Hey, guys. I'm really sorry that this took so long, but I found it really hard to write this year due to multiple things. I'm finally finished my exams, so I'll be trying to update more and more this summer. Hopefully that will actually happen! Anyway, enjoy.

CW: Swearing, hints of abusive parents. If I missed any, let me know.

"Alright, everyone." Professor Lupin's smile was tired, but ever-present as he sat on his desk. Behind him, the wardrobe rattled. A few of the second years stepped back. "Don't worry - it's not going to harm you," he chuckled. "Today, we're moving on to boggarts. Can anyone tell me what a boggart is?"

Jack didn't speak up, which was surprising. He usually knew the answers to these.

It was Saoirse who finally raised her hand. "It's a creature that takes the form of whatever the nearest person to it is most afraid of."

"Exactly." Professor Lupin's smile grew. "Five points to Slytherin." He glanced back at the cupboard. "In there is a boggart. A small one, mind. Now does anyone know how to get rid of one?"

Ella was the next to speak - a Gryffindor with long, blonde hair. "You have to make it into something funny, right?"

"Very good." Professor Lupin smiled again. "Five points for Gryffindor. We have to make the boggart take the form of something we find amusing - it's laughter that really gets a boggart. Now I want you to all repeat after me; Riddikulus."

"Riddikulus." The class chanted after him a few times until he knew they all had it right.

"Excellent. That's the spell you'll be using to get rid of the boggart." Professor Lupin looked around. "Now I'm going to need a volunteer." Everyone shuffled but no one stepped forward. "Don't worry; this is my classroom, and I won't let it harm you."

After a moment, Ella stepped forward, pulling out her wand. "Do we need a particular wand movement?" If she was nervous, she didn't sound it.

"Just the basic attack." Professor Lupin nodded. "Now, what's your worst fear?"

Ella hesitated. "Fireworks," she admitted after a moment. A few Slytherins snickered behind her.

Professor Lupin nodded. "Okay. I want you to imagine any way you can think of to make fireworks funny. It can be something else entirely if you want. But you need to be able to laugh at it. Okay?"

Ella nodded and gripped her wand. "On three," Professor Lupin called as he limped over to the closet, "I'm going to open the door. Ready?" Again, she nodded. "One... Two... Three."

The door unlocked itself and a blaze of fireworks shot up into the classroom around Ella. She gritted her teeth and covered both ears.

After a moment, she aimed her wand at them. "Riddikulus!" The fireworks fused into a tabby cat that flailed in mid-air for a moment. It screeched as it fell and landed on Professor Lupin. The class burst into laughter as the cat started running around the class.

"Very good!" Professor Lupin cackled. "Next!"

Karl stepped up. The cat paused and stared at him for a moment. In a twist, a beautiful long-eared owl lay on the floor, its neck bent at an awkward angle.

Karl swallowed and pointed his wand at his owl. "Riddikulus!" The owl chirped and twisted, flying up into the air. A version of Professor Gaffney appeared in the corner and the owl dived at her. She shrieked as it flew into her face.

Lupin covered his mouth, shoulders shaking. "Next!"

Karl was grinning as he stepped back, and Elliot stumbled forward having been doubled over from laughing.

Professor Gaffney disappeared, and the owl flew at Elliot. Halfway there, it twisted into a small child with long, red hair wearing a pink top, and rainbow leggings.

Elliot took a step back as the child neared him. "Riddikulus!"

The child was now wearing a pink gown and a tiara. She giggled, a wide grin on her face.

He tried again. "Riddikulus!" The child twisted into a frog riding a unicycle.

A few people screamed, "Here come dat boi!" Followed by, "Oh shit, waddup!"

Professor Lupin looked confused, along with most of the students, but the laughter was infectious and they joined in.

Jack was shoved up by someone, and as he turned to glare at them, the frog twisted into an exact replica of him.

The boggart sneered and looked him up and down. "Why do you even bother?" Professor Lupin raised an eyebrow. "Everyone knows you hate them. Why do you even pretend to like them all?"

Jack pointed his wand at it. "Riddikulus." The Boggart's form didn't shift, but it burst out laughing and finger gunned everyone behind Jack.

"Next!" Professor Lupin called, smiling.

Salem stepped up, pushing hair out of his face. The boggart shifted and morphed into a giant creature with sharp fangs and blood dripping down its face.

"Riddikulus!"

A giant dog was suddenly bounding towards him. It tackled him to the ground and began furiously licking his face. The class started giggling as Salem managed to push the dog off and move back.

A Gryffindor moved forward, and a giant hawk zoomed towards him. He turned it into a fat seagull, causing laughter from everyone except Paddy, who flinched back.

Jack grinned, and leaned closer to him as Devie walked up. "So, you're definitely going to tell us about that flinch later, right?"

"What flinch?"

"That one. The one from the seagull."

"Please?" Saoirse added. "You know we're going to find out either way."

"I hate you both. There's no way I'm telling you." Paddy folded his arms and blew blue hair out of his eyes.

Saoirse looked over at Jack. "Bet I can find out before you."

"You wish," Jack scoffed.

The class started laughing as Devie turned a dragon into Barney the Dinosaur.

Even most of the half-bloods knew that one.

Paddy went next to avoid Jack and Saoirse. Like Jack, his boggart turned into a replica of himself - paler, with darker eyes and a sneer. The boggart raised a wand and pointed it behind Paddy, but the latter got there first. "Riddikulus!"

An old scientist stood there now, hugging four different kittens at once. "It's for science!" He screamed.

Only the Muggleborns seemed to get that one.

Saoirse walked up next. The scientist morphed into two adults about six foot something glaring down at her.

One opened her mouth, but Saoirse was already pointing her wand at them. "We're disappointed in you."

"Riddikulus!" They were replaced by a giant hat. After a moment, a very small, black dog nosed its way out and stared up at the class.

Professor Lupin started laughing as the boggart twisted into a few different forms. "It's getting confused! Very good - keep going! Next!"

A few Gryffindors went next - after complaining that the Slytherins were taking up too much time. Angel hopped up, and when the boggart looked at them, it transformed into a snarling daemon with a wolf's face, dressed all in black. They scowled. "Riddikulus!" The daemon turned into a tiny, pink rabbit the size of Angel's little finger.

When Scorpius took their place, the boggart became a woman lying on the floor, face blue, which quickly turned into a hopping tree stump. When Albus stepped up, everyone was surprised to see Harry Potter appear, but he was quickly turned into a cat with glasses.

Arthur stepped up, and the boggart turned into a girl. Then a boy. Then another girl. "You're useless," it spoke, between transformations. "We only ever kept you around because we felt sorry for you."

Arthur gripped his wand.

"Why would we want you otherwise?" The girl shrugged, and then the boy laughed. "You let us copy your work, and that was it. Who would want-"

Professor Lupin began to step forward, but Arthur roared, "Riddikulus," and suddenly, they both froze.

"NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP," the two sang, loudly and off-key. "NEVER GONNA LET YOU DOWN!"

The Muggleborns all groaned and a few flipped Arthur off. He just looked smug as he walked back to his place.

"I hate you," Elliot muttered. "I should never have shown you that song."

"You probably shouldn't have," Arthur agreed with a grin.

Professor Lupin waved his wand and the boggart flew back into the cupboard. "I'm afraid that's all for today," he said as he locked the door. "Homework is to practice the pronunciation - the clearer you speak, the more powerful it will be. Five points for everyone who faced the Boggart today."

Jack caught Paddy's arm and pulled him back when he tried to leave. "Nope. You're going to tell us about the seagull."

"I have to go to class." Paddy tried to pull free.

Saoirse caught his other arm. "You and Arthur have gotten close. Would he tell us if we asked him?"

Paddy huffed. "I hate you both."

"We know." They both smiled sweetly. "Now spill."

Paddy shook them both off. "When I was little, my mom used to take me down to the beach every day and get me some Muggle sweets - jellytots or something like that. One day a swarm of seagulls sort of bombdived me and I didn't realise they were after the jellytots so I just started running and trying to scare them off but they wouldn't leave me alone. It took twenty minutes for my mom to get rid of them." He scowled as Jack and Saoirse burst out laughing. "I swear to God, if either of you tell anyone-"

"We won't," Saoirse snickered.

Paddy's scowl deepened, but he nodded and walked off. Jack grinned and turned to Saoirse. "So how do we get jellytots and a gull into the school?"

"I still don't see the appeal," Scorpius mumbled as he watched the match.

Jack snorted. "That's surprising considering your boyfriend is playing."

Scorpius' face burned. "Albus isn't my boyfriend."

"You wish he was." Jack smirked. Before Scorpius object, Paddy sat down beside them, and Jack turned to him. "By the way, do you want some sweets? I got some in today."

Paddy looked suspicious, but he nodded. "Sure."

Jack's smirk grew, and he and Saoirse simultaneously pulled a packet of jellytots from their pockets. "Here you go."

Paddy stared at them for a moment, then stuffed them down the back of Jack's cloak. "I hate you. So much."

Jack pulled them out and passed one packet back to Saoirse. "Now that was just plain rude."

"And Potter takes the Quaffle! A bludger aimed his way by Beater O'Leary, but- oh, he dodges. Pity. Sorry, Professor, sorry."

Jack grinned and looked back at Scorpius. "You have to admit the commentary is entertaining at least."

"I guess." Scorpius nodded. "I don't know why they always let the same person do it though. It must be hard on the Slytherin players."

Jack snorted. "Elliot's probably the only one that would take it to heart." He glanced over the field. "Yeah. Just him."

Scorpius hummed.

"Chaser White takes the Quaffle for Ravenclaw - she's going towards the Slytherin goals and-! Oh, blocked by Keeper Quinn."

"Who's the seeker again?" Karl asked. He didn't look all that interested in the game, but he tried to keep an eye on who was who.

"Uh..." Jack frowned.

"It's someone from fourth year," Scorpius replied. "I think Fletcher?"

"She's found it."

"The Slytherin seeker is speeding towards the ground- has she-?"

A bludger shot towards her, and one of the Slytherin beaters knocked it away.

"Did she get it?" Jack leaned forward a little.

Karl narrowed his eyes. "No... No, she didn't." The bludger had distracted her, and she pulled back up again.

"White has the Quaffle again and- It's in! Ten points to Ravenclaw! Take that you- Sorry, Professor."

Jack rolled his eyes as he sat back. Saoirse held out her jellytots to Paddy again and he glared at her.

Scorpius looked up at Karl. "Was the owl today yours?"

Karl looked at him and smiled. "Yeah. Her name's Circe."

"She means a lot to you, huh?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "My parents got her for me about... five years ago. She's pretty much been my only friend until I came here."

Scorpius tilted his head. "Because of your family?" Karl sighed and nodded again. "That's hard." Scorpius pursed his lips. They had talked a bit before, but they had really only chatted about class or homework.

Karl shrugged. "I could have had it worse." He looked out over the field again. His shoulders were hunched up higher than they usually were, so Scorpius dropped the topic.

"Both Seekers are rushing towards the Ravenclaw goalposts now! They seem to be neck-and-neck, but- Oh, Fletcher pulls ahead and- she has it!"

Fletcher pulled up sharply, arm raised above her head. The Slytherin stand burst into cheers and applause, and Scorpius had to cover his ears.

"Slytherin wins two hundred and forty points to one hundred and seventy!"

The players began flying down to the ground. Scorpius hesitantly lowered his hands. "I'm just-"

"Go congratulate your boyfriend!" Jack pushed him towards the stairs.

"We're not dating!" Scorpius called over his shoulder.

Jack cackled. "Yet!"

"You what?" Arlene hissed, staring.

Jack shrugged. "I don't know what Mulan is. A weapon?"

"Of sorts." Elliot shook his head. "You two haven't seen Disney. At all."

"No." Saoirse frowned. "What is it? A game, or-?"

Elliot and Arlene exchanged a look that was somewhere in the middle of amused, dismayed, and betrayed. "They're films," Elliot finally whispered. "They're a company who make films."

Jack nodded. "Oh, right. So what part do you usually play?"

Wizarding films had turned out to be rather different from muggle ones, Elliot and Arlene had discovered, after a trip to the cinema in Diagon Alley.

Upon entering the theatre, you chose a character and played a part in the film with whoever else was there. The maximum amount of people allowed in were ten, and most movies used fake spells and weapons. A black market ran in Knockturn Alley on real spells and weapons.

In the first film they had tried - Merlin - Arlene had been turned into a stump within the first twenty minutes, and Elliot had died shortly after.

"No, not like wizarding films." Arlene shook her head. "The Muggle ones are like..."

"Like pictures," Elliot explained. "We just watch them. No taking part."

"Oh." Jack frowned. "That sounds dull."

"But they're great," Arlene insisted. "Especially Disney."

Elliot's eyes lit up as he turned to her. "We have to show them all of them."

"All?" Arlene's eyebrows arched.

"All." Elliot nodded. "I have my laptop and most of them downloaded. We can use that."

"Those things work here?" Saoirse frowned.

Jack nodded. "He uses it every night. The light's really weird."

"Well excuse me for not wanting to lose my log-in streaks and roleplay partners this year." Elliot folded his arms.

"So when are we doing this?" Arlene asked.

Saoirse chewed her tongue. "I could probably sneak up to your dorm tonight?"

"We don't have classes tomorrow," Elliot agreed, "so that should work."

"How will I get in?" Arlene tilted her head.

"We'll let you in," Jack assured her. "Come down with us after dinner."

Arlene nodded in agreement as Professor Gaffney walked into the classroom.

"Take out your wands," she called. "We're having a bit of a test today to see what you remember from last week."

Arlene's face crumpled. So far, she hadn't managed to complete a revealing charm without Jack's help.

Professor Gaffney waved her wand and mumbled a spell under her breath. Two dozen sheets of paper flew off her desk and began to distribute themselves to everyone.

"You'll have until the end of the lesson to fully reveal the message on the paper in front of you."

Jack raised an eyebrow as he looked at the page. "Aparecium."

Within minutes, the page was full of thick, black text, clearly reading, Congratulations.

Elliot and Arlene still didn't have anything beside him, and in the row in front, the first letter was appearing for Saoirse.

He glanced around the class. Everyone else was still working on it. He sighed and raised his hand.

"How could you already have a question, Beaumont?" Professor Gaffney snapped.

"I'm done, Professor." He held up his sheet.

Arthur finished his and held it up. "Me too."

Professor Gaffney huffed and sent another two sheets to them.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

The pattern repeated until the tenth sheet for Jack. Arthur kept going with his, and so did everyone that joined him.

But Jack scowled at the sheet, repeating the spell over and over again. Nothing appeared.

He tried the other side a few times, wondering if it had landed the wrong way, but nothing worked.

When the clock rang midday, Professor Gaffney yanked the sheets from everyone.

"Beaumont, detention."

"Why?" Jack sounded tired. It was only the fifth day.

"You didn't manage to complete the task." She flicked through the rest of her sheets. "Smith, you can join him."

Jack just sighed and began packing his books. Scorpius' hand wavered up into the air. "Professor, he got it the past nine times."

Professor Gaffney smiled at him, too sweetly. "But he didn't finish it like everyone else did on the last time, Malfoy. And neither did Smith. That's why they'll both be spending their afternoons with me. Unless you want to join them, I suggest you pack your books."

Scorpius looked down and slipped his books into his bag.

Jack sighed. "At least it's not after dinner," he muttered.

"Still, it's not fair," Arlene whispered.

"She isn't fair."

The Halloween feast was always spectacular, and this one was absolutely no exception. People moved from table to table, chatting with friends between houses, while the teachers pretended not to notice.

Arlene sat at the Hufflepuff table, reading something on her phone.

"Hey."

She looked up as another Hufflepuff sat beside her - Emily, a girl in third year with long purple hair and a round, friendly face.

"Oh, hi." Arlene grinned.

"Sorry, you looked a bit lonely down here so I wanted to chat to you." Emily smiled. "Where are your friends?"

"Oh, well..." Arlene glanced around. "Most of them are in Slytherin, and there's one in Ravenclaw."

"Really?" Emily's eyebrows arched. "You didn't make friends with people in Hufflepuff?"

Arlene shrugged, waving a hand. "Sort of. I talk to them, and they're nice. I'm just not all that close to any of them."

"What about that one that constantly forgets his robes? Uh, what's his name... I never see him around." She looked over the other tables. "There, in the Slytherin robes. Did he switch with someone for a joke?"

Arlene looked over to see Emily pointing at Elliot. "Oh, Elliot. No, he's a Slytherin."

Emily stared at her. "What?"

"Oh yeah." Arlene grinned. "Everyone thinks he's Hufflepuff - it's actually really amusing."

Emily frowned and looked back at him. "But isn't he Muggleborn?"

Arlene nodded. "Yeah - Jack still thinks he tricked the hat into putting him in Slytherin."

"No kidding." Emily shook her head, and her eyes landed on Arlene's phone. "Oh, were you reading something?"

Arlene nodded again. "Yeah, it's a Redwall fanfiction."

Emily's eyes lit up. "You've read Redwall? Like, all of it?"

"Yup." Arlene grinned. "I'm rereading it at the moment, but this fanfiction is really good aside from the swearing, so I decided to take a break to read it."

Emily nodded. "Oh yeah, you don't like swearing, do you?" Arlene shook her head. "Why is that?" Arlene blinked at her a few times. "Something wrong?"

"No, it's just most people don't ask," she replied. "Well, it's kind of a mix of things. Before I came here, some stuff happened in my old school and people swearing just tends to remind me of that a lot."

Emily nodded. "So it's kind of a trigger?"

"Not really," Arlene admitted after a moment of thought. "It's not that bad. It just reminds me of it." Again, Emily nodded. "Also, it's just kind of like... there's billions of other words to use; can you not use others?"

"I get what you mean," Emily chuckled. "Anything else?"

"Well they also say it's a sin in the Bible," Arlene added.

Emily's eyebrows arched again. "You're religious?"

"Oh, yeah." Arlene nodded. "Why?"

"Most people here aren't, so it's kind of a surprise," Emily admitted.

"Oh, okay." Arlene relaxed a bit. "I thought you were going to say it's a bad thing."

"Nah, you believe what you believe." Emily shrugged. "Are you practicing?"

Arlene nodded. "I feel really bad - I haven't been able to go to mass at all except when I go home for the holidays."

Emily hummed. "You know there's a few religious students in every house who are practicing. Are you Catholic?"

"Presbyterian."

"Oh yeah, there's a good few in Gryffindor then. I think the, uh... the... fuck, what's his name?" Arlene frowned. "Right, swearing, sorry. Randles! The Randles kid might be too, but I don't know." Emily stole a chicken wing from the boy across the table while he wasn't looking and took a bite. "But anyway, they usually go and do a small service or prayer thing on Sundays."

"Really?" Arlene's eyes lit up as Emily nodded and took a bite of her wing. "Thank you so much, I didn't know about that."

"No problem." Emily grinned and swallowed. "I'll let you finish that fanfiction - send it to me later, okay?"

"Sure." Arlene nodded, smiling as Emily stood up. "Enjoy the rest of the feast."

"You too!"

Sam glanced over at the Hufflepuff table as Arlene turned on her phone again. They looked back at Jade. "Guaranteed pure-blood elitist."

Jade blinked a few times, and swallowed her mouthful of food. "What?"

"One of the Hufflepuffs," Sam huffed.

Jade raised an eyebrow. "A Hufflepuff pure-blood elitist?" She repeated, slower.

"Or at the very least a snobby pure-blood." Sam rolled their eyes and glanced back again.

Arlene was bent over her phone, flicking through her story.

Jade followed their gaze. "Are you sure?"

"She hates people swearing."

"Yeah...?"

"She just glared at someone for swearing near her."

Jade looked over at the table again. Arlene snorted at a joke in the story and covered her mouth. "Are you sure?"

Sam stared at her for a moment. "I literally just saw it happen."

"Okay." Jade nodded. "Maybe it's for a reason?"

"She said it was something religious."

"Did you listen in on the entire conversation?" Jade popped a piece of pie into her mouth.

"No." Sam folded their arms. "And even if I was, that doesn't change the fact that she's being a snobby elitist."

"Okay, but you don't know that she's being elitist."

"Snobby, then." They glanced back at Arlene. "Fuck it. Jade, do you have a quill and paper?"

"No, why?"

Sam didn't reply - merely looked down the table. "Jess?" Jessica looked up from her conversation with Rose. "Do you have a quill and paper?"

"Yeah, sure." She leaned over behind her and pulled a notebook, quill, and ink from her bag. "Here." She passed it down to Sam, who tore a blank page from the book and began to write on it. "What are you doing?"

"Just a thing." Sam grinned and folded the paper. After a minute, they held up an origami bird.

Jade tilted her head and saw fuck you written in beautiful, cursive font on the bottom of the wings. "I don't think this is a good idea."

Sam shrugged and tapped their wand on the bird, muttering, "Wingardium Leviosa."

They directed the bird over Arlene and whistled loudly. She jumped, looked around, and then glanced up as the bird fell on top of her.

Sam grinned and whipped back around to the table, stowing their wand in their pocket.

Jessica, Jade, and Rose watched as Arlene crumpled the bird up after reading the message.

"What was that for?" Rose looked back at Sam.

"She was being rude to someone because they swore around her. Not at her; around her." Sam took a bite of their pizza.

"She could recognise your writing," Jessica pointed out.

"Don't care." Sam shrugged.

"Then you should sign swears at her." Jessica grinned, putting a closed fist to her cheek and circling it. "This means whore in ISL. That'd be fun."

Sam's eyes lit up. "Actually, yeah, I want to learn how to sign."

Jade sighed and took a bite of her food. "I still think this is going to end badly."

Rose shook her head. "No, I know her. She's not going to do anything. In fairness, she's not a bad person. She just-"

"Hates people swearing for religious reasons?"

"-doesn't like swearing for various reasons," Rose finished.

Sam shook their head. "She still shouldn't be allowed to police what people say without even telling them that she doesn't like it. Like, I actually can't control my swearing. I have a friend who freaks out with swearing, and I just don't talk because I'd rather not talk than genuinely trigger someone. Glaring at someone for swearing is not okay, especially if they don't know why you're glaring or can't control it."

"Maybe she knows the person, and that person knew she didn't like swearing."

"Still shouldn't do that." Sam chewed their tongue. "Jess, can I borrow more paper?"

"Go for it." Jessica grinned.

Sam tore out another page as the doors to the Great Hall burst open, and Paddy stormed in.

His robe was hanging off one shoulder, his shirt was torn, his tie was just nowhere to be seen, and sticking out from recently-dyed hair was a bunch of white feathers.

"This looks like fun." Sam put down the quill, grinning as Paddy reached the Slytherin table.

"Jack."

Jack looked up at him and smiled. "Hey, Paddy. You're late - we saved you a seat."

Karl stared at him. "What... happened?"

"There was a gull in my room." Paddy refused to take his eyes off Jack until Saoirse gasped.

"Oh wow. Shocked." She put the back of her hand to her forehead. "And appalled. Who would do such a thing?"

"I fucking wonder." Paddy's glare flickered between Saoirse and Jack.

"What actually happened?" Arthur shook his head.

"There was a gull in my room," Paddy repeated. "And I think it was there for a while; there was white stuff everywhere- but that's not the point!" He glared at Jack again. "You put it there!"

Jack gasped. "I would never. How could you even accuse me of such a thing?"

"Do you want us to get rid of it for you?" Elliot asked, half standing.

Paddy shook his head. "I got rid of it."

"How?"

"I punched it out a window."

Arthur was trying not to laugh, whereas Albus, Saoirse and Jack had given up on that. Most of the table was staring at them.

"How?" Scorpius asked. "The Slytherin dorms are under the lake."

Paddy twitched.

"Paddy what did you do?" Saoirse laughed.

Paddy opened his mouth, but Jack slid a small bag of jellytots towards him, distracting him.

"You fucking-" Paddy lunged across the table at him. Jack cackled and danced out of reach, running towards the door. "Get back here so I can kill you!" Paddy roared, chasing after him.

"It's a wonder none of the teachers came to see what was going on," Elliot muttered.

Albus snorted. "They don't really care on holidays."

Elliot glanced up at the teachers' table, and sure enough, all of the teachers but Gaffney were still enjoying their dinner. The Charms professor was glaring at the door.

"Hopefully that won't end badly for Jack now."

Angel glanced up from their food. "What do you mean?"

Kieran looked back at them. "The Charms teacher looks like she's about to go after him."

Angel rolled their eyes. "Jack's annoying as hell anyway. He probably deserves it."

"Did you hear what he did?" Ella asked.

Kieran shook his head. "I just saw him run out of the hall with the guy with green hair chasing after him screaming." He sighed. "Probably a wizard thing."

"I don't think so; it didn't happen last year," Ella noted.

"Still. It's really weird." Kieran shook his head. "I just kind of wish we were able to go home for Halloween. My town goes all-out for it."

"Really?" Ella frowned. "Lucky. Dublin's kind of blah about it. For a city, like."

"Cambridge isn't bad, but it's not great," Angel added. "What's your place like?"

"Pretty much everyone dresses up, and we used to have days at school where we just dressed up and played games," Kieran explained. "And there's a haunted house and forest organised, and a parade and stuff."

"Ugh, that sounds really fun," Ella sighed. "I thought I'd be able to test some of my prosthetics here, but apparently not."

Angel chewed their lip. "Well hang on, we could try and organise it for next year."

"Organise what?" Kieran raised an eyebrow.

"People dressing up," Angel clarified. "We could get most of the Muggleborns and Half-bloods in on it, anyway. And they might get some Purebloods involved."

Ella grinned. "Good idea, but that doesn't fix my prosthetics issue for this year."

Angel shrugged and took a bite of their cake. "Can't help you there, mate. Sorry."

"It's okay," Ella sighed. "I'll probably just wait until one of the Christmas cons at home. That way I can look cool and freak Muggles out with magic."

"Thank you for the wolfbane potion yesterday, Severus," Professor Lupin sighed as he limped beside the potions master.

Professor Snape nodded. "I trust the experience was relatively painless?"

"More so than usual, anyway." Professor Lupin smiled. "What did you change in it?"

"Not much. Just a few ingredients." Professor Snape looked over at him out of the corner of his eye for no more than a split second. "You know, if you're not up for class today, I can take over again. I don't mind."

"I appreciate the offer," Professor Lupin admitted, "but I've promised the third years to go over what they can expect in their Christmas test today. I think that if you showed up instead, we'd both be slaughtered."

"Indeed." Professor Snape didn't look all that impressed. "I thought a test was to test them. Doesn't telling them what's on it remove the purpose?"

"Not necessarily. I don't believe anyone should be caught out on a test," Professor Lupin replied. He winced as he put a little too much weight on his bad leg. "I'm getting old."

"You are," Professor Snape scoffed. "Perhaps it's time to-"

"Professor Lupin!"

They both turned to see Sam half-running towards them. Professor Lupin smiled. "Hello, Dire. Can I help you with something?"

Sam nodded. "Yeah, if it's okay with you, can I ask you a few questions?"

"What about?"

"Werewolves."

Professor Lupin's smile became strained and Professor Snape scowled. "Ah."

"I only realised they actually existed yesterday," Sam explained. "And I figured since you're the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, you'd know a lot about them."

"Yes, well..." Professor Lupin moved his cane to his left hand. "Now is a... slightly awkward time for me."

"Oh, do you have a class?" Sam asked. "I can come back after? Or-"

"Mister Dire, if you don't cease these irritating questions, I'll make sure you become very practically informed about werewolves," Professor Snape snarled.

"Severus, please." Professor Lupin frowned at him. Sam just raised an eyebrow.

"Remus, you're not well."

"I'm fine." Professor Lupin turned to Sam. "I have class in an hour, but if you want, you can come back to my office and I'll make some tea."

"Sure, thanks." Sam grinned and followed Professor Lupin down the hall. They glanced back at Professor Snape to see him glaring at them until they turned the corner.

Once in his office, Professor Lupin busied himself with making a pot of tea. "What is it that you want to know?"

"How does someone become a werewolf?" Sam asked, sitting down at the table.

"Usually they need to be bitten at the full moon," Professor Lupin replied, "by another werewolf. There have been... one or two cases where people were bitten at another time. They don't fully transform, but they're never completely human again."

Sam nodded. "Is it painful to transform?"

"I would imagine so." Professor Lupin nodded and poured boiling water into two mugs. "How do you like your tea?"

"Black please," Sam replied.

Professor Lupin dropped two teabags into the mugs and sat across from Sam, passing them a spoon. "Werewolves are often left alone on the full moon but there have also been cases of animagi spending the night with them."

"Animagi?" Sam looked up.

Professor Lupin recognised that look from somewhere. "Humans who undergo a difficult progress to turn into an animal at will. The animal is usually the same as one's patronus."

"That's the thing that scares off Dementors, right?" Sam stirred a spoon of sugar into their tea as Professor Lupin nodded. "And you're teaching us that this year?"

"Towards the summer," Professor Lupin confirmed.

Sam took a sip of their tea and grimaced as it burned their tongue. "Can't humans be around werewolves?"

"No." Professor Lupin shook his head. "Or at least, there are no records of it. Not during the full moon. Werewolves are too temperamental and react badly to human contact. A werewolf when turned wouldn't know or care about the difference between a sibling, a partner, a friend, or an enemy." Sam slowly nodded. "What took your interest about the topic?"

They grinned. "I just really like wolves, honestly. I did a tonne of projects on them in primary school, and I always dressed up as a werewolf at Halloween."

Professor Lupin smiled, but it was a little strained. "I see. Is there anything else you want to know?"

"Uh..." Sam hesitated and took a sip of their tea again. "Why did Professor Snape react so badly when I asked?"

Professor Lupin pondered the question for a moment. "An old classmate of his was once bitten by a werewolf," he finally explained, "and Professor Snape nearly died because of him."

"Oh." Sam swallowed. "I, uh, sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"That's alright, Dire. I'm sure there was no harm done." Professor Lupin smiled again. "You'd better finish your tea. We should both start heading to class."

Sam nodded and drained the end of their cup. "Thank you, sir."

"Anytime." Professor Lupin nodded. "Feel free to come to me if you have any more questions."

Professor Snape walked into the room as Sam threw the paper airplane at Arlene. They hadn't stopped in the month since Halloween, and Arlene had grown wise to the types of paper animals they would send. She caught it and crumpled it into a tiny ball.

"Ten points from Ravenclaw." Professor Snape glared at Sam. "If it happens again, it will be twenty." Sam put their wand down. "I'm afraid that Professor Lupin is still sick, so you'll have the pleasure of having me as your teacher for the day." Professor Snape tapped the board. "What have you been covering?"

"We were just about to go on to werewolves," Jessica replied.

Professor Snape's lip curled and his eyes landed on Sam. "How interesting." He turned to the board and waved his wand. A partially transparent chart appeared, bearing the stages of the moon. "Turn to page three hundred and ninety four."

There was a rustle of pages as everyone flicked to the page.

"Can anyone tell me the difference between a werewolf and a regular wolf?" Sam raised their hand. "Anyone?" Snape mused, looking at the other side of the room. Sam rolled their eyes. Of course. "No one? Disappointing." His eyes landed on Sam. "Apologies, Dire. I didn't see you." Sure he didn't. "Go ahead."

"Werewolves typically have a longer snout and often walk on their hind legs," Sam replied. "They also only become wolves during the full moon."

"How insightful," Professor Snape sneered. "A werewolf only becoming a wolf during the full moon. Imagine that." Sam felt their cheeks burn. "Anything else?"

They hesitated. "When they transform, they can't distinguish between friend or foe. They would attack their partner just as easily as someone they've hated for their entire life."

"Well, it's better than werewolves only transform during the full moon." Professor Snape looked around the room. "Anything else?" Jade raised her hand. "Yes?"

"They often take a while to recover after a transformation, right?" She asked. "Like, they won't be as healthy as usual for about a week after the full moon."

"Correct." Professor Snape turned to the board. "Potions such as wolfbane have been created to ease the process for conscious werewolves, but require careful preparation, and they must be taken a few days prior to the transformation. If successful, it should lessen the pain and the aftershock to the system dramatically."

Sam frowned at the chart. The previous night had been unusually bright.

"Mister Dire?" They looked up at Professor Snape. "Is this not interesting enough for you?"

"It is." Sam nodded. "I was just looking at the chart."

After a moment, Professor Snape nodded and turned back to the board.

After class, Sam practically ran down to Professor Lupin's office without waiting for the others. They knocked on the door and after a moment, Professor Lupin emerged, looking as tired as the month before.

He smiled. "Can I do something for you, Dire?"

"I have a few more questions, if that's okay." Sam smiled.

Professor Lupin just nodded and held the door open for them. "I'm all out of tea, I'm afraid. I was planning to get some at Hogsmeade this weekend."

"That's okay." Sam shook their head and sat at the table.

"What was it that you wanted to ask?" Professor Lupin asked, sitting across from them.

"Are you a werewolf?"

Sam's voice was calm and curious, but the blood drained from Lupin's face. "I- Why do you ask?"

"Snape just gave us a lecture on werewolves because you were sick," Sam replied. "We were due to move onto it anyway, but he was pretty obvious about the cycle." Professor Lupin swallowed. "Plus you only ever get sick around the full moon."

After a moment, Professor Lupin smiled. "You're a very bright wizard, Dire. Well done." He leaned forward. "But I'd very much appreciate it if you didn't make this common knowledge. It's a very sensitive predicament that I'm in, and-"

"Don't worry, I won't," Sam assured him. "I wouldn't do that. I just wanted to see if I was right, that's all."

Professor Lupin relaxed back into his chair again. "I don't doubt that you wouldn't. Thank you, all the same."

"You shouldn't have to thank me for not telling people." Sam shook their head. "That's your business."

Professor Lupin's lip twitched. "Perhaps, but personal business often has a habit of becoming well known very quickly."

Sam nodded. "I won't tell anyone. Don't worry."

"I trust you." Professor Lupin nodded. "Now you had better get to class. You should have waited until lunch to come and talk to me."

"Oh, right. Sorry." Sam stood up. "Thanks for your time. And for telling me. Sorry."

"Don't be." Professor Lupin shook his head and stood up. "If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to come and talk to me."

"I won't." Sam smiled and left the office. "Thank you!"

"Hey." Elliot sat down next to Sam at the edge of the lake.

Sam looked over at him. "Oh, hey." They frowned. "Are you okay?"

"Uh, sort of." Elliot fidgeted with the edge of his sleeve, not quite looking at Sam. "So, uh, you know Arlene?"

Sam frowned. "Yes. I know her."

Elliot winced. "And the swearing?"

"Yes. And I don't really appreciate being scolded for swearing." Sam turned back to the book in their lap.

"No, I-I didn't-" Elliot swallowed again. "I didn't mean it like that."

"Yes, you did." Sam glared at the page.

"No, I didn't," Elliot repeated, a little calmer this time. "Look, I just wanted to explain."

"What's there to explain? She's an elitist fucking Pureblood who can't wrap her head around the idea that us simple folk swear."

Elliot blinked. "What? No! She's not elitist. Hell, she's not even Pureblood. She's Muggleborn."

Now that was surprising. At the very least, Sam had expected her to be Half-blood.

"She still shouldn't make other people feel bad for swearing around her."

"I think it's a trigger or-"

"No, it's fucking not." Sam looked up at him, almost laughing. "Triggers can make you physically sick. Not getting irritated or annoyed because it goes against your religious beliefs. At the very most, that's a squick."

Elliot blinked. "A squick?"

Sam nodded. "Yeah. That's possibly feeling sick or disgusted by something, and it's not a trigger."

Elliot looked down. "Sorry. I didn't know."

Sam sighed. "Look, don't apologise. I get that you're just trying to look out for her, but she shouldn't have asked you to-"

"She didn't." Elliot picked at his sleeve. "I just... you're both my friends and I just wanted to try and sort things out."

Sam sighed again and closed his book. "I know you meant well, but she shouldn't be doing that."

Elliot chewed his lip. "Look, I just- I can't... really explain, but she didn't have a good time at school. I don't think many people here did. But she had it pretty bad. I know it's not a trigger, but it really upsets her when someone swears at her - a lot more so than when people swear in general."

"Okay, now that I can understand," Sam conceded.

"I'm not asking you never to swear around her," Elliot told him. "I'm just asking you to stop sending her swears purposely and maybe apologise for it."

"It was a joke," Sam huffed.

"Not to her." Elliot hugged his legs to his chest. "Just... please?"

Sam sighed. "I'll stop. Okay?"

"Thank you." Elliot rested his forehead on his knees. "Sorry."

"It's fine." Sam shook his head.

Elliot tapped his fingers along his arm. "Thanks." He let out a breath and leaned back. "I just... She's the only person I live near from Hogwarts, and she gets a lot of shit here and at home. Y'know?" He swallowed. "Sorry."

"Don't be." Sam shrugged. "You're friends. I get that you want to look out for her."

Elliot nodded. "Yeah." He was frowning as he adjusted his glasses. "Sort of."

"Sort of?" Sam raised an eyebrow.

Elliot sighed. "She's sort of been in the foster care system. A lot. My parents are fostering her this year, but her old foster parents keep trying to get her back, and they just-" He swallowed. "They sort of... uh... they were abusing her quite badly. There's a really nice couple looking into adopting her, but it's really hard to keep those other guys away from her."

"Oh." Sam looked over at him. "Is that why-"

"Yeah, partially. Also the religion thing, but yeah." He nodded. Sam hesitated before pulling a sheet of paper out of his bag. "What are you doing?"

"One sec." Sam pulled out his quill and wrote something. He folded it and mumbled a hovering charm under his breath. He glanced around and flew the bird over to Arlene, sitting by the edge of the castle. She grabbed it and crunched it up into a small ball. "Damn it." They glanced over at Elliot. "I'll stop and I'll apologise. Okay?"

Elliot nodded. "Okay. Thanks. And I'm really sorry - I didn't- I didn't mean it to seem like I was scolding you, or-or-"

"I know; don't worry about it." Sam nudged him. "Relax. Okay?"

Elliot let out a breath. "Okay. Thanks."

They sat in silence for a moment before Sam glanced at him. "I heard about your boggart at the start of the year." Elliot stared at the grass. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He shrugged. "Not really. It wasn't a big deal."

"It was literally your worst fear. That's kind of a big deal."

"It's fine." He shook his head. They fell into silence again, but every now and then Sam glanced at him. "Please stop."

"I'm not doing anything."

"Yes you-" Elliot let out a breath. "Look, I- I'm proud of who I am, and who I was. And I don't want to be that trans guy whose worst fear is people seeing him as a girl but-"

"Hey." Sam cut him off, shifting to meet his gaze. "You're okay."

"It's not." Elliot shook his head. "There are so many worse things to be scared of."

"So?" Sam shrugged. "Someone's boggart was a fucking clown. There are worse things than that - that doesn't mean that it can't be their worst fear."

"Well it shouldn't be mine." Elliot ran a hand through his hair and gripped it. "And I don't know how to change it."

"I don't know that you can," they admitted. "Not the way you want to."

"Yeah." Elliot folded his arms and shrugged. "Yeah..." He let out a slow breath and began pulling at strands of grass. "I'm sorry. You don't need to hear this."

"Hey, it's okay. I asked." Sam shrugged.

"Mm." Elliot picked up a daisy. "Still."

"Look, it's fine. If you don't want to talk about it now, we can do it at some other stage," they pointed out, "or you can talk to someone else. Yeah?"

"Yeah." He offered a tiny smile. "Thanks."

"What are you guys doing for Christmas?" Albus asked, dropping onto one of the couches.

"Staying," was an immediate response from Arthur, Karl, Jack, and Paddy.

"Wait, really?" Scorpius looked up from his book frowning. "Why?"

Arthur shrugged. "Family stuff."

"Okay, but..." His frown deepened. "It's Christmas."

"And I'm not religious, so it means nothing to me aside from presents." Jack shot Scorpius with his finger.

"Still..."

"It's fine." Arthur waved a hand. "What are you guys planning?"

"The Burrow. It's where Rose - Gryffindor Rose, not Ravenclaw Rose - and her family live," Albus sighed. "We always go there for Christmas."

"You don't sound like you want to," Elliot commented.

"It won't be as bad as last year. Scorpius and his dad are coming too."

Saoirse grinned. "How'd you get your parents to agree to that?"

"It wasn't all that hard for me," Scorpius admitted. "I think my dad's wanted to be Harry Potter's friend for a long time - he just didn't want to say it."

"And him challenging my dad to a quidditch match helped," Albus snorted. "So it's going to be him and Ron versus Ginny and Draco."

"Ginny is going to slaughter them all."

"Oh definitely." Albus looked over at Elliot. "How about you?"

"It's..." Elliot hesitated. "It's complicated. I'm probably going to end up staying here with Arlene."

"Rose is staying too," Karl added, "and Sam."

"Jess too." Elliot nodded.

"Damn." Albus leaned back. "Is anyone else staying?"

Paddy looked over at the sheet. It updated every time a name was added to the list, the names colour coordinated by house. "Ella, Angel, and Kieran are staying. Salem and Devie too - not really sure who they are. Oh, and Charlotte."

Albus stood up and walked over to it, adding his name to the list. Scorpius followed him over.

"What are you doing?" Saoirse frowned.

"Staying for the holidays."

"Oh, put me down too," Saoirse called. Albus nodded.

"But you-" Paddy began.

"Our plans have changed." Scorpius grinned at them. "We're not letting all of our friends stay here without us over the holidays."

"Plus I think I can miss my dad getting drunk on firewhiskey and playing quidditch this year." Albus rolled his eyes and stepped away. "Besides, if we left, we'd miss Saoirse trying to flirt with Charlotte."

"Hey!" Saoirse scowled at him. "I don't try. I succeed."

"Sure." Albus snorted. He plopped back into his seat. "Anyway, they're probably going to merge all the houses until everyone's back, and knowing Elliot and Arlene, there's going to be a movie marathon."

"Disney all the way." Elliot grinned.

"Exactly." Albus pointed at him. "I don't want to miss that."

"Can we make it a wizard film marathon?" Arthur mused. "Like keep the Disney films, but just change them so we can take part?"

"I've never tried it before," Elliot admitted, "but we probably could."

"I can probably get it working." Jack stretched. "Bring me down your laptop." Elliot hesitated. "Relax, I won't break it."

"If you do, you're buying me another one."

"If I do, I'll fix it." Jack looked over at him. "I can't do it if I don't have the films."

"Fine." Elliot walked over to the stairs.

Saoirse watched him but waited until he was gone to turn to Jack. "Everything okay?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"Don't know. You just kind of seem..." She shrugged. "A bit off?"

"I'm fine. Just tired." He stretched. "Gaffney kept me in longer than usual today. I had to rearrange her entire room."

Scorpius grimaced. "Things got heavier?"

Jack nodded. "Probably just because I didn't sleep enough last night," he admitted. "I'll be fine." He looked up as Elliot returned. "Great. Pass it over and I'll see what I can do."

Christmas morning was always a messy affair at Hogwarts - that year more than ever. Everyone went downstairs to the kitchen and cooked whatever they wanted for themselves. Most of the house elves had the morning off and came back in the afternoon to cook dinner.

The teachers had pushed the house tables to the sides and everyone sat at the one table in their pyjamas or weekend clothes, and the teachers did their best to keep them entertained for an hour.

Any house elves that had wanted to work for the whole day set up a joint dorm near the great hall. Instead of beds, there were sleeping bags and bean bags, but it was cosy enough and a fire roared all day.

The Christmas tree in the dorm brushed the roof, and everyone's presents were underneath it when they returned from breakfast.

"Honestly, I like this better than going home," Albus admitted, sitting down in one of the bean bags with his last present. Everyone was sitting in a circle, chatting as they opened them.

Arlene nodded. "I like both a lot, but this is really fun too." Sam glanced over at her as she picked up a blue present. "Plus this way I get to make presents for everyone."

"You made them for everyone?" Arthur's eyebrows arched.

"I tried to, anyway. I didn't have enough time to do everyone," she admitted. "I got everyone here done though."

"Ah, thank you." Salem grinned and hugged her. He liked hugging people - which a few people found out when he went to hug them without asking and they nearly panicked.

Arlene, however, didn't mind it. "You're welcome!" She returned the hug and turned back to the blue present.

It was small but wrapped intricately and had a card attached to it. It read her name in block print, but unlike the others had nothing in the part that was left for the sender to sign their name.

She frowned and carefully opened it. Inside was a framed photo of herself and her parents - or, they would be her parents once they got to sign the papers anyway. They all waved up at her, and a dove on the frame fluttered its wings, showering glitter that floated around the frame.

"That's gorgeous," Elliot murmured, looking over her shoulder. "Do you know who sent it?"

She shook her head, carefully touching the glass. "I... No... There was no name on it."

"Check the card." Elliot nudged her with a smile.

Arlene opened the envelope with as much caution as the present. A small piece of paper fell out, and when she opened it, there was only one word sprawled across it in careful cursive font.

Sorry.

She looked up to see Sam watching her and gave them a smile. "How did you even get this?"

They shook their head. "I had a bit of help. Do you like it?"

"I love it." She shifted a bit closer to them. "Can I hug you?"

"Sure." They grinned and Arlene wrapped her arms around them. "Sorry for that."

"Don't worry about it." She shook her head. "Thanks for apologising."

"Come on, let's get through the rest of these," Jack called, tearing open a package from Saoirse. A tall tin of jellytots emerged and Paddy glared at them. Jack snorted. "What? It's not like they're for you."

"I hate you both so much."

Jessica leaned her head against the window of the train. It had grown quite crowded with all sixteen of them in the one compartment.

Most people were on the couch, but six had to squeeze onto the floor. It was a mess, but this way everyone got to chat for the last time before they were split up for the summer.

"Jess!" Jade called, and she snapped her head up.

"Yeah?"

"You live in Kerry, right?" Elliot asked. She nodded. "Great, we can all meet up over summer then." He glanced over at Arlene.

"Probably won't be able to - my parents mightn't drive me anywhere," she commented.

"We'll pick you up then," Jess decided. "It shouldn't be too hard."

"And we can go up to Dublin at some stage to see everyone else." Elliot's eyes lit up. "Oh, is anyone going to a con? I want to do a group cosplay with someone."

"Yes!" Saoirse grabbed his hand.

"Magic costumes next Halloween are going to be great." Arthur smirked.

"And alchemy next year." Jack leaned back in his seat. He had been the first to sit down and had refused to give up his seat to anyone.

"Can we not talk about class right now," Angel groaned. "I still need to find a way to explain why I'm doing so badly in Potions."

"You're Gryffindor." Albus shrugged. "There's your explanation."

All too soon, the train rolled into the station and everyone had to manoeuvre their bags out of the carriage without hitting anyone in the face. Jack just stayed sitting until everyone else was done before getting his own trunk.

"Okay, so you guys are going to call us, right?" Elliot checked. "And you remember how to use a phone?"

"Of course." Paddy rolled his eyes. "We know how to use the phone."

"Okay, because last year my parents nearly had a heart attack when Arthur called and-"

"I won't let Arthur near the phone."

"Excuse you!" Arthur shot him a playful glare. "I can use the phone if I want to!"

"Sure."

Slowly, the group and the rest of the people on the platform dispersed until it was empty, all gone home for another three months.

Hope you guys enjoyed. Sorry for the last two paragraphs, and the second filler, but just one (or two) more fillers and then the plot will start, I promise. Please vote and review. See you next time!