28

Chapter 28: Mirrors and Occlumency

"On three...One...Two...Three- Legilimens!"

Severus wasn't exactly sure what he expected inside the mind of Hasan Castell. Maybe a three door hotel, a door for each Hasan, the Dark Lord, and Lucius' memories. He was pleasantly surprised that he didn't suffer any immediate backlash from the already cluttered mind, as he had expected. It didn't mean that Hasan's mind was entirely average either. As a spy and Master Legilimens, Severus Snape had been in a lot of minds, and this was certainly a unique one. All around him were images, just floating in space, and then there were lists and file cabinets, dichotomous keys and flowcharts. But just like any other mind, he was compelled to dive into the first memory which approached him.

Severus suddenly found himself in a never ending sea of dried grass. He heard giggling off to his right, but it was decidedly too high-pitched and girlish to be Hasan's. But where could he be if not with his friends? Turning around, Severus spotted a few children playing a muggle game that involved running, but still no Hasan.

:That's alright. They don't want me anyway.:

Snape froze. He knew that hissing anywhere- it was parseltongue. He looked down, and there by his feet, was a small kneeling boy with jet black, decidedly unruly hair. The boy was bent nearly to the ground where several little green snakes had gathered in a mass.

:Don't feel sssad, sssspeaker. You will leave thisss place sssomeday.: one of the snakes hiseed. At least, Severus assumed they were hissing, because the thing was, he could understand it. Every word. Granted, there was a very strong sibilant undertone to the whole thing, but Severus could understand it! Perhaps because he was in Hasan's mind and Hasan could understand it? Or maybe Hasan could understand it because the Dark Lord had a connection to his mind?

While Severus was thinking, he hadn't noticed when a shadow fell over the small boy, causing the snakes to scatter.

"Mr. Potter, what do you think you are doing, crouching on the ground like that?"

Severus nearly jumped. He had forgotten that before Hogwarts, the boy was known by his proper name.

"I-I was talking with the snakes, Mrs. Haydn." Hasan said.

"What a vivid imagination that boy has." the woman hummed bemused.

"I'm not imagining it!" Hasan protested weakly.

"I'm sure you're not. Why don't you run along and play with your peers?"

"But they spoke to me..." Hasan repeated lamely.

"Okay, the joke isn't funny anymore. Stop lying and moping around. If you don't want to play at least do something productive like cleaning the hall."

As the woman walked off, Hasan continued to stare at the ground, his face as emotionless as marble. Had it not been for some internal power which seemed to radiate around Severus, he would never have known the uncontrollable fury the boy felt at not being believed. The feeling was unbearable! Severus strained to avoid it as it took over his body, making him feel every bit as indignant as the memory felt, but it was no use. Severus' own empathy had done that for him. What a terrible way to be raised, Severus thought. At least at his house, magic was openly known. As the emotions mounted, he could feel some resistance from Hasan's mind. Without warning, he was flung out of that memory, back into the inner space, before a new image floated by...

His feet touched dried grass again, (did the field never end?) This time he knew to look down first. Predictably, there was the boy, kneeling again, but this time by the stream and wait, was that...? The Lord of the Rings? But! The boy couldn't be more than ten, surely-! Looking at the boy, or rather, the back of his head, Severus was surprised to find the hair still black and wild. That soon changed, however, as the boy opened his mouth. At first, Severus couldn't make out what he was saying, but then everything was so crystal clear: Hasan. The boy was saying Hasan. And in the blink of an eyelid, the Potter double had transformed into the statuelike Hasan of today. Hasan was clearly engrossed with his reflection, so Severus decided to bend over the stream to look too. Medium-length brown hair framed his face in which were set two dull jade eyes like gemstones, and in these gemstones were fear. Clearly panicked, the boy squeezed shut his eyes and pop! He changed back! And then, back again! It was as the boy lifted himself from the grass that Severus felt pressure against his own head.

One second, Severus was looking at a stream, the next into the soulless eyes of Hasan himself. His eyes were uncharacteristically wide, telling of his surprise and wariness. Severus knew that Hasan saw everything that he did, and it was then expected that Hasan would feel a bit cut open and vulnerable.

"That was at Penelope's House, I take it?"

Hasan began to nod before giving him a shrewd look. "How do you know what it's called?"

Severus himself stiffened. "I had gone down there before to...verify your identity."

"Oh, I see."

"Did you have many friends there?" Severus asked, getting down to business.

Hasan shrugged. "The snakes I suppose. Well, you saw. No one wanted to play with me because they sensed I was...different from them."

"That doesn't mean that you did anything wrong though." Severus said. "It just means they were all too young and stupid to—"

"No, I think they sensed rightly." Hasan told him dully. "You see, weird things happened when I was around, moving objects, changing colors...I would have been wary too."

"But do you see that they were wrong to estrange you?"

"I estranged them just as much, Severus." he turned his dull gaze to his Head of House. "I don't need your pity. I remember when I was in my first year here and I fought the Dark Lord. I told him he could go right ahead and kill Neville. Obviously I didn't think he would, I was daring him, see? But I said it...I'm not surprised they weren't my friends."

Severus was a bit shocked to say the least. Although he never expected anything less from a Slytherin, he did from Hasan- the boy was a walking moral book. All even, tit for tat, not someone Severus would have marked as a, well, as a Slytherin.

"The Dark Lord brings out the worst in all us." Snape confessed quietly, "but let us talk about the other memory I saw. Your appearance change."

"It's not a glamour." Hasan said evenly. "I don't know what it is."

"Can you take it down?" Snape pressed. Hasan shook his head.

"It's a part of me now. I've tried to switch back before but I can't."

"Why did you hide your true appearance in the first place? Why change your name? Your identity? You were raised in an orphanage with no inkling of your fame, yes?"

Again, the boy nodded. "I just prefer it this way. I like being invisible. Did you know I dreamed of finding Heliotrope*?"

"I understand your desire to not be seen, especially now in the war, but I want you to know that you shouldn't hide from shame...of anything."

Hasan shrugged. "If they find me"- he didn't need to say that they included Dumbledore and the rest of the world-"then I'll never be able to hide again. And even besides that, Altair won't be able to hide either. But why did I do it at first? It felt safer. If I was disliked, then it didn't feel as bad before they disliked me for someone who was not me. Whether or not I feel any personal shame shouldn't make a difference."

"But it does!" Severus stressed. "You come down here telling me you're overwhelmed about a war that hasn't officially started yet and expect me to believe that there is nothing at all going on internally? Hasan, listen to me. We need to resolve this! The Dark Lord will be returning. I am helping him to return, so believe me when I say it will happen. Your body is under magical stress from maintaining those memories, from the Dark Lord who came emit visions and emotions into your mind, and from upholding your appearance. Forgive me if I don't think this is healthy for anyone, least of all a thirteen year old boy who will be found out eventually! We need to deal with this now!"

Hasan was on his feet, eyes blazing. "Fine then! I'm angry at myself! No one liked me as a child! Draco is helping in my slaughter! Neville's been brainwashed! I feel so used and underappreciated for being Altair's damned pensieve! I'm deathly afraid my appearance will fall! I'm afraid of Moody! Of Dumbledore! Don't you think I tried to control my appearance? How do you think I felt when I learned I couldn't? That I couldn't change back even if I wanted to? That I had to keep this a secret from Altair! From my dad! I want to be known so badly! But I don't want to give into my own selfish weakness! I hate this! I hate this! I'm so weak!"

Severus waited for the boy to calm down before continuing. "You are not weak. You are experiencing normal human emotions"-the boy scoffed-"and yes it is human and therefore completely normal. Without emotions we become like Voldemort. Draco is doing what he has to do to survive. The situation is unfortunate, but we need to go on. But not tonight, not if you don't want to."

Hasan bit his lip. "Once more. Please. I need to get stronger."

"Very well then," Severus sighed, "One...two...three...Legilimens!"

All at once it seemed that the two were sucked into another world. A world that was orblike and not exactly in color. Severus felt Hasan's presence right alongside him, which was unlike anything he had ever experience before...The world was very large as he was very small. His scales glided smoothly over the seamless floor, forked tongue tasting the world through cardboard dull scents. Light flickered on the walls, licking audibly at the still air. Behind were footsteps, ahead were vibrations telling of others...Severus recognized the place immediately. It was the Department of Mysterious. And Hasan was there. And they were both trapped in the body of a –Nagini! Swiftly did the body approach the two sentinels who guarded an unknown door. And then—

Lights! Curses! Shouts! Nagini lunged, sinking her great teeth, now Severus' teeth cleanly through the magical cloths and into the tasty warm flesh of Moody. The auror was not to be dragged down however, and continued to slash his wand through the air. Nagini injected her poison, intent upon maiming, not killing. Her large body wrestled with the large male before he was overtaken by the witch and other wizard. They moved so swiftly, that if not for Bellatrix's mad laughter and his insight from the Dark Lord, Severus would not have been able to identify them. Quickly did he begin to envelope the helpless creature who struggled futilely in her hold. But just as the Prophet had reported, it was the cutting spell, not Nagini which took the auror's life.

And just like that, they were back in the office. Hasan was breathing hard, large gulping breaths which caused his body his shudder. Severus wasn't in any better condition, having never in his life witnessed a murder from a snake's point of view.

"What was that?" Severus all but demanded when they had both caught their breaths. Hearing about Draco was nice and all, but he would have thought that Hasan put higher priority in real things. Dangerous, life determining things! Why had Hasan not mentioned that he was privy to the murder of Amelia Bones and the capture of Moody!

"A vision." Hasan murmured. "It was in more detail than before...I dreamed of it this morning. It's true isn't it?"

Severus ran a tired hand through his greasy hair. "Unfortunately. Next time you have a vision you are to report to me immediately, is that understood?"

"Yes, sir." Hasan said. "But why were people even there in the first place?"

"I believe that is a discussion for another day." Severus told him tiredly. "This only proves that we need to develop your occlumency skills."

"But isn't it useful, in a way, I mean?" Hasan pressed. "Now we know what the Dark Lord is up to."

"I think it is dangerous to use such a channel. You forget that it is only logical he can use it too. He could see what you do, perhaps. And the Dark Lord is not above trickery. How would you be able to discern a vision from a trap?"

"I see." Hasan conceded thoughtfully. "Thank you, Severus. For...listening."

"You're welcome—"

But no sooner had he said this before there was a knock on the door.

"Severus, we need to talk."

.oOo.

"OH!" Daphne screamed as they entered the common room.

"What is it, Daphne?" Tracey asked.

"S-snake!"

"What? Where?" Theo asked.

"I swear I just saw it! There! By the couch!"

The third year Slytherins gaped as a little green snake slithered about their common room.

"Is that? Is that the snake that Moody had?" someone piped up.

"It can't be, can it? Well, what do we do with it?"

Everyone was huddled against the doorway, unsure of whether it was okay to enter or not.

"Oh, for Salazar's sake!" Draco huffed, shouldering his way to the front. "Stupefy!"

The poor reptile froze in its tracks, and everyone advanced.

"It certainly looks like the snake Moody had. Should we return it?" Pansy asked.

Tracey shot her a dirty look. "That's as bad as killing it ourselves."

"So what are we supposed to do with it?" Millicent Bulstrode demanded. "We can't just keep it here, can we?"

"Well, we are the House of the Snakes..." Daphne said with a grin.

"Oooh! It could be like a mascot!" one of the second years said.

"It seems harmless. Otherwise Moody wouldn't have used it."

"But who'd take care of it?" someone asked.

"We should ask Snape, shouldn't we?"

"I hardly think that it's any of his business," Blaise said, tapping it with his foot. "Besides, we don't even know how to take care of it."

The Slytherins stood in silence, heads tilted in thought.

.oOo.

"Severus, we need to talk." Lupin's strained voice drifted from the other side of the door.

Severus shot a worried glance at Hasan as Lupin knocked again, frantically. Hasan, not wanting to be left out of what would most likely be an interesting conversation, shut his eyes...and became a fox. His black furry tail scrambled behind the couch earning a nod of approval from Snape.

In measured strides, Severus crossed the threshold of his chambers and yanked open the door. Lupin stood there uneasily, holding a letter in his hand. Quickly, Severus' eyes assessed the parchment, only to find predictably that it must have been sent by Altair. Knowing he was in for a long explanation, he invited the werewolf inside and redid the wards.

"What is it, Remus?" Severus asked nonchalantly.

"Is there somewhere we can sit?" the wolf queried. "This might be difficult to take in."

Internally, Severus was agreeing. "Have a seat," he offered, gesturing weakly to the sitting area. The wolf chose to sit on the edge of a small couch, while Severus chose the armchair. The Potions Master waited patiently for Remus to gather his nerve.

"Have you- Have you ever heard of another Castell?"

Severus considered this for a moment before nodding.

"Right well...this man, Altair Castell, sent me this letter, or rather, he sent Sirius this letter."

"Having fidelity problems already, Remus?" Severus mocked tonelessly, wanting to get to the point.

Lupin shot him a glare. "At first I was suspicious as to why it was sent at a time when I would be otherwise occupied. After reading it though, I think I know why. This involves the Black family."

Severus nodded slowly. He wasn't sure why of all times Altair decided to branch out now. Was he never afraid for his life?

"He asked for the mirrors."

"The mirrors?"

"Yes, James and Sirius used to use them to speak to each other in different detentions. I had no idea how this man, Altair, could have known about them unless he truly was part of the family. So I went to headquarters and found him on the tree. You wouldn't happen to know if Hasan is related to him would you?"

"I wouldn't know for sure, if that is what you mean." Severus said cryptically.

"He looks like him. Hasan looks like Altair, but for some reason he wasn't on the tree." Remus' grey eyes found his onyx ones. "I think you know more than you are letting on, Severus."

"Think what you want—"

"No, I'm serious. This is beyond childhood relationships. Just put that behind you, would you Severus? This is about something bigger. I think you know exactly who these Castells are."

There was silence for a moment. Could Severus truly trust the wolf to keep their secrets? Perhaps he could tell just a little bit...would Hasan mind? Of course he'd mind, but would Severus care if he minded?

"Severus, I was the brains back in our childhood days if you recall. I'm not an idiot. I've seen your interest in Hasan. There are just too many things that don't add up that seem too good to not be related."

"Remus—"

"Severus, let me finish. I came here today without telling Sirius anything because I am very intent upon learning the truth right now. So help me if you continue with your charades! I am laying all my cards on the table right now. Just listen! Twelve years ago I saw Harry Potter being taken away by Sirius on his motorbike. I figured that once he became old enough, Sirius and I would be able to have a relationship with him. But Sirius was condemned without trial, Pettigrew fled, and I was shunned from the community because of my condition. One year ago, I started my teaching job at Hogwarts. I learned that Harry Potter had been missing, my only hope of any normality. All of our colleagues have noticed that you take more interest in your own snakes, and especially in one, but I had no cause to think he was anything special. And then we faced boggarts and his was Harry. MY Harry. As if that wasn't enough to make me see red flags! Time and time again there it was in front of me! Sirius telling the boy of James, Hasan speaking to snakes, your obsession in reading those Lord of the Rings books! Severus, don't you see what this means?"

Severus stayed stonily silent.

"Altair Castell doesn't have a son. That boy isn't really Hasan. Hasan is..." suddenly his eyes narrowed. "But you knew this all already, didn't you?"

"I-" Severus swallowed audibly. How was he going to control this? What could he do to keep Hasan's identity a secret?

"But this is huge! It means that Neville isn't really the Boy-Who-Lived! It means that Lily and James weren't sacrificed for nothing! Oh, Merlin! They have the wrong boy!-"

"REMUS!" Snape thundered. "I will tell on one condition. You must vow on your magic that you will not reveal what I am about to tell you to a soul."

Lupin licked his lips. "I vow on my magic that I will not reveal what you tell me." A pulse of magic boomed like a shockwave, sealing their vow.

Severus' lips curled upward. "Good. Hasan, if you could come out now."

And then, a little black fox came darting out from behind the couch with the most brilliant emerald green eyes. Lupin nearly had a heart attack.

"Oh Merlin, I didn't- not really. Wow!"

Fluidly, the young fox transformed back into a boy and when he opened his dull jade eyes, it was with a look of contemplation.

"Remus Lupin meet Harry Potter."

"How do you do?" Hasan asked.

"I-I-I'm stunned." Lupin murmured. "I don't know what to say. Harry, we thought we lost you!"

"But you did." Hasan told him evenly. "No one bothered to check on me. Just because I'm here now doesn't mean you did anything to find me."

"I'm- We're so sorry, Harry!" Remus said, still frozen in shock.

"It's Hasan. I prefer Hasan."

The wolf swallowed. "Okay, Hasan. Is there anything Sirius and I can do to make it up to you? We were your parents' best friends. We saw you when you were little..."

Hasan shrugged. "Well, perhaps. My father asked for those mirrors, correct?"

Remus nodded, "Yes. They're family heirlooms."

Severus watched Hasan intently. He could see the cogs working inside. The curiosity, but also the suspicion. What did Altair have planned? Or Hasan for that matter.

"These mirrors...they can be used to communicate across long distances?" Hasan asked. Lupin nodded. "And if you break them...will they still function?"

Severus quirked an eyebrow. Was Hasan actually planning on plotting against his own father? "Hasan, these are magical artifacts-"

"Actually," Remus cut in thoughtfully, "I think they did break once when James dropped it. The other shard still works. Granted, it's too small to be useful, but I've kept it as a memento..."

Hasan looked at Severus and let a tiny smile slip onto his face. "Do you think you could slice a piece off for me?"

"Yes." Lupin said slowly. He wasn't sure why the boy seemed so suspicious of his father, but it wasn't really his place. His only objective was to aid Har- Hasan.

"But you're forgetting that if you can see them, they can see you too," Severus pointed out.

"Well," Lupin began, "You need to speak that person's name for it to work. So in order for your father to reach you, he needs to know you have the other half. But if you wanted to call first, then I'm sure there are some spells that can ensure he neither sees nor hears you...although I'm not sure what they are. Sirius might though."

Hasan looked down at his shoes. He knew that Sirius was a bit reckless and didn't always think before doing or saying something. Was it worth the risk?

"We don't need to sort this all out now." Snape reminded him. "Besides, Sirius hasn't even read the letter. Are you planning on doing his correspondence for him?"

Lupin paused thoughtfully. "I love him, but I'm not sure how he'll react."

"So will you break a piece off for me and then we'll fix it at a later time?"

"Of course, Har- Hasan."

"Good." The jade-eyed boy smiled. "Thank you Professor Lupin, Severus."

And the boy was off to his common room...

.oOo.

When Hasan got back to his common room he was to be met with a large circle of perplexed Slytherins.

"What's happening?" Hasan wondered aloud.

"Oh, Hasan! There's this snake and-" Tracey began.

Hasan quirked an eyebrow. "A...snake?" He edged around the crowd before catching a glimpse of the creature. It was a snake, a green one, but it certainly was not big enough to cause a commotion. As far as he could tell, it was stunned and thus rendered harmless. It was the same snake Hasan had rescued from Moody earlier that day, but how had it gotten down here? Better yet, what was he supposed to do about it? He was acutely aware of Draco scrutinizing his every move, but after talking to Severus he wasn't as perturbed as before.

"Yeah, seems too good to be a coincidence." Daphne said shrewdly. "I must be one of Moody's snakes!" Oh, shit... "The one he hadn't gotten to yet." Wait wha-?

"Yeah," Blaise agreed. "It must have escaped when he wasn't looking. Merlin knows I would have!"

"What are you going to do with it?" Hasan asked them.

"Hmmm, well..." Millicent said thoughtfully. "We haven't really gotten that far. I think it would be cool to keep it as a mascot, but I'm not sure how we would even feed it."

"Are you going to tell Professor Snape?" Hasan queried.

Pansy shrugged, "I think we should."

"No!" Daphne said. "Look, Hasan, if we told him, wouldn't he be obligated to return it to Moody out of some teacher code or something?"

Hasan nodded. He didn't necessarily agree, but an idea just came to him which involved deceiving his housemates.

"You know, my father has a snake at home. I know how to take care of them so maybe we can have a mascot."

"Wow! Really?" Daphne lit up. A bunch of first years also looked up hopefully.

"I never knew you had a snake." Draco commented, eyes narrowing. Hasan refused to meet his eyes.

"Yes, because I for one take pride in Salazar's chosen familiar. I take it by your stance that you were the one to stun it in the first place?"

The crowd was awed at his deductions, even though an idiot could have seen he was the only one with his wand out. Hasan kneeled and gathered the serpent into his arms. He walked to his room with several pairs of eyes following him. When he had locked his door, he canceled the stunning spell imprisoning her.

:Where am I? Thisss isss not my home.:

It slowly uncoiled on Hasan's bed, tasting the air of his room. :Don't be sscared, little one. What isss your name?:

The snake turned sharply towards the boy. This was no ordinary wizard she knew.

:Melusssine.: she hissed, :And who might you be?:

:My name is Hassan Cassstell. It'sss a pleasure to meet you, Melusssine.:

:Ssso it iss.:

Hasan gave her a large smile. :There'ss a place here that iss perfect for sssnakess assss I am unable to leave the building any time sssoon.:

:That issss fine. I have forgotten where I live anyway although a long time ago I once lived in Avalon...:

:Avalon?: Hasan wondered, :Like King Arthur?:

:Yessss, and Merlin too. I have lived a very long time in thiss form.:

Hasan bit his lip. Of course, he had stumbled upon the one snake that wasn't entirely normal. He would have to do more research later. Or at least wait until Hermione got over her broken ankle (which shouldn't be more than a night's rest with some potions). Melusine? he thought. What an odd name...He would wait until everyone was asleep, and then sneak out under his new invisibility cloak to the Chamber of Secrets...He went over to his trunk and rummaged around until he felt the silvery silk flow beneath his fingers. However, as he pulled it out, something else tumbled to the floor. It was the pouch Luna had given him for Valentine's day last year...

:What isss that?: Melusine questioned, slithering to the floor. :Isss that one of thossse magical locking pouchessss?:

Hasan turned to her and nodded. He hadn't gotten much use out of it because it held Ravencaw's diadem, something which he suspected was a horcrux. No way was he keeping any of his possessions next to Voldemort's soul!

:Yesss, it'sss holding ssssomething very important right now sssso I can't ussse it.: Hasan told her. She nodded as if she understood and looked at it thoughtfully. Hasan thought too. What was he going to do with it now? Was it even safe to keep near him? Perhaps that was why he was having visions, because a horcrux was nearby. Last year, the diary. This year, the diadem? Maybe he should move it then? Keep it in the Chamber of Secrets so that way he knew it was safe? Or ironically return it to the Room of Requirement- although he rather doubted he would go that route because it was clear more than one person knew of the room's existence. So what was he going to do with it? Who was he going to tell? Who could he even tell? Tell? Trust?

And then Melusine slithered her head into the pouch.

Melusine slithered her head into the heavily warded, locked, secure, magical pouch.

Her head was sticking inside his pouch!

:It apppearsss to be empty, Hasssan.:

.oOo.

Lupin took a deep breath. He had just been formally introduced to his best friend's missing child and it was none other than Hasan Castell.

"I just met him..." Remus murmured to himself. "That was Harry Potter..."

"And you cannot breathe a word of this to anyone." Severus interjected firmly.

"I know...it's just a lot to take in."

The two men, neutral at most, were now sitting together in a sort of kindred silence.

"Remus, there is something more I would like to tell you." Severus said softly. He wasn't sure if he could fully trust the wolf, but Altair was making his opinions mean less and less. He needed to be on the same page with Lupin, because otherwise, whatever it was that Altair had planned, could all be for naught.

"What is it?" Remus asked gently. He knew that Severus didn't like opening up, so clearly what he was about to say had to be pressing.

"What I am about to say is also to be between you and me."

"Yes, of cours-"

"I mean it. No telling Black or Dumbledore."

Remus fixed him with an even stare. "I swear."

Severus nodded. "Good. Lupin, we have not always seen eye to eye, but it seems we need to work together."

"Work together? For what? For Har-Hasan?"

"Yes, but more importantly for Altair."

Remus' eyebrows rose. "You mean, you know this person?"

Severus bowed his head. "Yes. Altair Castell is an old acquaintance of mine. Very old. In fact, to most people consider him long since deceased."

"I don't under-"

"Altair Castell was almost a Death Eater." Severus started. "But something stopped him. That something was information. Altair and his...(he fished around for a word) partner had conducted a study proving that blood purity meant nothing in regards to magical capacity. For that information, he would have been sentenced to die, but instead, he chose to drink several random potions...and he lived." Severus wasn't about to tell him about horcruxes just yet, but the blood study was a good enough excuse. In fact, he was nearly positive that Altair used the same story to get Hasan off his track.

"So the Dark Lord wants him dead for his study?" Remus wondered.

"At first."

"What are you leaving out?" Remus demanded.

"Altair has a plan to rid the world of Voldemort once and for all. It has already started and I am not sure what that plan is exactly so don't ask. All I need from you is cooperation."

"And this will help Har-Hasan?"

Severus smirked. "This will help the world."

He knew the wolf would agree before he even did. "What do I need to do?"

"Any time you receive a letter, tell me first before you complete the task. I'll even help if you'd like."

Remus locked him with a look that said: I know you're bullshitting me, but I'll do it for Harry.

"If that's all, then you have my full cooperation."

.oOo.

The next morning, Hasan woke up tiredly. He had worried all night and hadn't gotten the proper amount of sleep for a growing child. How the hell had the diadem disappeared? Why weren't his wards in place? Wasn't the pouch supposed to be magical? Who could have stolen it? Who could even want it? Who knew he had it? Did anyone else know about the horcruxes? When had it gone missing? At school? Was it Draco? Not bloody likely, but still. Or at home? Home? Altair...?

DAMMIT!

Of course, it had to be Altair...but why would he want the horcrux? Severus had said that Altair knew of them already, so did that mean he knew where they were...GAH! His mind began to hurt again.

:What isss wrong, human?: Melusine asked, slithering onto his pillow.

That's right, in his shock he wasn't up for going to the Chamber of Secrets and causing even more complications to arise. He would have to do it soon though, he realized, but for now he was just focused on getting through the day. Well, at least he had Care of Magical Creatures first...

.oOo.

There were several things which irked Hogwarts' resident Potions Master. One such thing was knowing something was off, but not knowing exactly what. Watching his Slytherins that morning, he knew something was wrong. Why else were they barely talking to each other? He stole a glance towards the Moody-imposter, thinking perhaps that he had something to do with it. After what Hasan said, he harbored no doubt in his mind that Moody has specifically targeted his snakes. Hasan, he noticed, wasn't speaking with Draco as much as he had last year. The two girls, Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass, also seemed to be quieter. He understood why Lucius decided to keep his son in the dark, but in a way, he didn't. What good was it to put Draco through this? Except to prevent Voldemort from killing him?

Severus sighed. He supposed that was a good enough reason. He was torn from his thoughts as Minerva made a particularly loud remark:

"-so terrible! Did you hear of Miss Granger's accident down the Divination trapdoor? I always thought that the door was dangerous." Minerva was saying.

Flitwick responded in what was probably a very sympathetic tone of voice. Unfortunately, Severus could not continue to eavesdrop on this very interesting conversation because Dumbledore had just turned his icy blue eyes upon him.

"You know, Mr. Longbottom may very well save the world." Albus murmured, tilting his head in the direction of the Gryffindor table. "However, I believe he could use all the help he can get..." continued Dumbledore in his soft, grandfatherly voice.

"What are you implying, Albus?" Severus asked sharply.

"Only that each of us has to do their part." Severus turned to face the headmaster fully, leaving no question as to who he was talking to. The headmaster took this as a sign to continue. "Have you sent a letter to the Malfoys yet?"

Severus fixed him with a blank stare. "No." he answered evenly.

"Then that is all." Albus said pleasantly, and began to hum a happy little tune.

Severus turned back to his meal and frowned.

.oOo.

Remus Lupin thought it extremely ironic for him to be teaching Care of Magical Creatures, with his Animagus dog husband as a sidekick no less. As Remus taught, Sirius would bark, acting for all the world like man's best friend. His first lesson wasn't very advanced, but hopefully it would be interesting. He watched the third year Slytherins and Gryffindors trudge down from the castle, stopping right in front of a forest clearing somewhere near Hagrid's hut. He saw Har-Hasan there in the front row, along with that Malfoy child, and the Longbottom boy. Right beside Theodore Nott was Hermione Granger-seemingly recovered from her fall down the hole.

"I know you all know me as you Defense instructor," Remus began with a large smile, "But I believe that each faction of magic has a defensive or useful function. So today, I thought we'd explore some of the lesser known but extremely useful abilities of the creatures native to the forbidden forest."

There were several whispers at this.

"Giant spiders?" someone whispered in a frightened voice.

"Centaurs?" guessed another.

Instead of partaking in the guessing game, Hasan stared at the shaggy black dog sitting beside the werewolf...was that...Padfoot...- wait, Sirius?

Remus waited until the noise died down before saying, "Today, we will be learning about unicorns."

At his word, one large white horse emerged from the forest- the characteristic horn jutting a good two feet from its regal head. The word alone would have had several girls squealing, but as it was, even the boys were awed. Beauty in any form could be appreciated by both sexes and seeing such a magnificent creature in the flesh- well this was indescribably captivating.

"Does she have a name?" Millicent asked.

Lupin chuckled a bit, "His name is Alexander, Millicent. Now, that's a common bias which I want to address, especially but not exclusive to muggleborns. Unicorns, just like the majority of the animal kingdom, have two sexes physically."

"Oh, sorry." Millie blushed.

"Not at all. It's a very common mistake. Now, as well as being beautiful, these creatures have several practical uses. Their tail hairs and mane can be harvested and used as thread. Several fashion designers use unicorn hairs in their clothing, although it is extremely expensive (50 galleons per hair). There are also side effects to using their hairs. As many of you no doubt know, unicorn tail hairs have been traditionally used by Ollivander for wand cores. So if you do ever wear something made of unicorn hair, be prepared for uncontrollable bouts of magic. The power can be harnessed however if the core is compatible with your wand. My wand for example contains a unicorn tail hair and if I wrap this hair around my wrist..." Lupin continued, demonstrating with a bit of hair which he had gotten from Hagrid's hut, "then I can perform wandless magic in the literal sense of the word."

Draco watched curiously as he had a wand which contained that core. He wondered if he could swipe one from Snape's potion stores...

"However, I strongly suggest that you do not take directly from the unicorn! They have nasty horns which can easily impale any thief. The horn itself is very useful. Ground, chopped, or used whole, it is a popular ingredient in several useful potions. Some of your mothers may buy the horn powder at the apothecary which is then mixed into water. It helps stabilize magic which is useful when sick or when you have a growing child with bouts of accidental magic. Does anyone have any questions so far?"

Hermione shot her hand in the air, "Isn't drinking unicorn blood a way to sustain life even on the brink of death?"

Lupin smiled warmly, "That is theoretically true, but I would not recommend slaying a unicorn for its blood. Not only is it illegal, but it will earn you eternal damnation. Unicorns are pure and innocent by nature. So yes, the blood has amazing healing abilities, but I wouldn't take it by force. Although I have heard of a small company in France which breeds unicorns and periodically takes a blood sample to be sent to hospitals around the world."

"What differentiates donations versus stealing?" Tracey asked.

"I would say intention, but I know this isn't very quantitative...but how about we demonstrate? Alex here is a registered donor at St. Mungo's." With that, the werewolf crouched in front of the unicorn, drew out what appeared to be a very thin and long syringe and waited. The class wasn't sure what they were seeing. Only a few knew that St. Mungo's offered unicorn blood as a treatment option (depending on if someone they knew got severely injured or sick). The rest of them were looking at their professor as if he were crazy. Sure, the horse was pretty and all, but that sharp horn glinted in the sunlight...

Hasan watched its eyes. They were grey-blue and very large. He wondered where the blood was extracted from, but then the creature bowed its head and Lupin advanced, slowly lowering a hand on its nose. After stroking it for a minute, he moved down its back, nonchalantly slipping the blood collecting contraption in diagonally. The unicorn was none the wiser, so perhaps it was called donation because Alexander was still alive, and he had given the go-ahead to be petted? When the syringe was filled, Remus lifted it up for the class to see. Inside sloshed silvery blue liquid which shone pearlescent in the light.

"I'm going to use the delivery service through the floo network to get it to St. Mungos, but for now we'll move on with the lesson. That was an excellent question, Hermione. In fact, I would have brought it up myself had you not mentioned it. Well, as a parting thought as it is time to move on to your next class, think of all the good magical creatures can do if you just respect them."

Sirius gave a hearty bark.