1,120A/N: Thanks for the support.
The Slytherin Reformation
By Spectre4hire
Chapter One: Nott Afraid
"Is there a better day of the year then the first day of school?"
"How about the last day of school?" Theodore suggested.
"Or Christmas?" offered Neville, the two friends trading grins behind an oblivious Hermione's back.
"I don't know," Tracey looked to be deep in thought, "I was always partial to my birthday."
"Of course, you are," Daphne shook her head in amusement.
"What?" Tracey asked, "It's a very important day." Her face split into a smile, "It gave you me."
"And here I thought only Nott was delusional."
"You just can't insult someone else without roping me in, can you, Greengrass?"
"It's a gift."
Theodore rolled his eyes.
After an exhausting first day of classes, Harry and his friends had made their way to the library to try to make a dent in some of their homework before dinner that night.
"That feeling just can't be replicated," Hermione had a hint of wistfulness in her tone, "That first day of class of the new year."
"We haven't even had all of first classes this year," Tracey reminded their friend.
"I know," Hermione admitted, turning back to face them. "I must sound silly?" She looked a bit sheepish. "You must think I'm weird, being and sounding so excited over this stuff."
"No, I think you're great," Theo blurted out, a look of realization mixed with horror spread across his face. It was clear he hadn't expected to voice those sentiments out loud.
Harry noticed the grin that spread across Tracey's face while Daphne raised an eyebrow, the corner of her lips curving upwards. Neville was watching the exchange with a knowing look. No doubt, remembering their friend's confession during their weekend at Theodore's during the summer holiday.
Meanwhile Harry found himself torn on either stepping in to help his friend from an embarrassing situation or remaining quiet and hoping Theo righted the ship.
"Erh, I mean," Theodore struggled to find some sort of answer to clarify his previous remarks.
He was drowning, Harry thought. He looked over towards Neville who to Harry's surprise, shook his head, as if knowing what Harry wanted to do.
In the end, it was Hermione who ended Theo's self-inflicting embarrassment. "Thanks, Theodore," she gave him a bright smile.
"Anytime," He replied, sounding and looking a bit surprised at how well that turned out. He was quick to recover to return her smile, though his was smaller and shyer.
Hermione looked away first, smile still intact as she adjusted her bag across her shoulder.
Theo's eyes followed her for a heartbeat or two before turning away. His eyes soon found Harry's and he sent him a frown for not helping him out.
Harry offered him a shrug.
"Here we are," Neville announced to the friends.
The six of them had arrived to their favorite table in the library. The rectangular table was large enough for all the friends to sit comfortably while also being able to spread out their books and parchment when it came to studying classwork or working on their homework.
"It's been waiting for us all summer," Tracey joked, running her hand along the smooth surface, "Isn't that right, Hermione?"
Hermione had the good sense to giggle at the teasing. "Indeed, it has been."
Earning a ripple of laughter from them as they took their usual seats around the table. Allowing Harry to sit at the end of on table with Theodore on his right and Hermione on his left while Daphne sat across from him with Tracey to her right and Hermione's left and Neville across from her and beside Theodore and Daphne.
When Neville sat down he murmured something to Theodore, before patting his back.
Theodore replied with a quick annoyed look that made Neville chuckle before turning away and getting out his books.
"It's the first day of school and they gave us enough homework to last the school year," Tracey lamented.
The friends mumbled their agreement as they got out their books and parchment. They had only a few classes on their first day including Charms, Transfiguration, and then History of Magic, with their day of classes ending with Care of Magical Creatures for him, Neville, and Theo while the girls had Arithmancy.
"Should've taken Magical creatures with us," Theodore put in, "Hagrid didn't give us any homework!"
"What?" Daphne and Tracey replied at once, envious and annoyed at their good fortune.
Theodore savored their reactions, "Sore spot?"
"In Arithmancy we have to write half a foot of parchment," Tracey exclaimed.
Neville sent her an apologetic look before a smile lit his face. "Creatures was brilliant!"
"Yeah, it was," Theodore was nodding along, "Hagrid showed us Hippogriffs."
"That's not fair," Tracey complained.
"On your first day?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Theodore shrugged away her concern. "Hagrid knew what he was doing."
Harry agreed with his friends' assessments of their first Care of Magical Creatures Class. He had been nervous about it due to it being Hagrid's first class, and Harry wanting his friend to succeed, but his anxiety was short-lived as the class was a smashing success. Starting off the year with such a majestic creature was a well thought out plan by the school gamekeeper, to capture their attention and have them mesmerized. It was also clear during the lecture that Hagrid knew his stuff about Hippogriffs, especially on how to handle them.
"They were a bit scary at first," Neville looked over at Harry and Theodore, "Okay, they were still scary afterwards too, but when we got to pet them," he paused, a look of elation crossed his face. "They were amazing."
"I should've taken that class," Hermione said softly.
"Hermione, you can't take every class," Tracey reminded her friend.
"I could've tried," Hermione countered, before realizing how silly that sounded and laughed, "No, I suppose you're right, I couldn't of."
"Now that that's settled," Tracey smiled at her, "You mind sharing your Charms notes with your favorite Slytherin?"
"I'm right here," Daphne deadpanned.
"Me too," Theodore added dryly.
"I heard that," Harry chuckled.
Hermione shook her head at their antics, but nonetheless got out her notes for said class and handed them to Tracey who thanked her before looking them over and comparing them with the notes she had already taken. Almost at once, she began scribbling and adding to her notes while her eyes remained on Hermione's.
From there the friends settled into a comfortable silence, as they worked on their respected work, the only sound coming from the turning of pages, and the scratching of parchment with quills.
"I need some help with this transfiguration question," Neville spoke up after a few minutes of their respected silence as they worked.
"Here, let me see which one," Daphne offered her assistance.
"Thanks," Neville handed her the parchment from the top of a growing pile that he had accumulated by his elbow.
"What's this textbook for, Nev?" Theodore pointed to a bulky book that made up the base of Neville's pile.
"Oh, that's for my Muggle history class," Neville answered, his transfiguration homework forgotten.
"Can I see it?" Hermione couldn't hide her interest in being able to read a new textbook.
"Sure," Neville carefully slid the book out of the pile to make sure the parchment didn't scatter. He then handed it to Hermione.
"What's that?" Theodore pointed at the book
Harry looked to where his friend was looking at to see on the backside of the book was what looked to be a giant floating blob, but upon closer inspection, he recognized it as something he hadn't read about since primary school.
"It's an airship!" Neville exclaimed proudly, "And there the future of muggle flight."
Tracey and Daphne laughed, while Hermione shook her head in dismay.
Neville's pride deflated as quickly as a punctured dirigible. "What's so funny?"
"Airships aren't the future of muggle flight," Tracey snickered.
"They're not?" Neville frowned, "But the author said they are."
"This book is terribly outdated, Neville," Hermione was thumbing through it, "There's barely a mention on automobiles or airplanes, and no mention of television or computers."
"Oh," Neville sounded disappointed, "so airships aren't the future of flight?"
"No, they're not," Hermione closed the book, and giving it a once over with a look of disappointment.
"What are you all talking about?" Theodore looked lost about the entire conversation.
Harry couldn't fault his friend for his confusion, knowing that Theodore knew very little about muggle customs or technology. The influence of his father who saw the magical world as superior to the muggle one, and didn't believe there was much to gain by learning from them.
"I'll inform my father of this blunder," Daphne said, "He should know that some of the textbooks for these classes are dated."
"Good idea," Hermione brightened at that idea. "Please tell me you have other books for that class, Neville."
"I do," he went to get them before Hermione had to ask, handing her two more from his bag.
She took them with a nod and skimmed through them.
"Well?" Tracey couldn't hide her interest. "What do they say?"
"Yes, what do they say?" Daphne added, "Do they believe that this trend known as electricity will last?"
Hermione smiled over the book. "No, nothing like that." She closed one of them. "Much better, Nev," she handed them back to him.
"Good to know," he put them back in his bag. "Though, those airships were pretty cool."
"What's an airship?" Theodore was still trying to catch up.
"A giant balloon like craft that muggles used to use to fly," Tracey went for a very simple explanation.
"They flew in balloons?" Theodore looked as if he was trying to picture that in his head.
"Who are we to judge?" Hermione countered, "Wizards and witches fly on carpets and brooms."
"Very true," Tracey happily agreed, "And they think muggles are the barmy ones."
Hermione nodded in agreement. The two muggle raised friends sounded pleased and happy at being able to properly criticize some of the magical world's traditions.
"Hey, Harry."
Harry and his friends turned to the new voice to see third year Hufflepuff, Susan Bones approaching them with a smile, waving at them. Looking past her, Harry spotted Susan's friend and fellow third year Hufflepuff, Hannah Abbot, waiting at the end of the row.
"Hey, Susan," he smiled. "Good summer?"
"Yeah, it was good," She answered, "How about yours?"
"Not bad," Harry answered, knowing the truth about his holiday was a bit more complicated.
"Good to hear," Susan turned to the others, "Hope you all had good summers too."
Harry's friends chorused the affirmative.
"Where's Sally-Anne?" Neville asked.
Harry recognized the name, knowing she had been one of the students that had been petrified by the basilisk that Draco Malfoy had unleashed last year, and had been a close friend to Susan and Hannah, a fellow Hufflepuff in their year.
Susan's smile dipped. "Her parents pulled her out of Hogwarts," she bowed her head. "She goes to Beauxbatons now."
"Oh," Neville replied, "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Thanks," Susan slowly raised her head, "I can't blame her folks for the decision, but it still stinks."
"I bet," Harry knew that if he lost one of his friends to a transfer that he too would be devastated.
"Anyways, I came over to tell you that your friend, Professor Lupin is by far the best defense teacher we've had," she brightened up, "We had his class today, and it was great."
"Really?" Harry was pleased to hear such praise about Moony's first class.
Susan nodded.
"What did you guys do?" Hermione wasn't able to hide her curiosity.
"He introduced us to a boggart," Susan explained, "And then taught us a spell to help us beat it." She was smiling, "It was a blast. He played music while each student had a turn at it. It was so much fun."
"He'll be thrilled you enjoyed it," Harry said, "I'll make sure to tell him."
"Good, thought you should know," Susan then looked over and noticed one of the books Theo had out on the table. "You guys had history of magic?"
"Yeah," It was Theo who answered.
"How's the new teacher?" Susan asked, "He's got to be better than Professor Binns."
"Professor Blackburn is way better," Theo assured her.
"Yeah," Tracey agreed, "Now I have to find a new class to take my naps in."
"Tracey," Hermione admonished.
Tracey held up her hands. "What?" She yawned to prove her point, 'You don't have to deal with early morning Slytherin rules."
"Well, I should be going," Susan announced, "It was good seeing you, Harry," before amending, "All of you."
"Hey, Susan," Daphne called back to the Hufflepuff, who stopped and looked over her shoulder.
"You're welcome to hang out with us when you want," Daphne offered, "Abbot too if she can get over herself."
"Thanks," Susan looked back to where her friend was impatiently waiting for her. If Susan was insulted by Daphne's observation about Hannah, she didn't show it. "I appreciate that."
"That was nice of you, Daphne," Tracey approved once Susan had left.
"Yeah, it was," Theo was looking at her strangely. "So, who are you and what did you do with Greengrass?"
Daphne rolled her eyes, "Prat."
"There she is!" Theodore sounded relieved.
"Moving on," Daphne said over the laughter from the others, "What did you think about what Susan said, about the boggart?"
"It sounds really interesting," Hermione joined in.
"I don't like it," Tracey was the only one to voice dissent at the idea.
"What?" Harry asked her. "Why not?"
"Don't you know what boggarts do, Harry?"
"Yeah," but it still took him a few seconds before realizing what Tracey was implying. "Ah,"
"Yes, ah," Tracey repeated sarcastically.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Trace," Daphne consoled her friend.
"I'm not ashamed," Tracey shot back. "It's a legitimate fear. They even have a word for it."
"What are you guys talking about?" Neville asked. "And what does it have to do with this thing called a boggart?"
"A boggart," Hermione lectured, "It's a shapeshifter that takes the form of what a person fears most."
Neville gulped. "What we fear most?"
"Yes," Hermione confirmed, before returning her attention to Tracey, "What are you so afraid of?"
"Clowns."
"Daphne!" exclaimed Tracey to her fellow Slytherin who had blurted out her fear.
"What? It's not a big deal."
"Clowns?" Repeated Hermione, who looked to be trying to keep a straight face.
Harry too found it an odd choice of something to be afraid of. He had seen them once or twice on the telly when he lived with the Dursleys. He never got to see them perform live, but they didn't look or seem so bad.
"Yes, clowns," Tracey sighed, "they're horrible!"
"What's a clown?" Theo asked, looking to Neville who looked just as clueless as him.
"If only I could still be ignorant of them."
"They're performers," Hermione tried to explain.
"They're monsters," interjected Tracey, "Terrible and scary looking."
"Honestly, Tracey don't be ridiculous."
"I'm not," she sounded insulted. "I just don't like them." She shuddered, "There's just something off with them."
"Don't bother, Hermione," Daphne put in, "She's been afraid of them since we were kids when her mum had one perform for her birthday party."
"Why would your parents invite something that scares you to your birthday party?" Neville asked.
"Exactly!"
"I'm sorry I brought this up," Daphne sounded annoyed with how this conversation turned.
"No, wait," Tracey cut in. "Since you know my fear. It's only fair I know yours."
The table had gone quiet. Nervous glances were exchanged, while others suddenly found their textbooks or homework far more interesting. It seemed no one was too keen on sharing to the others the thing they feared most.
What do I fear? Harry found himself asking,wondering what shape a boggart would take if he was confronted with it. Growing up in the cupboard under the stairs, it was his uncle who scared him. Remembering the fear that would claim him whenever his primary school mentioned that they needed to talk to him.
Not anymore, Harry realized, he's grown up since then. Discovering he was a wizard and being removed from the Dursleys, allowed his fear to ebb away and be replaced with anger and a tiny portion of pity. Before he could further reflect on his own fears, his thoughts were interrupted by an annoyed Tracey.
"Really?" Tracey challenged them. "Maybe we should start with Daphne."
"Me?" Daphne repeated, "why me?"
"You told them mine," Tracey argued.
"She has you there."
"Quiet, Nott," Daphne hissed.
"If you don't tell them then I will." Tracey threatened her.
"Fine," Daphne sighed. "I'm not afraid of them-"
"Uh-huh," Tracey cut in.
"I just don't like them," Daphne finished, shooting an annoyed glare in Tracey's direction.
"And what is this thing you don't particularly like, but not afraid of?" Theodore looked to be enjoying this.
Something that didn't go unnoticed by Daphne, who was scowling at him. "You're next, Nott."
"But you're now."
"Bats," mumbled Daphne. "I don't like bats!"
"Bats?" Theodore didn't bother to hide his laughter. "What's so scary about them?"
"They're rats with wings!" Daphne explained in a tone that conveyed it should be obvious. "They're foul, disease ridden, flying rodents!" She shivered.
"You're up, Theo." Tracey was quick to move on to the next person, seemingly satisfied with Daphne having to share her fear publicaly.
That got Theodore to stop laughing. "Me?" His eyes snapped down towards his homework. "I-I erh, guess you could say heights and public speaking," he let out a weak chuckle. "Do you think a boggart could pull that off?"
"Bollocks, Nott."
"Daphne," Hermione chastised.
"That doesn't count," Daphne argued.
"Why not?" Theo rebutted defensively, "I gave you two legitimate fears."
"Spill it, Nott," Daphne growled.
"Careful Greengrass," Theo countered, "Or you might wake up with a swarm of bats in your dormitory."
Daphne paled. "You wouldn't."
"I might."
"Enough," Harry had heard enough. "Both of you," It surprised him how nasty and defensive his two best friends could be with one another. It was unsettling to watch. "The point of this wasn't to ridicule and threaten each other, but to potentially help us overcome our fears-together."
"Harry's right," Hermione agreed. "We're friends, we're not supposed to try to use our fears against one another."
That got Theodore to bow his head. No doubt, not liking being on the receiving end of Hermione's disappointment. Daphne handled the criticism with a look of indifference, but Harry was certain the meaning of his and Hermione's message had sunk in with her.
"I'm sorry, Daphne," Theodore apologized.
"Me too, Theodore," she sighed. "You don't have to say it if you don't want to." It sounded as if it pained her to say that out loud.
Before Theo could respond, someone else joined their conversation.
"What's going on over here?" Madam Pince arrived at their table. She looked as irritable as ever. She resembled an underfed vulture with her thin, beak like nose, and shriveled face. "This is a library, not a party!"
"We're sorry, Madam Pince," Hermione apologize quickly, looking and sounding crestfallen at being the target of a teacher's criticism.
She pursed her thin lips. "If you can't stay quiet then you can't stay here."
"We'll be quiet," Neville assured her.
"We'll see," she gave them one last sweeping look before skulking away.
"Is it just me or does she look more like a vulture this year than last?" Tracey asked after a few seconds to make sure said librarian was out of earshot.
That had them all laughing.
"Quiet!" Apparently, she wasn't out of earshot after all.
"Time to leave," Harry decided. He looked around to see his friends seemed to be of the same mind, nodding their heads in agreement, before they hurriedly packed up their things so that they could leave the library before the irate Madam Pince could return to further scold them.
"No fair, Nott," Daphne whispered, "You still need to tell us your fear."
"You just met her."
"You wanted to see me, Professor?"
Harry had sat down to enjoy his breakfast when he received a letter from Moony asking to see him before the meal was over. Confused, and curious about the summons, he finished his breakfast quickly and left the great hall, promising to inform his friends what it was about when he could.
"You can call me, Moony, Harry, when its just us, still," He corrected him with a kind smile.
"Thanks," Harry returned the smile, he had found it a bit odd calling him professor, but he was willing to get over that feeling if it meant Moony was successful here.
"Come, join me," Lupin gestured towards his desk.
Harry made his way through the classroom. Thankful to see all the pictures of Lockhart had been removed as had all traces of the egocentric professor that they had to suffer through last year were gone. Harry walked through the rows of empty desks before reaching where Moony was waiting for him at his desk. When he got there, Harry saw a pair of butterbeers waiting for him.
"Go ahead," Moony indulged him, "But don't expect it every time I ask to meet with you."
"No promises," Harry grabbed his butterbeer mug, and took a small sip, enjoying the warm, frothy beverage. "You're setting the bar here, Moony, not me."
Remus chuckled, "Maybe, I am." He sat down behind his desk, but made no move to touch his mug. "By now, I suspect you've heard about my first class with the third years."
"Yeah, I did," Harry nodded, "Susan said you were brilliant." He noticed how the praise seemed to take Moony at-back, "She said it was a lot of fun and the best defense class they've had."
"Only downhill from here I suppose," Moony dryly said. "That's actually why I wanted to meet with you before you had my class."
Harry frowned. "I don't follow."
"Since you've heard about my class, I'm sure you know what a boggart is."
"I do," Harry answered, seeing Moony was waiting for a more detailed answer, Harry continued, "They're a shape shifter, they prefer dark, cramp places and they take the form of the thing people fear the most."
"Wonderful," Moony praised, "Five points to Slytherin," he looked a bit taken aback by his announcement, "I never thought I'd say that."
"You'll get used to it," Harry grinned.
"Cheeky fellow," Moony raised his butterbeer in Harry's direction before drinking, "Just like James." A look of wistfulness crossed over his face before it passed. "I thought it important for us to talk before you confronted one given its talents as a shape shifter and your unique past."
"You think it might turn into Voldemort," Harry guessed after a few seconds of mulling it over, knowing he was on point when he saw Moony's somber nod.
"I hope you understand my caution in having you face it."
"I do," Harry could tell Moony seemed relieved that he wasn't angry with him, "But," Harry hesitated, "I'm not sure it would turn into him."
Moony perked up in his seat. "Really?"
Harry struggled with trying to find a proper way of explaining his feeling and reasoning for his belief, "At first, maybe," he stumbled for the right words, images of Quirrell trying to get the Philosopher's Stone from the Mirror of Erised as did the shade of a young Tom Riddle, "But I don't feel fear towards them as I did facing something else."
"And what was that?" Moony was giving him his undivided attention.
"That dementor," Harry felt a cold tendril climb up his spine at the reminder of his incident with the foul creature on the train.
Moony leaned back in his seat, "Interesting," a pensive looked settled over his face. "It's very ingenious, Harry."
That wasn't the answer Harry was expecting. "What do you mean?"
"By picking a dementor it shows the thing you fear most is fear itself." He looked at him with a sense of pride, "Very wise, Harry."
Harry smiled at the praise. "Thanks," his smile dipped when he thought back to his encounter with the dementor. "But I couldn't fight it."
"There's no shame in that, Harry," Moony comforted him. "Dementors are one of the most foulest, sinister creatures that lurk in our world," he closed his eyes, as if trying to push aside the dreary thoughts that they stirred, "Few wizards and witches are capable of stopping them."
"But there is a way."
"There is," Remus admitted, "It's an advanced spell."
"Can you teach it to me?" Harry was determined not to let these dementors get the best of him.
"The dementors are leaving, Harry," He pointed out gently.
"I know," News that relieved Harry when he had been told that morning. Cyrus had been successful in petitioning to the Minister to have them removed with the backing of the Governing Board. According to Daphne, Fudge had dropped his argument when he heard Cyrus would let news leak that they attacked a student. "But they're his allies."
There was no need to clarify who the his was.
"Stubborn like your mother," Remus said with a chuckle, "I'll think about it."
Knowing that was the best he was going to get, Harry considered it a small victory. He was certain Moony would relent in time, so Harry decided it wouldn't be wise to further press the matter, "Thanks."
Remus nodded, "It wasn't just you who concerned me about the boggart."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm a bit concerned that having certain students face a boggart may expose fears that should be kept private."
"You think other students might fear Voldemort?"
"No," Remus sighed, "I'm concerned for your friend, Theodore."
"Theo, why?"
"He reminds me a lot of Sirius," Moony confessed, sadness crept into his tone at the mention of his friend, Harry's godfather. "They both come from families with a questionable reputation," he observed delicately, "And had to face scrutiny and pressure from said families to have them adhere to a certain ideology." His eyes glimmered, "Yet, in my time with Theodore I can tell that he's like Sirius in the regard of rebelling from the dogmatic thinking of his family."
"He's nothing like his father," Harry was proud to say.
Remus smiled, "I'm glad to hear it," his lips then pressed into a thin line, "Though if he was forced to confront a boggart, I worry that it'll take the shape of his father." Moony leaned back in his seat. "No child should be so afraid of their parents." His fingers drummed the desk. "To have a class be shown that intimate secret, that troublesome revelation," he shook his head, "It may be better if we don't risk it."
Hearing Moony's observations about Theo, had Harry recall their time in the library last night when they were sharing their fears. Theo had indeed been hesitant in sharing his, but in that regard so were Tracey and Daphne. Yet, thinking back, Harry wondered if his hesitance to share his true fear was more in line with what Moony was saying, that Theo had locked that secret deep within himself and didn't seem willing to share it, even with them.
"That's why I called you in here," Remus interrupted Harry's thoughts, "To let you know my thoughts on you and Theodore, and my approach, moving forward for our class today."
"Thanks, Moony," Harry meant it, "I appreciate it."
He inclined his head towards Harry. "I didn't want you to be upset with me or for you to think I didn't think you capable if I stopped you without warning during the class. You have a right to know the truth. And the right to help your friend when its time for our class."
"I will," Harry vowed.
"Good to hear it," Remus sounded pleased. "Now, I shouldn't keep you." He stood from his seat, "I don't want you to be late for your first class."
"You wouldn't write me a note?" Harry joked.
"And have you miss the character building that detention brings?" Remus chuckled. "Never."
A/N: In this story, don't expect total accuracy in portraying Harry's class schedule.
Thanks for reading,
-Spectre4hire