her, having been instructed by Snape to allow her access. Given her power over wood it may have opened anyway but so far as she and the Potions Master were concerned, her entry to his domain was a privilege that she did not abuse.

She placed the papers down on the desk and took the keys she held to open up a cupboard from which she lifted down a heavy leather-bound book. She opened it up and taking a quill from her robe pocket, found some ink and wrote in the date and time as well and the three ingredients:

"Professor Anders Grimalkin - Horehound, Echinacea and Plantain for his ...... did you say it was for a medicine for your cough?" asked Nimue a slight question in her voice. The girl obviously knew something of the properties of the herbs he'd requested.

Anders nodded. "Yes," he said, quietly. "I was unwell while I was..." He stopped again, uncertain if he should make free with discussing Azkaban. Besides. He'd never been able to say the name of it, always referring to it only as 'That Place'. "...while I was away for a while," he said, a little feebly. "I had an attack of pneumonia which left me with a touch of bronchitis. The herbs help relieve it."

He was quietly impressed at her authoritative, calm manner. She was well in control of herself for a teenager. When he'd been that age, he'd been awkward, gawkish and clumsy. He attempted to pull the conversation off of his personal problems.

"I hope I manage to pull off the first DADA class alright," he said, conversationally. "I'm a bit nervous to tell the truth. I hear that Hogwarts has a bit...well, OK, a lot of bother keeping DADA teachers."

"You'll be fine I am sure. It's not an easy class to teach. Too many students of our age become fascinated by the glamour of the Dark and, of course, it is an easier path than that of the Light or of integration."

She paused to look more closely at Anders. She was surprised at herself speaking in this way. She expected it was just an automatic thing, her blood speaking as it were, instead of her 14-year old brain.

"Anyway, a number of us Third Years have had first hand experience of defending ourselves against the Dark Arts without proper training in same so we'll sure to be a very attentive class."

She went back to finish writing in the ledger: "There..." said Nimue "I have entered what you need them for. Now I just need you to sign here for them here...." Nimue indicated a column for signature "and don't worry the Professor doesn't expect you to sign in blood."

Nimue made this remark completely deadpan and then smiled very warmly at the young professor.

Anders took up a quill and dipped it into the inkwell, signing his name for the first time in what felt like an age. "Good job," he said, a faint smile drifting across his face. "I'm kind of attached to my blood. Don't even want to start thinking what Snape would do if he got any of mine."

He looked down at his signature on the page and carefully dotted the 'i's in his surname. "You've done this very well," he said, admiringly. "I've never seen a book kept so neatly." His own writing looked as though an illiterate spider had made its final death throes across a page, and had been something his teachers had despaired of. He handed the ledger and quill back to Nimue with a shy smile.

A cold voice came from the open doorway: "A use for your blood Grimalkin? Actually I am somewhat particular about the ingredients I use in my potions."

Professor Snape had returned to his office. He quickly crossed to his desk and took the ledger from Nimue and examined the entry that she had made for Anders. He waved his hand as permission for her to hand over the herbs and while she did this task, he continued to stare at Anders in what quickly became an uncomfortable silence.

Anders swallowed nervously, and the tiny bit of confidence he had managed to regain immediately disappeared like water down a plughole. "P..p...professor Snape.." he stammered. "I was just...that

is...I...uh..." He waved the herbs about. "My cough. Makes me better."

Curse the man! He had *always* had the innate ability to simply materialise out of seemingly nothing and leave Anders at a disadvantage.

The hand that held the bag of herbs began to shake and the young Professor thrust the offending appendage behind his back, hoping Snape wouldn't notice. He remembered all too well the number of times Snape and he had had...little discussions...about Anders' Problem.

While this little exchange went on Nimue replaced the ledger and locked the supply cupboards, placing the keys back on the desk, close to Snape's hand. He took possession of them immediately. She then addressed Professor Snape without any trace of nervousness: "Sir, I was just about to say to Professor Grimalkin before you arrived that you might be able to suggest a revitalising potion to supplement what he is brewing for himself with these."

A knock comes at the door, then it opens a bit. "Entschuldigen sie mich," Katia says, "but I seem to have gotten lost. I was looking for the Alchemy class, but it appears to be non-existent." She glances around the room, taking in the conflict in the air, her eyes resting on Professor Grimalkin for an uncomfortably long moment.

"And who exactly are you?" growled Snape, "and what do you imagine you are dressed in such a manner in this school! Get that paint off your nails and into regulation cut robes NOW!!"

"I," Katia says, raising one eyebrow, "am Katia von und zu Drachenstein. I'm new here, and I believe that you, Professor Snape, are my head of house. I will, of course, do ask you ask." With that, she turns and stalks off, leaving the door hanging open.

Having reduced Anders to a stammering wreck and then dismissing Katia with this command seemed to have improved Snape's mood. He turned his attention to Nimue.

"So Miss Hawkwood... you were right about the class. Aside from Miss von und zu Drachenstein, only one student turned up and then bolted for Arithmancy when they realised they were the only one. Therefore, if you are still interested in the alchemical tutorials we discussed I'll prepare a basic reading list and we can meet monthly in this time slot to discuss."

Noting Anders was still in the room he looked said: "Is there anything else, Professor?

Anders shook his head violently, causing his long hair to come loose from its ponytail. "N...no, Professor...uh..thank you." He nodded to Nimue." Thank you for your help."

"I'll just..." he said, pointing to the door and smiling nervously. "Uh...yeah...y'know. Leave then. Um. Bye?" Anders turned and fled the dungeon as fast as his feet would carry him.

Nimue had smiled at Anders when he acknowledged her help and thought he looked incredible when his long hair came loose. Professor Snape might tell off Katia for dressing like that but luckily he couldn't read Nimue's thoughts about Anders.

What was it about her and longhaired young wizards - just that bit too old for her. She resolved to take herself aside for yet another sensible talking to and remembered that she was supposed to be upset over Achel, who was the right age for her.

She also wondered why Anders was so nervous around Professor Snape. Maybe she would ask him later as they seemed to have gotten on so well.

Once Anders had got well out of range, he slowed his pace, feeling the breath rattling painfully in his lungs. Maybe he *should* have asked Snape about a revitalising potion. But that would have meant being pleasant to his old housemaster. And Anders didn't think even *he* could manage that.

He wiped a shaking hand across his sweating forehead and headed back to the room he had been designated for an office, where he began to prepare the herbs. He needed to soothe the rising panic he could feel burning in the pit of his stomach. The stupidity of being here, becoming a teacher when he could barely hold a conversation let alone hold the attentions of a class, began to filter through his fuzzy consciousness. As he stared at the herbs on the table, he tried not to think about it, but the anxiety crept in on him from all corners until he was almost at the point of running out of Hogwarts and back to the Muggle world.

Slowly, he managed to regain control of himself, and calmed down a little. Snape couldn't possibly be worse as a colleague than he had been as a teacher. Could he?

************

A while later, an unhappy Katia returns to Snape's office, her nail polish gone, and wearing a regular robe. She looks sullen, but smiles sweetly when she sees Professor Snape. "Is this better, Professor?" she asks. "Is there an Alchemy class, or was I misinformed?"

Professor Snape didn't acknowledge Katia's question about her appearance. "No, there is not going to be an alchemy class. Not enough students signed for it as an option to make it worth my time to prepare lessons. If you are not interested in Arithmancy, I suggest you use this as a study period. Good day!"

He turned his attention back to the list he was dictating to Nimue.

At this moment Andy walked in. "Oh," said Andy surprised seeing Nimue and Katia. "I thought this was Professor Grimalkin's office? I never seem to be able to catch that man."

Then he saw Snape. Those dagger-like eyes staring right at him. Suddenly his body became cold like ice, and he felt as if he was 2 feet tall. "Professor Snape!" said Andy. "I'm terribly sorry. I...didn't know... I was just...I..."

Snape looks as if he is about to bite Andy's head off then his eyes widen and he goes quite pale.

" Mr Warden. We would like to ask you a few questions " The voice is deep and this does not sound like a request. Standing, no, TOWERING behind Andy is a WIB, his face devoid of any emotion.

Katia doesn't stay to watch. "Guten tag to you too, Professor," Katia mutters, whirling around and out the door. Once in the hallway, she addresses the air in front of her as she walked. "I was *told* that you favoured Slytherins, Professor Snape, but apparently you are perfectly rude to everyone."

Not really watching where she's going, she makes a wrong turn and ends up down a hallway she's never seen before. Seeing an open door, she approaches and peers inside. Seeing Professor Grimalkin inside, though he doesn't see her, she smiles. Arranging her hair and robe, she coughs softly. "I have been lost, Herr Professor. Could you tell me the way to the library, bitte?" She smiles bewitchingly at him.

With a start of surprise, Anders dropped the herbs he was carefully preparing. They fluttered to the floor, despite his clumsy efforts to catch them, and he dropped to his knees, picking them up. To him, these common garden herbs were more precious than silver right now. The dust from the floor stirred up, causing him to cough, a dry, racking cough that shook his whole body and made his eyes water.

When he had managed to get his breath back, he stood up and tried, rather unsuccessfully, to dust off the front of his robes. "The library?" he said, flustered by the expression on the girl's face. "Uh...yeah...you go down this corridor by 'ere - " he pointed vaguely out the door, "take the first

left, and keep going. You can't miss it."

He continued trying to shake the dust from the herbs.

"Busy, professor? Can I help you?" Quite suddenly a handsome blond boy has appeared. He looks at Katia. "Hello! You're searching for the library? Can't miss it, just walk along that corridor, turn left, then right and the first door on the left is it. Or at least it was 5 minutes ago, you never know here...

By the way, I'm Nathan."

He looks at Anders with open curiosity. "What are you preparing there?"

Anders glanced at the blond boy with the Slytherin robes, and then down at the herbs in his ceramic dish. "Just a herbal tea," he said, suddenly defensive and annoyed at the question. "That's all." The words came out tinged with the tiniest bit of a pout and his manner was abrupt and curt.

He could feel his temper starting to spit in the pit of his stomach and it was a feeling he hadn't had - well, for some time now. He just wanted to make his tea and have five minutes peace and quiet. He could live without students coming in and disturbing him constantly. Was this how it was going to be from now on?

~Very probably,~ his Inner Voice told him. He sighed.

Nathan heard the sigh and nodded at Anders. "I don't want to bother you, Professor. I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

"Professor?" Katia sounds concerned. "That cough does not sound good. Are you all right? You are, perhaps, taking the herbs to help with it?"

When Nathan steps in, she turns her attentions unabashedly towards him. "I'm Katia. Thank you so much for the directions to the library, but, Herr Professor, you must let me help you get the dust out of those herbs. I'm dreadfully sorry to have startled you." She turns back to Nathan with a winning smile. "Then, perhaps, you can help me find that library?"

"Oh, my pleasure! You're not British, are you? It's the accent." He laughs and winks at her. "My mother is English, you know, but my father is French... I was told I have a bit of a French accent, too. Maybe it's because I spent the last 4 1/2 years in Beauxbatons. Alright, mylady, let's wander towards the library!"

They begin to wander up the corridor leaving Professor Grimalkin behind.

"Oh, nein, I'm not British!" Katia laughs at the thought. "I am German. I went to school at Durmstrang Academy until this term, but it's so unpleasant there, and then all this business about the Dark Arts, and my parents decided to move me here." She smiles. "Who was that man? Isn't he the Quidditch player who was in Azkaban for murder? I simply cannot believe that even Headmaster Dumbledore would hire him!"

"Oh, it seems Professor Dumbledore is known for strange decisions... did you meet the gamekeeper? His mother was a giant." Nathan smirks. "Well, it's not hard to notice. Big body, small brains. My father and Dumbledore often work together. Papa is Ambassador to the Ministry of Magic, you know? Representing France, of course. What house are you in? I'm quite new myself and I don't think I've met you so far..."

"I am a Slytherin. My father went to Hogwarts, and he was a Slytherin too, but all my brothers, they're all older than I am, have graduated from Durmstrang." She smiles. "But, as I said, with all this business about the Dark Arts being taught there, my father decided to send me here instead. A half-giant groundskeeper, though? That sounds.... unsafe."

"Most unsafe it you ask me, you never know with that kind..." Nathan shrugs. "So did you like Durmstrang? My best friend Drake is there in his 6th year. Too bad Papa insisted that I went to Beauxbatons... I didn't like it very much. But now after all the things that happened here he's agreed that I should watch Morticia. She's in your class, then, I suppose - 3rd year as well. She's always getting herself into trouble, stupid thing. So, here's the library... see you later in the common room, I suppose..." He gives her a warm smile and winks before waving her goodbye.

*************

Once both the students had left the room, Anders flicked his wrist, bringing his wand to his hand again.

"Fermius," he muttered. A bolt of magic shot from the end of his wand, effectively sealing the door shut from the inside. Without him releasing the magical lock, nobody else could just happily wander in. "Students. This whole place is infested with them," he muttered to himself, and them immediately replied to himself. "It's a school, you moron. What did you expect - Pirates?" Talking to himself was something of a bad habit he'd picked up.

Satisfied he now had a bit of personal space, Anders continued preparing his herbal remedy, pouring boiling water onto the ground-up herbs. Not before time, either, as he could feel the pain in his chest starting to throb a little. He let the concoction steep for a few minutes before sipping at it.

It *still* tasted foul. He really didn't believe he would ever get used to the flavour. But it seemed to ease the pain a little. It never went away. Not completely. And Anders' tendency to high levels of stress and anxiety only made that pain worse.

He sat back in his chair as the herbs started to do their work. The tea was hot and comforting, the room was warm and cosy...and the young Professor's eyelids began to droop a little. He had no classes. Maybe he could try to catch forty winks...

As he dozed off into a light and restless sleep, his last thought was that he hadn't removed the Fermius spell from the door. ~Doesn't matter,~ he thought, sleepily. ~Nothing's going to happen.~

He was asleep. And the Nightmare immediately seized him in its grip. He never remembered much about it...just vague images, voices. *I haven't done with you yet, boy.* He knew the voice. Knew who it belonged to. In his sleep, he let out a shrill yell. "VOLDEMORT!"

Professor Snape was passing Professor Grimalkin's closed office door on route to hand in some requests to the Librarian when he heard the name 'VOLDEMORT' being shouted by Anders Grimalkin.

Snape was tempted to confront Grimalkin or to speak immediately to the Headmaster on the unsuitability of the new DADA professor. But no, he chose to bid his time to allow Anders to 'show his true colours' rather than be seen as the perennial critic.

His eyes snapped open and still bleary-eyed, Anders leaped out of the chair as though it were on fire. For what was only moments, but what felt like an eternity, he thought he was back in his cell at...That Place.

~Calm down, calm down...~ He stepped lightly to the door and went to open it. It was locked.

Another wave of panic flooded over him and he began to hyperventilate a little. How come he was locked in? Had they somehow taken him back to That Place and thought to confuse him by making it look like a study? Gulping for breath and his face pale, Anders' eyes fell on the wand lying on the floor. The Fermius spell.

Almost crying in his relief, he picked up the wand and pointed it at the door. "Ouvriarmus!"

Trying the door again, he was relieved when it opened. He immediately leaned against the door jamb and, gulping for air, tried to slow his pulse and return his heart rate to a more acceptable level. He began to cough again and when his eyes stopped watering, his gaze fell on the figure in the hall watching him scornfully. Snape.

Snape merely gave Anders a baleful look and carried on his way without another word or gesture.

Anders could be sure though that the Potions Master would be as good as his word in keeping a close eye on him.

**************

The Wizard in Black had escorted Andy Warden to a room high in the castle and locked him in alone. After a time the WiB and a companion returned. Andy was standing facing the window as they came up behind him.

Andy turned around to see two WIB standing right behind him. The heat of their breath caressing his face. "Took ya a while, boys," he said.

With a flick of his hand, the door slammed shut. The WIBs shot around, but turned right back when Andy began to walk towards the back of the room. He took his wand out of his robe, and raised it high above his head.

"Arumnas odute kirtap," said Andy. As he finished the last syllables of the spell, the WIBs noticed a change in his voice. It became deeper and raspier.

Andy fell to the floor. After all, a transformation was painful (for a 13-year-old). No one could see Andy's face during this time, but then again, no one wanted to. Screams and shouts of pain echoed throughout the empty hallways. Horror. It was about ten minutes until this disaster was over, and a tall slim boy rose to his feet. He slowly walked back toward the WIBs.

A 5'2" blonde-haired, blue eyed cutie was replaced by a 5'5" tall, dark, black-haired bad boy. There was a mysterious side to this guy. Nothing like Andy. His dark complexion made you intrigued about his appearance. His flat stomach made you think there was nothing there, and on his neck hung a chain with a sort of an ancient sign on it. He looked up at the WIBs and smiled.

"I was having so much fun," he said with his eyebrow raised. With this, the true body of Asriel Gtomik flicked his hand again to open the door.

Winifred didn't want to go to class. She wasn't feeling in the highest of spirits, and, even though she really enjoyed Arithmancy, decided to wander around the halls a bit. She was passing by a room when she was startled by some loud noises. She crept to the door, hoping to hear better when the door swung open. She let out a small shriek and jumped backwards. Out of the room stepped a dark-haired boy whom Winifred had never seen before. She froze to the spot and didn't know what to do...

"Hello," said Asriel. "Winifred, isn't it? Yes. Remember me? I look quite different."

His eyes narrowed and he walked toward her, their bodies almost touching. "If you'll excuse me," he said, "there's someone I need to talk to."

And with that, he walked out of the door in search of the person he was looking for.