The Muggle Solution
by Teddylonglong

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

Completely AU, partly OOC. More warnings might come up in possible later chapters.

Snape gave Regina a week to adjust to the life as an apprentice at Hogwarts, before he asked her to teach her fellow apprentices in muggle science an hour per day.

Regina happily agreed – much to the enthusiasm of Hermione and Dudley.

Harry found that he was more interested in his magical education, however, realised that muggle science was very important for their future research, even if Snape had not informed them what exactly they were supposed to research. 'He merely said that he'd give us a topic after our second year and then again, when the first was finished,' he thought, as he trailed behind the others to the Great Hall for dinner after his first lesson with Regina.

HP

It was a few weeks later during the Halloween feast, which the five apprentices spent at the Hufflepuff table, that Professor Trelawney suddenly uttered in a strangely absent voice, "The one with the power to defeat the evil is not alone anymore. He has gathered the felines of the black lake, and together, they will defeat the evil."

Before anyone could ponder the matter, Professor Quirrell stormed into the Great Hall, shouting "A troll in the dungeons," before he collapsed to the floor, seemingly unconscious.

When the headmaster instructed the students to return to their common rooms, the five apprentices swiftly made their way to the apprentices' quarters, where Regina spoke up, seemingly pensive.

"Did you hear what the Divination professor said?" she enquired. "I'm quite certain that that was a prediction."

"Something like the one who's supposed to defeat evil has gathered his fellow cats," Dudley was the first to reply.

"Felines are not necessarily cats," Daphne spoke up, thoughtfully. "It could mean several kinds of feline animals or even Animagi."

"Who is supposed to defeat evil though?" Hermione asked, however, no one had a response.

HP

When Pomfrey and Snape arrived in the apprentices' rooms a while later, the Potions master was limping, causing everyone to stare at him in concern.

"Show me your leg," Pomfrey demanded and with a flick of her wand healed the injury.

"Something is strange," Harry spoke up in a small voice. "Every time I come near Professor Quirrell, my head begins to hurt."

"Your scar?" Snape enquired, giving him a horrified look that caused Harry to nod.

"Yes sir…" He slowly trailed off in silent question.

"The only one who can make your scar hurt would be the Dark Lord," Snape explained, "and Professor Quirrell's behaviour is extremely off this year." Turning to Pomfrey, he queried, "Isn't that so, Poppy?"

"Yes," Pomfrey confirmed, "and his stuttering is driving me nuts."

"Maybe this is too far-fetched, but could he be possessed by the spirit of the Dark Lord? Everyone seems to be sure that he isn't completely gone…" Snape thought aloud, seemingly more to himself than to the others, before he slowly trailed off.

"Sir?" Harry spoke up. "Who is this Dark Lord? Is it the same as the evil in Professor Trelawney's earlier prediction?"

Snape let out a long sigh and remained quiet for a while, before he set to reply.

"The Dark Lord is the one who killed your parents," he admitted, "and I believe that the as you said prediction of our Divination professor is about you and your fellow apprentices."

"But it was about cats," Dudley spoke up.

"Animagi!" Hermione shouted in excitement. "We're all supposed to become feline Animagi. Professors, will you please teach us?" she demanded, eagerly, causing everyone to laugh at her antics.

Snape nodded. "We will," he confirmed, "provided that you do not tell anyone about it, let alone the headmaster or Professor McGonagall. She'd have a heart attack knowing that we were teaching a group of first years the Animagus transformation."

"She's a feline Animagus herself," Hermione stated, unnecessarily.

"Very well," Snape said, pensively. "Hermione, Daphne and Harry, meet Poppy and me here right after dinner tomorrow. Until then, I want you to decide which kind of feline you wish to become. Afterwards, you can always practise, when we meet here in your rooms. It might take years, before you succeed though, so please keep in mind that it's difficult."

"Yes sir," came the triple response.

"What about us?" Dudley asked, sadly.

"I'm sorry," Snape replied, sighing. "When the three of them manage the transformation, we can always transfigure you into an animal, so that you can join them gallivanting the grounds."

"That's all we can ask for," Regina spoke up, smiling. "Thank you sir."

"Yeah, thank you," Dudley echoed.

"Excuse me, Professors," Hermione spoke up, "will you tell us what your Animagi forms are?"

"I'm a magical lynx," Snape replied, before he transformed into his feline form for a moment.

"I am an Aesculapian cat," Poppy added, smiling. She transformed into a completely white, fluffy cat that caused a triple "Aww" from the female apprentices. Back in her human form, she explained, "It's a magical cat, and tears, salvia and blood have special healing abilities, similar to phoenix tears."

"What specialities does the lynx have?" Regina enquired, giving Snape a questioning look.

"Unfortunately, no healing abilities," the potions master admitted. "The magical lynx can change its colour, become invisible and is able to move completely soundlessly."

The apprentices stared at their master and mistress in amazement, before Snape added, "Now, I suggest that you do some research about a possible animal for your Animagus form. Good night and we'll see you tomorrow."

"Perhaps you could try, too?" Dudley suggested to Regina. "Maybe it'll trigger your magic if you try."

Regina sadly shook her head. "When they locked me in, when I still was a little girl, I tried to trigger my magic to work countless times, but it never worked," she explained, casting the muggle boy a sad smile.

HP

All five apprentices were extremely eager, and Severus observed their process in amazement, nodding contentedly, when they had almost finished the second-year Potions book by Christmas.

"If they proceed so fast, they're going to take their OWLs next year Christmas," he said to Poppy, when the two masters of the apprentices had tea together in Poppy's office on Saturday morning, when most of the school was gathered on the Hogwarts Express to travel home for Christmas.

"Why don't you give them a research project?" Poppy suggested, smirking. "All five of them are extremely motivated, and at least the three girls, if you allow me to call Regina a girl, are fantastic researchers. Ask them to find a cure for lycanthropy."

Severus' eyes narrowed. "Lycanthropy?" he repeated, incredulously, before he forced himself to ponder the matter. "Maybe that's an idea," he finally admitted, "even if it's highly unlikely that they succeed, considering how many potions masters before them have failed."

"They're five eager researchers working together," Poppy reminded him, "and they have you and even Professor Slytherin in his portrait to assist them."

Severus remained pensive for a moment, before he decided, "Let's speak with them. Who would be willing to try out a possible potion? The only werewolf I know is Lupin, and he's not at Hogwarts."

"Currently not," Poppy agreed. "He'd make a fantastic Defence Against the Dark Arts professor though."

Severus let out a scoff. "Do you know how many times Minerva has suggested him, and Albus has always declined?" he queried, quirking an eyebrow.

"I know," Poppy replied, letting out a long sigh. "While Albus is a powerful wizard, he sometimes has to let loose and accept others' opinions."

"Oh no, it's all for the Great Good," Severus quipped, rolling in eyes in annoyance at the old wizard.

"Oh well," Poppy replied, smirking, "maybe you and our apprentices can give him a run for his money in the near future."

"Oh by Merlin I hope so," Severus replied and swiftly finished his tea to get back to work.

'Finally, I'm going to have some time for myself,' he thought. After considering the matter for a long time, he had allowed his apprentices to travel home over Christmas, provided that they would be back at Hogwarts by New Year's Day, and everyone but Regina had accepted their holiday.

HP

It was on the day when his apprentices were going to come back at dinnertime and he was brewing something together with Regina that Poppy visited them in his private lab. She was the only privileged person apart from his apprentices who was allowed access to his most sacred place.

"I've spoken with head healer O'Brien from St. Mungo's," she informed him, "and he'd be willing to gather ten or even twenty werewolves at the hospital each month to try ten respectively twenty variations of a possible cure for lycanthropy. I told him I'd contact him, when you were ready."

"Oh Merlin," Severus replied, as he put the concoction that he was just working on under a stasis charm. "Does he know that it might take years and still be unsuccessful?" he enquired.

"Of course," Poppy replied, pleasantly, smiling at Regina, who looked up from preparing the ingredients.

"Werewolves?" the Squib mouthed.

"Yes," Severus admitted and explained, "we were thinking about making a cure for lycanthropy our apprentices' first project, even if it is very difficult and the chances for success are low."

"It's a brilliant work project though, and if we succeed, we can really help people," Regina replied, eagerly, only to enquire, "When are we going to commence?"

Severus smirked. "We've already begun," he informed her pointing to the potion that was simmering in the cauldron. "This is the potion, which we're going to use as the basis for our attempts."

'She somehow reminds me of Lily,' he thought, 'not that she resembles her, but she has her kindness over all. Too bad that she's a Squib.'

'Does that matter?' a small voice spoke up from the back of his mind, and he had to admit to himself, 'Not really.'

HP

Needless to say that the other four apprentices were delighted to hear about their first project.

"Sir," Hermione spoke up, seeming confused, "I thought you said you'd give us our first project after our second year."

The potions master nodded. "That was my intention," he confirmed, "however, you're proceeding so quickly that Professor Pomfrey and I reconsidered. "If you do not wish to begin with the project at this time…"

"No," Hermione interrupted him, "I'm sorry, sir. We want to begin right away, sir."

Daphne, Harry and Dudley nodded, eagerly, while Regina observed the younger apprentices in apparent amusement.

"We're only going to work on it during the weekends," Snape decided. "From Monday through Friday, you're going to concentrate on your other classes and the third-year Potions book."

"Yes sir," the five apprentices chorused.

'We're really getting good at that,' Harry thought in amusement, as he observed the professor roll his eyes.

HP

'Why is this so difficult?' Harry mused, as he tried once again to change his left hand into the paw of his attempted Animagus form, when he was sitting in his Transfiguration class. Seeing Professor McGonagall approach his side of the room, he quickly used his wand and performed the easy transfiguration of a wooden cat into a plush cat.

"Very good, Mr. Evans, ten points to the apprentices," McGonagall rewarded him, causing Harry to return his attention to his left hand.

While his classmates worked on their transfiguration, he absentmindedly practised the transformation, looking up, startled, when Hermione let out a loud gasp.

"What?" he whispered to the girl sitting next to him.

"You did it," she whispered back, pointing to the paw of a magical black panther that had replaced his left hand.

'Wow,' Harry thought, as he happily stared at his success, not realising that his fellow apprentice's gasp had attracted the professor's attention.

"Mr. Evans," she spoke up, as she came over, clearly displeased. "Don't tell me that you're practising the Animagus transformation during your first-year Transfiguration class."

"Err, sorry Professor," Harry replied, sheepishly. "I might have been somehow distracted."

"What is this paw supposed to be?" McGonagall enquired, still sounding strict, however, apparently unable to hide her interest.

"A magical black panther," Harry replied in a soft voice.

"Well, transfiguring your left hand is the most difficult part," the teacher commented. "The rest will be easier now."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry replied, smiling.

"Is it all right to practise anything during this class?" someone spoke up from behind; however, Harry could not recognise who it was. "May I practise Wizard's Chess then?"

McGonagall's lips stretched to a thin line. "No, Mr. Weasley, it is not all right. The Animagus transformation is at least one of the topics of Transfiguration, while Wizard's Chess has nothing to do with it," she replied in a strict voice. "Moreover, Mr. Evans has already finished the task at hand. Show me how you change your wooden cat into a plush cat."

Ronald Weasley waved his wand at the cat on his desk, causing his classmates to laugh, when the cat remained wooden, while its grey colour changed to red and the ears became fluffy.

"Ten points from Gryffindor," the Gryffindor head announced, seemingly angered. "You better see to it that you practise instead of watching your classmates, Mr. Weasley," she instructed him, before she dismissed everyone with the instruction to practise the spell.

HP

From that time onwards, Professor McGonagall gave the three apprentices an extra hour of an Animagus lesson every Saturday evening, and Harry and the two girls appreciated it very much, as the Transfiguration mistress often had an advice for one or the other that helped them proceed another step towards their goal.

By the end of their first year, all three of them managed the complete transformation. While Hermione transformed into a magical kneazle cat, Daphne became a lioness. 'Strong and beautiful,' Harry thought in amazement.

All five apprentices cheered, when Pomfrey awarded 100 points to each of the Animagi. They did not know the exact point count, however, the were aware that they were very close to the top of the range in spite of being only five people versus the whole houses.

"As adorable as these forms are," Snape interrupted their conversation, Harry, I need you for a very important task."

"Of course, Master," Harry replied, as soon as he had readily transformed back. "What can I do?"

Snape motioned him to come with him into his office.

HP

"The headmaster and I believe that Professor Quirrell is indeed possessed by the Dark Lord," the potions master informed him. "We'll meet with him in the headmaster's office to cast a spell at the possessing spirit. However, before we can cast the spell, we need you to tell us, when his spirit is at the front of his mind. The pain in your scar should increase, when the spirit is at the front."

"I see," Harry replied in understanding. "What can I do to bring it to the front though?"

"You don't have to do anything," Snape informed him. "the headmaster will cast a spell, and when you feel him, you must give us an unobtrusive nod, so that we can cast the spell to banish the spirit."

"So I don't have to cast any spell, I only have to tell you?" Harry confirmed.

"Exactly," the professor confirmed. "You may sit at the table, as if you were in detention, so as to not make Quirrell wonder about your presence. Do you think you can do that?" he enquired in a soft voice.

"I think so," Harry replied, nodding.

'I hope I'll notice when the spirit comes to the front,' he thought, however, felt reassured by the fact that the adults were going to cast the difficult spells without involving him.

HP

A few minutes later, the two wizards traipsed to the headmaster's office, and Harry realised in surprise that the gargoyle guarding the office simple jumped out of the way at his appearance.

"It knows that you own the castle," Snape whispered to him, as they stepped onto the moving staircase that led them right to the headmaster's office.

"Headmaster, I brought my apprentice for his detention," Snape drawled, motioning Harry to take a seat at the desk, from where he could easily overlook the round office.

"Quirrell," Snape addressed the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, "I wanted to speak with you about the first-year classes. As you know, I'm teaching my apprentices myself, and…"

Harry became distracted, as he felt a spell leave the headmaster's wand that hang loosely by his body, and an instant later, his scar erupted in pain.

He quickly nodded towards his mentor and the headmaster, feverishly trying to suppress a moan.

"Kill the boy before he kills me," Quirrell suddenly shouted without as much as a stutter, and Harry stared at the man in shock.

To his relief, it merely took an instant, before the possessed wizard slumped onto the ground. A black cloud emerged from the back of his head, which the headmaster quickly captured in an orb. Casting another spell, he changed it to a white mist, before he vanished it completely.

"That was it," Dumbledore said, seemingly contented. "Harry and Severus, thank you so much for your invaluable assistance."

HP

Only during the leaving feast on the following evening did the apprentices notice that Dumbledore had awarded Harry one hundred points for his help, which made them win the house cup for the year.

Ronald Weasley mumbled something like "Teachers' pets," which they heard, because they were taking dinner at the Gryffindor table, however, which they decided to completely ignore.

'He's just a stupid prick,' Harry thought, as he observed the students leave for the carriages in the morning. 'I'm not going to miss him during the next two months.'

The apprentices were going to remain at Hogwarts. Only during July, they were given four weeks of holidays, and each of the five were happy with the arrangement.

tbc...?

Thank you so very much for the reviews for the previous chapter. Please let me know what you think of this chapter and what you expect from this story. Any ideas or opinions are welcome.