Eyes lingered on Harry and Nova everywhere they went. People gawked at them shamelessly. People pressed their faces to the windows as they went. 

The Daily Profit spoke more of Harry than Nova, leading Harry to get the worst of it. They treated him like an animal in the zoo. Nova constantly teased Harry that he'd be the next thing in an animal exhibit with 'the Chosen One' across the top. 

Not many people knew about Nova. However, rumors were spreading rapidly. Many spoke of her work with the Order. Most spoke of her father's death and his innocence (many apologized profoundly for their mistreatment towards her, but Nova simply ignored them). Some rumors spoke of her power. 

"I swear," Harry grumbled as they pushed through mesmerized girls. "I'd do anything to get them to leave me alone."

"But, Darlin, they're your fangirls!" Nova grinned. She made her voice extremely high-pitched and pretended to hyperventilate. "Oh. My. Merlin! It's Harry Potter!"

"Oh sod off!" Harry laughed. "Guess it's a good thing I only have eyes for one person then."

"Really? Who?" Nova pretended to look around causing Rosco (who was happily vibing on her shoulder) to move slightly. 

"My best friend."

"You're in love with Ronald?" Nova grinned. 

"You think you're funny?" Harry raised an eyebrow. 

"I think I'm adorable," Nova grinned cheekily. "Admit it, you think I'm adorable too!"

"I know you're adorable in that angry little puffball that will totally kick my arse kinda way."

"See! Even Harry admits it!" Alex exclaimed. "It's confirmed! Potter men are attracted to women that can totally kick their arse!"

"Hi, Harry, Nova!" said a familiar voice from behind them. 

"Neville!" Harry called, turning to see a round-faced boy struggling toward him. 

"Hello, Harry, Nova," said a girl with long hair and large misty eyes, who was just behind Neville. 

"Luna, hi, how are you?" Nova asked with a smile. 

"Very well, thank you," said Luna. She was clutching a magazine to her chest; large letters on the front announced that there was a pair of free Spectrespecs inside. 

"Quibbler still going strong, then?" asked Harry, who felt a certain fondness for the magazine, having given it an exclusive interview the previous year. 

"Oh yes, circulation's well up," said Luna happily. 

"Let's find seats," said Harry, and the four of them set off along the train through hordes of silently staring students. At last they found an empty compartment, and Nova hurried inside gratefully. 

"They're even staring at us!" said Neville, indicating himself andLuna. "Because we're with you!" 

"They're staring at you because you were at the Ministry too," said Harry, as he hoisted his trunk into the luggage rack. "Our little adventure there was all over the Daily Prophet, you must've seen it." 

"Yes, I thought Gran would be angry about all the publicity," said Neville, "but she was really pleased. Says I'm starting to live up to my dad at long last. She bought me a new wand, look!"He pulled it out and showed it to Harry and Nova. 

Nova was growing irritated with Neville's gran. Neville is one of the best people she has ever met, and she will fight for him till the day she dies. Nova personally believes that if Augusta can't see Neville's worth, she has worse eyesight than the Potters.

"Cherry and unicorn hair," Neville said proudly. "We think it was one of the last Ollivander ever sold, he vanished next day — oi, come back here, Trevor!" 

Ollivander was taken by Death Eaters. The Order wasn't sure if he went willingly or not. 

And he dived under the seat to retrieve his toad as it made one of its frequent bids for freedom. 

"Are we still doing D.A. meetings this year?" asked Luna, who was detaching a pair of psychedelic spectacles from the middle of The Quibbler. 

"No point now we've got rid of Umbridge, is there?" said Harry, sitting down. Nova laid across the seats, resting her head in his lap as she played with Rosco and Shadow. It was more like Shadow laying on Nova's stomach as she glared at Harry and Rosco jumped up and down in Nova's hands).

Neville bumped his head against the seat as he emerged from under it. He looked most disappointed."I liked the D.A.! I learned loads with you!" 

"I enjoyed the meetings too," said Luna serenely. "It was like having friends." 

Before anyone could respond, however, there was a disturbance outside their compartment door; a group of fourth-year girls was whispering and giggling together on the other side of the glass. 

"You ask him!" 

"No, you!" 

"I'll do it!"

"Luna," Nova said as she purposefully ignored the girls gawking at her boyfriend. He is a big boy, but if Nova needed to step in she would. "I'm your friend. I rather enjoy being your friend. I'm sure Ginny loves being your friend . . .perhaps more."

"Why would she want to-" Luna never got to ask her question because a bold-looking girl with large dark eyes, a prominent chin, and long black hair pushed her way through the door.

"Hi, Harry, I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane," she said loudly and confidently. She was clearly trying to flirt with Harry. 

"So . . . is she just going to ignore how Harry is literally playing with Nova's hair right now?" Marlene remarked. 

"Or the fact they've been dating since December and came public in February?" Regulus pipped up. 

"Why don't you join us in our compartment? You don't have to sit with them," she added in a stage whisper, indicating Neville's bottom, which was sticking out from under the seat again as he groped around for Trevor, and Luna, who was now wearing her free Spectrespecs, which gave her the look of a demented, multicolored owl. 

She made sure to ignore Nova. 

Nova had complete faith in Harry. She just didn't like Romilda. 

"They're friends of mine," said Harry coldly. 

"Really?" she asked with a shocked look on her face. "I thought someone as hot as you would have better company."

Nova didn't like this. So . . .she decided to make her presence known.

"Hi, Romilda!" Nova greeted in a 'kind' voice. "I'm Nova. Nova Lupin-Black. It's nice to meet you."

Romilda glared at Nova. She clearly knew who Nova was.

"That's nice."

"Nice indeed," Nova said with a thoughtful expression. "I was just having a conversation with my boyfriend and my friend. I do not recall inviting you into this conversation. So if you could kindly remove yourself from this compartment, I would like to breathe again without being suffocated by the bottle of perfume you're wearing."

"Hey look!" James began to laugh. "It's what Remus used to do when a girl would flirt with Sirius!"

Romilda left with a giant huff and a glare at Nova, who threw a sarcastic wave at her. 

"Is it weird I found that extremely hot?" Harry whispered to Nova. 

Nova smirked and winked at him. 

"Wait! Were you jealous?"

"No . . ." Nova said as Shadow purred. 

"Yes, you were!" Harry laughed. 

"Hey! I let you have your thunder." Nova shrugged as she looked up at Harry innocently. "She didn't take the hint. So . . .as you hot and totally awesome girlfriend, I stepped in."

Harry smirked. 

"Besides . . .what's mine is mine."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better . . ." Harry began with a small grin. "I wouldn't trade you for anything."

"Good." Nova nodded in approval. "Because I'm the best thing you're ever gonna get."

"And don't you forget it, Potter," The Black Brothers said in unison."Us Blacks are limited edition." 

"You can't get the looks-" Regulus began. 

"The arse-" Sirius added. 

"The attitude-"

"The brains-"

"The bravery-"

"The looks-"

"The sass-"

"The sarcasm-"

"And the awesomeness all in one!" they finished in unison. 

"We're the best you're ever gonna get."

"You guys are the prettiest brooms in a closet full of brooms," James agreed as he quoted Raven Reyes from The 100.

"People expect you to have cooler friends than us," said Luna, once again displaying her knack for embarrassing honesty. 

"You are cool," said Harry shortly. "None of them was at the Ministry. They didn't fight with me." 

"That's a very nice thing to say," beamed Luna. Then she pushed her Spectrespecs farther up her nose and settled down to read The Quibbler. 

"We didn't face him, though," said Neville, emerging from under the seat with fluff and dust in his hair and a resigned-looking Trevor in his hand. "You did. You should hear my gran talk about you. 'That Harry Potter's got more backbone than the whole Ministry of Magic put together!' She'd give anything to have you as a grandson. . . ."

"Well, then she's too blind to see she has the best damn grandson Merlin has to offer," Nova said bluntly causing Neville's face to flush. 

Harry began to look off into space, lost in thought. Nova pet shadow as Rosco cuddled into the crook of her neck. 

"You all right, Harry? You look funny," said Neville. 

Harry started. "Sorry — I —" 

"Wrackspurt got you?" asked Luna sympathetically, peering atHarry through her enormous colored spectacles. 

"I — what?" 

"A Wrackspurt . . . They're invisible. They float in through your ears and make your brain go fuzzy," she said. 

"I thought I felt one zooming around in here."She flapped her hands at thin air, as though beating off large invisible moths. 

Harry and Neville caught each other's eyes and hastily began to talk of Quidditch. 

Nova began to doze off as her features became soft and content. 

The weather beyond the train windows was as patchy as it had been all summer; they passed through stretches of the chilling mist, then out into weak, clear sunlight. It was during one of the clear spells, when the sun was visible almost directly overhead, that Ron and Hermione entered the compartment at last. 

"Wish the lunch trolley would hurry up, I'm starving," said Ronlongingly, slumping into the seat beside Harry after moving Nova's legs to they rested in his lap and rubbing his stomach. "Hi, Neville. Hi, Luna. Guess what?" he added, turning to Harry. "Malfoy's not doing prefect duty. He's just sitting in his compartment with the other Slytherins, we saw him when we passed." 

"What did he do when he saw you?" Harry asked. 

"The usual," said Ron indifferently, demonstrating a rude hand gesture. "Not like him, though, is it? Well — that is" — he did the hand gesture again — "but why isn't he out there bullying first years? 

"Dunno," said Harry. 

"Maybe he preferred the Inquisitorial Squad," said Hermione. "Maybe being a prefect seems a bit tame after that." 

"I don't think so," said Harry. "I think he's —" 

But before he could expound on his theory, the compartment door slid open again and a breathless third-year girl stepped inside. 

"I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom, N-Nova Lupin-Black, and Harry P-Potter," she faltered, as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet. She was holding out two scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon. Perplexed, Harry and Neville took the scroll addressed to each of them and the girl stumbled back out of the compartment. 

"What is it?" Ron demanded as Harry unrolled his.

"An invitation," said Harry. 

Harry, 

I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C. 

Sincerely, 

Professor H. E. F. Slughorn 

"Who's Professor Slughorn?" asked Neville, looking perplexedly at his own invitation. 

"New teacher," said Harry. "Well, I suppose we'll have to go,won't we?" 

"You should wake Nova up," Hermione remarked looking at Harry. 

"Nova?" Harry called as he gently shook her. "You need to wake up."

Slowly, Nova opened her eyes. 

"This better be good, Harold," Nova groaned. 

"Slughorn wishes to see us at lunch."

"Alright," Nova said as she sat up, causing Shadow to jump off of her and onto Hermione. "You go ahead, I'm going to check on Timmy."

Harry and Neville left. As they walked down the corridor, every now and then, students would hurtle out of their compartments to get a better look at him. Harry spotted Marietta, who was wearing a very thick layer of makeup that did not entirely obscure the odd formation of pimples still etched across her face. Smirking slightly, Harry pushed on. 

When they reached compartment C, they saw at once that they were not Slughorn's only invitees, although judging by the enthusiasm of Slughorn's welcome, Harry was the most warmly anticipated. 

"Harry, m'boy!" said Slughorn, jumping up at the sight of him so that his great velvet-covered belly seemed to fill all the remaining space in the compartment. His shiny bald head and great silvery mustache gleamed as brightly in the sunlight as the golden buttons on his waistcoat. "Good to see you, good to see you! And you must be Mr. Longbottom!" 

Neville nodded, looking scared. At a gesture from Slughorn, they sat down opposite each other in the only two empty seats, which were nearest the door. Harry glanced around at their fellow guests. He recognized Blaise who is a good friend of Nova; there were also two seventh-year boys Harry did not know and, squashed in the corner beside Slughorn and looking as though she was not entirely sure how she had got there, Ginny. 

"Now, do you know everyone?" Slughorn asked Harry and Neville. "Blaise Zabini is in your year, of course —" 

Blaise gave Harry a small smile which Harry returned.

"This is Cormac McLaggen, perhaps you've come across each other — ? No?" 

McLaggen, a large, wiry-haired youth, raised a hand, and Harry and Neville nodded back at him. 

"— and this is Marcus Belby, I don't know whether — ?" 

Belby, who was thin and nervous-looking, gave a strained smile. 

"— and this charming young lady tells me she knows you!" Slughorn finished as he directed his hand to Ginny. 

Ginny grimaced at Harry and Neville from behind Slughorn'sback. 

"That's everyon-" Slughorn began before turning to Harry. "Where is the lovely Nova Lupin-Black, Harry? I assumed she would've come in with you."

"She had a quick errand to run," Harry told him. "She said to apologize for her tardiness. She'll be here soon."

Blaise and Ginny hid their snorts. 

"Well now, this is most pleasant," said Slughorn cozily. "A chance to get to know you all a little better. Here, take a napkin. I've packed my own lunch; the trolley, as I remember it, is heavy on licorice wands, and a poor old man's digestive system isn't quite up to such things. . . . Pheasant, Belby?" 

Belby started and accepted what looked like half a cold pheasant. 

"I was just telling young Marcus here that I had the pleasure of teaching his Uncle Damocles," Slughorn told Harry and Neville, now passing around a basket of rolls. "Outstanding wizard, outstanding, and his Order of Merlin most well-deserved. Do you see much of your uncle, Marcus?" 

Unfortunately, Belby had just taken a large mouthful of pheasant; in his haste to answer Slughorn he swallowed too fast, turned purple, and began to choke. 

"Anapneo," said Slughorn calmly, pointing his wand at Belby, whose airway seemed to clear at once. 

"Not . . . not much of him, no," gasped Belby, his eyes streaming. 

"Well, of course, I daresay he's busy," said Slughorn, looking questioningly at Belby. "I doubt he invented the Wolfsbane Potion without considerable hard work!" 

"I suppose . . ." said Belby, who seemed afraid to take another bite of pheasant until he was sure that Slughorn had finished with him. "Er . . . he and my dad don't get on very well, you see, so I don't really know much about . . ." 

His voice trailed away as Slughorn gave him a cold smile and turned to McLaggen instead. 

"Now, you, Cormac," said Slughorn, "I happen to know you see a lot of your Uncle Tiberius, because he has a rather splendid picture of the two of you hunting nogtails in, I think, Norfolk?" 

"Oh, yeah, that was fun, that was," said McLaggen. "We went with Bertie Higgs and Rufus Scrimgeour — this was before he became Minister, obviously —" 

"Ah, you know Bertie and Rufus too?" beamed Slughorn, now offering around a small tray of pies; somehow, Belby was missed out. "Now tell me . . ." 

It was as Harry had suspected. Everyone here seemed to have been invited because they were connected to somebody well known or influential — everyone except Ginny. Zabini, who was interrogated after McLaggen, turned out to have a famously beautiful witch for a mother (from what Harry could make out, she had been married seven times, each of her husbands dying mysteriously and leaving her mounds of gold). It was Neville's turn next: This was a very uncomfortable ten minutes, for Neville's parents, well-known Aurors, had been tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and a couple of Death Eater cronies. At the end of Neville's interview, Harry had the impression that Slughorn was reserving judgment on Neville, yet to see whether he had any of his parents' flair. 

"And now," said Slughorn, shifting massively in his seat with the air of a compere introducing his star act. "Harry Potter! Where to begin? I feel I barely scratched the surface when we met over the summer!" He contemplated Harry for a moment as though he was a particularly large and succulent piece of pheasant, then said," 'The Chosen One,' they're calling you now!" 

Harry was never more thankful for Nova feeling the need to make a dramatic entrance. 

"Fuck off!" Nova called as she flipped someone off down the corridor. 

Ginny and Blaise snorted into their water goblets. 

Nova turned around and her eyes widened. 

"This isn't where I wanted to be . . ." She grumbled as she sat next to Harry, who had been trying not to laugh. "Sorry, Sluggy, I had to deal with a punk arse bitch- I mean . . .I had to kindly request someone mind their own business."

Ginny, Harry, and Blaise were practically losing their shit right now. 

"It's quite alright, Nova!" Slughorn assured. 

"I see you aren't sporting your bunny slippers," Nova commented as she tried to make light conversation. Slughorn blinked. "Depressing really. I thought you rocked them, sir."

James, Sirius, Regulus, Marlen, and Alex were rolling on the floor in fits of laughter. 

"Did she just comment on his bunny slippers?" Dorcus asked in disbelief. 

"Perhaps I'll wear them to class," Slughorn laughed. 

"You really should, sir!" Nova laughed in hopes of easing the tension. "I find they'll brighten up the place."

"Good to know," Slughorn grinned. "What did you do this summer, Nova?"

"I did a lot of things."

"Like?"

"Harry," Blaise coughed. Nova kicked his shin. 

"Well, I played quidditch, hung out with my dragon, made mums at the mall jealous, spent time with my family and friends, and I cause maximum mayhem." Nova grinned. 

"What is it you aspire to be?"

"Well . . .I plan on spending a few years playing as a professional chaser," Nova remarked. "Then I hope to become an Auror. I also hope to reform laws, certain laws at least."

"Not a very relaxing lifestyle," Slughorn commented. "An ambitious one no doubt. One you'll succeed in."

"I find adrenaline does wonders for my pores," Nova joked. 

Slughorn chuckled again before turning to Harry. 

"Of course," said Slughorn, watching Harry closely, "there have been rumors for years. . . . I remember when — well — after that terrible night — Lily — James — and you survived — and the word was that you must have powers beyond the ordinary —" 

Belby gave a tiny little cough that was clearly supposed to indicate amused skepticism. 

An angry voice burst out from behind Slughorn. 

"Yeah, Belby, because you're so talented . . . at posing. . . ." 

"Oh dear!" chuckled Slughorn comfortably, looking around atGinny, who was glaring at Belby around Slughorn's great belly."You want to be careful, Marcus! I saw this young lady perform the most marvelous Bat-Bogey Hex as I was passing her carriage! I wouldn't cross her!"

"Anyway," said Slughorn, turning back to Harry. "Such rumors this summer. Of course, one doesn't know what to believe, the Prophet has been known to print inaccuracies, make mistakes —but there seems little doubt, given the number of witnesses, that there was quite a disturbance at the Ministry and that you were there in the thick of it all!" 

Harry, who could not see any way out of this without flatly lying, nodded but still said nothing. Slughorn beamed at him. 

"So modest, so modest, no wonder Dumbledore is so fond —you were there, then? But the rest of the stories — so sensational, of course, one doesn't know quite what to believe — this fabled prophecy, for instance —" 

"We never heard a prophecy," said Neville, turning geranium pink as he said it. 

"That's right," said Ginny staunchly. "Neville and I were both there too, and all this 'Chosen One' rubbish is just the Prophetmaking things up as usual." 

"You were both there too, were you?" said Slughorn with great interest, looking from Ginny to Neville, but both of them sat clamlike before his encouraging smile. 

"Of course they were!" Nova stated. "Ginny nailed a Death Eater in the face with a stingy jinx and Neville fought till his wand broke. Even then, they didn't stop fighting. I find that most admirable."

"Am I right to assume your father died fighting the Death Eaters?" Slughorn asked. Nova nodded stiffly as she clenched her fist. "Brave man he was."

Nova decided it best not to bring up the fact everyone thought he was a murderer two months ago. 

"And what happened during the battle?"

Nova could tell none of her friends wanted to speak. 

"It's a bit foggy . . ." Nova said. "But I vaguely remember bunching Bellatrix in her face, turning a man into a bunny, some explosions, Bellatrix killing my Da, and-"

"Don't forget the twerking!" Ginny added as she tried to make the situation light-hearted. 

"Right! Plan Cobra! My dads never liked that plan," Nova shrugged. 

***

Nova had been patrolling the castle grounds and was on her way to the school when she got a Patronus from Tonks. 

"Found Harry. Heading back to school now." 

Nova wasn't even aware Harry had been missing. However, she wasted no time in setting out to open the door for them. 

However, when she got there she was met by Snape. 

"Well, well, well," sneered Snape, taking out his wand and tapping the padlock once, so that the chains snaked backward and the gates creaked open. "Nice of you to turn up, Potter, although you have evidently decided that the wearing of school robes would detract from your appearance." 

"I couldn't change, I didn't have my —" Harry began, but Snapecut across him."There is no need to wait, Nymphadora, Potter is quite —ah — safe in my hands."

"Yeah well . . ." Nova sassed. "I don't trust you with a plant so just run along now and play with your chemistry set."

"Very much like your father you are." Snape sneered. 

"Awe! Snivels!" Nova pretended to blush. "No need to shower me in compliments!"

"I was interested to see your new Patronus." Snape sneered at Tonks. 

He shut the gates in her face with a loud clang and tapped the chains with his wand again, so that they slithered, clinking, back into place. 

"I think you were better off with the old one," said Snape, the malice in his voice unmistakable. "The new one looks weak." 

As Snape swung the lantern about, Harry saw, fleetingly, a look of shock and anger on Tonks's face. Then she was covered in darkness once more. 

"You are a greasy fucking hypocrite!" Nova growled. "We aren't even going to talk about you! At least Tonks isn't obsessed! You were willing to let her husband and son die!"

That's right, Nova knew Snape's story. 

She didn't know, however, what Dumbledore planned for Snape to do. She didn't know that Dumbledore was only raising Harry for his death. 

"Watch. Your. Tone."

"No. I don't think I will."

"She. Has. A. Death. Wish." Alex stated. 

"If you really wanna fight fire with fire, I will gladly make sure to make snide and rude comments the next time I see your Patronus cantering about gracefully." Nova sneered. "And as for Harry's clothing . . .he still has better fashion sense than your nasty arse robes. You wash her clothes about as much as you wash your hair! Speaking of . . .take a shower, man."

"Fifty points from Gryffindor for lateness, I think," said Snape as the trio entered the school. "And, let me see, another twenty for your Muggle attire. You know, I don't believe any House has ever been in negative figures this early in the term: We haven't even started pudding. You might have set a record, Potter."

"Actually . . ." Nova smirked. "There was that time-"

"Do. Not. Finish. That. Sentence."

"I don't like your tone," Nova mocked. 

"I am your senior." Snape sneered. "You will start acting like I am."

Nova took a daring step towards him. 

"It's time you stop bullying kids for what they can't control," Nova growled lowly. "You act like I am going to sit back while you bully students. You're fucking insane if you do."

Snape glared at her. 

"I'm sorry my fathers and Uncle Prongs were parts with they were teenagers. What's your excuse now? Besides, I know for a fact you egged them on." Nova said with her jaw set. "I slipped truth serum into my dads' drinks because I wanted the truth. And I got it. You had a rivalry. Yu tormented them . . .they fought back. I simply wonder if you hate Uncle Prongs so much because the woman you're obs-"

Snape opened the doors of the Great Hall. 

"Tergeo!" Nova hissed as she siphoned the dried blood off of Harry. 

Everyone turned to look at them. 

"I know we're fabulous! Move on!" Nova yelled to the Great Hall. 

Rosco shifted himself on Nova's shoulder as he woke up to look around. 

"You missed the Sorting, anyway," said Hermione, as Ron dived for a large chocolate gateau. 

"Hat say anything interesting?" asked Harry, taking a piece of treacle tart. 

"More of the same, really . . . advising us all to unite in the face of our enemies, you know."

 "Dumbledore mentioned Voldemort at all?" 

"Not yet, but he always saves his proper speech for after the feast, doesn't he? It can't be long now."

"Snape said Hagrid was late for the feast —" 

"You've seen Snape? How come?" said Ron between frenzied mouthfuls of gateau. 

"Bloody git." Nova grumbled. 

"Bumped into him," said Harry evasively. 

"So what did Professor Slughorn want?" Hermione asked. 

"To know what really happened at the Ministry," said Harry. 

"Him and everyone else here," sniffed Hermione. "People were interrogating us about it on the train, weren't they, Ron?"

"Yeah," said Ron. "All wanting to know if you really are 'the Chosen One' —" 

"There has been much talk on that very subject even amongst the ghosts," interrupted Nearly Headless Nick, inclining his barely connected head toward Harry so that it wobbled dangerously on its ruff. "I am considered something of a Potter authority; it is widely known that we are friendly. I have assured the spirit community that I will not pester you for information, however. 'Harry Potter knows that he can confide in me with complete confidence,' I told them. 'I would rather die than betray his trust.' " 

"That's not saying much, seeing as you're already dead," Ron observed. 

Nova sniggered.

"Once again, you show all the sensitivity of a blunt axe," said Nearly Headless Nick in affronted tones, and he rose into the air and glided back toward the far end of the Gryffindor table just as Dumbledore got to his feet at the staff table. The talk and laughter echoing around the Hall died away almost instantly. 

"The very best of evenings to you!" he said, smiling broadly, his arms opened wide as though to embrace the whole room. 

"What happened to his hand?" gasped Hermione. 

"Decided to wear a cursed ring as a bloody fashion statement," Nova hissed to her. 

She was not the only one who had noticed. Dumbledore's righthand was as blackened and dead-looking as it had been on the night he had come to fetch Harry from the Dursleys. Whispersswept the room; Dumbledore, interpreting them correctly, merely smiled and shook his purple-and-gold sleeve over his injury. 

"Nothing to worry about," he said airily. "Now . . . to our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back! Another year full of magical education awaits you . . ." 

"His hand was like that when I saw him over the summer," Harry whispered to Hermione. "I thought he'd have cured it by now, though . . . or Madam Pomfrey would've done." 

"It looks as if it's died," said Hermione, with a nauseated expression. "But there are some injuries you can't cure . . . old curses . . .and there are poisons without antidotes. . . ." 

". . . and Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to say that there is a blanket ban on any joke items bought at the shop called Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."

Nova smirked knowing she and the twins already planned on sneaking them in.

"Those wishing to play for their House Quidditch teams should give their names to their Heads of House as usual. We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators, who should do likewise. 

"We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn" — Slughorn stood up, his bald head gleaming in the candlelight, his big waistcoated belly casting the table below into shadow — "is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions master." 

"Potions?" 

"Potions?"The word echoed all over the Hall as people wondered whether they had heard right. 

"Potions?" said Ron and Hermione together, turning to stare atHarry. 

"But you said —" 

"Professor Snape, meanwhile," said Dumbledore, raising his voice so that it carried over all the muttering, "will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"No!" said Harry, so loudly that many heads turned in his direction.

"Fuck this!" Nova yelled as she got to her feet, leaving the Great Hall. "I'm transferring to Ilvermorny!"

Many students laughed as she moved. 

Minnie hid her smile. 

Snape scowled. 

"I'm sorry I must end things like this, Minnie!" Nova called in a poetic voice. "But it must be this way!"

Slughorn began to laugh heartily. 

"Ah, Miss Lupin-Black, always one for the dramatics," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "If you could kindly sit-"

"Alright," Nova shrugged. "But only because he asked so nicely, Dumbles."

"Now, as everybody in this Hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining in strength.

"I cannot emphasize strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them — in particular, the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and others' safety." Dumbledore's blue eyes swept over the students before he smiled once more. 

"But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be wellrested for your lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say good night. Pip pip!" 

"That was cheerful," Nova said sarcastically.