Title: Harry Potter and the Search for the Meaning of Life at Hogwarts, or The Hogwarts School Band
Chapter: One: The First Day Back
Rating: M for mature content, and adult conversations
Original Character: Alastor Daker
Reason for Edit: Noticed that the formatting had been screwed up, so decided to re-submit with correct editing. Plus I wanted to change a few of the things, as it was bit odd in places.
Notes: Please note that this was written waaay before 'Order of the Phoenix' so, the OWL grades and subjects for NEWTs don't tally with the canon. Best read this as an alternative 'book 7'. Also, check out my prequel 'The Gospel, according to Gilderoy Lockhart or The Hogwarts Gazette'.

One: The First Day Back

Harry Potter stepped through the barrier on platform 93/4 with an air of triumph and finality about him. He had recently turned seventeen and here he was about to embark on his final year at the prestigious Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. So far, his only disappointments were to discover he had not be made a prefect (he had the awful feeling that it was something to do with Prof. Snape), and that he had not done as well as he would have liked in his OWLS.

Harry was perfectly ready to blame his poor mostly poor marks (although he was quite pleased with his three E grades) on his interrupted revision, trouble with Voldemort again. Although if he had to be perfectly honest with himself (which was not likely to be) it was his own blasted fault, as he was feeling far too lazy to get any revision done when he had the chance.

He looked around the mass of younger years; he felt extremely tall and grown up now that he was in his final year. He stood at an impressive six foot one, and he was quite thankful for it, it meant that Snape could not longer intimidate him by height. Throughout his younger years, Harry had always had the impression that Snape was considerably tall, but as he got older he realised that it certainly was not the case, Snape stood at 5ft 8".

"HARRY!"

He spun round and found himself facing his best friend of seven long wonderful years, Ron Weasley.

"Ron!" He replied happily, giving his friend a manly hug. "Sorry I couldn't come and stay in the hols."

"Don't worry about it." Ron replied with a grin. "Looking forward to your final year?"

"Sort of. Going to have fun being taller than Snape!"

Ron laughed, "I guess if Snape tries anything on us this year, you can just go and stand next to him and make him feel small!" He smiled. "I think Snape's going to be alright this year. Dad thinks that you-know-who is getting stronger and will probably try his take-over bid soon." Ron shuddered at the thought. "Snape's going to have a lot on."

"Maybe. Any idea who Head Boy and Girl are?"

"I think Hermione's Head Girl, dunno about Head Boy. Pretty surprised it wasn't you though."

"Yeah, I think Snape had something to do with it. Didn't get made a prefect like you did either."

Ron knew the real answers to both Harry's thoughts. Despite the events of last year Ron had taken his OWL exams seriously and revised as hard as he could in his few revision weeks. Hogwarts only awarded those who did well in exams with the honour of being a prefect - no matter how many times you saved the school or someone's life. You had to set a fair president for the other students to follow. Dumbledore had probably thought Harry was getting a bit too big for his boots - it sometimes seemed that way to Ron, but being a good friend he never said anything.

"Have you seen Hermione yet?"

"She's going to meet us there. Remember? She decided to stay in Hogsmede last year."

Last year Hermione's parents divorced. It had not been a pretty situation - their had been a fierce custody battle over her; she had changed dramatically after that. Strangely enough it had been Prof. Snape that suggested she invoke her right to live with neither parent (as Hermione's birthday was in September she was a school year older than the others were). Snape had been in one of his usual biased towards Gryffindor moods, and Hermione had just snapped; the result of Hermione's 'snap' was Snape with a black eye. Even stranger was that Snape had apologised after the lesson to her and suggested she stay in Hogsmede - he'd even given her a leaflet about rental properties for students in and around the area.

"Why do you suppose Snape gave her that leaflet last year?" Harry asked as he and Ron began to push their trolleys towards the train.

"Probably felt guilty. Maybe he's been in the same situation, who knows? Why should we care." Ron replied with a distant tone.

"Are you alright?"

"Me? Sure why?"

"You seem... distant, and you seem to have joined Snape's fan club."

"Harry, it's nothing, alright?" Ron pushed his trunk onto the train. "You've just got to give Snape a break, he's not the bad guy. Even if he was, he isn't anymore."

Harry put a hand on Ron's arm. "You know something, don't you." It was not a question.

"Look, Harry, I can't talk about it here." With that he jumped aboard the train leaving Harry to ponder what on earth Ron was talking about.

When Ron and Harry disembarked at Hogsmede General Station, they were met by a speeding ball of bushy brown hair; Hermione Granger, almost eighteen years old, had blossomed into a beautiful young women. Her teeth were no longer crooked, and she no longer wore the thick glasses of her younger years.

"HIYA!" She cried as she managed to hug both of them in one movement. "Hope you had a safe journey." She grinned.

"Hey, Hermione." Ron replied giving her a warm filled hug. "How's the house?"

"It's great. The land-lady has let me board for half the asking price since I'd be staying up at school for ninety-percent of the time. Last year eh?"

"Defiantly. See you got Head Girl." Ron grinned again.

"Know who got Head Boy?" Harry asked innocently.

"Yes, I know who got Head Boy." Hermione replied. "And it wasn't Malfoy!" She added before Harry could open his mouth.

"Who then?"

"Neville Longbottom."

Harry felt his mouth drop open in shock, "Neville got Head Boy?"

"Yes. Teachers thought he did fantastically in his exams, 5 As, 3Es and one O. Very impressive. He even got a E in Potions; I think Snape was a bit surprised at that." Hermione smiled at Ron, "close your mouth Harry, a train's coming." Obediently, Harry obeyed.

----

"Ah, welcome once again to another fun filled year of learning at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore announced, after all the new students had been sorted and were now sitting happily at their respective tables. "I am sure you will be equally welcoming towards our new member of staff, and I don't quite think I need to tell you which subject he will be teaching! Without further ado - please welcome Professor Alastor Daker." Dumbledore fell silent with a smile as the Great Hall applauded the new teacher. "Also, it gives me great pleasure in announcing that our new Head Boy and Head Girl are Mr Neville Longbottom, of Gryffindor, and Ms Hermione Granger, also of Gryffindor!" A loud of applause rippled through the great hall, even several teachers were applauding!

"Look at Snape." Harry whispered to Ron. Immediately Ron's eyes were transferred to the teachers table at the head of the hall. Snape and the new teacher, Alastor Daker, were in deep conversation. "What do you reckon that's all about?"

"No idea, looks like they might be good friends." Ron replied irritably. Every year Harry went off on the frame about how Snape was going to off the latest Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, or how the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher was a prodigy of evil. Ron was actually beginning to believe that it was perhaps Harry who managed to scare off most Defence against the Dark Arts teachers. Although, in this situation, Ron knew more than he was letting on about Snape and the new teacher.

"Now, I am sure you're all starved after the fun chocolate filled train journey, so let us waste no more time in inviting you to enjoy the Start of Term feast." Dumbledore clapped his hands together and the four house tables, including the staff table, became swamped with masses of delicious foods.

----

Harry entered the great hall admit some disturbance. The disturbance appeared to be around the Slytherin table, thinking that there was nothing strange going on, as in his experience, any disturbance around the Slytherin table was to do with Draco Malfoy - a pale face thin boy who's father was on Voldemort's inner-circle. When he did finally make it towards the Gryffindor table, he found he was eating breakfast alone - Hermione and Ron were over at the Slytherin table.

Feeling curious, he got to his feet and made his way on his errand of discovery. To his amazement, once he managed a way through the dense crowd, he spotted Professors Snape and Daker sitting side by side near the furthest end from the door, both were playing out some tune - Snape on acoustic guitar and Daker tapping along with the spoons. What was even more surprising was that Snape appeared to be a decent player, but that was the only credit Harry was likely to give his most hated teacher.

The two teachers finished their tune to a round of applause from all those watching - for one fleeting moment, Harry thought he saw Snape blush slightly in embarrassment, but it was gone in the same instant he had seen it, and so, Harry dismissed it.

"You liar." He heard Professor Daker mutter to Snape. Daker had a gentle, cheery voice, although it appeared to have a weak quality to it, as though he had not used it for many years - for a moment Harry gave an involuntary shudder as he remember who the voice reminded him off. A few years ago, his cousin Dudley had begged and screamed to make his mother rent a film called 'The Silence of the Lambs'. Daker had a similar voice to the character Hannibal Lecter - secretly Harry hoped that Daker was not a cannibal... Although, you could never really tell when it came to Dumbledore's choice in Defence against the Dark Arts teachers!

What exactly Daker was accusing Snape of lying about, Harry did not hear since he was more or less whisked off in the heavy crowd flocking back to their tables for breakfast. He managed to catch a glimpse of Snape and Daker as they headed up to the staff table, both wore a smile and for once Snape's smile was not a foul smirk, but a genuine smile.

"Hey, what was going on there?" Harry managed to ask Hermione the moment he met her at the table.

"Oh, Professor Daker used to be Snape's best friend at Hogwarts. Apparently there was a Hogwarts band they both played in. Daker I think was trying to embarrass Snape."

"Oh sure, a band a Hogwarts. Hermione that's a muggle thing, wizard schools don't put together school bands!" Harry replied sarcastically.

"Actually," Ron said sitting down next to his two friends, "when Bill was at Hogwarts there was a school band. Dunno when it was put together, but he said it was something to do with raising money for some charity."

"When did it stop?" Hermione asked interestedly.

"Just before Fred and George arrived. I think it stopped because of lack of interest or something, Bill never told me much about it, only that he failed an audition for the band."

"He probably played spoons like Daker." Harry added trying to make a joke of the situation.

"Daker doesn't play spoons, he plays piano."

"Looked like the spoons to me!"

"Think about it Harry, he could hardly lug a piano in here, could he?" Hermione added in a superior tone. "Anyway, eat some breakfast, got lessons in twenty-five minutes."

"Oh goody..."

----

Harry seated himself at the back of the Defence against the Dark Arts classroom. In his seven years at Hogwarts this room had been decorated differently each time - during his first year (Professor Quirrel's poor year) the room had been filled with amulets and charms to ward off evil spirits. In his second year (the year Professor Lockhart had been a fate worse than Voldemort) the room had been filled with posters of the most annoying man on the planet. In his third year (the year Harry had made good friends with a werewolf) the room was up to traditional standards with books about Defence against the Dark Arts around the room, as well as an oddity of creatures. In fourth year the room was filled top to toe with strange objects which were to alert the occupants when evil was near. That was ill-fated year of Professor Moody, in the last two years there had been short staying supply teachers who had made no change to the bare-walled room which Moody had left. Now the new teacher had decorated the room in a manner similar to both Lupin and Moody.

"Hi." Professor Daker said with a small smile once he was sure that the entire class were seated and settled. Daker was a short man, of about five foot five inches or perhaps less. He had a wiry figure, and still Harry was reminded of Hannibal Lecter, but he had wonderfully bright blue eyes, which were half hidden behind, tinted lenses. The glasses immediately puzzled Harry; it was perhaps their tinted nature that worried him. "I'd like to welcome you to your final year of compulsory education. I've been told that your Defence against the Dark Arts lessons have been rather... erratic." Daker stood up. He was dressed in a similar manner to Professor Snape - a dark suit but minus the intimidating black cloak.

"But as you are aware, this year you take the most important exams of your school life. I think some of you could really do with some very hard work, judging by your OWL grades." His eyes flickered about the room as if they had a mind of their own - they never appeared to focus on anything. "However, since this is your first lesson back I doubt many of you would be ready to work - so, I think we'd best just do a 'get to know the teacher lesson'."

Some people looked a little shocked by this statement, but Daker appeared not to notice. "I know it's not usually the norm around here, but I like to believe that if the students are comfortable with their teacher then they are more comfortable about learning. As you are now all seventeen, eighteen, you are going to be treated as young adults and that is how I am going to teach you." Paravti Patil passed a note back to her friend Lavender Brown - Daker did not notice, despite the fact his eyes were on Paravti, Harry found that strange. "Since I've no idea what I can tell you, I think I'll allow questions, please don't put up your hand, just call out a question one at a time. Have a look around the room and see who looks like they are about to ask something - saves us having a screeching match." Daker laughed slightly.

To no one's surprise, Hermione asked the first question. "Is it true that you and Professor Snape were best friends?"

"Ah, it seems I've met the inquisitive mind of Ms Hermione Granger." Daker smiled. "Yes it's true. I know a lot of you think he's a mean old bastard, but believe me, he was a lot different when we were at school - good friend, even if he did have his nose stuck in a book, or some music or dabbling away with his latest Potions experiment. You lot probably don't think he's a great guy, but that's understandable, just try and cut him some slack, a lot's happened to him in the past, and please, don't ask me about him it's not exactly polite."

"Were you and him Slytherin's?" Dean Thomas asked.

Daker chuckled, "I think I can see where you are getting. Let me just say, the idea that all Slytherin's go bad, isn't true. Yeah sure, a lot of Slytherin's have gone down the wrong path, but more Slytherin's have realised their mistakes than the Gryffindor's who went bad."

There was a few beats of silence before Hermione piped up with another question, "what do you mean by that?"

"Alright, alright, before you all kill me, let me explain. You all know how the Sorting Hat picks members for each house - it does it by examining the qualities that make them who they are. Those people who are fiercely loyal, ambitious, clever with cunning are more likely to be sorted into Slytherin. Those who are brave, clever and more likely to rush straight into things without thinking and deeply proud are more likely to be sorted into Gryffindor. You can be brave and clever at the same time without being able to swallow your pride. A Slytherin may be loyal to his or her house, but Slytherin's have the ability to swallow their pride and admit to being afraid or weak." You could have heard a pin drop the silence was that thick, Daker appeared to have the ability to hold an audience captive and spell bound. "Once a Slytherin has gone down the wrong path, and once he has been made to realise he, or she, has gone down the wrong path, a Slytherin usually has the quality to swallow their pride. Although nine times out of ten Slytherin's are the most stubborn creatures on the planet and it does often take them to realise that they were wrong. A Gryffindor on the other hand tends to be proud. Once they have gone down the wrong path it can take a hell of a lot of work to get them to realise they were wrong, and often then they were too proud to turn back and admit they were wrong. " He smiled slightly, "before you all kill me, remember, that's the stereotypical view of two houses. Half of you probably have some of the above-mentioned qualities, and others don't. Over the years people have learnt that they can be proud and swallow their pride at the same time. Please don't fall into the trap that all Slytherin's are bad and all Gryffindor's are good - there are grave exceptions to that rule."

"You mean like Sirius Black." Harry snapped angrily. For some reason he hated what Daker had said, and his anger was slowly building into what the Slytherin-scum Daker had said.

Daker's voice took a harder, slightly cold edge to it, "he isn't innocent of everything, don't let his friendship with your father, Harry, cloud you into thinking he is completely guilt free."

"What will we be studying this year?" Hermione quickly asked before Harry could loose his temper further.

"Well, that depends. First, you need to finish off the stuff you haven't done, which is quite a lot spreading back to your first year, and we are going to have to whiz through that pretty quickly. Once that's out of the way, you can start work on what you need to do be entered for your exam and all the exam prep work that we have to go through."

Slowly the lesson dragged on in the same question and answer session. Although Daker did pass round a desk layout scheme of the class and ask them to write down where they were sat and whom they were sat next to - he warned them not to move as he was terrible with names and faces. This did not exactly speak true with Harry, but he had to admit he was feeling angry towards Daker.

----

"There's something odd about him." Harry muttered as they made their way from the main school building down to the area around Hagrid's hut for their Care of Magical Creatures class.

"Harry, it's getting a bit cliché now... Can't you find something wrong with another teacher? If it's not Snape up to something, it's that there is something odd about the Defence teacher." Hermione replied sound weary.

"You've got to admit there's something weird about his eyes!" Harry stopped Hermione, "what about the dark glasses?"

"They aren't dark, they're just tinted. Maybe his eyes are sensitive to light, or he just happens to like the latest Muggle fashion."

Their argument continued in this vain until Hagrid's bulky shape appeared to start the lesson, Harry, Ron and Hermione gave Hagrid the greatest respect and did not want to cause a sour mark in their first lesson back with their friend. Today was quite interesting, and for once the creature Hagrid had brought to show them was not dangerous - in fact it was a creature which many wizards had a house pet, but none-the-less, it was part of the Care of Magical Creatures project.

"This, as I'm sure ya know, is called a Puffskein." Hagrid held up a small round spherical, custard-coloured, soft object. "Now, I knows that you all, well, nearly all of you gots pets. Owls, cats and the such lik', but you gots to do this project as a major piece of investigation work. This goes towar's yer final mark. Now, I'm sure yer'all wonderin' whats these got to wi'h the investigation. As yer can see, these Puffskein are onl' babies, yer job is ter look af'er them. Ye gets one, ye names it, yer record what gender it is, an' any distinguishin' features, and thens yer record its progress during its trainin' and growing up. Yer needs ter record when yer feed it, how yer feed it and whether or not it seems 'appy. Yer all gets that? Right come and gets a Puffskein, a form an' some food. If yer's run outta food, see if the food supply will wait until yer first Hogsmede visit, if not, come down and see me, an I'll give yer some."

"We have to look after these?" Draco Malfoy drawled as he held up a Puffskein in disgust.

"Yes, Malfoy, yer do. An yer can't go complain, 'cos this is what the exam board wan' this year. This won' be all the work yer doin', this will be the only lesson where yer can work wiv yer Puffskein, after this, yer gotta leave him or her behind in yer dorm and we'll be learn' what the board says yer gotta learn." Even Draco could not argue with that ruling, if an exam board said it had to be done then his father could do next to nothing to change it.

"Hagrid," Harry began, once they had the gentle giant on his own away from the rest of the group, "what do you think of the new teacher, Daker?"

"Alastor? What are yer getting at?" Hagrid asked suspiciously, "look, Harry, if yer think he's somethin' ter do wi'h You-Know-Who, then yer wrong. Just 'cos he were mate of Snape's, an' still is mind, don't make him evil."

"Don't you think there's something weird about? His eyes?" Harry persisted.

"There's nought wrong wi'h the guy, Harry. If yer don't believe me, ask yer friend Remus Lupin. They were all mates ter-gether, all in same band, they was."

"What was the band like?" Hermione asked.

"Great. Probably one of the most talented bunch of youngsters Hogwart's 'as bred in a long while."

"Who was in the band?"

"Let me see...Right, there was Alastor Daker on piano, Remus Lupin on bass guita', tha' quiet little guy Peter Pettigrew," Ron and Harry exchanged dark looks, "oh an yer mother, Harry, on backing vocals an' I think she played violin."

"Was my father lead vocals?" Harry asked, suddenly interested.

"No, it were Professor Snape."

"Snape?" Harry gasped.

"Yer, played guitar as well he did."

"Bet he wasn't very good."

"That's where yer wrong, Harry. Snape has a fantastic voice."

"Hagrid, how did they set up the school band?" Hermione it seemed would not let the school band idea pass by.

"Er... Well, it were Daker and Snape's idea fer a band, I think they got some of their friends who could play and sing and then went ter Dumbledore. Dumbledore being who he is, said yer of course they could. Used ter raise money for thinks in the village and stuff fer the school."

"Why did it stop?"

"They all left, they 'ad a few tries of makin' the band again, but nought lived up to their standards and everything sort of fell apart, if yer get my drift."

"Did my father ever belong to the band?" Harry asked.

"Er... No..." Hagrid began delicately, "yer see, it was just Lupin, Snape and Daker who originally went ter Dumbledore. Dumbledore said they had ter hold auditions, to make up a band of five or six - jus' ter make it fair like. Dumbledore an' some of the staff judged the auditions, so that no one had an unfair advantage. Yer father I think audition, but never made it."

----

"Hermione, why are you so interested in the school band?" Ron asked curiously as they made their back up to the castle for lunch.

"I'm not!" She replied hotly.

"Yes you are! Come on, Herm, you can tell me, what's so interesting about the school band?"

"All right, Ron, I'll tell you." She lowered her voice, "Dumbledore asked me and Neville to make sort of a year book, head boy and girl do it every year. He also wanted some sort of ceremony or ball in honour of us leaving. I found out that Hogwarts is going to be about one thousand years old around the time we leave."

"Jesus... When was it founded?"

"No one knows, but it's estimated somewhere in the tenth century. Anyway, so what me and Neville decided to do, was make a year book with everyone from our year in it, the teachers and what house they were in, and also famous past Hogwarts people, as well as some Hogwarts history that signalled some sort of a change."

"That has what to do with a school band?"

"Well, since I found out about the school band, I thought it would be a good idea if the old members, if they were in easy reach, performed at the end of year ball."

"You're going to try and get Snape to sing in front of us all... Well, you're braver than most Hermione, got to give you that."

"Please don't tell anyone Ron, it's supposed to be a secret."

"Don't worry," he smiled, "good idea though."

"Thanks."

----

"Hello Alastor. How's the day going so far?" Dumbledore asked gently as Daker made his way into the staff room.

"Not so bad thanks. I'm surprised at how well I can remember my way around. Not got lost yet." He replied. "Bit worried about teaching some of my classes though, especially the seventh years."

"Why is that?"

"Well, Spike told me that Hermione Granger was the first pupil in the school to realise that Remus Lupin was a werewolf. I'm just a bit worried that she won't take long to realise my little problem."

"Don't worry about it Alastor!" Dumbledore said with a warm smile, "even if she does realise, I'm sure she won't tell anyone else, she can keep secrets that girl."

"Might be worth telling her." McGonagall murmured from the far corner. "Be handy to have someone who knows."

"It's not that simple, Minerva. I don't think the school governors will be too pleased if word got around. I don't think any of them know about it, or how it happened."

"Um... So how are you and Severus getting on?" McGonagall asked, changing the subject.

"Still getting on extremely well, at first I was a bit worried that working together might affect our relationship, but so far it's been fine. Didn't quite realise how hard it was going to be just to forget that we were together, but I think I should be all right, providing that you lot don't leave us alone together in an empty classroom or anything!"

Some people laughed. "Don't worry Alastor. If you and Severus do want to spend a bit of... time together, there's nothing stopping the two of you going home for the Easter holidays or the Christmas ones."

Somewhere deep in the bowels of the school, a bell rang signalling the end of break and time for lessons to resume.

"Oh well, its back to the grindstone."

----

"I hate potions... Why couldn't they have made it a optional subject once you've done your OWLS?" Harry moaned as they descended into the cold rank dungeons of the school.

"We still have to do the subject because it's one that is needed for any form of magic you choose to study further, or for any kind of magical job. Dad spends a lot of time dealing with Potions, even though he works in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts office!"

"Anyway, from what I've found out, the Potions exam seems to be on the easier exams to take. We do two big Potions projects, where we have to investigate and theorise one potion and then we have to invent our own potions which serve a purpose, or fit the criteria the exam board wants. Then all the exam is about, is the types of ingredients and types of potions and their reactions and results that we've learnt about it." Hermione replied as she placed her hand on the door to Snape's classroom.

"That's easy?" Ron muttered in shock.

"If your two brothers Fred and George managed to pass the coursework involved for the exam, Mr Weasley, then I would say that the coursework is outstandingly easy." An icy voice said from behind them, making them all jump. All three friends turned and found themselves facing perhaps the most nasty teacher in the school - Professor Severus Snape, the Potions Master. "Since you are standing with your hand on the door, Ms Granger," he handed her a small key, "kindly open the door."

Nervously Hermione did as was asked.

The potion lab had not changed much during the seven years Harry had been there. Over the years the numbers and contents of the many glass jars littering the room had changed, and even the stone sink had been replaced (after a slightly disastrous lesson in the fifth year, which had even left Snape speechless in shock.)

Snape waited a moment for his class to find their regular seats, noting that once again Gryffindor and Slytherin chose to be separate. He gave them another minute of mindless chat before asking for quiet. As he was Snape, he got quiet instantly.

"As I am sure you are all aware, this year is the most vital year of your school history. Those of you, who thought your OWLS were hard, are in for a shock. NEWTS are the most tiring and exhausting set of exams you will ever have to take. Even so for those who may be entered for the extension exams." His eyes momentary met Hermione's. "Some of you may be aware of what this years Potions course will entail, and I apologise to those who know, but I have to through the course content with the rest of the class." Snape cleared his throat. "You have two pieces of coursework to complete this year, most of the work that has been leading up to these pieces began last year, although I doubt half of you realised. The first piece is a simple investigation into the effects of a particular potion - this requires you to do some preliminary work, make the potion, test the potion, and make a conclusion, once you have done that you can start the actual work. The work will involve you writing up and explaining your conclusion, and then analysing and evaluating the evidence and results you got, also explaining any anomalous results." Harry looked around the room with a look of puzzlement on his face, everyone, bar him, appeared to understand what Snape was on about. What the hell is an 'anomalous result'? He wondered miserably to himself. "From the look on your face Potter I can assume that you understand none of what I have explained. I am hardly surprised, the pitiful work you turned into me last year which were your pathetic attempts at conclusions and analysis of potions was a complete waste of paper. Perhaps you should begin your up hill struggle by making some notes and then asking one of your class mates to explain to you - I have not the time to waste on those who do not listen." Harry felt himself turn red with both embarrassment and anger, he glanced angrily at the smirking Slytherin's and then back a Ron, who for some reason was trying to avoid his eyes. This was going to be one long year. "The second piece of coursework that you will develop will be something of your own invention. Although, it needs to have some relevance in every day life or effect something about you directly. Usually, people tend to go down the path of creating some form of health or personal hygiene potion, but you are free to make your own decision. Last year I foolishly allowed Fred and George Weasley to develop the joke sweets etc, which involved the use of potions. There are no limits as to what you can make." Hermione's hand shot into the air. "Yes, Ms Granger?"

"Do you have to make the potion?" She asked.

"Incorrectly worded, but I understand the question. On occasion students have develop a potion which would be impossible to make under the school resources - providing they know which ingredients they would use, what effect they would have and all the theory and analytical data available, it does not matter. However that only applies in the situation where it would be completely impossible to develop your potion in school." Snape looked around the room, "let me give you an example to clear one or two minds. When I was doing my potion development project I opted to do something that would directly affect me. I decided I was going to develop and trial a variation on the Pepperup Potion, as I am allergic to many of the ingredients found in the Pepperup Potion, my main task was to find alternatives which provided similar properties and results. I did all of my preliminary work, I developed a hypothesis, I demonstrated in my notes which ingredients I would use and how they would change the potion, but one vital thing was the school did not have the resources to create the potion with the ingredients I suggested. It would be both too expensive and dangerous as some of the ingredients had unstable properties. All the evidence was there for the exam board to mark and evaluate and I did not lose out on the skills used to manufacture the potion, since it would have been difficult to make the potion on a school budget. I did however lose one or two marks for being somewhat over ambitious. Let me say that it pays not to be too over ambitious with your project, and I suggest that you go for something for which the ingredients are available in school for you to use. Although, this year the potions department has been granted a larger budget than usual and so I may be able to order in some ingredients. Any questions?"

"Do we do those alongside our class work?" To no ones surprise, Hermione asked.

"Yes and no. There will be some lessons in which you will only work on your projects and have time to ask me one or two questions, and there will be lessons which have been set aside to cover the work needed for your exams."

"Will we know who have been put in for the extended papers soon, or nearer the time?"

"In between. It's decided who are put in for the extended papers once the investigation piece of coursework has been marked and submitted to the board. Although, I do have a vague idea as to who will be likely candidates. I'm assuming that all questions relevant have been asked, and I would like to get started on explaining more about the investigation work, which will start in two weeks time."

The rest of the lesson ticked by slowly, and soon Harry lost interest in what Snape was saying. He gloomily decided that this was one lesson where he would not pass, even if he did the work fantastically, Snape's bias attitude would probably be his downfall.

----

Transfiguration turned out to be a much harder lesson than Potions had seemed. McGonagall gave no pep talk regarding the exams, all she did was give some strange references to investigation work (sounding similar to both Snape and Hagrid's tasks) and how much work this year was going to be. Harry would have been lying if he said he enjoyed many of his lessons, in fact there were only two he particularly liked and one of them he was beginning to loose his like for. Care of Magical Creatures Harry found interesting and fun, since Hagrid never set any particularly hard work, and he had been enjoying Defence against the Dark Arts until the new teacher arrived. There was something odd about him, his eyes, his strange philosophy and what made him even more odd was his friendship with Snape. It was a mystery to Harry how anyone could be a friend with that greasy slim-ball, Snape was not a likeable character.

That evening, after an increasingly painful Divination lesson (again Professor Trewlawny predicted his death), Harry decided to write a letter to his friends Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Black was lying low at Lupin's and had been for some time, it was time to ask him a few questions about the strange new teacher.

"Password." The Fat Lady demanded as he struggle towards it, his arms full of the many text books he had been forced to carry around.

"Pigs trotters." He replied, and waited only a moment for the portrait to swing open to allow his admittance.

"Hey Harry." Ron called as Harry made his way through the mass of scared looking first years, anxiously comparing notes about their lessons and teachers.

"Hiya." He replied sitting down in a chair next to Ron.

"Hey, I thought I'd better remind you that you've got to start organising Quidditch trials."

"Trials?"

"Yes, trials. Remember most of the team left last year. It's just you and Seamus left on the team. You need to organise some Quidditch trials so you can put together a Gryffindor team. Remember, you are the captain!"

"Oh yes, of course. I'll do that later." Harry had completely forgotten about his new-found responsibility, not only was he part of the very successful team, but he was also now in charge of that very successful team. He had a reputation to live up to. How was he going to manage his school work, and his Quidditch! "I'm going up to the dorm, need to write one or two letters. I'll be down later Ron."

"Okay, see you in a bit."

Harry settled down on his bed with several sheets of parchment, some ink and a very nice eagle feather quill. Before beginning to write, he first planned what he was going to say to Sirius, letter writing could sometimes be a complicated business!

Dear Sirius,

I'm back at school, final year - yay! Lessons some really different this year, everyone keeps talking about assignments and coursework. Also got this damn Puffskein to look after for my Care of Magical Creatures work.

He gave the strange furry creature a small glance. It (or rather, she) had been snoozing gently on his pillow for most the day. Harry remember that he had some work for Hagrid to do (such as filling in the form for his Puffskein), but at the moment his letter had a greater priority.

Listen, there's a new teacher teaching Defence against the Dark Arts (no surprise really) and there is something really odd about him. He's an old friend of Snape's from their school days, something to do with a school band I think, also he's got these weird eyes, I don't know what exactly is weird about them, but there is something strange. What do you know about an Alastor Daker?

Didn't get made a prefect (no surprise, I bet Snape was something to do with it) and you'd never guess who Head Boy is! It's Neville Longbottom. I've no idea how he got to be Head Boy, I mean he's a nice guy and everything but hardly any brains. Most of the work Snape was going through seemed really complicated, didn't understand most of it - haven't lost any house points to him yet, so I suppose that is one good thing.

Just realised I've got to organise some Quidditch trials - I've no idea how that's going to fit in with my school work, but I'm sure I'll find a way. Say 'hi' to Remus for me.

Harry

----

"You actually told them you're allergic to some of the ingredients in the Pepper-up potion?" Daker joked in faked shock. "You do realise that they might try and poison you with the stuff!"

"Let them try." Snape shrugged, "won't make any difference to the usual days happenings."

Alastor Daker turned to him, his face no longer humorous. "You really worry me sometimes."

"Don't worry about me, I'm used to it." Snape lit a cigarette. "Worry about yourself." He continued.

Daker made his way over to where Snape was sat and placed his hands gently and lovingly on his friend's shoulders, slowly he started to massage the tight muscles. "I'm worried because I love you."

Snape placed a comforting hand on top of Daker's. "I know..." He said softly. "Alastor, you know that by being with me you're endangering your life. He's bound to find out."

"He hasn't done though. Spike, we've been together since we were in the seventh year, and he hasn't found out about us."

"Yet." Snape stood to face his lover, "he hasn't found out about us yet. There'll come a time, Alastor, he's getting stronger, more powerful." The hand that held his cigarette shook. Both men stood facing each other in silence.

"I don't care." Daker said softly. "I lost you once, and I'm never going to lose you again. Let that bastard find out, I'd rather die than loose you."

Snape smiled weakly and ran his free hand over Daker's arm. "Thanks." He said very softly, "it means a lot."

Daker smiled as well and returned Snape's gesture, Snape raised his head to look deep into his lover's eyes. Gently he took Alastor's hand and held it to his own heart and gazed softly into his blue eyes.

"I wish you didn't smoke." Alastor said suddenly, interrupting the moment.

Snape was taken slightly back by this and gave a small chuckle. "What is it with you and moments."

"Couldn't help it Spike, I felt like the moon was going to set behind us and some cheesy music would start playing. You know, typical soppy romance film."

"We're standing next to a stone wall, how could the moon set behind us?"

"Well, you know what those films are like." Alastor smiled, "especially if they are directed by Kenneth Branagah."

"He doesn't direct love stories!"

"He directed Frankenstein."

"That wasn't a love story."

"Well... no, but it turned out like one. You know what he decided to bring his wife back to life?"

"Alright, alright I get the picture. Frankenstein's monster had a bad sense of timing in that film. He killed Victor's wife before they could actually remove any clothing and make love properly."

"Wait! You're comparing me to Frankenstein's monster!" Alastor joked.

"No, I'm saying that your timing is like his monster." Alastor stuck out his tongue, and Snape laughed softly. "Christ, if the kiddies could hear me now."

"They'd be thinking, 'who are you, and what did you do with Professor Snape.'"

"Exactly." Snape looked at his watch, "ooh, it's half past eleven, better be making sure those blasted Slytherin's are getting into bed."

"You leave them 'till half eleven?"

"Only on first nights. Mostly they are too excited to get to sleep and cause havoc if they go to bed at their set time. By half eleven most of them have made their own way up to bed and it's just the stragglers who are left."

"Suppose we'd best part ways as well. It's going to be really hard to sleep without you beside me you know."

"Well, we'll just have to manage. Can you find your way back in the dark?"

"Should be able to. I've managed to memorise the feel of the root, so it shouldn't be too much trouble."

"As long as you're sure. Good night, Alastor."

"Night, Spike."

"Could you do me a favour?"

"Yes, what?"

"Try not to call me Spike during the day."

"Embarrassing?"

"No, just makes us sound too familiar, and I think that Potter and his friends are already forming rumours as to how I am going to do away with you in order to take your job." He smiled.

"Ah yes, the famous 'Snape wants the Defence job'. Well, you're welcome to it, but I don't think the school will find someone with your potions talents."

"You could charm you way out of a crisis."