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— BY ORDER OF —

The Ministry of Magic

Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight.

Signed:

Cornelius Oswald Fudge

MINISTER OF MAGIC

The notices had gone up all over the school overnight, but they did not explain how every single person within the castle seemed to know that Dumbledore had overcome two Aurors, the High Inquisitor, the Minister of Magic, and his Junior Assistant to escape.

No matter where Blair went within the castle next day, the sole topic of conversation was Dumbledore's flight, and though some of the details might have gone awry in the retelling (Blair overheard one second-year girl assuring another that Fudge was now lying in St. Mungo's with a pumpkin for a head), it was surprising how accurate the rest of their information was.

Everybody seemed aware, for instance, that Blair, Harry and Marietta were the only students to have witnessed the scene in Dumbledore's office, and as Marietta was now in the hospital wing, Blair and Harry found themselves besieged with requests to give a firsthand account wherever they went.

"Dumbledore will be back before long," said Ernie Macmillan confidently on the way back from Herbology after listening intently to their story. "They couldn't keep him away in our second year and they won't be able to this time. The Fat Friar told me..." 

He dropped his voice conspiratorially, so that Blair, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had to lean closer to him to hear, "... that Umbridge tried to get back into his office last night after they'd searched the castle and grounds for him. Couldn't get past the gargoyle. The Head's office has sealed itself against her." Ernie smirked. "Apparently she had a right little tantrum..."

"Oh, I expect she really fancied herself sitting up there in the Head's office," said Hermione viciously, as they walked up the stone steps into the entrance hall. "Lording it over all the other teachers, the stupid puffed-up, power-crazy old —"

"Now, do you really want to finish that sentence, Granger?" Pansy Parkinson had slid out from behind the door. Her pale, pointed face was alight with malice. "Afraid I'm going to have to dock a few points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff," she drawled.

"It's only teachers that can dock points from Houses, Parkinson," said Ernie at once. 

"Yeah, we're prefects too, remember?" snarled Ron.

"I know prefects can't dock points, Weasel King," sneered Parkinson; "But members of the Inquisitorial Squad —"

"The what?" said Hermione sharply.

"The Inquisitorial Squad, Granger," said Parkinson, pointing toward a tiny silver I upon her robes just beneath her prefect's badge. "A select group of students who are supportive of the Ministry of Magic, handpicked by Professor Umbridge. Anyway, members of the Inquisitorial Squad do have the power to dock points... Drakey is in in too." 

"So, Granger, I'll have five from you for being rude about our new headmistress... Macmillan, five for contradicting me... Five because I don't like you, Wood... Five because your scar bothers me, Potter... Weasley, your shirt's untucked, so I'll have another five for that... Oh yeah, I forgot, you're a Mudblood, Granger, so ten for that..."

Blair pulled out her wand, but Hermione pushed it away, whispering, "Don't!"

"That's enough, Pansy," someone said in a cold voice. All heads turned around to see Draco Malfoy with the same I beneath his prefect's badge.

Pansy looked surprised. "Drakey, I-"

"Didn't I tell you not to call me that?" Draco glared at her. "Get out of here."

Pansy looked as if she was about to burst into tears before she glared at the others. "This isn't over." And she stormed off loudly.

Draco looked at them apologetically. "Sorry about that."

"She was bluffing," said Ernie, looking appalled. "She can't be allowed to dock points... that would be ridiculous... It would completely undermine the prefect system..."

"Look there, Macmillan." Draco pointed to the giant hourglasses, which recorded the House points. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had been neck and neck in the lead that morning. Even as they watched, stones flew upward, reducing the amounts in the lower bulbs. In fact, the only glass that seemed unchanged was the emerald-filled one of Slytherin.

"Be careful." Draco lowered his voice so only Ernie, Blair, Harry, Ron and Hermione could hear. "She's the new Head, and she's told us to watch you specifically, Blair."

Blair nodded gravely. "Thanks, Draco. For now and for yesterday." Draco simply nodded before sending them a small smile and walking off.

"He's really changed, hasn't he?" said Ron with a slight smile on his face.

"Nope, he's just chosen to finally show how good he is," said Harry with a grin.

"Noticed, have you?" said Fred's voice. He, Cedric and George had just come down the marble staircase and joined Blair, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ernie in front of the hourglasses. The Head Boy went immediately to Harry and naturally wrapped his arms around the younger boy. Everyone exchanged knowing glances at the two. They were just waiting for Cedric and Harry to finally confess to each other.

"Parkinson just docked us all about fifty points, luckily, Draco came to help," said Blair furiously, as they watched several more stones fly upward from the Gryffindor hourglass.

"Yeah, Montague tried to do us during break," said George.

"What do you mean, 'tried'?" said Ron quickly.

"He never managed to get all the words out," said Fred, "due to the fact that we forced him headfirst into that Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor."

"I tried stopping them?" Cedric smiled sheepishly. "But he insulted you lot so things happened."

Everyone let out laughs at Cedric's comment. Even Hermione who was usually uptight let out a smile... until she remembered she was a prefect.

Hermione looked very shocked then. "But you'll get into terrible trouble!"

"Not until Montague reappears, and that could take weeks, I dunno where we sent him," said Fred coolly. "Anyway... we've decided we don't care about getting into trouble anymore."

"Have you ever?" asked Hermione.

"'Course we have," said George. "Never been expelled, have we?"

"We've always known where to draw the line," said Fred.

"We might have put a toe across it occasionally," said George.

"But we've always stopped short of causing real mayhem," said Fred.

"But now?" said Ron tentatively.

"Well, now —" said George.

"— what with Dumbledore gone —" said Fred.

"— we reckon a bit of mayhem —" said George.

"— is exactly what our dear new Head deserves," said Fred.

"I'm in!" said Blair cheerfully and Fred and George grinned at her, but to her surprise, it wasn't only Hermione glaring at her, but also Cedric, Harry and Ron.

"You mustn't!" whispered Hermione. "You really mustn't! She'd love a reason to expel you! Especially you, Blair! You know she's got it out for you."

"You don't get it, Hermione, do you?" said Fred, smiling at her. "We don't care about staying anymore. We'd walk out right now if we weren't determined to do our bit for Dumbledore first. So anyway," he checked his watch, "phase one is about to begin. I'd get in the Great Hall for lunch if I were you, that way the teachers will see you can't have had anything to do with it."

"Is this that?" asked Blair with a twinkle in her eyes. Fred and George nodded.

"Anything to do with what?" said Hermione anxiously.

"You'll see," said George. "Run along, now. Are you coming, Little B?"

"Yeah-"

"No!" Cedric, Harry, Ron and Hermione shouted simultaneously.

Blair frowned at them. "Why-"

"Remember what Dumbledore said, Blair. You have to keep your head down," said Harry fiercely.

"We'll go now," said George quickly. He and Fred turned away and disappeared in the swelling crowd descending the stairs toward lunch. Looking highly disconcerted, Ernie muttered something about unfinished Transfiguration homework and scurried away. 

Realizing this was a matter between the friends, Cedric bid goodbye to them and whispered something to Harry. The Boy Who Lived blushed before smiling and nodding. Once they were alone, Blair tried to protest again.

"But-"

"He's right, Blair. We don't really want you to get expelled," said Ron slowly.

Hermione let out a sigh. "Blair-"

"It's fine. I get it," said Blair, shrugging. "Come on then." She started her way to the Great Hall and Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged frowns as they followed her.

Hermione walked faster to come beside Blair. "Look, Blair, we-"

She was cut off though when Filch came and tapped Blair on the shoulder. "The headmistress would like to see you, Wood," he leered.

"I didn't do it," said Blair stupidly, thinking of what Fred and George were planning.

Filch's jowls wobbled with silent laughter. "Guilty conscience, eh?" he wheezed. "Follow me..." Blair glanced back at Harry, Ron and Hermione, who were looking worried. She shrugged and followed Filch back into the entrance hall, against the tide of hungry students.

Filch seemed to be in an extremely good mood; he hummed creakily under his breath as they climbed the marble staircase. As they reached the first landing he said, "Things are changing around here, Wood."

"I've noticed," said Blair coldly.

"Yerse... I've been telling Dumbledore for years and years he's too soft with you all," said Filch, chuckling nastily. "You filthy little beasts would never have dropped Stinkpellets if you'd known I had it in my power to whip you raw, would you, now? Nobody would have thought of throwing Fanged Frisbees down the corridors if I could've strung you up by the ankles in my office, would they?

"But when Educational Decree Twenty-nine comes in, Wood, I'll be allowed to do them things... And she's asked the Minister to sign an order for the expulsion of Peeves... Oh, things are going to be very different around here with her in charge..." Umbridge had obviously gone to some lengths to get Filch on her side, Blair thought, and the worst of it was that he would probably prove an important weapon; his knowledge of the school's secret passageways and hiding places was probably second only to the Weasley twins.

"Here we are," he said, leering down at Blair as he rapped three times upon Professor Umbridge's door and pushed it open. "The Wood girl to see you, ma'am."

Umbridge's office, so very familiar to Blair from her many detentions, was the same as usual except for the large wooden block lying across the front of her desk on which golden letters spelled the word HEADMISTRESS; also her and Harry's Firebolt, and Fred's and George's Cleansweeps, which she saw with a pang were now chained and padlocked to a stout iron peg in the wall behind the desk.

Umbridge was sitting behind the desk, busily scribbling upon some of her pink parchment, but looked up and smiled widely at their entrance. "Thank you, Argus," she said sweetly.

"Not at all, ma'am, not at all," said Filch, bowing as low as his rheumatism would permit, and exiting backward.

"Sit," said Umbridge curtly, pointing toward a chair, and Blair sat. She continued to scribble for a few moments. She watched some of the foul kittens gamboling around the plates over her head, wondering what fresh horror she had in store for her.

"Well now," she said finally, setting down her quill and looking like a toad about to swallow a particularly juicy fly. "What would you like to drink?"

"What?" said Blair, quite sure she had misheard her.

"To drink, Ms. Wood," she said, smiling still more widely. "Tea? Coffee? Pumpkin juice?" As she named each drink, she gave her short wand a wave, and a cup or glass of it appeared upon her desk.

"Nothing, thank you," said Blair.

"I wish you to have a drink with me," she said, her voice becoming more dangerously sweet. "Choose one."

"Fine... coffee then," said Blair, shrugging.

Umbridge got up and made quite a performance of adding sugar and cream with her back to Blair. She then bustled around the desk with it, smiling in sinisterly sweet fashion. "There," she said, handing it to her. "Drink it before it gets cold, won't you? Well, now, Ms. Wood... I thought we ought to have a little chat, after the distressing events of last night."

Blair said nothing. Umbridge settled herself back into her seat and waited. When several long moments had passed in silence, she said gaily, "You're not drinking up!"

Blair raised the cup to her lips and then, just as suddenly, lowered it. One of the horrible painted kittens behind Umbridge had great round blue eyes just like Moody's magical one, and it had just occurred to Blair what Moody would say if he ever heard that Blair had drunk anything offered by a known enemy.

"What's the matter?" said Umbridge, who was still watching her. "Do you want more sugar?"

"No," said Blair. She raised the cup to her lips again and pretended to take a sip, though keeping her mouth tightly closed.

Umbridge's smile widened. "Good," she whispered. "Very good. Now then..." She leaned forward a little. "Where is Albus Dumbledore?"

"No idea," said Blair promptly.

"Drink up, drink up," she said, still smiling. "Now, Ms. Wood, let us not play childish games. I know that you know where he has gone. You, Mr. Potter and Dumbledore have been in this together from the beginning. Consider your position, Ms. Wood..."

"I don't know where he is." Blair pretended to drink again.

"Very well," said Umbridge, looking displeased. "In that case, you will kindly tell me the whereabouts of Sirius Black." Blair's stomach turned over and her hand holding the teacup shook so that the cup rattled in its saucer. She tilted the cup to her mouth with her lips pressed together, so that some of the hot liquid trickled down onto her robes.

"I don't know," Blair said a little too quickly.

"Ms. Wood," said Umbridge, "let me remind you that it was I who almost caught the criminal Black in the Gryffindor fire in October. I know perfectly well it was you he was meeting and if I had had any proof neither of you would be at large today, I promise you. I repeat, Ms. Wood... Where is Sirius Black?"

"No idea," said Blair loudly. "Haven't got a clue." They stared at each other so long that Blair felt her eyes watering.

Then Umbridge stood up. "Very well, Wood, I will take your word for it this time, but be warned: The might of the Ministry stands behind me. All channels of communication in and out of this school are being monitored. A Floo Network Regulator is keeping watch over every fire in Hogwarts — except my own, of course. My Inquisitorial Squad is opening and reading all owl post entering and leaving the castle. And Mr. Filch is observing all secret passages in and out of the castle. If I find a shred of evidence..."

BOOM! Blair smirked slightly. The very floor of the office shook; Umbridge slipped sideways, clutching her desk for support, looking shocked.

"What was — ?" She was gazing toward the door; Blair took the opportunity to empty her almost full cup of tea into the nearest vase of dried flowers. She could hear people running and screaming several floors below.

"Back to lunch with you, Wood!" cried Umbridge, raising her wand and dashing out of the office. Blair gave her a few seconds' start then hurried after her to see Fred and George's stunt. Pandemonium reigned. Fred and George had set off what seemed to be an enormous crate of enchanted fireworks. Dragons comprised entirely of green-and-gold sparks were soaring up and down the corridors, emitting loud fiery blasts and bangs as they went.

Shocking-pink Catherine wheels five feet in diameter were whizzing lethally through the air like so many flying saucers. Rockets with long tails of brilliant silver stars were ricocheting off the walls. Sparklers were writing swear words in midair of their own accord. Firecrackers were exploding like mines everywhere Blair looked, and instead of burning themselves out, fading from sight, or fizzling to a halt, these pyrotechnical miracles seemed to be gaining in energy and momentum the longer she watched.

Filch and Umbridge were standing, apparently transfixed with horror, halfway down the stairs. As Blair watched, one of the larger Catherine wheels seemed to decide that what it needed was more room to maneuver; it whirled toward Umbridge and Filch with a sinister wheeeeeeeeee.

Both adults yelled with fright and ducked and it soared straight out of the window behind them and off across the grounds. Meanwhile, several of the dragons and a large purple bat that was smoking ominously took advantage of the open door at the end of the corridor to escape toward the second floor.

"Hurry, Filch, hurry!" shrieked Umbridge. "They'll be all over the school unless we do something — Stupefy!"

A jet of red light shot out of the end of her wand and hit one of the rockets. Instead of freezing in midair, it exploded with such force that it blasted a hole in a painting of a soppy-looking witch in the middle of a meadow — she ran for it just in time, reappearing seconds later squashed into the painting next door, where a couple of wizards playing cards stood up hastily to make room for her.

"Don't Stun them, Filch!" shouted Umbridge angrily, for all the world as though it had been his suggestion.

"Right you are, Headmistress!" wheezed Filch. He dashed to a nearby cupboard, pulled out a broom, and began swatting at the fireworks in midair; within seconds the head of the broom was ablaze.

Blair had seen enough. Laughing, she ducked down low, ran to a door she knew was concealed behind a tapestry a little way along the corridor and slipped through it to find Fred and George hiding just behind it, listening to Umbridge's and Filch's yells and quaking with suppressed mirth.

"Impressive," Blair said quietly, grinning. "Very impressive... You'll put Dr. Filibuster out of business, no problem... Did you do the charms for the Vanishing spell?"

"Of course, Little B," whispered George, wiping tears of laughter from his face. "They'll multiply by ten times every time she does." 

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The fireworks continued to burn and to spread all over the school that afternoon. Though they caused plenty of disruption, particularly the firecrackers, the other teachers did not seem to mind them very much.

"Dear, dear," said Professor McGonagall sardonically, as one of the dragons soared around her classroom, emitting loud bangs and exhaling flame. "Miss Brown, would you mind running along to the headmistress and informing her that we have an escaped firework in our classroom?"

The upshot of it all was that Professor Umbridge spent her first afternoon as headmistress running all over the school answering the summons of the other teachers, none of whom seemed able to rid their rooms of the fireworks without her.

When the final bell rang and the students were heading back to Gryffindor Tower with their bags, Blair saw, with immense satisfaction, a disheveled and soot-blackened Umbridge tottering sweaty-faced from Professor Flitwick's classroom.

"Thank you so much, Professor!" said Professor Flitwick in his squeaky little voice. "I could have got rid of the sparklers myself, of course, but I wasn't sure whether I had the authority..." Beaming, he closed his classroom door in her snarling face.

Fred and George were heroes that night in the Gryffindor common room. Even Hermione fought her way through the excited crowd around them to congratulate them. "They were wonderful fireworks," she said admiringly.

"Thanks," said George, looking both surprised and pleased. "Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-Bangs. Only thing is, we used our whole stock, we're going to have to start again from scratch now..."

"It was worth it, though," said Fred, who was taking orders from clamoring Gryffindors. "If you want to add your name to the waiting list, Hermione, it's five Galleons for your Basic Blaze box and twenty for the Deflagration Deluxe..."

Hermione returned to the table where Blair, Harry and Ron were sitting staring at their schoolbags as though hoping their homework might spring out of it and start doing itself. "Oh, why don't we have a night off?" said Hermione brightly, as a silver-tailed Weasley rocket zoomed past the window. "After all, the Easter holidays start on Friday, we'll have plenty of time then..."

"Are you feeling all right?" Ron asked, staring at her in disbelief.

"Now you mention it," said Hermione happily, "d'you know... I think I'm feeling a bit... rebellious."

"I'm glad I'm in love with you, Granger," said Blair with amazement in her eyes. Hermione blushed before hugging her.

An hour later, Blair and Hermione went up to bed and dressed up before they went to Blair's bed. Blair wrapped her arms around Hermione.

"Good night, Mione," mumbled Blair sleepily.

Hermione chuckled before kissing her on the forehead. "Good night."

Blair smiled to herself and closed her eyes... Hermione seemed to grow more distant or perhaps she, Blair, was simply speeding away from her... She had fallen right into the corridor leading to the Department of Mysteries. She was speeding toward the plain black door... Let it open... Let it open... It did. She was inside the circular room lined with doors... She crossed it, placed her hand upon an identical door, and it swung inward...

Now she was in a long, rectangular room full of an odd, mechanical clicking. There were dancing flecks of light on the walls but she did not pause to investigate... She had to go on... There was a door at the far end... It too opened at her touch... And now she was in a dimly lit room as high and wide as a church, full of nothing but rows and rows of towering shelves, each laden with small, dusty, spun-glass spheres...

Now Blair's heart was beating fast with excitement... She knew where to go... She ran forward, but her footsteps made no noise in the enormous, deserted room... There was something in this room she wanted very, very much... Something she wanted... or somebody else wanted... Her scar was hurting...

BANG! Blair awoke instantly, confused and angry. The dark dormitory was full of the sound of Lavender and Parvati's giggles.

Hermione, who was still reading, looked at Blair worriedly. "Did something happen, Blair?"

Blair opened her mouth to say something before she just nuzzled more into Hermione's warmth. She lay there silently while Hermione drew relaxing circles on her back. The pain in her scar subsided and disappointment washed over her. She felt as though a wonderful treat had been snatched from her at the very last moment... She had got so close that time... Her stomach gave a sickening jolt as she remembered that she had Occlumency the following evening...

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"You're looking a bit happier today." Blair commented in a bit of surprise but more of glee when she noticed how Harry was smiling. "Got yourself a Diggory, eh?"

"Shut up." Harry nudged her playfully but blushed deeply too. So, everyone knew already. Yesterday was finally the day that Cedric confessed to Harry, and of course, Harry accepted his confession. A few kisses were shared (maybe more than a few), and Myrtle saw them. Out of spite, she told Peeves about it, and Peeves sung about it in the Great Hall. Thankfully, Umbridge was too busy fixing the mess Fred and George made so Cedric and Harry were safe from her and her punishments.

Despite the bad night she had because of her dream, Blair forgot about it because of the glee she had when she heard about the news. She was worried about Draco and went to him immediately, but they couldn't talk long since she had her classes with Snape. She did promise though to be there for breakfast tomorrow.

"Come on. We still have Snape." Harry groaned at that comment, and Blair felt the same. Anything concerning Snape was dreadful.

The two of them then went on their way, talking about the dreams they had the previous night. They dreaded what Snape would say if he got into their heads and knew how much farther into the Department of Mysteries they had penetrated during their last dream. Then, they felt guilty when they realized that they had not practiced Occlumency since their last lesson because there had been too much going on since Dumbledore had left.

Blair and Harry attempted last-minute practice during classes that day, but it was no good. Hermione kept on asking them what was wrong whenever they tried practicing and after all, the best moment to empty their brains was not while teachers were firing review questions at the class. Blair and Harry then set off for Snape's classroom after Harry had a shouting match with Cho. They descended the stairs to Snape's dungeon, trying to calm themselves down.

"You're late, Wood, Potter," said Snape coldly, as Harry closed the door behind them. Snape was standing with his back to them, removing, as usual, certain of his thoughts and placing them carefully in Dumbledore's Pensieve. He dropped the last silvery strand into the stone basin and turned to face Harry and Blair.

"So," he said. "Have you been practicing?"

"Yes," Blair and Harry lied.

"Well, we'll soon find out, won't we?" said Snape smoothly. "Wand out, Potter." Harry moved into his position while Blair sat in the chair.

"On the count of three then," said Snape lazily. "One — two —"

Snape's office door banged open and Draco sped in. "Professor Snape, sir — oh — sorry —" Draco was looking at Snape, Blair and Harry in surprise. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes that made Blair feel heartbroken for her friend, but what happened has happened. The only thing she could do was to be there for him.

"It's all right, Draco," said Snape, lowering his wand. "Potter and Wood are here for a little Remedial Potions."

Draco just nodded and sent them a look of pity. "I didn't know."

"Well, Draco, what is it?" asked Snape.

"It's Professor Umbridge, sir — she needs your help," said Draco. "They've found Montague, sir. He's turned up jammed inside a toilet on the fourth floor."

"How did he get in there?" demanded Snape.

"I don't know, sir, he's a bit confused..."

"Very well, very well — Potter, Wood," said Snape, "we shall resume this lesson tomorrow evening instead." He turned and swept from his office.

Draco smiled at them before following Snape. Blair let out a sigh, "Come on." They stood up and went to leave the room when they saw it: a patch of shivering light dancing on the door frame. Blair and Harry stopped, looking at it, reminded of something... 

"Blair, like the lights in the Department of Mysteries," said Harry. They nodded at each other before going to the Pensieve.

"Harry? These are Snape's memories, right?" Blair said curiously.

"Blair, what if it's about the Department of Mysteries? What if that's why he was so keen to hide it" Harry said excitedly, and Blair smiled back before looking over at the door. Snape would probably take a long time.

"Come on, we'll be quick," said Harry and taking out his wand. Blair did the same and at the same time, they gave the contents of the Pensieve a small prod with the end of their wands. The silvery stuff within began to swirl very fast.

Blair leaned forward over it and saw that it had become transparent. She was, once again, looking down into a room as though through a circular window in the ceiling... In fact, unless she was much mistaken, she was looking down upon the Great Hall... Blair was trembling... Snape could be back at any moment, but she was suddenly seized by a reckless daring as she thought of the Department of Mysteries.

"Let's do it," said Blair. With a deep breath, she and Harry plunged their faces into the surface of Snape's thoughts. At once, the floor of the office lurched, tipping Blair and Harry headfirst into the Pensieve... They were falling through cold blackness, spinning furiously as they went, and then —

"Harry." Blair said while looking around. They were standing in the middle of the Great Hall, but the four House tables were gone. Instead there were more than a hundred smaller tables, all facing the same way, at each of which sat a student, head bent low, scribbling on a roll of parchment. The only sound was the scratching of quills and the occasional rustle as somebody adjusted their parchment. It was clearly exam time.

Sunshine was streaming through the high windows onto the bent heads, which shone chestnut and copper and gold in the bright light. Blair looked around carefully. Snape had to be here somewhere... This was his memory...

"Aika, over there," Harry nudged her, and Blair saw that Snape was there at a table right behind them. Blair stared. Snape-the-teenager had a stringy, pallid look about him, like a plant kept in the dark. His hair was lank and greasy and was flopping onto the table, his hooked nose barely half an inch from the surface of the parchment as he scribbled.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts, Ordinary Wizarding Level," Blair read out loud from the heading of the examination paper. So, Snape was in his 5th year. Snape had written at least a foot more than his closest neighbors, and yet his writing was minuscule and cramped.

"Five more minutes!" The voice made Blair jump; turning, she saw the top of Professor Flitwick's head moving between the desks a short distance away. Professor Flitwick was walking past a boy with untidy black hair... very untidy black hair...

Blair followed Harry, who ran quickly to the boy and grinned as he came face to face with his father. "Harry, you look just like him," said Blair softly. The only difference were that James's eyes were hazel, his nose was slightly longer than Harry's and there was no scar on his forehead.

"Dad." Harry said, smiling at him. James yawned hugely and rumpled up his hair, making it even messier than it had been. Then, with a glance toward Professor Flitwick, he turned in his seat and grinned at a boy sitting four seats behind him.

Blair grinned when she saw Sirius there. Sirius was lounging in his chair at his ease, tilting it back on two legs. He was very good-looking; his dark hair fell into his eyes with a sort of casual elegance before he smirked at a boy, who was just beside him.

Blair felt her heart soar and grinned at him. There was Blake Wood with his messy brown hair and grey eyes that resembled Blair's, and he had the same grin that was on Blair's face while sending a thumbs up at James and Sirius.

"Dad," mumbled Blair as she felt Harry squeeze her shoulder. Two seats along from Blake was Remus Lupin. He looked rather pale and peaky (was the full moon approaching?) and was absorbed in the exam: As he reread his answers he scratched his chin with the end of his quill, frowning slightly.

So that meant Wormtail had to be around here somewhere too... and sure enough, Blair spotted him within seconds: a small, mousy-haired boy with a pointed nose. Wormtail looked anxious; he was chewing his fingernails, staring down at his paper, scuffing the ground with his toes. Every now and then he glanced hopefully at his neighbor's paper.

Blair stared at Wormtail for a moment before looking back at Blake, who was staring somewhere, and Blair smiled as she followed his gaze. He was staring at Olivia, who winked at him, before focusing on her paper.

"Hey, Aika. Do you know anyone with the initials L.E.?" Harry asked her.

"Luna Easley?" 

Harry snorted and shook his head when Professor Flitwick stood up. "Quills down, please!" squeaked Professor Flitwick. "That means you too, Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!"

More than a hundred rolls of parchment zoomed into the air and into Professor Flitwick's outstretched arms, knocking him backward off his feet. Several people laughed. A couple of students at the front desks got up, took hold of Professor Flitwick beneath the elbows, and lifted him onto his feet again.

"Thank you... thank you," panted Professor Flitwick. "Very well, everybody, you're free to go!"

Blair saw Blake sling his bag over his bag before going over to Olivia. She then looked around and glimpsed Snape a short way away, moving between the tables toward the doors into the entrance hall, still absorbed in his own examination paper. Round-shouldered yet angular, he walked in a twitchy manner that recalled a spider, his oily hair swinging about his face.

"Come on, James." Blair dragged him to follow Snape. A gang of chattering girls separated Snape from James and Sirius, and by planting themselves in the midst of this group, Blair and Harry managed to keep Snape in sight while straining their ears to catch the voices of the Marauders.

"Did you like question ten, Moony?" asked Sirius as they emerged into the entrance hall.

"Loved it," said Lupin briskly. " 'Give five signs that identify the werewolf.' Excellent question."

"D'you think you managed to get all the signs?" said James in tones of mock concern.

"Think I did," said Lupin seriously, as they joined the crowd thronging around the front doors eager to get out into the sunlit grounds. "One: He's sitting on my chair. Two: He's wearing my clothes. Three: His name's Remus Lupin..." Blair and Harry laughed at that. They never knew Lupin was quite the joker.

Wormtail was the only one who didn't laugh. "I got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes, and the tufted tail," he said anxiously, "but I couldn't think what else —"

"How thick are you, Wormtail?" said James impatiently. "You run round with a werewolf once a month —"

"Keep your voice down," implored Lupin. Blair looked anxiously behind her again. Snape remained close by, still buried in his examination questions; but this was Snape's memory, and Blair was sure that if Snape chose to wander off in a different direction once outside in the grounds, they would not be able to follow the Marauders any father.

To their intense relief, however, when James and his three friends strode off down the lawn toward the lake, Snape followed, still poring over the paper and apparently with no fixed idea of where he was going. Blair and Harry jogged a little ahead of him and managed to maintain a close watch on the Marauders.

"Well, I thought that paper was a piece of cake," they heard Sirius say. "I'll be surprised if I don't get Outstanding on it at least."

"Me too," said James. He put his hand in his pocket and took out a struggling Golden Snitch.

"Where'd you get that?"

"Nicked it," said James casually. He started playing with the Snitch, allowing it to fly as much as a foot away and seizing it again; his reflexes were excellent. Wormtail watched him in awe. They stopped in the shade of the very same beech tree on the edge of the lake where Blair, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had spent a Sunday finishing their homework, and threw themselves down on the grass.

Blair saw Harry looking anxious and looked over her shoulder. "Don't worry. He's still there."

Harry smiled slightly before they both sat down between the beech and the bushes and watch the foursome under the tree. The sunlight was dazzling on the smooth surface of the lake, on the bank of which the group of laughing girls who had just left the Great Hall were sitting with shoes and socks off, cooling their feet in the water.

Lupin had pulled out a book and was reading. Sirius lay his head down on Lupin's lap and smiled up at him. James was still playing with the Snitch, letting it zoom farther and farther away, almost escaping but always grabbed at the last second. Wormtail was watching him with his mouth open. Every time James made a particularly difficult catch, Wormtail gasped and applauded.

After five minutes of this, Blair nudged Harry. "Isn't he bothered?"

Harry sighed and smiled amusedly. "I think he likes the attention."

"Put that away, will you?" said Sirius finally, as James made a fine catch and Wormtail let out a cheer. "Before Wormtail wets himself from excitement."

Wormtail turned slightly pink but James grinned. "If it bothers you," he said, stuffing the Snitch back in his pocket. Blair had the distinct impression that Sirius was the only one for whom James would have stopped showing off.

"I'm bored," said Sirius. "Wish it was full moon."

"You might," said Lupin darkly from behind his book. "We've still got Transfiguration, if you're bored you could test me... Here." He held out his book.

Sirius snorted. "I don't need to look at that rubbish, I know it all."

"This'll liven you up, Padfoot," said James quietly. "Look who it is..."

Sirius's head turned. He had become very still, like a dog that has scented a rabbit. "Excellent," he said softly. "Snivellus."

Blair and Harry turned to see what Sirius was looking at. Snape was on his feet again, and was stowing the O.W.L. paper in his bag. As he emerged from the shadows of the bushes and set off across the grass, Sirius and James stood up. Lupin and Wormtail remained sitting: Lupin was still staring down at his book, though his eyes were not moving and a faint frown line had appeared between his eyebrows. Wormtail was looking from Sirius and James to Snape with a look of avid anticipation on his face.

"All right, Snivellus?" said James loudly.

Snape reacted so fast it was as though he had been expecting an attack: Dropping his bag, he plunged his hand inside his robes, and his wand was halfway into the air when James shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Snape's wand flew twelve feet into the air and fell with a little thud in the grass behind him.

Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "Impedimenta!" he said, pointing his wand at Snape, who was knocked off his feet, halfway through a dive toward his own fallen wand. Students all around had turned to watch. Some of them had gotten to their feet and were edging nearer to watch. Some looked apprehensive, others entertained.

Snape lay panting on the ground. James and Sirius advanced on him, wands up, James glancing over his shoulder at the girls at the water's edge as he went. Wormtail was on his feet now, watching hungrily, edging around Lupin to get a clearer view.

"How'd the exam go, Snivelly?" said James.

"I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment," said Sirius viciously. "There'll be great grease marks all over it, they won't be able to read a word." Several people watching laughed; Snape was clearly unpopular. Wormtail sniggered shrilly. Snape was trying to get up, but the jinx was still operating on him; he was struggling, as though bound by invisible ropes.

"James, Sirius! That's enough," a voice said. Blair turned around and saw Blake, walking towards them. Blake held out a hand to Snape. "Are you alright, Severus?" But Snape slapped his hand away and let out a stream of mixed swearwords and hexes, but his wand being ten feet away, nothing happened.

"Wash out your mouth," said James coldly. "Scourgify!"

"James, no!" Blake yelled, but James had already done the spell. Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape's mouth at once; the froth was covering his lips, making him gag, choking him —

"Leave him ALONE!"

Blake, James and Sirius looked around. James's free hand jumped to his hair, rumpling it. It was one of the girls from the lake edge. She had thick, dark red hair that fell to her shoulders and startlingly green almond-shaped eyes — Harry's eyes. Harry's mother...

"All right, Evans?" said James, and the tone of his voice was suddenly pleasant, deeper, more mature.

"Leave him alone," Lily repeated. She was looking at James with every sign of great dislike. "What's he done to you?"

"Well," said James, appearing to deliberate the point, "it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean..." Many of the surrounding watchers laughed, Sirius and Wormtail included, but Lupin, still apparently intent on his book, didn't, Blake, glaring at his friends, didn't as well and neither did Lily.

"You think you're funny," she said coldly. "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone."

"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James quickly. "Go on ... Go out with me, and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again." Behind him, the Impediment Jinx was wearing off. Snape was beginning to inch toward his fallen wand, spitting out soapsuds as he crawled.

"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid," said Lily.

"Bad luck, Prongs," said Sirius briskly.

Blake suddenly turned around, seeing Snape direct his wand at James. "James!" He pushed James and there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of Blake's face, spattering his robes with blood.

"Blake." Lily said worriedly, trying to help him control the blood. Blake just smiled at her, wincing.

"You greasy git," James shouted, and a second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of graying underpants. Many people in the small crowd watching cheered. Sirius, James, and Wormtail roared with laughter.

Blake held in his laughter and said warningly, "James." James just grinned at him.

Lily, whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was going to smile, said, "Let him down!"

"Certainly," said James and he jerked his wand upward. Snape fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes, he got quickly to his feet, wand up, but Sirius said, "Petrificus Totalus!" and Snape keeled over again at once, rigid as a board.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily shouted. She had her own wand out now. James and Sirius eyed it warily.

"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," said James earnestly.

Blake brought out his own wand out. "Take the curse off, James. That's enough."

James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and muttered the countercurse. "There you go," he said, as Snape struggled to his feet again, "you're lucky Blake and Evans were here, Snivellus —"

"I don't need help from idiotic blood traitors like him and filthy little Mudbloods like her!"

Lily blinked. "Fine," she said coolly. "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."

"Apologize to Evans!" James roared at Snape, his wand pointed threateningly at him.

Blake was now glaring at Snape as well. "You..."

"I don't want you to make him apologize," Lily shouted, rounding on James. "You're as bad as he is..."

"What?" yelped James. "I'd NEVER call you a — you-know-what!" 

"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can — I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK." She turned on her heel and hurried away.

"Evans!" James shouted after her, "Hey, EVANS!" But she didn't look back.

"What is it with her?" said James, trying and failing to look as though this was a throwaway question of no real importance to him.

Blake scoffed and rolled his eyes. "What do you think? You just embarrassed her best friend in front of the whole school and caused them to fight. Don't try and defend yourself. You, Severus and Sirius are all at fault here." With that, Blake left James and Sirius with ashamed looks on their faces before going over to Olivia, who had just arrived.

"What is he going on about? Right," said James, who looked furious now, "right —" There was another flash of light, and Snape was once again hanging upside down in the air. "Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?"

But whether James really did take off Snape's pants, Blair and Harry never found out. A hand had closed tight over Blair's upper arm, closed with a pincerlike grip. Wincing, Blair looked around to see who had hold of him, and her, with a thrill of horror, a fully grown, adult-sized Snape standing right beside her, white with rage. Blair and Harry exchanged looks of horror.

"Having fun?" Snape said coldly. Blair felt herself rising into the air. The summer's day evaporated around her, she was floating upward through icy blackness, Snape's hand still tight upon her upper arm.

Then, with a swooping feeling as though she had turned head over heels in midair, her feet hit the stone floor of Snape's dungeon, and she was standing again beside the Pensieve on Snape's desk in the shadowy, present-day Potions master's study.

"So," said Snape, gripping Blair and Harry's arms so tightly Blair's hand was starting to feel numb. "So... been enjoying yourself, Potter, Wood?"

"N-no..." said Harry, trying to free his arm.

"We- we-" Blair stuttered.

It was scary: Snape's lips were shaking, his face was white, his teeth were bared. "Amusing man, your father, wasn't he, Potter?" said Snape, shaking Harry so hard that his glasses slipped down his nose.

"We — didn't —" Harry started. Snape threw Blair and Harry from him with all his might. Blair and Harry fell hard onto the dungeon floor. Blair got up to her feet and helped Harry up.

"You will not tell anybody what you saw!" Snape bellowed.

"No," said Blair, backing away as far from Snape as she could. "No, of course we w —"

"Get out, get out, I don't want to see you in this office ever again!" And as Blair and Harry hurtled toward the door, a jar of dead cockroaches exploded over their heads. Blair wrenched the door open and they flew away up the corridor, stopping only when they had put three floors between themselves and Snape. Blair and Harry leaned against the wall, panting, and rubbing their bruised arms.

Harry's eyes filled with tears. "A-Aika, I-"

"I know, Ja-Harry, I know." Blair said before pulling him into a hug. Blair then realized how she was shaking as well. She felt happy that her father was just as kind as he had always been, but she didn't know what Harry was feeling. James Potter and Sirius Black had taunted Snape just like how so many others taunted Blair and Harry themselves, and James and Lily hated each other. Blair knew Harry had always heard good things about his father, but from what they had just seen, it seemed that he had been arrogant just as Snape had always told them.

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