11

Chapter 11 - More than That

"He isn't going after the Dark Lord," Ronan said in disgust.

"Of course he isn't," Firenze huffed, "That would put his son at risk."

Bane bared his blocky teeth, "Then perhaps we should dispose of the child. It would be regrettable, but it would save so man-"

"No!" several other centaur voices called out.

"What?" Bane continued, "It hangs around the edge of the Forest often enough."

Ronan grimaced, "We wouldn't make it past Hagrid, and even if we did, the teachers of that castle would fall upon us like a plague."

"Plague?" Firenze repeated outraged, "It isn't the teachers we would have to worry about. Harry Potter would kill us all."

"And slowly," added Glenna, a female centaur who was one of the most prolific in reading the order of the stars.

Ronan stumped his hooves, "We invoked the magicks correctly. Our alliances with the others, the order of the planets, everything is correct. Why isn't he acting?"

"He is acting," Glenna told him, "Don't you see?" she pointed up at the night sky.

"I see nothing but possibility, no great change has altered the fates of wizard nor beast. His wife is dead, he knows who slew her, why does he not act?" Ronan asked, his anger vibrating around him.

"He's a professor," Firenze said in answer. "And as a man, he has already changed the course of three of the greatest powers that might have acted or not acted in the war to come."

"The war is already upon us," Bane said, "Anything he does now will be too little, too late."

Glenna threw her head back and laughed, "You are as unseeing as humans then, Bane, for the opposition has just arisen."

Regulus was a bit hesitant about asking Severus for help. Not because he was afraid of Severus Snape, but because he was currently in the library with Lily Evans as usual.

Being the younger brother of infamous Sirius Black, Regulus made it a point to avoid any Gryffindors, but he needed help.

Taking in a deep breath, he made the first step of the stacks when-

"Hey, little brother."

Regulus nearly jumped out of his skin, he pressed himself back against the books and looked up at the grinning face of the infamous Sirius Black.

"So what are up to?" he asked.

Regulus straightened his shoulders, "Not where am I slithering off to?"

Siri rolled his eyes and snagged the top book off the stack he was holding. "Potions Theory," he read, then looked over his shoulder at Severus and Lily. "Do you need help?"

Regulus gulped, he hadn't asked his brother for help inside the walls of Hogwarts- ever.

"I'm not the genius, Snivellus is, I'll admit, but I am two years ahead of you and my grades are far from shabby."

Regulus thought that his brother was possibly the smartest- at least academically, in the school if he put a little more effort into it. "Are you offering to help me with my homework?" he asked incredulously, taking a step forward in challenge. He would not be played for a fool.

Siri threw an arm around his shoulders, "That I am, Little Reggie."

"Don't you have something better to be doing?" Regulus asked stiffly, as Siri led him not to one of the most secluded spaces in the library but one of the most open where Madam Pince allowed some low voices for group projects and tutor sessions. None of the tables were completely empty and Regulus thought for sure Sirius would move on.

Instead, he directed him to the end of a table that had a Ravenclaw who had her astrology maps spread out across the majority of the table.

"Nope, I have nothing better to do. I mean, I could do my own potions essay," Siri said, pulling over Regulus's books, "But I'll just read over Moony's then write mine during lunch tomorrow."

The Ravenclaw with dark eyes gave him a disapproving look that Siri completely missed.

"So what's giving you trouble?"

Regulus looked at his brother, hoping against hope that this wasn't some sick and elaborate joke. But taking a chance, he pulled out Slughorn's prompt from his notes.

Over the course of the next few hours, Regulus realized two things, how seriously intelligent his brother really was, and how much he had missed him over the years.

"From Hufflepuff, Mr. Mcmillan, Gryffindor, Ms. Hamilton, Ravenclaw, Ms. Tailor and Ms. Ulley, and from Slytherin, Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Goyle, and Ms. Umbridge, please pack up your things, I can buy back your books for the inconvenience or replace them for sixth years books if any of you choose to transfer to my other DADA class."

The students stared at him in indignation, apparently, none of them had really believed that today's class would affect them.

"I will be talking to the Headmaster about this," Umbridge said, her voice pitched very high as if she might cry.

Was it terribly of him, that Harry did not feel a smidge of pity for her? If so, he didn't care, she had by far the worst grade of anyone in the class. It was no wonder she resorted to the Dark Arts, that branch of magic had power of its own, and Umbridge had very little magic of her own.

"Do tell Albus I say hello, won't you?" Harry asked smoothly.

Teddy giggled and chimed in, "I say hi too! And Fawkes! I say hi to Fawkes!"

Umbridge's face turned pinker than her scarf, she marched out of the room, as the bell rang. Crabbe and Goyle senior followed her, as did the rest of the class. Except for Ms. Hamilton and Ms. Ulley. Ms. Hamilton asked in a quiet voice if Harry could buy back her second-hand book. Harry was happy to and did not make any question either by word or expression of why she or her family might need the money.

"This is too much," she protested.

"No, that is the standard price of the book, and as we are a few weeks into the semester, I will not assume you need to know the price you paid for. I know the cost of this textbook and that is what I shall pay for it, new or not."

She nodded, then said carefully, "I would take your sixth-year class, only it interfers-"

Harry smiled, "I understand. And if ever you wish to practice some protection charms or anti-hexes, my office hours are open to all."

She smiled back, before turning and near running out of the room.

Ms. Ulley was the only student to transfer to the sixth year class.

"Had I been teaching last year, Ms. Ulley, I think you would be able to participate in the N.E.W.T. class, but I am just not confident I could ensure the safety for any students who do not have a firm handle on the theory and consistent charmwork."

"You said that your sixth year class will be able to take the DADA N.E.W.T. if they wished to."

Harry smiled, "You will be able to pass if you put the effort in, and I can assign you more carefully worded prompts than the rest of the class that will enhance your ability to face the test."

She nodded, "Yes, please."

He handed her the sixth year book, "The seventh year book is more about countering the Dark Arts, whereas the sixth year book is about duelling and defence against magical creatures. As the testers of the N.E.W.T. will not actually cast Dark Arts on you, duelling and magical creatures are all they can throw at you, and even their questions are more geared toward those categories. I don't promise you will get an Outstanding in theory, but if you take my sixth year class seriously, then there is no reason you shouldn't be able to achieve an Exceeds Expectations."

She grinned, "I hope you stick around, Professor Rell. You're the best."

"He is the worst professor ever!" Dolores Umbridge shrieked at her Head of House. "He needs to be gone!"

Horace held up a hand, "Ms. Umbridge, I must insist you calm down. Professor Peverell is perfectly within his rights to have standards for his students. I don't accept anyone into my N.E.W.T. class who doesn't achieve at least an Exceeds Expectations."

"But I was enrolled in the class already!" her voiced reached a new octave.

"That's quite enough. It is what it is, and as he is doing it for the safety of his students, of my students, I have no objections. He sent the scores of the students who were no longer eligible for the class. And I doubt with a score like yours that a retake would do you much good."

Horace was suddenly worried that her head was about to pop off her shoulders, as it turned a violent shade of violet.

In a frighteningly low tone, the girl said, "He rigged it against us."

Horace felt his expression darken, "Professor Peverell is one of the fairest professors to enter this school. And I find him to be among the least biased among the current staff. I believe you have another class to be getting to, Ms. Umbridge, and don't go causing trouble where there is none to be had."

Kingsley had never been happier. Bella was a storm, a raging, passionate, cold, brutal, and at times so inexplicably innocent that it broke his heart. With her, he felt alive. And yes, he knew she was a dependant. Knew better than anyone but her sisters that though she was dangerous, she couldn't protect herself from people she saw as 'hers.'

It was no easy thing to be in a relationship with someone like, to find a healthy balance between lover and, in some ways, caretaker. But it was a hardship he welcomed, he loved her, and he needed to be needed.

His younger sister and mother had been poor of health, and they had both passed before he had graduated from Hogwarts. His father had drunk himself into oblivion. Kingsley had been helpless to save them. Only his sister had allowed him to assist her, but his parents had refused to let him drop out of school to stay home with them.

So he missed out on the last days of his sister's and mother's lives. And his father afterwards had decided that Kingsley was too much of a child to understand grief or loss as his father knew and felt it.

But with Bella? There was no one on the planet who could separate him from her. No one that could convince him that her faults, her 'craziness', was the only thing about her.

Bella was so much more than instability and power, she was outrageously intelligent and in the light in her eyes, he saw the person that longed to be loved and cherished. That part of her that wished for the happiness of those around her and be allowed to question and explore the wider world.

He held the woman asleep in his arms, vowing to her, to himself, that he would always be by her side, no matter how tremulous the seas or unpredictable the winds.

Albus knocked on Rell's office door.

"Come in," a voice called.

When Albus entered he didn't, at first, see the young professor.

And then he heard a young boy's voice say, "Zoom! Zoom! Roar!"

Walking over to the desk, he found the professor sitting on a carpet behind his desk. His long legs were stretched out in front of him, his son was sitting in his lap playing with stuffed dragons as Rell looked over papers.

"Sorry to interrupt," Albus said.

Startling green eyes looked up at him from gold-rimmed glasses, "No problem whatsoever, Headmaster, just trying to translate proto-script into English."

Albus smiled, "Ah yes, some students have -interesting- styles of writing."

"I wish I could fault them, but my own quillwork is dismal. Teddy, say hi to the Headmaster."

The child looked up at him with equally green eyes, contrasted by hair the colour of his blue stuffed dragon. "Hi, Hat-Master."

Albus grinned, today he was wearing a magenta hat, "And hello to you, Dragonmaster, I hope you have been enjoying your time at Hogwarts?"

The boy nodded, but his attention had already returned to the make-believe world unfolding between his mind and the toy dragons.

"What can I do for you, Hat-Master?" Rell asked him, a smirk playing on the edge of his lips.

"Well, I had a meeting planned with some colleagues outside of Hogwarts. And they have several small children. I was wondering, given your background, if you might be willing to assist for the evening. The two oldest, Bill and Charlie Weasley are about Teddy's age." Albus saw a flash of recognition in Rell's eyes. But he continued, "Forgive me if this is an inappropriate request, it is by no means related to your responsibilities to me or this school."

"It isn't inappropriate at all," Rell said warmly, "I certainly don't mind babysitting, and it would be a good thing to have a playdate for Teddy."

Albus smiled, "Wonderful, simply wonderful, we will be meeting after lunch on Saturday. We shall be staying until dinner, and Molly Weasley insists you stay for the meal. I can quite attest that she is a most extraordinary cook."

Rell grinned, "Brilliant, Teddy and I will be ready to go Saturday afternoon."

Albus smiled, tipped his hat and departed.

Rell both delighted Albus and worried him. As a professor, he did everything right, as a father, well he knew few mothers as watchful and caring as Henry Peverell, but as a wizard…

Albus couldn't quite place a finger on it, but for someone who had been left to learn everything on his own, he knew too much. He knew too much about the workings of Hogwarts specifically for Albus's peace of mind.

Harry wondered as he locked up his office if Albus had just invited him over to babysit while an Order of the Phoenix meeting was taking place.

He would know for sure if Minerva came with them.

He was on his way back to his and Teddy's apartment within the castle when Narcissa found them.

He stopped dead, Teddy didn't react, apparently having fallen asleep in his arms as Harry had been lost in his thoughts.

Narcissa was as beautiful as she ever was, and in the dimness of the hallway, her fairness seemed to glow. Just being alone with her made his heart pick up, Merlin, he wished…

It didn't matter what he wished.

"Ms. Black."

She looked a bit nervous, but her eyes had a determined gleam to them. In a cold voice, she said, "Professor Peverell, I was looking for you."

"Well, you've found me," he said almost as coldly. But he was remembering what her lips felt like against his, and cold was not what he felt.

"This Sunday in Ireland, there is a convention of Magical Creatures. People from all around the Isles shows with new variations of creatures to sell, trade, or show off. I thought you and Teddy might like to go with me." She didn't quite make it a statement, and though he couldn't see behind her mask, he could sense her uncertainty.

He, however, felt no uncertainty, "I would love to, we would love to."

She blinked up at him, her shoulders stiffened then relaxed. "Good," she said. "I'll see you both on Sunday then."

"Thank you. Goodnight, Ms. Black."

She nodded, "Goodnight." Then she walked past him.

He began walking again too, barely registering what had just happened or how he felt about it.

"Rell," she called from the opposite end of the hall.

He turned to look at her.

"I want you," she stated, "For more than a night or a season." And then she disappeared around the corner.

Harry stood frozen and didn't know he was smiling until he felt the ache in his cheeks.