I am not the heir of Slytherin, I am Slytherin.

Chapter 19

No one POV

Harry's friends were sitting with Luna at the Gryffindor table and eating when he arrived.

"Is everything alright Harry?" Hermione asked when he came back.

"I have a new patronus memory now," Harry replied, his shoulders shaking with suppresed laughter. People were still staring at him, especially after potions. It seemed like the story spread fast.

"Harry, is it true that you won Gryffindor twenty five points from Snape?" Angelina Johnson asked him.

"Yes, I did." Was his reply before he turned back to his food, ignoring all the stares. He felt someone poking his occlumency shields. He looked around and locked eyes with Dumbledore and pushed the old man out of his mind harshly, causing him to almost fall.

"Potter, is it true that you cast a patronus in the train yesterday?" Daphne Greengrass of Slytherin asked him.

"Yes, I did."

"Isn't that supposed to be a NEWT level spell which not even many adults can cast?" Tracey Davis asked him.

"Yes, it is."

Taking the hint that he didn't want to speak more at the time, they left him alone and went back to the Slytherin table. He quickly finished his lunch and left for DADA with his friends, waving Luna goodbye.

Professor Lupin wasn't there when they arrived at his first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. They all sat down, took out their books, quills, and parchment, waiting for the rest of the class and the Professor. People began filling in and twenty minutes later when they were talking, Lupin finally entered the classroom. Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he had on the train, as though he had had a few square meals.

"Good afternoon," he said. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today's will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands."

A few curious looks were exchanged as the class put away their books. They had never had a practical Defense Against the Dark Arts before, unless you counted the memorable class last year when their old teacher had brought a cageful of pixies to class and set them loose. 

"Right then," said Professor Lupin, when everyone was ready. "If you'd follow me."

Puzzled but interested, the class got to its feet and followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom. He led them along the deserted corridor and around a corner, where the first thing they saw was Peeves the Poltergeist, who was floating upside down in midair and stuffing the nearest keyhole with chewing gum. 

Peeves didn't look up until Professor Lupin was two feet away; then he wiggled his curly-toed feet and broke into song.

"Loony, loopy Lupin," Peeves sang. "Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin —" 

Rude and unmanageable as he almost always was, Peeves usually showed some respect toward the teachers. Everyone looked quickly at Professor Lupin to see how he would take this. To their surprise, he was still smiling. 

"I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves," he said pleasantly. "Mr. Filch won't be able to get in to his brooms."

However, Peeves paid no attention to Professor Lupin's words, except to blow a loud wet raspberry. 

Professor Lupin gave a small sigh and took out his wand.

"This is a useful little spell," he told the class over his shoulder. "Please watch closely."