On Monday morning, they had DADA. Professor Merrythought gave a welcome speech.

 "Welcome to your second year, all of you," she said, looking at the class with her narrow baby blue eyes. "As I have said to you last year, if any of you-any-think defense and protection of yourselves is a light matter or goof around in my class, you are free to leave this class before you feel my wrath."

 She narrowed her eyes even more, looking around, daring anyone to stand up and leave. Finally, she stopped and spoke quietly and clearly again.

 "I see, all of you are confident that you will not do the very things I told you not to. Very well then. Let's start. First, let's recap things. What is a Shield Charm?"

 The first hands up in the air were Skylar and Riddle's. It was nothing knew. They were top in every class.

 "Seriously, no one except for these two?" Professor Merrythought said, while she was walking and making sure no one else's hands were raised. "I thought, just a minute ago, I told you to be attentive in the class or leave and never come back!?" She snapped at a fellow Slytherin, who got frightened and stopped talking to his friend. "Well then, Mr Avery, why don't you tell us what a Shield Charm is?" She ended while giving him a dead look.

 Avery stood up and said, "It-it is a charm that shields the caster from the opponent..."

 "How?"

 "The charm blocks spells..."

 "So they can be used on extremely powerful charms which have no to few counter-curses or -jinxes?"

 "No, they only block moderate to minor spells..."

 "Yes, sit down now." she said, her mouth thin and stern face frowning. "So, as Mr Avery has mentioned, a Shield Charm is a charm that protects you from your opponent by blocking minor to moderate spells. This cannot be used for extremely powerful charms. So, I want you all to get up and practice the spell. Use your textbook for guideline."

 After DADA, they had Transfiguration with Hufflepuffs. Professor Albus Dumbledore was the one teaching this lesson. He had long auburn hair and beard and piercing blue eyes which gave an  X-raying look. They were turning animals into water goblets. After class, the only ones who succeeded were Skylar, Riddle and some managed to change the shape but not the color or vice versa. Skylar decided to stay behind and ask Dumbledore some questions. For some reason, even though Dumbledore was head of Gryffindor not Slytherin, she felt comfortable and closer to him than other teachers.

 "Skylar, aren't you coming?" Eileen asked.

 "I'll catch up with you later."

 "All right, I'll be at the Great Hall."

 Dumbledore was about to leave when Skylar cleared her throat and said, "Professor Dumbledore?"

 Dumbledore smiled and asked, "Yes, Skylar?"

 "I wanted to ask you something... I saw these things... pulling the school carriages... they were... skeletal and horse-like...with-erm-bat wings or something... they were, I think, only visible to me. I don't know if anyone else could see them but... my friends couldn't..."

 Dumbledore looked at Skylar for a moment and then he said, "They are called Thestrals."

 "Thestrals?"

 "Yes, they are creatures which can only be seen by people who have witnessed and understood death."

 "Are they dangerous?"

 "No, frightening, they may be on the outside but they are kind creatures which have nothing to be feared of."

 This reminded Skylar about something. Particularly the "soft on the inside, hard on the outside" thing she heard for years.

 "Professor, is it true that... a cold-hearted person could be... I dunno.... nice?"

  Professor Dumbledore scanned her. There was a dark shadow on her face; the shadow of, probably, disgust or shame.

 "Who are you are referring to, may I ask?"

 Skylar clenched her fist and bit her lips before answering, "My father."

 Dumbledore looked out of the window for a moment then said, "Skylar, you must remember that no matter how  cold a heart is, there is always a warm part to keep it alive."

 "But, my father was-"

 "Yes, there are also people I know who is like that. The problem about them is that they need someone or something to show that warm part," Dumbledore explained. "Meaning, the warmer part is surrounded by the colder one. Something should help them penetrate it and they will show the weakness. Most of the time, I think, that something is... love."

 "Love? "

 "Love," Dumbledore went on, smiling. " The hammer that will destroy the barrier, the barrier which blocks a beautiful garden, leaving the person in a place of hatred and despair."

 Skylar looked at Dumbledore for a moment. The latter just smiled and said, "Well, why don't you go to the Great Hall for lunch? Pip pip!"

 Skylar laughed at the last two words. Things like these sometimes made Skylar wonder if Dumbledore's mind was going. Yes, he was one of the most brilliant people in the wizarding world but sometimes likes to do stuff like these to, as Skylar thinks, entertain and get close to them.

 Skylar walked to the Great Hall to join Eileen, Myrtle and Cerilla while thinking of the things Dumbledore has said.

 "Oof. PEEVES!"

 "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."

 Peeves was floating around in the air right above Professor Amorena Gudgeon. She was holding a wand and a number of books were there at her feet; she was probably levitating them by magic until Peeves came and somehow ruined it.

 "Wee time for Peevsy to go go go!" Peeves cackled and zoomed away as Professor Gudgeon pointed her wand at him.

 "Professor, may I?" Skylar suggested.

 "No, my dear, it's all right," Professor Gudgeon replied, waving her wand and levitating the books again.

 "Hey, Amorena!" A passing seventh-year called. Unlike other teachers, who would have told her off for calling them by their first name, Professor Gudgeon was OK with it. She once told Skylar and Eileen, "I dunno if I'm the youngest teacher in Hogwarts, but I joined here when I was 20! I sought the job when I was 18 but Professor Dippet said I was too young. Even now whenever I see the sixth-years, I remember how small they were. They were first-years when I left school!"

 Now, those sixth-years were seventh-years. Skylar thought of things like these often. Old times. It seemed to make her feel something.

~--+--~

 Special Birthday wishes to mah gal, SKYLAR TENEBRISERRR!!!!! (July 7th is her bday) Have a very happy potter birthday 😉! (aka may your bday be magical {muggle version}) Oh wait Riddle's at Hogwarts w/ u O_O... nvm

Haaarrrrryyyy Pottttteeeeerrrrrr......