I apologize for the very long wait, but it's like several days have attacked me at once. It's been exhausting, but I have pulled through. As it'll take me longer to do my usual last minute edits and touch ups, I've decided to just get this up now for you patient readers. Thanks for sticking with me. Stay safe and healthy!

Harry sat at breakfast with his friends excitedly comparing their schedules for the first day of classes. As it was Thursday, Harry was lucky enough to spend the first class with all of his friends. After the sorting last night, Harry played several games of exploding snap with his dorm mates before fooling around with sound-producing sweets. Even Sam took interest and gave one a try, ending up with meowing like a cat. Eventually, a Prefect came and scolded them for being so noisy and to go to sleep. It took a while for them to settle but they finally did.

"I can't believe we have Defense Against the Dark Arts first thing this morning," Ron said excitedly. "And all of us together."

"What a good way to start the year," Hermione said, smiling at her schedule as she compared hers to Draco's. "And with Professor Lupin. He was so much fun last year."

"I knew he would be," Harry said confidently. "Draco, do Slytherins share Care of Magical Creatures with the Gryffindors? We have that after Defense."

"No, but I have Transfiguration with you guys." Draco took his schedule back from Hermione and studied where he had to be that day. Then he blinked and looked at Hermione. "Wait a second, let me see your schedule again."

Draco took Hermione's schedule and looked at it carefully. He shook his head.

"This can't be right. You have three classes scheduled at the same time."

"I know you're good, Hermione," Ron said, "but no one's that good. How're you supposed to be in three classes at once?"

"What?" Hermione snatched her schedule back. "Impossible. No-no, you're right. I have to bring this to Professor McGonagall and get this fixed immediately." She stood up and threw her bag over her shoulder.

"But we have Defense now," Ron said.

"I'll be quick. I would never miss a class." With that, Hermione left the table and marched out of the Great Hall as the bell to head to first class sounded through Hogwarts.

Harry, Ron, and Draco stood from their seats and began walking to the Defense classroom. On the way, a white mist flew from a window, circling the trio before solidifying into Sam, who walked at Harry's side.

"Where've you been?" Harry asked.

: There are new smells in the forest, some familiar, some . . . strange. It is a strange combination, as the forest has always been strange, but never have I smelled something familiar.

"Did you find what it was?"

: No, unfortunately. Where are we headed?

"Defense is our first class today."

The group arrived at the Defense classroom, only to find a sign that read to meet outside near Hagrid's hut. Now hurrying, everyone made their way outside so they would not be late. As they exited the front doors, Blaise Zabini, a tall black teen, caught up with them and walked alongside Draco.

"What up, mates?" Blaise said. "I'm glad I found you—I thought I was the only one running late. What's with the surprise field trip? It's the first day of class and he's got us running all over the place."

"I know, right?" Draco agreed. "The nerve of this guy."

Harry snorted and shook his head. He had learned from Draco that Blaise's mother had been arrested years ago for the attempted murder of her third husband. She remained in Azkaban to this day, and Blaise had been mostly raised by his third stepfather since he was seven. Blaise was close to his halfblood father and learned acceptance of other wizards regardless of blood. They had gotten to know Draco's roommate better last year, and he came around the group more often.

"Professor Lupin likes to have fun," Harry said. "You both know that."

"School is supposed to be for learning, not fun," Draco said.

"Now you sound like Uncle Luc."

Draco rolled his eyes while Ron sniggered, earning a shove from Draco. They made it to Hagrid's hut where other students had already gathered. Remus was leaning against the side of the hut.

"Welcome class," Remus said, "As you can see, we are jumping right into your lessons this year. We have a bit more ways to go, so follow me."

Sharing confused glances, Harry and the others did as Remus asked and followed the rest of the classroom into the Forbidden Forest. Everyone muttered among themselves about what they could possibly be doing on their first lesson.

"Stay close, class," Remus said. "We will not go deep into the forest, but dangers lurk everywhere. No worries, though. You have me and Sam to help you out, and your defense spells you learned last year. Sam, if you wouldn't mind keeping the students close, that would be appreciated."

: Who do I look like, Lassie? Sam glared and Blaise coughed and smiled.

"Where he is taking us?" Ron asked, trying to look ahead on the trail. "Did he ever say anything to you over summer about his lessons?"

"Nope," Harry answered.

"Hey guys," Hermione said, running up to the boys and slipping something small inside her bag. "What are we doing?"

"Where did you come from?" Ron asked. "How'd you get here so quickly? How'd you even find us?"

"Umm, the note on the Defense room door. Did I miss any important information? Tell me one of you took notes." Hermione reached into her bag and pulled out a notepad and a quill, looking up eagerly at Remus.

"He hasn't told us anything yet," Harry said. "Did you get your schedule fixed?"

"Of course, I got it fixed," Hermione said with a shake of her head.

Harry humphed but let her be.

They neared a small river that ran from the lake and cut through the forest.

"Welcome to your third year in defense against the dark arts," Remus began, turning around and walking backwards slowly. "First year, you focused a lot on theory behind defense—or should have. Last year, I caught you up on basic defense spells any common witch or wizard should know. This year, we will discuss defense against dark creatures."

Hermione excitedly gasped and began writing notes. Ron looked nervous as he glanced around the trees for the type of creature they might be facing while Draco and Blaise shared an interested smile. Harry looked down at Sam, wondering if they might cover kitsune this year, perhaps defense that did not involve killing them with alcohol.

"As an Auror," Remus continued, "one of my specialties is the identification, protection, disposal of dark creatures specifically. When magizoologists need licensing regarding the transportation of a dark creature to this country, they talk to me at the Auror department first. When there's an unidentified dark creature terrorizing a town, muggle or otherwise, I am recruited to identify and properly dispose of that creature. With my experience, I believe we will have much fun in class this year."

"Oh this is so exciting!" Hermione squealed. "What are we learning first."

Remus chuckled warmly, still walking backwards.

"I'm glad someone is excited. Our first lesson will be on creatures I just confiscated from a wizard illegally selling them on the dark market. They are mostly found in their native country Japan, though they have become invasive in other countries in southern Asia. We are going to learn about kappa."

: Kappa? Sam paused midstep, his ears perking up. He huffed and shook his head. I knew I smelt something familiar.

"Yes, Sam, kappa. I'm sure you could tell us a bit about them yourself."

: I think you're mistaken, young teacher. Foxes and kappa do not get along.

"This is what I love about this class," Hermione smiled, hugging her notepad to her chest as they moved along the river. "It's something new every day and we even get outside once in a while."

"If I wanted a fitness class in my schedule," Draco said, crossing his arms, "I would have signed up for one."

"I don't know," Blaise paused to stick his hands in the refreshing water, splashing some on his face. "It is kind of refreshing not to be sitting in hard chairs."

"Don't encourage this."

Remus finally stopped near shallow waters, directing everyone to come closer to the bank and gather around him. As everyone moved, a jet of water sprayed Sam in the face.

Sam jumped, then shook himself and snarled at the water. He peered into the calm surface, watching a few stray bubbles rise to the top. Slowly, a small, green sprite with a bowl-like depression on its head emerged from the water up to its chin, smiling at Sam before spitting water in the fox's face and diving back under the water.

Sam growled and lunged, swallowing up a mouthful of water. He kept his teeth bared as he scanned the water, the snickering sounds of kappa grating his nerves, his tails flicking.

"Sam," Remus warned, pushing his way through the students.

Suddenly, two kappa sprang out of the water and grabbed the fox, dragging him in. All the students either cheered Sam on or took several steps away. Harry moved his way up to Remus for a closer view of the fight.

There was a lot of splashing, hissing, snarling, and kappa laughter as the animals thrashed in the river. Finally, the mischievous creatures swam downstream, leaving a soppy Sam sulking in the shallows with a lily pad on his head.

Remus chuckled as he kneeled on the bank, smirking at Sam.

"Perhaps I could teach you something as well, Sam."

Sam irritably shook the lily pad off his head.

It took another ten-minute walk before Remus found the kappa once more, leaving Sam to observe from a distance. The students quickly learned that these Kappa were moved here temporarily until they could be shipped back to Japan, but while they were here, they could help teach the students. Kappa, though naughty in nature, were respectful and would always bow back when you bowed to them, causing them to spill the water in the dome on their head, greatly draining them of their energy which required a couple hours to soak in the water and recharge. Sam grumbled about all the years he could have used that bit of information and why he never thought of it. When the bell at Hogwarts barely echoed through the trees, the students began heading back to the castle.

"We've got Charms, so we'll see you guys in Transfiguration after lunch," Draco said, walking with Blaise away from the Gryffindor trio.

Everyone waved goodbye, leaving just Hermione, Ron, and Harry at Hagrid's hut to wait for their Care of Magical Creatures class.

"What a fun start to the day!" Ron said, plopping down in the grass to wait. "First we got to defend ourselves against kappa and now we get to hang with Hagrid for a whole ninety minutes. Just brilliant."

"Get off the grass, you'll ruin your robes," Hermione scolded.

"They're rubbish anyway."

Harry looked around the hut, wondering if he would have a chance to meet Buckbeak again. He truly hoped so, he could not wait to fly on the animal's back again. Sam was still mumbling about the kappa as he sat at Harry's side impatiently grooming the ends of his tails. Harry still found it amusing that Sam lived in Japan with those water sprites and yet had no clue how to handle them. How could someone live for three hundred years and not figure that out.

: For your information, Sam snarled at Harry, his ears flattened, I did my best to avoid contact with those devils.

"Hey, get out of my head!" Harry frowned.

: Stop thinking about me and the kappa.

"It's just too funny. Wait till I tell Dad."

: You tell him that and I'll—

Sam trailed off, his head swinging toward the trees and his ears perking. He fell silent as he stared off into the distance. Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed his gaze, glancing between Sam and the forest when they saw nothing.

Then, a flash of red bolted between the trees, vanishing as quickly as everyone had spotted it.

"Whoa, did you see that?" Ron asked.

"It looked like . . ." Hermione's eyes widened, and she looked back at Sam.

"It couldn't have been though." Harry shook his head as he stepped closer to the treeline, ready to disprove what they had seen. Sam, however, ran in front of Harry, stopping him.

: Stay here and attend your class. I'll check it out. If it was what we think, it could be dangerous. You should know that.

"Right." Harry's cheeks burned.

Sam lowered himself and trotted into the forest, disappearing in the direction the flash of red had moved.

"Can you believe it?" Ron said. "Another kitsune."

"That's impossible," Harry said, walking back over to his friends. "Sam said that it's rare to encounter more than one kitsune in a lifetime. Even the one I saw on the island last year wasn't even alive, just a spirit fox. It was probably a normal fox."

"What defines a normal fox?"

Harry shrugged.

"Well," Hermione began with a thoughtful look, "this is Hogwarts. I'm sure the magic here attracts a lot of magical creatures. Maybe that statistic is only for muggles."

"Maybe," Harry agreed.

Meanwhile, Sam carefully made his way through the trees. He paused every minute or so to scan his surroundings before trotting deeper through the brush. He sniffed around, but no scent of fox caught his nose. Instead, it was like the scent of bird with a mix of spicy herbs and vanilla. Sam was focused on following the scent when the flash of red flew by to his right.

With a loud yap, he gave chase.

He made bounding strides and found himself directly behind three white-tipped tails. It was a fox! Snarling, Sam tried to nip one of the tails, but the fox jumped to the side and ran left. Sam slid to change direction.

Distance grew between them before the new fox dodged left again. Sam followed. Then, he froze.

The fox was gone.

Sam swung his head left and right, then lowered his nose and tried to find the scent once more. He walked around the clearing for a bit before he found that strange smell once more, and he followed it. It lead him to the stump of the tree, and he circled around it in hopes of finding a burrow he could blow some flames into. When there was no hole to be found, he paused, then slowly lifted his head.

Curled up on the stump was a small, three-tailed fox, her tails wrapped around her and covering her nose, her sparkling brown eyes staring back at Sam.

Sam had to rise on his hind legs and catch his paws on the stump before he fell over. He opened his mouth, but no yaps or whines came out. The vixen uncurled herself and sat up on the stump, sniffing the air for Sam's scent.

Sam closed his eyes and shook his head, blinked several times, and refocused his vision on the vixen.

"You're actually here," Sam finally said.

"Well, good day to you, too," the fox smiled.

"Oh, right," Sam backed off the stump and bowed, "Konnichiwa."

"Konnichiwa," the vixen repeated, fluttering her lashes.

"My name is Samuru."

The vixen hesitated and tilted her head, and ear tilting sideways. She sighed. "My name is Hayami. They call me Haya for short."

"And I, Sam."

The vixen jumped off the stump and began jogging away, looking around curiously and sniffing plants. Sam jumped after her, keeping a respectful distance while also maintaining her pace.

"What brings you to Hogwarts?"

"Pardon?" Haya froze and her face contorted as she looked back at Sam.

"It's the name of the castle here," Sam informed. He shook his head, "I know, it's not an attractive one, but that's where you're at."

"Hogwarts? How . . . interesting."

Haya trotted away once more, showing more interest in a yellow flower than in Sam, who awkwardly sat and looked around. He was rarely at a loss for words, but his tongue seemed glued to his mouth now. His ears pivoted sideways. He tilted his head.

"Why so far from home?"

"I'm a traveler," Haya answered, picking a flower, and slinking away, forcing Sam to follow her. "I've always wanted to travel the world, but my parents were always so against it."

"Because of hunters, I'm assuming."

Haya looked back at Sam, allowing him to catch up with her. Her ears perked and she smiled at him.

"You get it. But a fox must let her curiosity lead her. That is why you are here, isn't it?"

"I actually never wanted to travel."

"Really?" Haya's ears dropped.

"That was before I learned the world had so much to offer, of course," Sam corrected himself quickly. "Before, I was a lot like my own parents: overprotective, paranoid, afraid. But I've let loose."

Sam stretched to relax himself, yawning nervously while Haya eyed him with the flower still in her mouth. She nodded and continued on her way.

"So I see."

Sam licked his lips and caught up with her.

"So, I could show you around."

"No thanks. I'm perfectly fine on my own."

"But I know this school inside and out. And this forest—kind of. I could show you all the secret passageways, and the best locations to watch the sunrise and the best venison in the whole forest. Unless you're comfortable around humans, I could bring you to the biggest kitchen you've ever seen. And the elves, they would love to treat you like a queen."

"Elves?"

"Yeah. Small big-eyed, bat-eared creatures. Unfortunately, we can't eat them, but their cooking is amazing. Worth keeping them alive."

Haya laughed, a musical sound to Sam's ears, and his heart sped up in his chest, a frisky feeling rising up. He pranced ahead toward the castle, leaping and hopping. He dropped into a playful downward dog a few meters away.

"Well?"

Haya chewed the stem of her flower slightly. She took a step back, staring into the deep forest behind her, then at Sam and the magnificent castle before her. She sighed before walking up to Sam.

"Fine, but just this once. Foxes belong outside."

"Not this fox." Sam held his head up proudly. "I belong where I choose."

"I'm sure." Haya walked alongside Sam with her flower. Sam narrowed his eyes at it.

"Why don't you carry that somewhere a little easier? Like maybe"—Sam used his mind to telekinetically move the flower to Haya's ear, curling the stem around and hooking the end of it just barely into her ear so it would stay—"right there."

"Thank you," Haya said, ruffling out her fur.

The two foxes trotted to the castle for an early lunch.

Harry knocked on the door of his father's quarters.

"Dad? Are you here?"

"Yes," Severus answered from his study. "What is it?"

"You weren't at dinner tonight," Harry said, walking through the living room and to the study, pausing in the doorway. "Actually, I don't think I've seen you at all today."

"I've been preoccupied," Severus said as he dug through his desk drawers, hardly looking up at his son. "How was your first day?"

"It was all right, I guess." Harry walked into the study and picked up some parchment that had fallen under the desk. He glanced at them, but one looked like a business card and the other had jumbled legal jargon he didn't want to try and make sense of, so he handed them back to Severus, who seemed surprised that they were not in his drawer.

"Thank you," he muttered, shoving the card into an inner robe pocket, and folding the other parchment and sliding it in his drawer.

Harry folded his arms and rubbed at his chin, his forehead creased as he watched his father grab a pouch of money and shove it into another pocket. Severus used his wand to restore his desk to order, parchments realigning themselves in neat piles and his quill and ink set put itself away. Severus ran a hand through his hair before walking out of his study motioning for Harry to follow.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked.

"I'm fine," Severus said. He locked his study door with a tap of his wand. "Why do you ask?"

"You haven't locked your office door since I was nine."

Severus blinked, which only made Harry's forehead wrinkle more.

"Hmm," Severus shook his head, "My mind has been elsewhere lately. I suppose it's just an old habit resurfacing. What brings you here?"

"I don't know. I wanted to say hi and see if you were all right, I guess. It's not like you to disappear all day unless you've got some kind of potion project going on."

"Potion project?" Severus quirked a brow at that. He sighed and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I appreciate your concern, but I assure you, I am perfectly well if a little distracted at most. I had a lot to do today and I need to go out tonight and tend to a couple of appointments, so you're welcome to spend the night if you so desire or head back to your dorm. I won't get back until late."

"Maybe I'll go back," Harry decided. "It'll be kind of lonely here."

"Where's Sam?" Severus asked looking down.

Harry shrugged. "He took off earlier and I haven't seen him since after my defense class this morning. Oh, did you know we studied kappa today? On our first day back and Professor Lupin already has us practicing defense."

"He's a very practical teacher," Severus said, glancing at his watch. He gave Harry an apologetic smile. "I'm really sorry, Harry, but I have to get going. How about you come down for breakfast tomorrow and tell me all about your first day then? Perhaps Sam will show his face as well."

"Yeah, okay," Harry agreed, looking at the top of his shoes.

Severus gave Harry a quick kiss on the side of his temple and headed out of his quarters.

"The door will lock behind you when you leave," Severus said. "Goodnight."

"Night."

It was the strangest encounter he had ever had with his father. Harry stood in the middle of the living room for several long minutes trying to think of reasons why his father was so unsettled the past couple days. His eyes trailed to the dining table where an abandoned cup of tea and a Daily Prophet sat at the head table.

Severus never left things out on the table like that. He walked over to the head seat and picked up the tea items to put in the sink for the elves to take care of. Before he walked away, the paper caught his attention. It was yesterday's copy and he frowned at the title: Dark Wizard Could be Eligible for Parole after 12 Years.

Slowly sinking into the chair, Harry read the article. It explained how the wizard had been caught performing dark arts on critically ill patients in his own home, and how Auror Lily Snape had captured and detained the man, though she had been injured in the process, contracting a muggle disease in doing so. Harry's eyes widened, his mouth dropped slightly, and he looked at the closed door of his quarters, as if his father would walk back through any moment.

Freyr stalked his way through Knockturn Alley, snarling at anyone who dared to give him a stare too long. He stayed close to the walls of the buildings to keep out of the way and to keep more out of sight. It was dark, and the shadows the overhangs offered allowed him to disappear in the darkness, his glowing eyes startling many when they finally noticed his presence, and they jumped back or stopped to stare.

The streets were narrow and crowded where he was going, as it always was the night before any school year began as more people were usually out and about shopping. It was the perfect cover to blend in, and even so, Freyr would rather keep his business private. It was not uncommon for a witch or wizard to use their animagus form when visiting Knockturn. Usually, only close friends and family even knew what another's animagus might be, and Freyr did not flaunt his to just anyone. His travels through this alley would not be interrupted, and he would not be found out.

The blend of acrid cigar and musty mold caught Freyr's attention, and he paused and sniffed at a doorway. Jumping up, he pawed at the doorknob until it turned, and the door flung open, and Freyr slipped inside.

When the door shut behind him, he shifted into Severus and pulled the hood of his cloak off. He was in an office now, a crowded and dirty space that saw little care from the man sitting behind the desk piled high with documents and photos.

"What can I help you with?" The gruff voice of the bearded man asked.

"I would like you to look into the Dark Experiments Case," Severus announced, reaching into his robe, and setting down an old paper on the cluttered desk.

The man picked up the paper. It read: Healer Arrested for Dark Arts Medicine.

"Healer Stephen Niles?" the man chuckled. "Isn't he about to face his parole hearing?"

"He shouldn't," Severus said, folding his arms. "Not with everything he's done. Are you interested or not Mister"—Severus glanced at the name plate on the desk—"Locke?"

"Hmm," Locke stroked his beard. "I'm a busy man. It would be very hard to shove everything else I'm doing aside . . ."

Severus rolled his eyes and pulled out a sack of galleons and dropped them on the table with a loud clank. Locke picked up the sack and performed a quick tally before nodding.

"That should cover you for a fortnight. I expect the next payment before the end of that time if you expect me to find anything good. What exactly do you want? Confidential pre-trial information? Malfeasance? A reason this man should not be released, I'm assuming?"

"Anything you can get me to keep that disgusting maggot off the streets and behind bars."

"I'm sure I can find something for you. Especially at his old workplace. But be warned, with a case as sensitive as this, one wrong move from you could put yourself on trial."

"I'm sure I'll be just fine," Severus said, raising his hood back up. "You do your job, while I focus on mine."

Severus shifted back into Freyr and turned for the door with a huff.

"Good luck focusing on that, mate," Locke said.

Freyr paused and snarled, glancing back at the private investigator. The man tipped his head at Freyr, smirking.

"I know a man who hasn't let go of the past when I see him."

Freyr held eye contact for a few seconds before huffing once more and leaving the office, stalking through the streets of Knockturn once more. He had already stopped by the Auror Department and spoke with several officials on the case, but to no avail. They informed him that the man was paying for his crimes compliantly, attended all his therapy sessions, and had had no issues in Azkaban. He appeared mentally sound and well enough to stand trial and had served 12 years fairly.

Freyr saw no fairness in anything, and he hoped he could uncover dirt on the messed-up healer and present it to the court as proof that Stephen Niles could not walk free. He had to in order to protect his family. No one else would be hurt under his roof.

Let me know what you think. I'll do better to get the next chapter up sooner.