Warnings: Language.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I am still not J.K. Rowling, and I don't make any money off this fanfic, I just play with her characters and her worlds. I own nothing but a few OC's and the plot.

-o-

Author's Notes:

- Once again, this chapter is a lot later then I was planning and also un-beta-edited. I apologise for that, and if you're still reading this and waiting for my slow updates, I thank you! A shout-out to my beta, Ichigo Mirai, who still manages to find time to edit my work, even though she's got a lot of RL stuff to deal with right now. The edited versions of chapters seven and eight should be up soon!

- I know that there are a lot of Ron haters and Ron lovers. I am one of the ones who hasn't quite decided. Yes, he can be a good friend, but he can also be a prat and he turned on Harry quicker then lightning when he thought he put his name in the Goblet. My Ron will be.. I guess you could say 'complicated'. I'm going to try and show both sides of him - the great best friend and brother who will anything for those he cares about, and the bloody stupid, lazy, jealous prat who thinks with his stomach, doesn't think before he lets out a stream of word vomit, and is more impulsive then Hagrid on crack. Even I'm not sure how he'll turn out at the moment, but that just means that you, my amazing readers, get to help me decide!

- My Ginny will probably be a little OC, but hopefully not too much. She's still going to have her Harry Potter obsession, because even though he isn't famous anymore, the did grow up with the whole 'Boy-Who-Lived' thing, and she still remembers it. Besides, it'll take more then a bit of time travel to rid her of that obsession.

- Just so you know, I have absolutely no idea where this story is going. I have some small things planned for first, second, third, fourth and fifth year, but I'm pretty much just making this up as I go along. And suggestions will be more then appreciated, whether it be parings, Hogwarts drama, Founders related, anything! This is also the reason I sometimes fuck up and leave stuff out and have to go back and fix it up or make up a solution in later chapters (like I did with this one - Bill couldn't teach three classes for the whole year!)

- Also, a big thank you to everyone who has reviewed. I really appreciate that you guys take a minute to review after all the time and effort I put into writing these chapters for you. A big thanks to Lilykees, davycrockett100, scrappy8, and Mrs Yaya, who have reviewed multiple times, and really make my day. Another thank you to Just William, Moi, geetac, LuckyCat1, NatNichole, adm-frb, and the review on chapter 4 (chapter 3 of the story) from 'Guest'. Your reviews really make my day, and make writing this seem worthwhile :)

- I hope this chapter is up to standard, and can't wait to see what you think of it!

-o-

A DIFFERENT FUTURE - CHAPTER ELEVEN

-o-

Wednesday, 4th September, 1991

Hermione, Harry and Neville were all very excited for their first Magical Creatures class come Wednesday morning, and Harry was surprised to find that, while he did like Hagrid teaching the class, their new Professor, Miss Elvina Burke, was actually quite good as well.

Having met the teacher briefly on their arrival at Hogwarts, the group was very interested to see her teaching methods.

Needless to say, when she walked out of the Magical Creatures classroom at 9am sharp and told them that their first lesson would be outside, she got off to a pretty good start. Making their way outside, the students sat down in the grass near the edge of the forest, quite close to where Hagrid's hut used to be in their old life.

"Good morning class. If you don't remember, my name is Professor Burke. Today, I thought I'd get a feel of how much you know about the creatures of the world - both magical and non-magical. Now I don't want you all to hate me for giving you a quiz on the first day, so you can all do it out here on the grass." a few groans came from the students, but Professor Burke ignored them and handed out a quiz for everyone to complete. "Put your name and House at the top please, and then you may begin. I don't care if you talk or compare answers with your friends, as long as you get the quiz completed by the end of the lesson."

It was still warm enough to sit outside for an hour or two, but there was a chilly wind, so Professor Burke asked the house elves to bring some hot chocolate for the students to drink while they completed their quiz.

Hermione had dragged Davina and Padma over to where Harry and Neville were sitting, and the five formed a small group. Ron had chosen to sit with Seamus and Dean, still annoyed at Hermione for getting up him for complaining about their new classes.

"His loss." Harry had shrugged when Ron left, not caring that his red-headed friend had left. "If he wants to act like a git, he can."

"That's not very nice, Harry." said Davina, frowning.

"He's been like this as long as I can remember. He'll realise he's made a mistake eventually." said Harry. Hermione rolled her eyes, but kept quiet on the subject of Ron.

"Do you want to start the quiz?" Hermione said, and everyone wrote their name and house, and started looking at the questions. Hermione was pleasantly surprised at the variety of subjects the quiz covered.

First Years Magical Creatures Quiz

Name and House: Hermione Granger, Ravenclaw.

1. Name five ways each a Redcap and Hinkypunk can harm you.

2. State the five major differences between a wild wolf and a werewolf.

3. What are the other differences between a Pegasus and a horse, besides the wings?

4. Name two things that can be used to tell the difference between a normal animal and a witch or wizard animagus in animal form.

5. Name ten creatures that can be found in the Black Lake.

6. What country has the highest number of deadly non-magical creatures in the world?

7. How many languages from magical, non-human creatures are fully documented and available for anyone who wants to learn them?

8. What parts of what animals will keep you alive if you are dying? Give at least five examples.

9. How many different uses are there for Dragons blood? Name them all.

10. Name all twenty magical creatures that have been documented worldwide for giving parts for wand cores, and the parts they give.

11. How long can a vampire go without blood?

12. What are the chances of a witch or wizard surviving a werewolf bite? What are the chances for a muggle?

13. Name all of the known species of Dragons.

14. Name ten magical creatures native to Britain that give birth to eggs, as opposed to live young.

15. Name five spells that are effective underwater in keeping Grindylows at bay.

16. What are two ways to subdue a group of Cornish Pixies without using magic?

17. What colour are baby unicorns?

18. How can you tell which end of a Blast-Ended Skrewt is the head?

19. Name the only known species of Dragon that is native to Britain.

20. What is the correct way to approach a Hippogryph?

Hermione quickly read over the first page of questions, and a smile lit her face. There were questions on all types of magical creatures! There were four more pages, 100 questions all up, and the first years seemed to panic slightly when they realised just how many there were to answer. Professor Burke had given them the whole one and a half hour lesson though, and all of the students seemed to realise that if they didn't do the work she set out, lessons outside would not be happening again.

Over three quarters of the students got the entire quiz completed, and Hermione, Harry and Neville were disappointed to find that Ron was not one of them. He had spent almost the entire lesson talking about Quidditch and food, something the three were hoping their trip to the past had some affect on. Davina and Padma, sensing that the three wanted to talk alone, left to go and hand in all five of their tests.

"We have to talk to him. Maybe Helena and Bill as well, they both know." said Hermione, looking both angry and worried. Harry and Neville could easily tell she was referring to who knew about their rendezvous to the past.

"He won't listen. He thinks because he's done most of the classes before that he can do nothing and still pass the tests." Harry said, looking more angry then anything.

"I know." said Neville. "He won't even pass first year exams if he doesn't wake up and realise that all of these classes are different, and they expect more. The only reason he passed last time was because of you, Hermione." Hermione blushed, but didn't deny it - all three knew it was true.

"I don't know how to get him to take classes seriously though. I think you're right though, he needs to talk to Bill at least. I'd only involve Helena if he doesn't straighten out after that."

Harry and Neville nodded their agreement as Padma and Davina came back, joining their little group once again.

"Professor Burke said she'd mark the papers and tell us the results next Wednesday. There's too many of us to mark them all in time for tomorrow's lesson." said Padma.

"If she had them all marked by tomorrow I'd bet you any money she wouldn't have slept a wink - either that or got her hands on a time turner!" Hermione grinned.

"I pity her having to mark anything Ron does." said Harry, standing up as Professor Burke announced the lesson was over.

"Why have you been so hard on him lately?" Hermione asked as they made their way back up to the castle for Transfiguration. The look Harry gave her clearly said 'I'll tell you later', and the witch decided to keep quiet - for now.

-o-

Transfiguration was just as fun as it had been the first time around, and Harry, Neville and Hermione all got ten points each for turning their needle into a match first go. Padma and Davina also got it before the lesson was over, as did half the other Ravenclaws, and about a quarter each of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Surprisingly, Ron actually made an effort, and was one of the Gryffindor's who had a needle on his table at the end of the lesson.

After watching Harry, Hermione and Neville transfigure their match perfectly on the first go, she had them do it again twice more, to prove it wasn't a fluke. After seeing that, the Scottish witch let out a rare smile, and told the three to read the next chapter of the Transfiguration textbook, and attempt the next spell if they had time. After the trio completed two more spells by the end of the lesson, McGonagall asked them to stay behind. The three had limited themselves to three spells, knowing that they could easily do all seven years worth of Transfiguration, but it would look a bit strange if they did.

Ron, of course, didn't wait for them. It was lunch time after all, and the three knew that the boy thought with his stomach. Padma and Davina were all set to wait, but Hermione told them to go on ahead and save her a seat. Once the two Ravenclaw's left, the three turned to face a beaming McGonagall.

"You three did absolutely wonderfully today! Have any of you attempted those spells before?"

"Neville and I have." said Harry. "We've both had private tutors." Neville gave a nod of agreement, knowing that would cover their knowledge of spells they were supposed to not have learnt yet. McGonagall turned to Hermione.

"I've been reading about these spells for almost a year. The first thing I did when I got to Hogwarts was try out as many as I could." a blush crept up Hermione's cheeks, and Harry and Neville gave the girl a mental high-five for her superb acting skills. Although, could it really be counted as acting, considering that's exactly what she had done the first time around?

"While I'm disappointed such a talented young witch like yourself is not in my house, the Hat obviously sorted you right." McGonagall smiled. "And as for you two, I'm very proud of you, of all of you." she gave Hermione a smile. "Even if you have practiced this before, you still managed to perform three perfect transfigurations for me today, while the majority of the class could only perform one. If you would like some extra work or second-year material, I would only be happy to help."

"Thank you Professor!" Hermione beamed. Both boys thanked her as well, though their smiles were because of Hermione. She already knew all seven years worth of Transfiguration, but had acted like McGonagall had just told her that Christmas would be coming early this year.

Maybe they could convince the Scottish witch to give them a book about becoming an Animagus? It was one of the things that Harry had never got around to doing in his past life, although he did have memories of Sirius telling him stories of how the Marauders achieved their transformations. Maybe he didn't need McGonagall after all.

"I must applaud your acting skills Miss Granger!" said Harry, laughing, as the three made their way to the Great Hall.

"Why thank you, Mister Potter! I'll have you know I'm very proud of them!" Hermione replied.

Neville didn't say anything, just walked with his friends to lunch, enjoying the sound of laughter bouncing off the castle walls. It was so much nicer then the screams or terror and heart-wrenching sobs of grief from the Battle, which was all the young wizard had been able to think about since stepping off the Express at Hogsmeade.

-o-

Hermione had met up with Padma and Davina at lunch, and explained to them what had happened with McGonagall. Harry and Neville had already asked about studying together, and when Davina and Padma asked if she wanted to start a study group with her, and Hermione had readily agreed. Setting up two afternoons a week - one where Davina and Padma (and possibly others later on) would join them - for extra studying. The days with the other students would be mostly studying for class and doing assignments, where as their 'private' lessons would consist of refining all of the skills they had and the spells they knew before they had gone back in time. Harry had promised to try and get more information out of Sirius about becoming an Animagus, so that was a future possiblility for their 'study' nights.

The three Ravenclaw's sat with Neville and Harry during Charms and Arithmacy, and the two boys had joined them at the Ravenclaw table for dinner. Before that though was their first flying lesson, and Harry had sure made an impression. If he hadn't once again earned his place on the Quidditch team (despite being a first year), then he was sure that, come second year, he'd be the new Gryffindor Seeker.

-o-

Harry, Hermione, Neville, Padma and Davina all made their way in a group down to the Quidditch pitch together. Harry was mildly annoyed that he had to use the school brooms - all very out-of-date Cleensweep's - when he had a brand new Nimbus 2000 back at Godric's Hollow that James had given to him on his 11th birthday.

Regardless of which broom he would be flying on though, Harry was just happy to have a chance to get in the air. He really missed being able to fly on his Firebolt whenever he wanted, and vowed to get one as soon as they came out.

Dominic Sykes was, in Harry's opinion, a much better flying instructor then Madam Hooch. While their old flying instructor had been a Slytherin, and very biased towards her team during the games, Dominic had been a Hufflepuff, and treated everyone the same, regardless of their house.

He had first got them to stand over their brooms and grip it like they were about to push off. While Professor Sykes was checking the Ravenclaw's grips, Draco Malfoy was running his mouth, talking loudly to everyone who would listen that he had been flying for years and would be the best in the class. The blonde was then reduced to standing there fuming, head facing the ground while his classmates laughed at him, after Professor Sykes took one look at his grip and told him he'd been holding his broom wrong for years.

After checking everyone's grip, the class was told to push up, hover in the air, and drop back down. The class done that half a dozen times, and by then even the students afraid of heights were slightly more comfortable on a broom. Hermione was one of the students who was afraid of heights, and Neville was another. Those two took places either side of Harry, knowing that, with his skill on a broom, they were very unlikely to fall.

Professor Sykes finished off the lesson by having everyone slowly fly around the Quidditch pitch at their own pace and at a comfortable height above the ground. After making sure that Hermione and Neville were okay, and in the capable hands of Davina and Padma, Harry took off.

Professor Sykes was just about to race off after Harry, and berate him for being so reckless, when he noticed how well the boy flew. He was zipping around the other flyers, but never getting too close to frighten them. Up, down, around, repeat. The boy was a natural on a broom and was clearly the best flyer in the entire class.

Draco Malfoy noticed this too, and his jealousy spiked. Looking around for a target, he spotted Hermione and Neville flying slowly and relatively low to ground. No, that would be too easy. Padma and Davina, on the other hand, were at least ten metres off the ground, and flying quite quickly. Davina was clearly skilled on a broom as well, but no where near as good as Harry. As Draco watched Padma wobble slightly, he picked his target and accelerated.

Slyly slipping the tip of his wand out of his robes, he pointed it at Padma and cast a spell his father had taught him.

"Confundus!"

The spell hit Padma in the back, and the second it did, the Indian witch began to lose control of her broom. When Davina flew closer to help, Draco cast the same spell at her, hitting her thigh. Smiling to himself, he flew past them and continued on his lap of the pitch.

Davina had been hit with a Confundus before, Regulus having taught his children to duel from a young age. She knew the effects well, and now both her and Padma had been hit. Knowing that Harry was closer to her then Professor Sykes - and would get there faster, regardless of their teachers faster broom - she called out for the boy she'd known as a cousin her whole life.

"Harry! We've been hit with a Confundus, help Padma!" Harry heard and flew over at once. Knowing Harry would help her friend, Davina worked on getting her own broom to the ground. Having a slight tolerance to the spell certainly helped, and Davina managed to get herself safely to the ground, looking up just in time to hear a frightened shriek.

Padma had fallen off her broom.

Harry had kept one eye on Davina, but knew the girl was almost a good a flyer as he was, so concentrated most of his attention on Padma. The witch was hanging onto her broom like it was her lifeline, but she was also pulling and pushing and steering the broom straight towards the stands. Clearly, she wasn't in control, and Harry sped towards her as fast as the old school broom would allow. Harry was right behind Padma when the Confundus forced her to let go of her broom.

Padma let out a yell, but not for long. Harry had seen she was about to fall, and dived a bit to position himself underneath her. Harry scooted back on his broom slightly just as Padma landed on his lap - literally.

The front end of Harry's broom careened towards the ground, but he managed to pull it up just in time, both landing in an ungraceful heap as the two toppled the last metre to the ground.

Professor Sykes was off his broom and right beside them seconds later.

"What in the name of Merlin just happened?" he demanded. Harry raised his wand and muttered the counter-curse to the Confundus charm on Padma, surprising their teacher and everyone who had seen. Davina had already cast the counter-curse on herself, and had helped the other two up. Hermione and Neville were soon beside them, along with Padma's twin sister Parvarti, making sure they were okay. It was Davina who finally answered Professor Sykes' question.

"Padma and I were flying and then Padma got hit with a Confundus. She began to lose control so I tried to help her, but then I got hit with one as well. I knew Harry was closer then you, and no offense but he's probably a better flyer as well, so I called him over to help Padma while I tired to get myself to the ground. I managed, and Harry caught Padma as she fell off her broom, saving her life."

Harry and Padma backed her up, and Professor Sykes knew that they were telling the truth. It matched up to what he saw while racing over to help. The whole incident had lasted less then a minute but had left quite a few visibly shaken. Professor Sykes knew what he had to do, and quickly sent a messenger Patronus, in the form of an osprey, to the Headmistress.

"Alright everyone, brooms away now! Then you will all sit right here until the Headmistress arrives, and I don't care how much of dinner you miss." A few people complained at the thought of missing dinner - none more so then Ron - but Professor Sykes was not in the mood to be argued with. "This was an attack on a fellow student, and will be treated as such. If the person responsible comes forward now, then the punishment won't be as harsh. If you hide amongst your fellow classmates and make the staff check every single one of your wands, the consequences will be much worse. Actions like this will not be tolerated in this school, and especially not in my class! Understand?"

Helena got to the Quidditch pitch just in time to hear sixty students say 'Yes, Professor'. Seeing the students all sitting, uninjured, at Dominic's feet made her heart stop racing. The Patronus message had just told her to get to the Quidditch pitch because there had been an incident, but nothing more. The witch had transformed into her animagus form - which, ironically enough, was a large raven - and made the journey very quickly, arriving at the pitch less then thirty seconds after the message reached her office.

"Professor, may I asked what happened here?" asked Helena as she moved to stand beside Dominic.

"One of our first years cast a Confundus on two others while they were flying. If it wasn't for Mr Potter's exceptional flying, one of our students would have been seriously injured, maybe even killed. No one has of yet confessed, but I told them all they would miss dinner if we had to check each of their wands for the spell." Helena looked enraged, and rightly so.

"Which one of you dared to attack another student while they were flying? I may have been a bit more lenient if you were on the ground, but during a flying lesson? Whoever this was will go straight to suspension, and be on probation for the rest of first year!" the first years gasped, not expected such a threat. "If any of you knows who did this, then please tell me now. Only the person or persons who cast the spell will be punished."

A Hufflepuff girl, Megan Jones, put her hand up. She was clearly shy, and didn't want to tell on a fellow classmate, but Padma could have died, and Megan was thinking about how she'd feel if it was one of her friends.

"Yes, Miss Jones?"

"I didn't see his wand, but Draco Malfoy was flying behind the girls right before it happened, and then flew off and started laughing."

If Helena was angry before, she was furious now. Without a word, she summoned Draco's wand, and it came flying out of his right sleeve. Casting Prior Incantante, she found out it was indeed him that cast the curse.

"Mr Malfoy, make your way up to my office, now! Professor, would you please accompany him, and have Professor's McGonagall, La'Vette and Flitwick go with you. Have one of them contact Lucius Malfoy and get him here as soon as possible. Tell Professor Flamel to take over dinner until we return. I want to have a quick word with your students and then I'll see them to the Great Hall."

"Of course, Headmistress."

"What about my wand?" Draco protested, as Professor Sykes led him away. Helena took a few calming breaths and pocketed Draco's wand, ignoring the Malfoy scion's yells of protest.

"I really hope that you all have learned your lesson today. Draco Malfoy has already been in trouble once for calling a teacher a mudblood, and now he almost kills another student. One more stunt like that, and the boy will be out of Hogwarts for good." many of the first years were shocked, but the steely edge in Helena's voice made sure they all knew she wasn't joking. "I really hope that I don't have a problem with any of you, because I would really hate for Hogwarts to lose such bright and promising students."

She let that sink in, before turning to the three who had been involved.

"Mr Potter, Miss Black and Miss Patil, I want you to have a check-up in the Infirmary before you go to dinner." Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Helena, knowing what she was going to say, cut her off. "Miss Granger, Mr Longbottom, and the other Miss Patil, you three may accompany them. As for the rest of you, off to dinner!"

Helena had never seen the Quidditch pitch empty so fast. Following the last students in, she saw the first years into the Great Hall, and the other six to the Infirmary. With a sigh, she then headed for her office.

-o-

Lucius Malfoy was not a happy wizard. He had been summoned in the middle of an early dinner by a Floo call from Hogwarts, and after being informed by the Deputy Headmistress that Draco was being suspended, he and Narcissa quickly finished their meal and Floo'd into the Headmistress' office. Helena was sitting at her desk, Draco on the other side in one of the two chairs. Off to the side, Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, La'Vette and Sykes were all waiting. Lucius took a calming breath before making his way over to sit beside his impudent son.

"May I ask what has happened, Headmistress? We got your letter last night about Draco's behaviour, surely you're not changing your mind and suspending him just for calling a teacher a mudblood?" Lucius was clearly angry, but Helena wasn't one to back down from a fight.

"No, Mr Malfoy, your son is being suspended for almost killing two students today!" Helena snapped, and Lucius sat back, shocked. His eyes then narrowed on Draco, who was shaking with fear and keeping his eyes to the floor.

"What did you do, Draco?" Lucius asked, in a voice so sharp it could cut granite. The Malfoy head was clearly furious. When Draco said nothing, Helena informed him.

"During the first years flying lesson, your son cast two Confundus charms at two fellow students. One as able to get to the ground safely, the other fell off her broom. Had another student not caught her, she would have fallen over ten metres to the ground, and if she didn't die from those injuries, she would have been in the Infirmary for quite some time."

Lucius stayed quiet, but everyone in the room could feel the anger radiating off him in waves. "And who were these students? And where was the Professor? Why did one student have to stop another from falling?"

Helena nodded to Dominic, and he stepped forward to address Lucius.

"The two students your son cursed were Padma Patil, and Davina Black." Narcissa gasped, that Draco could fire a curse that could potentially kill his own cousin was something she had never thought her son capable of. The two had never gotten along as children, but she never expected this! "Miss Black managed to get her broom to the ground on her own, but it was Miss Patil who was having the real trouble. Harry Potter was the student who risked his own life to catch her. Miss Black was more then aware of Mr Potter's flying ability, and he was a lot closer to the girls then I was, so she called out for him to help. And it was a good decision, one I stand by her making. Mr Potter caught Miss Patil, and besides a mild case of shock, I'm fairly certain there was no injuries. Even with a faster broom, I never would have made it there in time, I was on the other side of the Quidditch pitch helping some other students. Keep in mind, Mr Malfoy, I was teaching a class of sixty students. Although, after today, I'm hoping that will change."

"We have realised that the class has too many students for flying, and will be changing that next week." Helena confirmed, nodding at Dominic before turning back to Lucius. "Regardless, your son still fired two spells at fellow first-years, and could have caused serious harm, and is being suspended for his actions. Especially considering he was already in trouble for his actions yesterday, young Mr Malfoy will now never be allowed on the Quidditch team, and if his attitude improves and he lasts until third year, his Hogsmeade visitation rights will depend entirely on his actions and behaviour in class."

Draco had kept quiet, but hearing that he would never be allowed to play Quidditch saw him explode.

"All I did was Confund a know it all mudblood-lover and a bloody Paki! They both deserved it! I should have hit Potter as well!"

"SILENCE!" Lucius didn't have to should, but his raised voice cut through the noise like it was nothing. "Draco, you will apologise to all three of these students when you get back to school, and if I hear you've played up one more time I will remove you from this school myself!"

"Thank you, Mr Malfoy." said Helena. She moved around the desk and handed Draco's wand to Lucius. "As Draco's Head of House, Professor La'Vette will be keeping an eye on your son when he gets back to school, and so will I. I think Monday, the 16th, would be a good day for your son to resume his classes. Please have him back at the school on the Sunday night. His Professor's will owl you his school work, and it better be completed by the time he gets back, or he shouldn't bother returning. I will not have anyone bullying my students, Mr Malfoy, especially not another student."

"Of course, Headmistress." said Lucius, before shoving Draco towards the Floo. Once the Malfoy's were gone, Helena lead the others down to dinner.

"Why were we here, Helena? I'm sure you and Dominic could have handled that on your own." said Professor Flitwick.

"Minerva is my Deputy, she is also Mr Potter's Head of House. You are Padma and Davina's Head of House, and Kendra is Draco's. And of course, it was Dominic's class."

"That's not what I meant and you know it." Fillius squeaked. "We all knew that."

"It was just a precaution. I've dealt with Lucius Malfoy before, and I wanted all my bases covered. I wasn't sure whose side he was going to be on, or how he would react."

"He is a slippery little bastard." Minerva said, ignoring the looks she got for her language. "I've dealt with him before as well. I don't blame you in the slightest, Helena."

They soon entered the Great Hall, and all conversation stopped for a few heartbeats. As suddenly as it had stopped, the noise erupted again, even louder then before.

"Ah, the Hogwarts rumour mill." said Dominic. "I wonder what the most popular theories are at the moment?"

The Professor's had a quick bite to eat, and then Helena stood to address the students.

"Good evening all. As I'm sure you have all heard, there was an incident just before dinner with the first years Flying class. A student thought it would be funny to hit two others with a Confundus charm, while they were over ten metres in the air." the reaction to that was exactly what Helena had hoped for - shock, horror, and disgust. "The fact that this particular student was already in trouble from yesterday left me with no choice. That student has now been suspended, and put on probation for the entirety of first year, and will never be allowed on their House Quidditch team. One more mistake, and that student shall be expelled. This should be a lesson to you all about how serious we take bullying, and threats towards our students. I hope to never see such disgusting display from any of you ever again!"

Silence followed her speech as everyone thought about what she had said.

"Before you all go to bed, I have one more announcement. It seems that a whole year flying at once is just a bit too much for one instructor to handle. Starting next week, there will be a slight change to our first year Flying class. Ravenclaw and Gryffindor will continue to have their lessons on a Wednesday afternoon, while Hufflepuff and Slytherin will be on a Thursday. We will also have an extra instructor on a week-to-week basis, if it is deemed necessary. That's all for tonight."

Helena sat back down, and the hall erupted into chatter once more. It wasn't until the Prefects had led the students back to their dorms that the Headmistress realised she had a few stragglers. Harry, Hermione and Neville - who were in the Infirmary less then ten minutes - waited until all the students had left before approaching the staff table.

"Headmistress, I'm sorry we didn't leave straight away, but we were hoping to have a quick word with Professor Flamel before we go to bed. Will that be okay?"

"Very well, Mr Potter. Professor Flamel, I'm sure you'll see these three getting back to their towers before curfew?"

"Of course, Headmistress."

Helena then lead the other Professors out of the Great Hall, and Harry, Ron Hermione and Bill all sat down at the nearest table. Hermione was the first to speak, letting Bill know just what they wanted to talk about.

"It's about Ron..."

-o-

Friday, 6th September, 1991

Nanalie Herbertson made her way to the Headmistress' office Friday afternoon, a folder of medical files clutched in her delicate hands. Upon entering the office, Helena gave her a smile from behind her desk.

"Hello Nanalie. Have you got the start-of-year medical reports for me?"

"Of course, Helena. Here you are." Nanalie put the folder on her desk, and Helena picked it up to flick through them quickly. A small smile graced her face as she saw that the files were arranged not only by year, but also in alphabetical order. Helena was slightly obsessive when it came to things being in order.

"Was there anything that stood out? Any changes from last years medicals?" Helena asked, pulling out the large tome of student records.

"There was a couple of first year students who had strangely large magical cores. Muggleborn Hermione Granger, of Ravenclaw, halfblood Harry Potter, and pureblood Neville Longbottom, both of Gryffindor. There was another, Ronald Weasley, a pureblood from Gryffindor as well. His magical core was slightly bigger as well, but not as much as the other three. They all refused a temporary block, saying they could handle it."

"They can, don't worry." Helena laughed. At Nanalie's bemused look, she continued. "I know all four personally, and I know they'll be okay. Harry and Neville have had tutors from a young age, Ron has older brothers who have taught him, and Hermione.." Helena gave another chuckle. "Hermione is just Hermione. She's a muggleborn and determined to prove herself in the wizarding world. She won't let go of any advantage she's been given, but she won't overdo it."

"You sound like you know them well." said Nanalie, and Helena could sense the question in her statement.

"I guess you could say that, yes. I've had the pleasure of spending some time with them. Was there anything else in the medical records?" Helena changed the topic, and Nanalie was content to go along with it. For now.

"Well, there was a few other things..."

-o-

Saturday, 7th September, 1991.

Thursday and Friday flew by, and Harry, Hermione and Neville were all getting slightly worried at Ron's ever-increasing adversity towards his school work. He slept in late, staying in the Great Hall until the very last piece of food had disappeared, and seemed to have very little interest in his class work what so ever. Bill had been watching Ron, and he was concerned as well.

Fred and George snuck out Saturday morning, checking up on their shop and sneaking Ginny into the castle on their way back. Bill, Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron were waiting in the Room of Requirement for them when they got back. The Room had provided them with a comfortable sitting room, with multiple comfy armchairs and two loveseats. Tripe was more then happy to provide the group with a late breakfast, since they had decided not to eat in the Great Hall. Ten minutes after the twins and Ginny arrived, the door opened, letting in two people, and then sealed itself shut. Helena gave them all a smile before taking a seat, while Ginny flew at her biggest 'brothers' with a shriek of "BILL! CHARLIE!", enveloping them both in a bone-crushing hug each.

Once they were all seated - Bill and Charlie snagging the spots either side of Helena - conversation flowed easily, and it seemed no topic was off limits. Just after lunch, Hermione asked Charlie if he could dispel his glamour, so she could see what he now looked like. She had never seen a Dracken before, and Charlie laughed as a notebook and pen was brought out of her pocket.

"You really should have been put in Ravenclaw the first time around Hermione." Charlie said with a smile, standing up and removing the numerous glamour's. "Your thirst for knowledge is second to none." Charlie transfigured his robe into a T-shirt and shorts, so Hermione could get a better look.

Everyone gasped when Charlie revealed his real features.

He was now almost seven feet tall, red-black scales covering the tops of his arms, running down the sides of his legs, and snaking up his neck, merging perfectly with the bits on his body that still had normal skin. His fingernails were now claw-like, and his features clearly more animalistic then usual, especially his wide, two-toned eyes. Charlie's eyes were fascinating; he had the usual black pupils, but the rest of his eyes was a beautiful swirl of purple and blue. He seemed broader across the shoulders as well, though it was hard to tell with Charlie's long hair splayed out across them, the same dark red with black streaks as Bill's. Much to Hermione's delight, Charlie also had a long tail that rested behind him, fully dragon - and the same red-black as his body - and a large set of leathery wings, stretching at least three feet in either direction. Just like his brother, Charlie barely looked a day over twenty.

Bill and Helena were sitting back, laughing, watching the younger kids look over Charlie in fascination. They had both seen Charlie's Dracken form before, as well as his dragon form, and were enjoying the looks of awe on the others faces.

"How come you look so young?" Ginny asked Charlie. Bill hadn't dropped his glamour's yet, giving Ginny time to adjust to Charlie first.

"Dracken age at a fourth of the rate of a normal witch or wizard, giving them an average life expectancy of 400 years. I've still got at least 360 left in me." Charlie chuckled. "It's because of the dragon part of us. The average life-span for a dragon is roughly 1000 years, and a witch or wizard is around 100 years. It's our bodies way of trying to even out the two halves I guess."

"Can you turn into a dragon?" Hermione asked excitedly.

"Yes, all Dracken have a dragon form, sort of like a more natural version of an animagus transformation."

"Did you try an Animagus transformation before your Inheritance?" Harry asked. He was curious if his own impending creature Inheritance would affect his ability to become an Animagus.

"Yes, so did Bill. Mine didn't seem to work that well, and quite a few times I got stuck with scales for days." Charlie chuckled. "It was a lot easier afterwards."

"Fae don't usually have an Animagus form, so it was actually harder for me after I got my Inheritance." Bill said, continuing on from his brother. "I managed it a few months before our seventeenth birthday, and I was getting really good, but it became a lot harder. It feels really.. Unnatural.. To me now." Bill seemed upset, but he shook it off and gave everyone a smile.

"What were you?" Hermione asked, curiosity winning out over her manners.

"A direwolf. A red and black direwolf. It was a strange sight!" Charlie laughed.

"Can we see?" asked Neville. "And your dragon as well, Charlie?"

"I think we'll need a bit more room-" Charlie stopped as one side of the room began to grow, outwards and up, soon leaving an empty space about the size of the Quidditch pitch. "Well, I think that will be enough!" he chucked, before moving over to the empty space. Flashing the watching group with a grin, Charlie took off at a run, before launching himself into the air and transforming mid-jump.

The dragon, a large Hebridean Black, was roughly 30 feet long, its scales mostly black, interwoven with a deep red. The ridges along its back, and the spikes on its tail, were the same dark red as its scales, and it's eyes were a bright purple. Charlie's wings, which had been only six feet from tip to tip in his human form, were now at least ten feet each.

After flying around for a few minutes, doing some aerial acrobatics, Charlie swooped down and transformed just before he hit the ground, grinning like a maniac. Before he could re-join the group, Bill ran forward, dispelling his own glamour's and stretching out his wings, taking to the air, hoping they would forget about his animagus. He just wasn't comfortable transforming anymore, and it was still a touchy subject. Charlie seemed to know exactly what Bill was doing, and played along, laughing and stretching out his wings, taking to the sky again - this time in his human form. Bill and Charlie flew around each other, chasing and flying, spinning, shooting towards the sky and diving dangerously low to the ground. It was clear his wasn't the first time they had taken to the skies together.

Helena sat back with a smile on her face, watching as the kids cheered and laughed, watching with awe at what Bill and Charlie could do. She had gotten to know the two over the years, especially since she was running the school when the two transferred over to Hogwarts for their seventh year. Since then, the three had kept in touch.

Charlie had gone over to Romania as soon as he could, and being a Dracken (along with his exceptional grades), he was immediately accepted to work on the dragon reserve. Since then, Charlie had been to every dragon reserve in the world, and his knowledge about the beautiful creatures was second to none. Charlie had also found two small clans of Dracken; one in Romania, hidden deep in a forest, and the other in Australia, in what the muggles thought was a desert, but was actually a nature preserve that grew every type of magical and muggle plant known. Since finding the Dracken tribe in Australia, Charlie had also spent a year in their home world, somewhere only accessible by a Dracken, their mates, and invited guests. He had learned everything there was know about being a Dracken, what powers he had, and how it would affect the rest of his life. The last year, however, Charlie had been back in Romania, working with a mixture of magical animal researchers and muggle geneticists, trying to miniaturize certain animals. After seeing the miniature dragons that most Draken's had as familiars, Charlie was determined to re-create their stature with other species.

Helena had asked him, many times, to consider teaching, but Charlie had spent years avoiding Britain like it was the plague. The Founder's and their heirs had decided to stay away from the Ministry at that point in time, happy to simply run Hogwarts, and the idiots making the laws had ensured Charlie's kind would be hunted to extinction. After seeing the way that magical Britain was headed, those of Founders decent with a knack for politics had climbed up the ranks of the Ministry, and set about changing the way that Britain's magical community thought about all types of magical creatures, especially those that could copulate with witches and wizards, creating half-breeds - Veela and Werewolves to start with - and those who received creature inheritances, like Dracken and Fae. Magical Britain had come a long way in the last two decades, but even Helena knew that they had a long way to go before it's attitude was on par with the rest of the magical world.

Bill had travelled all over the world as well, looking for others of his kind. Dracken were rare, certainly, but Fae - of any kind - were almost extinct. Bigoted people had been afraid at the magic that natural elementals could do without a wand, and any magical creature - especially those with a talent for wandless magic - were hunted almost to extinction. Just like the Dracken, the Fae have their own home world as well, but Bill was denied access. After searching for years to find others like him, to learn more about himself and what he could do, he was given a choice at the Gate - renounce his wizarding heritage - forever - and to stay in the Fae's realm, or to leave and never return. The Elder Fae who had blocked his passage into the realm had given him a week to decide. After agonising over his choice, Bill decided that he really couldn't leave his brother, and had bid farewell to the realm of the Fae, hoping that, just maybe, he may one day be able to return.

Bill's looks were far easier to glamour then Charlie's, and unlike his twin, Bill had no great path he wanted to follow. After spending a few years in France with his parents, and teaching at Beauxbatons, Bill had eventually returned to Britain, and Helena had immediately offered him a job teaching at Hogwarts. He had accepted teaching Elemental Magic, already knowing that Helena had been waiting for the law to change so she could enter it into the curriculum, but hadn't thought he would end up teaching three classes when two others she had contracted to teach had suddenly quit the day before school started. Now, after his first week teaching, Bill was struggling, and Helena had reassured him that she was searching for replacements.

At the end of the night, the room was almost empty. Fred and George had snuck Ginny back out to Hogsmead, and then escorted Hermione to Ravenclaw Tower before making their way to the dungeons. Bill had walked the Gryffindor's back to their common room, hoping to have a little chat with Ron. Helena gave the Room of Requirement a fond smile before she and Charlie exited. Since Charlie was going to Floo back to his flat from the Headmistress' office, he walked with Helena back to her room.

"You seemed like you had a good time tonight." Helena said, and Charlie's wide smile was answer enough.

"I did Helena, I really did. Thank you for letting me see them again."

"You're very welcome."

"You know why I couldn't see them before, don't you?" Charlie asked, looking at his friend. "Bill told you?"

"Yes, he did." Charlie breathed a sigh of relief. "I understand, Char, you know I do. But they are old enough now. You may not be their biological brother in this life, but to those kids you will always be family, you'll always be their big brother. They need you Charlie, so please don't go running off again." Helena begged. "Besides, two of my teachers quit the day before school started, and your brother is swamped, taking three classes. He's the only one I know besides you who has the skills to take on all three of those classes, even though your Elemental magic isn't quite as good as Bills'. I know you have the skills to teach both Ancient Runes and Warding. You can choose which class you teach, and I'll hopefully be able to find a replacement for the other by the end of next week."

Charlie chucked at the hope in Helena's voice. He had turned down every offer she had ever given for him to teach, and he had thought she'd give up. Apparently, the sneaky witch was waiting, biding her time until he was emotional and vulnerable. Charlie had to admit, he respected her conniving nature. The two young Flamel's used to say it was her Slytherin side showing.

"You sneaky little witch! You were waiting until I saw them all again, weren't you?" said Charlie, sighing dramatically. Helena giggled, rolling her eyes. She had missed the playful banter.

"Maybe. Did it work?" she asked, looking at him with puppy-dog eyes.

"Just this year Helena, and that's it!" Charlie said, and Helena let out a very girly squeal of excitement, and threw her arms around his neck in a quick but powerful hug.

"Thank you! You know both Bill and I have missed you, and the kids will be happy to have you here as well."

"I know Helena. As much as I do like Ancient Runes, I think I'll take Warding. It's a specialised class, and even though Ancient Runes is only third years and up, Warding is only sixth and seventh years. Much more enjoyable to teach!" Charlie laughed.

"I know we might have a few students who may join in their fifth year, Fred and George for instance, but I'm sure that won't be a problem?" Charlie shook his head. "Excellent! I'm hoping to have at least one more specialised class next year, I just need to find a decent teacher." Helena said as they reached her office.

"Oh?"

"Yes, Enchanting. I know a lot of it is Charms related, but it's still another branch of magic that's being forgotten." Charlie nodded his head in agreement. "I was also hoping we could have a class for the muggle-borns to learn wizarding culture and our traditions, and a Curse-Breaking course, maybe one day a week, for the sixth and seventh years that are interested. I know a very talented Goblin that would be a perfect teacher for the Curse-Breaking class, but he'd have to agree to teach first. He might even do one class a week on finances if I ask nicely!"

At that, Charlie let out a loud laugh. "The Goblins wouldn't do that, they rely on that bank. Where would that leave them, if wizards could take care of their own finances?"

"It was just a thought!" Helena grumbled playfully. "Besides, it would be interesting to see Goblin teaching methods first hand!"

"Wow Helena, you really are going on a one-woman crusade to change the world aren't you?" Helena just laughed and shrugged. "You've got teachers of all blood, a Centaur for Astronomy, a Werewolf teaching DADA, an Fae for Elemental Magic and Ancient Runes, and a Dracken for Warding, and now you want a Goblin teaching as well? You're really putting your arse on the line there."

"It'll be worth it though, Charlie. Can you imagine, our world without prejudice? A world where a Goblin, Werewolf, Veela, Dracken, Fae or Centaur would be treated with the same respect as a witch or wizard?" Charlie smiled and gave his friend a hug before they moved up into the Headmistress' office - they had been standing outside it for far too long already. The fire in her eyes clearly showed that this was something she was passionate about. Then again, after seeing how bigoted and racist Britain had ended up the first time around, Charlie didn't blame her.

"Thank you, Charlie. Not just for accepting to teach." Helena said when they were in front of the Headmistress' fireplace.

Charlie gave her a smile and a kiss on the cheek. There had been a time when the two had been an item, but both knew that it wouldn't last. Charlie's Dracken side demanded the perfect mate, and as amazing as Helena was, she just wasn't right for him. Helena had also known it wouldn't work out. The two had just been looking for comfort, after all, and just happened to find it with one another.

"You should have owled me more Helena. I know you have a habit of closing yourself off to people, but even I know that you've been lonely."

"Ah, but you know me better then most, Charlie." she gave the man a fond smile before continuing. "I'll have your schedule done by tomorrow night. I think I may need Minerva and Fillius to help me re-arrange the second through seventh year time tables though. And I'll have to tell the poor second years that they don't get their electives until next year now! Luckily, they had only just chosen this week and weren't due to start their classes until Monday."

"How mean of you, Headmistress!" Helena just laughed at him.

"Maybe. But thank you, really. Now I just need to find a competent Ancient Runes teacher and Bill will be happy! The things I do for you Flamel's!" she sighs dramatically.

"I'll ask around. We have some helpers in Romania who make the cages for dragon transportation, and they use a hell of a lot of Runes. Maybe one of them would like a teaching job?"

"That would be great. I'll see you tomorrow night, Charlie. I'll give you the room next to Bill's."

"Thanks. See you soon, Helena," Charlie threw some Floo powder into the fireplace. He was soon back in his living room, in his house in Romania, wondering what the hell he had just gotten himself into.

-o-

Friday, 13th September, 1991

Helena had stood up on Monday morning at breakfast and made quite a few announcements. A few were met with welcome, and a few were not. But come the end of the week, everyone was pretty excited for the coming year.

Quidditch tryouts would be held in the next two weekends, who got use of the pitch on what days had been decided with a random pick-a-number-out-of-the-hat. Slytherin had gotten lucky and snagged first use of the pitch for the next day, and Hufflepuff on Sunday. Gryffindor had theirs the next Saturday, and then Ravenclaw at last on the Sunday. After seeing the memory of Harry flying, Minerva had asked Helena for special permission to let Harry try out for the House team, and therefore have his own broom at the school. Although he was a bit miffed that Helena kept the rule that forbade first years from having their own brooms or playing on the house teams, Harry wisely kept his mouth shut when McGonagall called him to her office Friday morning and told him the good news. He would be allowed to try out, using his own broom (which James Potter had left in the care of his former Head of House), and would be allowed to keep it at the school on the condition that it stayed in his dorm unless he had Quidditch practice, or a match.

The second years had been sorely disappointed that their elective classes were now no longer available, but they hadn't yet had a class, so they weren't too mad. The sight of the new Warding Professor, though, was a much more exciting bit of news, and the female students certainly didn't complain when their class schedules were re-arranged to accommodate the 'other Flamel' teaching.

Charlie was extremely happy to only be teaching four classes a week when he saw the looks he was getting from some of the older students. Bill just laughed at him, already used to getting the same looks.

Just as Bill did, Charlie kept his glamour's up while in the castle, much to Helena's distaste. She had hired a range of different people, and not just for their exceptional teaching abilities. She wanted the students to see that not all people with heritages other then human were 'creatures', but the Flamel's told her to wait at least until after Christmas, to get the students used to them first. Bill didn't really care, but he knew the reactions he would get, and he didn't want teenage girls gushing about how 'cute and adorable' he was. Charlie just didn't want to scare the first-years.

Helena knew that agreeing to their compromise was the only way she'd get to keep Bill and Charlie on as teachers, so she did, though quite unwillingly.

The week seemed to fly though, and soon a special feast was put on for Friday the 13th. Helena didn't really believe that Friday the 13th was an unlucky day, but she knew that a lot of the muggle-borns did - especially the religious ones - and decided to put on an even bigger feast then usual to distract them. The feast had been a big hit, and even those of wizarding heritage played along in order to get a better dinner.

-o-

Saturday, 21st September, 1991

Harry was pumped. It was finally time for the Gryffindor tryouts, and was ready to earn his place on the team. There were a few new faces that Harry hadn't recognised from his first time at Hogwarts, and those were the few he was keeping an eye on. The rest, however, he knew their strengths, weaknesses, and preferred positions and tactics. While somewhat at loath to admit it, he would let his Slytherin side out to play, and use his every advantage to claim the Seeker position. Harry wasn't planning on letting a little thing like a school rule stop him from flying for almost a year.

Oliver Wood, Captain and Keeper, was leading the tryouts. He made every player prove their worth every year, and Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell had all earned their Chaser positions first up. Next was the Beaters, and Harry was a little sad that he wouldn't get to play with Fred and George anymore. In the end, two muggle-borns had ended up getting the positions, a fourth year girl named Cora Whitehead, and a fifth year boy named Carter Collins. Harry had found out, after their tryouts, that they had both played muggle sports that had them using a bat or racket in a similar way - Carter had been playing baseball since he was five, and Cora was apparently quite a good tennis player.

Finally, Seeker trials were up, and Harry took to the skies in a line up with the other hopefuls. A second year boy, a third year girl, two fourth years boys, and a fifth year girl. Most of the upper years had tried out for Chaser or Beater, and a couple were picked as reserves, but their bulky bodies were not right for a Seeker. A Seeker had to be small and nimble, and Harry had his Seeking skills tuned to a fine art.

He soon proved himself a worthy opponent. Some dismissed him as just a little boy, but the rumours about him saving Padma during the first years flying lesson had spread quickly, and most were watching him with calculating eyes. He kept pace with the older students though, and quite a few times managed to out-fly them. Out of a total 20 times that Oliver released the Snitch, Harry had caught it 12 times, over twice as many as everyone else. A few of the older students claimed he was cheating, or had an unfair advantage because of his faster broom. Harry just shrugged and offered to use another broom. Even on the slow school brooms, Harry still caught the Snitch three more times. It was harder, sure, but no one could deny his talent, and he was given the Seekers position. The fifth year girl, a half-blood named Suzie Fields, was put on as a reserve Seeker and Chaser - she had tried out for both positions and was surprisingly good at both. However, so was Harry, and the fifth year was in a stroppy mood over her loss to a first year.

-o-

Thursday, October 31st, 1991

The rest of September flew by, the only new change it being seen was the other flying instructor, which to Harry's mixed horror and elation, was none other then James Potter. October seemed to go by just as fast, and soon enough it was Halloween. The students and teachers had settled into a routine, and as a reward for excellent school work and not so much as a detention for a single student, Helena had given the students a treat.

Halloween day, the students would be exempt from classes, as parents were welcomed into the school, and the students got to show off what they had been learning. The muggle parents had all been given special bracelets that were charmed to by-pass the muggle-repelling wards, and Grace and Logan Granger were among the first to pass through the gates and see the breathtaking beauty that was Hogwarts castle.

The students were waiting for them at the steps leading into the entrance hall, and they all greeted their parents with enthusiasm. A time table had been arranged to show the parents around the school, each set going with their children and year group. Meal times had been split, the first through fourth years eating with their parents first, then fifth, sixth and seventh, to accommodate all of the extra people eating in the castle. Parents who had more then one child often split up, and Harry noticed more then a few had brought their youngest children, probably to give them a glimpse of what their schooling days held. Harry gave James, Lily and Mia a hug each when they arrived, and Mia had downright refused to let go. Harry just laughed, knowing that he had missed her too, and repositioned the almost six-year-old onto his back, her arms loosely around his neck and legs locked around his waist. James cast a feather-light charm on Mia, making it easier for Harry to piggy-back her around the castle.

Two teachers went with each of the year groups as they toured around the castle, and Helena had agreed not to put Bill or Charlie with the first or third years, so they wouldn't have to deal with Molly and Arthur. Helena and Professor Sykes took the first years, Bill and Professor Flitwick took second, Professor's McGonagall and Fitzgerald had the third years, and Charlie and Professor La'Vette took fourth. The fifth years had Professor's Burke and Jefferson, sixth had Professor's Lupin and Imago, and the seventh years had Professor's Beery and Roslin. Professor Tonks and Madam Herbertson were floaters, helping out wherever they could. Firenze seemed to take great pleasure in making the younger siblings of students laugh by letting them ride on his back down the halls. James had asked to spend time with his family, and since they had more then enough staff, Helena agreed.

Bill and Charlie had, much to Helena's delight, dropped their glamour's at dinner the night before, showing the students their true forms. The parents were seeing them how they really were today, and there was clearly a lot of tension in the air. However, by the time lunch rolled around, the parents had relaxed a little, seeing how good all of the Professor's were with their students. After lunch, the entire school moved out to the grass, in a warded area that would keep out the cold and allow each teacher to set up a small demonstration of what was taught in their classes. Since there was so many people, there wasn't enough room in the Great Hall.

Harry had privately suggested to Helena that they use the Room of Requirement, but she had admitted, with a guilty blush, that she wanted to try and keep it a secret, less some people try and use it the wrong way. That was also the reason that Helena had gone to great lengths to ward the running track around the lake, and it was now able to be used all year around, no matter what the weather.

The parents had been very pleased with the teachers displays, especially when they got the students involved as volunteers, and Helena seemed to have saved the best for last. After Minerva had transfigured a block of wood into numerous things - including a large lion - and shown the audience her Animagus form, Bill and Charlie stepped forward. The brothers had been the ones to ward the larger area, as well as a smaller stage for the other Professor's to compete in - Bill and Charlie setting up the ward stones had had been the first demonstration. The boys were back for another demonstration however, and Charlie didn't disappoint as he left the warded area and transformed into his dragon form. Hebridean Black's had thick, tough scales, and a layer of insulating fat, so he wasn't cold while once again putting on an aerial show. Bill was commentating, describing what a Dracken was, what he could do, and more. Charlie soon landed and transformed back to his human form, squatting down to let the younger children play with his tail and wings.

Bill took to the air after that, but he had a large number of warming charms on him as he flew through the chilly October air. Charlie, who now had four young children hanging off him, stood up and began to explain what a Fae was, the different powers, and how the both of them received their magical Inheritances. Bill soon landed next to his brother, and began filling in things that others had missed. Soon enough, Remus had joined them, and what had started out as merely demonstrations of magic, was now a lecture on the different magical Inheritances that a witch or wizard could get, and what is was like to be a werewolf. Elvina stepped in shortly after too, and began talking about half-breeds, and the different levels of power and creature magics that a witch or wizard could posses if they were half-werewolf, half-veela, and half-vampire. Flitwick soon joined in, adding his own experience of being half-Goblin, and how that had affected his life.

Not long after Bill and Charlie had started their 'demonstration' the elves had brought out mugs of hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and pumpkin juice, and trays of sandwiches, biscuits, and other small snacks. By the end of it, everyone was sitting on conjured blankets or chairs, and Bill and Charlie were on the floor of the stage, children playing with their wings and Charlie's tail, while the other Professor's stood around them, adding bits and pieces to the lecture as the two brothers tried to change the prejudices against magical creatures.

-o-

By the end of the day, many parents (especially the muggles), students, and children had no trouble admitting that Halloween of 1991 was a major wake-up call. Not only did they see first-hand what their children were learning, but their beliefs about magical creatures had been blown right out of the water. The parents from a magical background were more concerned then surprised when they see what kind of creatures had been teaching their children, but quite a few of the muggles had almost keeled over in shock! To find out that all these creatures they had thought were only myths were actually real, and teaching their children no less, had been a really big revelation to handle.

Helena had offered all of the parents rooms in the castle that night, as long as they didn't mind sharing, and quite a few took them up on the offer. All but two of the pure-blood parents had left, and almost half of the half-blood ones had as well. But all of the muggle parents had chosen to stay, and Helena had, under Harry and Hermione's suggestion, put them in the Room of Requirement.

The Room had provided the guests with quarters that would certainly be suitable. It opened up into a large, circular common room, with many couches, love seats and comfy arm chairs done in warm tones, and half a dozen decent sized coffee tables. The walls were cream-coloured, with a few choice portraits in there to help with any questions that might need answering. In between the portraits hanging on the walls were doors that opened up into rooms that looked a lot like suites at a muggle 5-star hotel, each 'suite' having enough room for two sets of parents, and the children (if they had any with them). Off each suite was a bathroom, done in white and black marble, with a bath, shower, toilet, and large vanity with two sinks and a large, rectangular mirror.

To the left of the common room was a large play area for the smaller children, housing toys, books, comfy bean bags, and even a small swimming pool! To the right was a large kitchen, with a fully stocked pantry and fridge that had been charmed to run on magic. The elves would gladly provide the guests with food, but Hermione had told Helena to give them the option to cook, as it would be something 'normal' for the muggles to do after a day that was nothing short of crazy.

As Helena led them in, she began explaining where everything was. Once she was done, she introduced them all to the portraits. All of the portraits came with a cover that could be pulled over them, cutting them off from the room if the parents wanted to have a private conversation. Once the parents were settled in, Helena left, and the parents began quite the discussion, about their children, Hogwarts, magical creatures, and the state of the British magical community.

-o-

Author's Note: Yes, another one. Just bear with me!

I will soon be introducing more familiars into this story, and I need some for quite a few of the characters. Fred and George, Harry, Neville, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Draco, and a few others. I have some idea's, (like a mini panther for Hermione, and fox of some kind for Harry), but I want to know what you guys think their familiars should be? Any suggestions would be appreciated, and probably used in the story a little later on!

My recommendation for this chapter is "A Black Comedy" by "nonjon". This one doesn't really have any main pairings, just (very) fleeting 'love' interests. And by that I mean one night stands. "Two years after defeating Voldemort, Harry falls into an alternate dimension with his godfather. Together, they embark on a new life filled with drunken debauchery, thievery, and generally antagonising all their old family, friends, and enemies."It's a really funny fic, and worth the read!