Chapter 7: Dean Cousins

"Alright, Lucky?" Shona asked as her friend sat down next to her looking quite annoyed. Despite her foul mood, Shona slid a plate of buttered toast her way. In retaliation Lucy's elbows hit the table and she rested her hands on her chin. "What's got into you?" 

"Last night was terrible," Lucy replied with a sigh, she looked at the toast just like Snape had looked at food when Lucy was gone. 

"What happened?" Shona asked and opened a daily prophet. Lucy took one look at it and saw she was still on the front page...she rolled her eyes. 

"After I left the common room last night I saw this boy — " 

"Stop right there," Shona held up a hand. "Whenever a conversation includes a male specimen I know it's trouble." 

"You've got that right and the one I'm on about is a complete and utter idiot." And so Lucy went on to explain to her friend all about the American boy and the episode last night.

Shona looked at her strange when she was finished explaining. "New kid in sixth year with what all that's going on? That's just mental...are you sure this kid hasn't been here before?" 

"I'm sure I've never seen him, I've never heard an American accent in my life before his but I just know it's an American accent because it exaggerates on all the vowels." 

"That's the most complicated way of describing an American accent." 

"It's true though! The accents are wonderful...it's just him. He's horrible and he hangs around with Tyler, Johnny, Chris and Alex. Those boys are always up to no good." 

"They're Slytherin, need I say more?" Shona shrugged. "What's his name, anyway?" 

"He didn't tell me...it's as though it's this big secret that he refuses to tell me. He's a very mysterious character, I think you'd like him." 

"Me?!" Shona screeched. "Are you crazy?" 

"He wears plaid like you; it's a match made in heaven." 

"He's a Slytherin...I would never touch a Slytherin. Slytherin's make me want to vomit, just look at them — " Shona swiveled herself around, Lucy copying her so they could take a look at the Slytherin table. "They're all greasy and have weird noses and they have a bat for a head of house...wait, sorry, that's your dad." 

"Thanks, Shona," Lucy glared at her and then her eyes wandered towards the entrance of the great hall. "Look! Look! There's the American boy!"

Shona turned to look in the direction of the entrance hall. "With his posse of idiots; Tyler, Johnny, Chris and Alex. God I'd give anything to smack the lot of them." 

"Me too, the way the boy acted towards me last night I could have hexed him right there. He called me mental! Everyone listens to the papers, don't they?" 

"I'm on your side and all that, Lucy, but you can't blame them. It's the only source of information they've got and whatever they read they believe." 

"I guess you're right about that..." Lucy's shoulders slumped as some students gave her strange looks. "So what O.W.Ls did you pass?" Lucy asked Shona as McGonagall descended from the teachers table to start giving out timetables. She had to do this to confirm what O.W.Ls everyone had passed — same with all the other heads of houses. 

"I passed everything!" Shona exclaimed proudly as Lucy finished off her toast and the empty breakfast plates disappeared. "As in every single subject...believe it or not I even passed potions. I still question myself how I did it but I definitely passed with an Exceeds Expectations. It must have been all that copying from you." 

"Does this mean you're going to take a potions N.E.W.T?" Lucy wondered.

"I might as well take a potions N.E.W.T, Snape isn't teaching potions anymore and Slughorn could be pretty cool! Speaking of him, how was the slug club?"

"It was — " Lucy began but then stopped. Over on the Slytherin table an argument was taking place between her father and...to Lucy's absolute bewilderment her father was arguing with the American boy.  

"I will ask you for the last time," Snape growled in his very dangerous tone. "Did you or did you not pass any O.W.Ls?" 

The American boy shrugged. "I don't know! Ask my previous school! They would know if I passed any exams." 

"You were supposed to have been told by your school! Did they or did they not send a letter home to you?" 

The American boy shrugged once again. "I don't know! Ask my parents!" 

"Oh for goodness sakes, boy, no wonder you were sent to this school from your previous one. You've just got trouble written all over you!" 

"Is that the boy you pointed out just a minute ago?" Shona whispered to Lucy. 

"Well done, goldfish memory, it just appears he's your competition in trouble making and bothering my father," Lucy replied darkly. 

"Don't be silly, he's got nothing on me." 

" — Detentions are stupid! You really think a detention will affect me? What is this? A school for five year old girls? I was certain I didn't move to Beauxbatons until now!" The American boy groaned from across the room. 

"Yeah Hogwarts is a school for girls!" Johnny laughed as he pretended to brush his brown jaw length hair with his fingers. "I love high heels and pink dresses that flutter in the wind!" He imitated in a high pitched voice causing the Slytherin's to laugh (i.e: Alex, Chris, Tyler and the American boy.) "We've even got the face of Hogwarts here — Lucy Snape!" Johnny continued in his high pitched voice. 

"Oh isn't she just wonderful?' Chris chimed in using the same tone as Johnny had used only moments ago.

"She's got the loveliest hair!" Alex mocked.

"And the most fantastic eyes!" Tyler added.

"We love her!" All four of them squealed all pretending to giggle which then turned into their usual manly laughter, which then led to an exchanging of high fives between the group.

Snape glanced over at the Gryffindor table where Lucy was sitting, he noticed her hurt face and turned back to the American boy's posse of idiots. He gave them all a stern look but their laughter didn't cease in the slightest.

"Silence," Snape ordered, the group shut up half a minute later. "You will report to my classroom after the school day is over and will serve a well deserved detention."

"Woo-hoo!" Johnny cheered. "Wait, what?"

"You heard very well what I said. Now as for you — " Snape turned to the American boy. "You will spend the whole day with me until we assign you some appropriate classes, even if we don't find your O.W.L results." 

"I don't think so," the American boy laughed. Suddenly Snape hauled him up by the front of his shirt and looked straight into his eyes, it was as though he was penetrating him but the boy didn't move an inch it didn't even look like he was breathing. However, you could practically see the steam coming out of Snape's ears. 

"You will do exactly as you are told, you have not come into this school to mess around. You have come here to learn and behave how you are expected to behave! I will take no nonsense from you here, other teachers might but I sure as hell won't." Snape let him go of him but the American boy looked completely unaffected by Snape's lecturing rage. If Lucy was him she'd be quaking in her shoes but that was her, she was not a persistent troublemaker. 

"Wow, he just got chewed out big style," Shona shuddered as Professor McGonagall approached them holding a stack of blank timetables which she would fill out and then hand them to the remaining sixth year Gryffindor students. 

"That he did, Miss McGuire," McGonagall sighed as she began looking down the parchment in her other hand with all the sixth year Gryffindor students' names written in neat hand writing on there. She searched the scroll of parchment and found both Lucy and Shona's full names. 

"Do you know him?" Lucy asked McGonagall, giving a quick nod towards the American boy who was now being led out of the great hall by Snape. Snape looked very displeased, like he was going to hit the boy. 

"Yes — well, I don't know him personally; I just know him from Dumbledore. I have no idea why Dumbledore accepted him, judging by the little episode just now he's not a very nice young man. But I will not question the headmasters motives, as I do not have the right to question him." 

"Why not?" 

"Because he thinks the boy will be fine and he will change here. In my opinion he will not change and he's been a pain since the second he stepped foot in this place!" 

Lucy nodded even though her question remained unanswered. She really did wonder why Dumbledore had accepted this boy if he had a reputation for being bad. Was Dumbledore really a fool? Lucy didn't have the heart to question him. Not now anyway, he was being put through some press issues as well, they were not as bad as Lucy's but were still undoubtedly hurtful to him. But that's what the press did, attacked anyone and everyone who was famous after being nice to them. 

"Now, Miss Snape," McGonagall said as she produced an empty timetable from the stack she was carrying. "What O.W.Ls did you pass?" 

"All of them," Lucy replied awkwardly feeling a little out of place even though it was something she should be proud of. 

"Excellent, just what I like to hear," McGonagall placed the stack of cards on the table then took Lucy's blank timetable. "What N.E.W.Ts do you plan to take — ?" McGonagall began but was rudely interrupted by a small first year Hufflepuff boy. He held a quivering hand that held a small piece of parchment, it shook as much as he did. 

"Miss Snape?" He squeaked. "Can I have your autograph?" 

"No you certainly may not!" McGonagall barked before Lucy could even get a word in or produce a quill. "Leave the poor girl alone! You can see she's got a lot on her mind at the moment and the last thing she's going to think about is spreading autographs at gay abandon — now shoo!" McGonagall turned the boy around and directed him back towards his seat on the Hufflepuff table where he returned to his once hopeful newly found friends. 

"You didn't have to do that, Professor, I could have dealt with him myself and just signed the parchment for him," Lucy shrugged. 

"No you certainly could not! We are not having you signing anything around here whatsoever! The whole teaching staff — obviously including your father — have come to a sincere conclusion that you are to be protected twenty four seven. Even when the Resistance are doing their job." 

"The Resistance are back?" Lucy wondered but she really should have known when considering the recent circumstances. Not to mention the fact that Jessica had been permitted by Dumbledore to return to Hogwarts. 

"Yes indeed they are, stronger than ever might I add...now how about those N.E.W.T classes?" 

Soon, Lucy's timetable was filled with subjects that she would be taking N.E.W.T classes for (Ancient Runes had now been dropped considering it was no use in the slightest in helping towards Zuc's downfall.) The subjects she had consisted of: Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Potions and History of Magic. But first Lucy had Potions and then Defense Against the Dark Arts with her father. It was going to be one strange Potions lesson without her father but Slughorn couldn't be that bad. 

"Oh, Miss Snape, I forgot — " McGonagall reached into her pocket and produced a Gryffindor Quidditch captain badge. "As you are now the Quidditch captain I think you might need this, you really do deserve the title because you've been playing for us since your first year and won us lots of games." 

"Thank you, Professor," Lucy smiled and took the badge from her. She admired it and then debated whether to pin it above her prefects badge or below. If she pinned it above would she just be asking to feel superior? Or would pinning it below the prefects badge suggest that she wasn't really interested? In the end Lucy pinned it on the right side of her chest whereas her prefects badge was on the left. 

"I look forward to see you as captain playing on the Gryffindor team," McGonagall smiled, a true smile at that. "I can still remember the little girl all proud in her Gryffindor Qudditch uniform for the first time walking alongside Oliver Wood...how things have changed!" 

"I think my uniform finally fits me now," Lucy laughed. "I hope so, anyway." 

"I'm sure it will do, remember to hold trials regularly and to pin notices on the board in the common room. You'll definitely get hopefuls trying out for your team. But choose wisely...I really wish to beat Slytherin this year." 

"You always want to beat Slytherin!" Shona rolled her eyes. "But it's perfectly understandable, just look at all of them...they all look they're about to go down to the tattoo shop to get a dark mark." 

"Also known as joining Voldemort's fan club," Lucy snorted, she then noticed the look on McGonagall's face. "Sorry, Professor, he just doesn't scare me not after facing Lord Zuc anyway."

"Yes, well, I hope both of you enjoy your lessons," McGonagall finished and then ran after two second year boys carrying Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products which were in fact banned. 

After that, Lucy headed all the way up to Defense Against the Dark Arts to grab her bag. She found Snape in the classroom, getting everything ready for his first class. Lucy was kind of curious to find out what his teaching would be like as opposed to all the other Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers she'd had before. 

"Hey, dad," Lucy waved as she made her way into the classroom. She noticed the American boy sitting glumly by Snape's desk, he looked up for a moment to see who had entered but then looked back at his shoes. He didn't seem interested in Lucy's presence and she didn't blame him. He had his satchel slung over one shoulder, it was all battered and not taken care of in the slightest probably like everything he owned; he just didn't care. 

"Good morning," he replied. "What lesson do you have first?" 

"Potions!" Lucy grinned but then her shoulders slumped; she still wasn't used to the fact that Snape would no longer be teaching potions. So when she said the next part of her sentence her tone became miserable. "With Professor Slughorn..." 

"I'm sure it won't be too bad," Snape suggested, trying to make her feel better as he began cleaning the chalk board. "But on the bright side — " he took her timetable from her hands. "You have Defense Against the Dark Arts second." 

"Woo-hoo!" Lucy tried to sound enthusiastic but she really wasn't good at that when it came to Defense Against the Dark Arts. "My favourite subject..." 

"Well you never know, I could just help you at this subject. It appears to me that you're far too good at potions and need to focus on another subject now." 

"My O.W.L grades weren't bad...or were they? In your opinion?" 

"No, they were most satisfactory, you just need to work on Herbology. Everything else was absolutely fine for me, now, why don't you head off to class? I don't want you to be late." 

"Yes, dad," Lucy followed his command and shoved all the textbooks she needed for today's lesson into her bag and then walked out of the classroom.

She headed all the way down to the dungeons, feeling a sense of some kind of security as she descended down the stairs. However, this was not her home anymore and it made her feel very strange like she was hanging on to memories too much. But she felt better when she saw Shona standing there, waiting to go inside to the Potions classroom. 

"Hey," Shona waved. "How's Stephano?" 

"He's busy bullying the American boy, I think he's happy to already have unfortunates in detention on the first day back at school," Lucy replied with a small shrug. 

"They still won't beat McGuire's record, American kid and his gang have got nothing on me," Shona laughed as they all made their way into Slughorn's classroom where he was standing at the front ready to teach today's Potion's lesson. 

"Welcome, all, if you would gather round here," Slughorn said welcoming in his class of sixth year N.E.W.T students. Slughorn's eyes then met with Lucy's. "Lucy Snape! So wonderful to see you again! It appears you brought a friend, too!" 

"Shona McGuire," Shona said with a small smile. "Sebastian's descendant." 

"Of course! I was just about to say! Such a pleasure to have you both here, now why don't you come right to the front I'm sure if you don't understand something, Miss McGuire, either me or Lucy can help you." 

"Thanks." 

Once everyone was gathered around the table Slughorn began his lesson, picking up various potions from the table and describing them; it was a far more relaxed class than Snape's had ever been. In fact it was less tense and there seemed to be more knowledge flowing through everyone's brains. Not that they didnt understand potions before but they knew they wouldn't have their heads bitten off if they asked a question. 

Harry and Ron entered the class soon afterwards and Slughorn seemed delighted that they had come to join them, he even stationed them at the front by Lucy and Shona. It was evident that he had already chosen favourite pupils in his class. 

"Now as I was saying," Slughorn continued once Harry and Ron were settled (holding their new books from the cupboard.) "I prepared some concoctions this morning, any ideas what these might be?" 

Lucy raised her hand quicker than Hermione. Slughorn's attention went straight to her and he smiled. 

"Yes, Lucy? As you seem so eager." 

"Yes, Sir, that one there — " Lucy pointed to one potion. "Is Veritiserum, spill it in someones drink and you'll have them spilling out their darkest secrets, quite dangerous actually. That one there," (Lucy pointed to the next potion.) "Amortentia, it's a love potion, most powerful in the world. It smells differently to each person according to what attracts them." 

"Well, what do you smell?" Slughorn encouraged. 

Lucy stepped forward towards the potion and was immediately hit with an array of smells that were rather appealing to her. "I smell...lavender, new books, apple and — " Lucy paused. What was that fourth smell? She couldn't quite make it out but then she knew what it was but it was like she'd never smelt it before...yet, it was vaguely familiar. It was a strong aftershave. Had Fred used this before? She gulped. 

"Yes?" 

"Nothing else." 

"Are you certain?" 

"Yes, Sir." 

"Well then, boys, you know how to attract Miss Snape," Slughorn chuckled. "Now Amortentia doesn't create actual love, that would be impossible, but it does cause powerful infactuation or obsession and for that reason it is probably the most dangerous potion in the room — " Slughorn slammed the lid down on the Amortentia potion, causing disappointment amongst some girls. 

"Sir," Hermione called. "You haven't told us what's in that one." 

"Oh that's easy," Lucy smiled, everyone turned to her. "Felix Felicis, dad tried to give me some of it once to make me feel more confident. But I told him I'd become addicted." 

"Wise words there and what you say is very true!" Slughorn announced. "Too much of it can make you become addicted. But what is it also referred to as?" 

"Liquid luck," Hermione said. 

"I was going to say that," Lucy muttered. 

"Shut up, Lucky," Shona gave her a playful punch in the arm. 

"Yes, Miss Granger, Liquid Luck. Desperately tricky to make, disastrous should you get it wrong. One sip and you'll find all of your endeavours succeed, at least until the effects wear off. So this is what I offer each of you today, one tiny vial of liquid luck to the student who in the hour that remains manages to brew an acceptable draft of living death. Recipes of which can be found on page ten of your books. Now let the brewing commence!" 

Everyone sat in two's around the classroom, Slughorn advised them to sit next to people they didn't usually sit with to make everyone a little more sociable even though this was a competition. Harry sat next to Lucy while Shona sat with Ron. 

"You won't have any trouble with this," Harry said to Lucy as he opened his Potions book. 

"I won't, you're right, but even if I do win I think I'll just give the Liquid Luck away. Despite Slughorn saying that it's a hard Potion to brew I managed to do it myself when I brewed it last," Lucy shrugged as she began making her Potion. She then happened to glance at Harry's Potions book. "Your book has writing all over it." 

"Oh, I know, but it's fine I guess...that's what you get for not getting your Potions book early." 

Lucy picked up the book and had a look through it, but she stopped at the front page. "This book is the property of 'The Half-Blood Prince' wow, who's stupid enough to make up a nickname like that?" 

"Draco?" Harry snorted, Draco gave him a look from the other side of the classroom. 

"But he's not Half-Blood, I think we should all know that by now the way he goes on about it twenty-four seven and if we argue — " 

"WAIT TILL MY FATHER HERE'S ABOUT THIS!" Both Harry and Lucy chorused, causing themselves to laugh. 

"Quiet down please, Mr Potter and Miss Snape," Slughorn glared at them but when they turned to face him his look was playful telling them that he wasn't really bothered. 

Lucy handed Harry's book back to him and made her potion. She finished her potion before anyone else and it was in fact acceptable, Slughorn was going to stop the class but Lucy remained faithful to her word and waited for someone else to finish so they could win it. That person who won just happened to be Harry.

"Mental!" Shona barked at Lucy, chucking her potions book at her as they made their way up to Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Oi!" Lucy snapped, throwing Shona's book back at her as she caught up. Unfortunately Shona caught the book. "What was that for?" 

"You gave up the Liquid Luck potion, what was that for!" 

"Shona, I can brew that any time that's why I gave it up." 

"But you could have had some for free!" 

"Tell me exactly what I would use it for, anyway?" 

"Oh I don't know...passing tests? Quidditch matches? Fighting Zuc?" 

"And if you hadn't realised that's called cheating." 

"Oh, whatever." 

Suddenly Lucy noticed Ben walking down the corridor looking a little bit lost behind them, Lucy took a glance at Shona before speaking. "You go ahead, I think I left my quill in Potions." 

"Alright, forgetful, see you there," Shona walked on ahead, making her way to Snape's class. 

"Hey, Ben," Lucy smiled as she approached the Ravenclaw boy. He was 6 ft 3 just like the American boy...she hated the fact that everyone was taller than her, it was just insulting. 

"Lucy!" Ben smiled. "How are you?" 

"I'm fine, what about you? You seem a little lost." 

"Well Hogwarts is a lot to get used to so I, uh..." Ben's eyes darted to and fro and he ran his fingers through his dark brown hair to make things seem a little less awkward. "Where is Defense Against the Dark Arts?" 

"You're heading in the right direction, Truman, and luckily for you that's my next class as well so I'll lead the way." 

"Thank you, Lucy, it's rather kind of you." 

"Don't mention it, I couldn't let a stray Ravenclaw wander round the castle all day wondering where they were going." 

They both soon arrived at Defense Against the Dark Arts where everyone else was already in class. When Lucy and Ben stepped in, Snape turned to them. 

"Lucy, you finally decided to turn up," Snape said with a small smirk. "And so did you, Mr Truman. Pity you are late to your first Defense Against the Dark — " 

"He was lost," Lucy interrupted before Snape could deduct points. "I helped him get here, that's why we were both late." 

"Very well, I expect now it won't happen again. Take a seat, both of you." 

Lucy walked to the front and took a seat next to Shona and saw the American boy still sitting there looking bored out of his brains. It was as though he was chained to Snape's desk and couldn't move even if he bothered to try. But for some reason he was giving Ben the evils. 

"What's up with him?" Lucy whispered to Shona, her eyes darting once to the American boy. 

"Someone probably made fun of his accent," Shona whispered back. "We don't care anyway, he's a pain." 

In Snape's Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson he had them all practicing non-verbal spells, he split everyone up into his choice of pairs and then they would carry out the non-verbal spells. Lucy was paired with Shona and she was able to block spells without saying them as easily as she was with saying them. It took her a little while to throw spells without speaking but she soon got the hang of it. 

"Well that's eye opening," Snape said as he finished watching Lucy and Shona. "You are both able to successfully block and use non-verbal spells." 

"It was no sweat, Stephano," Shona waved her hand. "No match for McGuire." 

"McGuire still has to face her detentions though." 

"And Lucy wonders if she can go for break now," Lucy pointed to the clock by the door. 

"Yes, very well," Snape then raised his voice so all the class could hear. "You are dismissed." 

*      *      *

As soon as that day's lessons were over Lucy went straight back to Snape's quarters and dumped her bag on the desk. Snape was sat at his desk, the American boy looking close to commiting suicide out of boredom. 

"How was school?" Snape asked. 

"It was — " Lucy turned her bag upside down and gave it a shake causing lots of homework to pour out. "Fantastic." 

"I see you are suffering the delight of N.E.W.T homework." 

"The delight?" 

"It'll get worse." 

"It's a phase, it'll pass," Shona announced as she sat next to Lucy ready for her detention. 

"Well, McGuire, seeing as you have as much homework as Lucy you can do all your homework now and won't be leaving until it's all done," Snape said. 

"Are you kidding? I leave it all until the last minute! It's part of McGuire's rules!" 

"These aren't your O.W.L years now, you could just about get away with it then but now you will be set homework one day and will be expected to give it in the next day where it will be completed." 

"I am Sebastian's descendant!" Shona yelled. 

"And...?" 

"THIS IS AN OUTRAGE." 

"I'm Merlin's descendant, now get on with it," Snape barked then he turned to the American boy. "I have filled out your timetable with appropriate subjects and I expect you to attend them all tomorrow. Any absence or tardiness and you will get a detention just like your dear friends — " Snape gestured to Johnny, Tyler, Chris and Alex as they all walked into the room and took separate seats. "Any more mischief and the consequences will be severe." 

The American boy grunted as he took his timetable and left the room, feeling very free. He had been released from his hell and could finally do whatever he wanted. 

When Snape had assigned his other unfortunates what they had to do for their detention, Snape turned to Lucy. "Lucy, Jessica has asked me to tell you that she wishes for you to attend a meeting about the Resistance now." 

"What about my homework? Some of it's due tomorrow," Lucy gestured to her stack of homework from today's lessons. 

"There will be time when you get back, I'm certain," Snape finished but then Lucy heard his voice in her mind: 

'If not I'll do it for you.' 

'Thanks,' she replied. 'Where's the meeting?' 

'Exam room 57. It's more or less abandoned.' 

Lucy then gathered up her things into her bag and put them on Snape's desk before walking towards the door and leaving to find exam room 57. 

When she arrived she knocked on the door, seconds later Jessica appeared at the door. She smiled at Lucy. 

"Lucy, thank you for coming," Jessica smiled as she opened the door wider and led her into exam room 57 which was full of Resistance members who were all seated around one large table. Two of which Lucy recognised from being with the gifted when they visited the Department of Mysteries.

"Pleasure," Lucy replied, smiling at a few people who waved at her.

"We’re glad you could come, but we won’t be long, promise," Jessica said. "Your father informs me you’ve got a lot of homework and he would like you to at least attempt it," Jessica winked, knowing that if she didn’t have time Snape was going to do it for her.

"Take all the time you need, I’m here for all of you." 

"Fantastic. Now please, take a seat," she gestured to a chair and sat opposite her at the table. 

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Lucy asked, feeling a little excited because it was as though she was part of some kind of secret meeting. 

"Well we just wanted to let you know that the Resistance has been invited back to Hogwarts for your safety. We understand that Hogwarts has taken on other security matters but we didn't think they were enough for you. So, I asked Dumbledore if I could return and he accepted," Jessica began. "The Resistance was set up for the gifted and there was no point us being together if we're trained to protect you when we can't be with you." 

Lucy looked around and saw every member in the room had a necklace around their neck, it was made of leather with the charm of the Resistances logo on; a doe, a phoenix and a wolf. The gifted's patronus' which suggested protection and it was exactly what the Resistance did. They'd had these necklaces since the Resistance started. 

"It's kind of you all to come back to Hogwarts to protect the gifted," Lucy smiled. 

"Not just the gifted but at this moment we're specifying on you," Jessica said. "I think we've all read the papers this summer and we know that everyone wants information out of you. It has come to my attention that there is even a school newspaper named the Quick Quill, it's run by students and there's already information about you in there — " Jessica slid an issue of the Quick Quill towards her and Lucy saw her face on the front page, she didn't need to open the magazine to found out what it would all be about. 

Lucy looked down at the bottom right hand corner and saw a name. "Ellen Knightly?" 

"That's who run's the magazine but she has people working for her. Two members of the Resistance have observed her and have discovered she is a Hufflepuff and is in your year," Jessica sighed

"Fantastic," Lucy muttered. 

"So because of all this constant pestering that people are going to give you, we have come up with a plan and we have all agreed on this plan here," Jessica gestured to the person sitting next to Lucy. "Stand up." 

Lucy watched as the man next to her stood up. He wore a black top with a leather jacket, the Resistance necklace hanging from his neck with pride. He had light brown hair and with smoky blue eyes. He looked very muscular and ready for a fight. 

Lucy stood up as well to take a look at this man, she wondered who he was. To break her curiosity Jessica began to speak. 

"Lucy this will be your...lets say your personal bodyguard from now on," Jessica smirked. "Why don't you two introduce yourselves?" 

"Lucy Snape," Lucy said holding out a hand to the twenty year old. He took her hand and instead of shaking it just held it gently. 

"Dean Cousins," he smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you and an honour to be protecting you." 

Lucy smiled at the man, she couldn't help but like him. On the outside he looked ready for a fight but on the inside he was a big softy who looked like he was willing to hug anyone. 

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Dean." 

"I'm sure you two will be fine together," Jessica said. "Lucy, if you would show him around Hogwarts that would be fantastic. Now, meeting dismissed!" 

All of the Resistance cleared out of the room leaving only Lucy and Dean. Dean shoved his hands in his trouser pockets awkwardly but Lucy herself seemed curious towards him. 

"What's wrong?" She asked, Dean looked at her nervously. 

"Big fan," he squeaked. "I've been wanting to meet you for a long time." 

Lucy smiled, this was the right kind of fan not one that would stalk you. "I guess you finally got your wish, right?" 

"I guess I did get my wish but..." 

"But what?" 

"It's scary meeting you in person. It's like somebody charmed my newspaper and made you come alive, it was as though you were a figment of my imagination before." 

"I'm definitely real, you know," Lucy said and gave his arm a little pinch. "See? You're not dreaming either." 

"That's reassuring," he laughed nervously. 

"So how did you get here Dean?" 

"I trained intensly amongst others who competed to try and be your bodyguard. We took lots of tests, mostly training and they finally chose me. I couldn't believe it when I got the letter that I would be part of the Resistance but more to the point, your bodyguard. I promise right here right now that I will risk my life to protect you," he placed a hand over his heart but Dean trying to sound sincere was like a fluffy rabbit trying to run the country. 

 "But you’re only a child! Look at you! You’re so young and so innocent!" Lucy panicked and Dean remained straight faced until Lucy had stopped. He burst into laughter and held onto the wall for support.

"Really?" He choked out after his laughing fit. "Lucy, I’m twenty years old, you’re sixteen. You’re the child."

"Yes, but you've still got a life ahead of you, don't you want that? Or would you rather die for a pathetic teenager that half of the time she doesn't even know what she's doing." 

"Miss Snape, I will do anything in my power to keep you safe," Dean declared. 

"Please, call me Lucy." 

"Sure," Dean smiled, feeling a little out of place now that one of the most famous people in the Wizarding world had asked them to call her by her first name. "Your majesty," he added with a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. 

Lucy rolled her eyes but smiled anyway, she took his arm and led him out of the classroom. "Come on, Dean, let me show you around Hogwarts."