Anne was up early the next morning, which drew a surprised whistle from Fanny.
"Anne, did the summer break change you or something? You're not even sleeping in anymore. That's… unexpected."
Anne replied with a yawn, "Still jet-lagged from the time change. I'll go back to normal once winter hits."
The Great Hall's enchanted ceiling was a bright blue, with a few wisps of clouds drifting lazily, just like the sky outside the tall, mullioned windows.
Anne half-squinted as she poured porridge into her mouth, occasionally taking bites of smoked ham, pudding, and scrambled eggs.
"Oh right, Anne, what electives did you sign up for this term?" Fanny asked. "With eight Outstanding and two Exceeds Expectations on your O.W.L.s, you could take whatever you want, "
"You're in the same boat," Anne muttered through a mouthful of food. "Seven Outstandings, three Exceeds. What did you pick?"
"Hmm, let me think. Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, History of Magic, Charms, Astronomy, Herbology, Ancient Runes, and Muggle Studies."
"Oh? You're not taking Care of Magical Creatures?" Anne asked, biting into a large slice of raspberry pie.
Fanny winced. "My parents do want me to get ten N.E.W.T.s, but honestly, if Hagrid's still teaching it… I think I'll pass."
"Ha, same here," Anne said. "But I'm not taking Transfiguration this year either. I want to leave some room for my family's work. My aunt just handed me full responsibility for our business in India."
"What?" Fanny blinked. "So your aunt's planning to hand everything over the moment you graduate?"
Anne shrugged. "That's the plan. I mean, can you blame her? She's got such a brilliant, capable heir right here."
Fanny shot her a sideways glance.
At that moment, Snape approached them with a stack of blank timetables and each student's O.W.L. results. This year's schedule distribution was more complicated than usual, they had to verify that students met the grade requirements before approving any N.E.W.T.-level classes. Fortunately, Fanny's timetable was sorted quickly.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, History of Magic, Charms, Astronomy, Herbology, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy?" Snape read from a form, addressing Anne.
"Yes, Professor," Anne replied with a nod.
"Hmm. Your Potions grade was satisfactory last term," he said, tapping her blank timetable and handing it over without another word, before turning coldly to the next student.
Once he walked away, Fanny leaned in and whispered, "Merlin, Anne, Snape praised you!"
Anne shivered. She glanced toward Snape. "Was that praise, though? Felt more like a warning. Like, 'Since you did well, don't embarrass Slytherin in front of the new teacher or else…'"
Fanny tilted her head. "Now that you mention it… yeah, I can totally see that."
Anne looked over her new timetable. Sixth year definitely came with more free time than before. The schedule structure had changed too, each day was divided into eight shorter periods. Monday morning, for instance, had two Ancient Runes classes, followed by a short break, then two periods of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Lunch breaks were longer now, and the afternoon had two Potions classes and two periods of Arithmancy. All in all, she had six Potions classes a week.
As Anne and Fanny exited the Great Hall, they spotted Hermione standing in the entrance hall, a messenger bag slung over her shoulder. Anne hurried over.
"Hermione! You've got Ancient Runes for the first two periods too, right? Quick, let me see your timetable!"
Hermione had been waiting there on purpose. She handed over her schedule without hesitation.
"Just as I thought, we've got most of our classes together," Anne said cheerfully, passing over her own timetable in return.
Hermione glanced at it, then hesitated. "Anne… you didn't choose Care of Magical Creatures either?"
"Yeah. Fanny didn't, either," Anne replied. "Wait, don't tell me, you guys all dropped it?"
Hermione looked troubled. "None of us showed… any real interest. Oh dear. What's Hagrid going to think? Not one of us is taking his advanced class…"
"Hermione, it's fine," Anne said, using her best "Hagrid is easy to pacify" voice. "He'll be upset, sure, but just swing by and chat with him in the evenings a few times, he'll be okay."
"We should hurry to Ancient Runes," she added.
"I didn't expect this much homework for Runes," Hermione groaned. "A fifteen-inch essay, two translations, and all that reading before Wednesday!" She adjusted her bag anxiously.
Anne yawned and casually reached into Hermione's overstuffed bag, pulling out two brick-sized textbooks and stuffing them into her own bag.
"Just like last term," Anne said comfortingly, patting Hermione's shoulder. "Besides, I know you'll get through it all, "
Fanny made a face. After two full periods of Ancient Runes, Anne had barely said ten words to her. She was finally realizing just how much Anne prioritized her girlfriend over her friends.
Still, Anne seemed to notice. She took the three heavy books Fanny was holding and tucked them into her bag as well.
Outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, students were already lining up. Hermione said goodbye and joined the Gryffindor line, while Anne and Fanny joined the Slytherins.
All four Houses had students enrolled, lined up by House. The Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor lines were close together, but the Slytherin group stood off to the side, nearly half a meter apart from the others.
With a creak, the classroom door opened. Snape stepped into the hallway. His greasy black hair framed his sallow face, as always. All four lines instantly went quiet.
"Enter," he said.
The Slytherins were the first to walk in. Anne glanced around and thought the classroom was unmistakably Snape's style.
The curtains were tightly drawn, the only light coming from dim candle flames. The atmosphere was even gloomier than usual. New posters lined the walls, each depicting scenes of suffering: grotesque wounds, twisted limbs, and anguished expressions. No one spoke as they sat down, everyone was too busy staring at the eerie illustrations.
"I haven't told you to take out your books yet," Snape said, closing the door behind him and stepping to the front. A few students hurriedly shoved Encountering the Faceless Horror back into their bags and under their chairs.
"I have something to say, and I expect your full attention."
His black eyes swept over the class, lingering slightly longer on Anne than the others.
"So far, you've had, what, five different Defense teachers?"
He sneered slightly.
"Needless to say, each of them had their own methods and focus. Frankly, I'm amazed so many of you managed to scrape by on your O.W.L.s. I'll be even more amazed if you manage to keep up with the N.E.W.T.-level curriculum. It's far more advanced."
He stepped off the platform and began pacing, voice lowering.
"Dark magic," Snape said, almost reverently, "is diverse, ever-changing, and endless. Fighting it is like battling a many-headed beast, cut off one head, and another, fiercer and cleverer, takes its place. What you're up against is unpredictable and indestructible."
"Your defense," he said, now raising his voice, "must be just as adaptable, just as cunning. These images," he gestured to several of the grisly posters, "depict the effects of powerful dark spells. The Cruciatus Curse, " (he pointed to a witch clearly screaming in agony), ", a Dementor's Kiss, " (a wizard crouched in a corner, eyes blank), ", or an Inferius attack, " (a smear of blood across the floor).
"Have people really seen Inferi?" came a high-pitched voice, Parvati Patil.
"Voldemort has used them in the past," Snape replied calmly. "So it's reasonable to assume he may use them again. Now then…"
He crossed to the other side of the room, cloak billowing behind him. Every eye followed him.
"…You're likely still unfamiliar with nonverbal spells. What advantage do they offer?"
Hermione's hand shot up immediately, but Snape didn't even glance at her.
"Miss Reeve," he said instead, "you answer."
The entire class turned, stunned, Anne hadn't even raised her hand.
"Uh…" Anne started to glance toward Hermione, but Snape cut her off. "Surely this isn't a difficult question?" His dark eyes locked on hers.
Anne swallowed and answered quickly, "Casting a spell without speaking prevents your opponent from knowing what spell you're about to use. That gives you a momentary edge."
"Correct," Snape said. "Ten points to Slytherin. Not saying a spell aloud allows for an element of surprise. Of course, not every wizard is capable of that. It requires intense focus and willpower, which some people," his gaze swept toward the Gryffindor section, where Hermione had quietly lowered her hand, "lack."
Malfoy snorted with laughter.
Anne shifted uncomfortably in her seat, Fanny also looking confused.
"The key to silent casting is focus, visualize the spell clearly in your mind…" Snape continued. "The core principles are…"
Throughout the class, Snape prowled around the room, never standing still. Anne never got a chance to look back at Hermione.
Finally, the bell rang.
"Next lesson, we'll be practicing nonverbal casting. Dismissed."
Anne sprang from her seat and rushed for the door. Since she was in the front row and Gryffindors sat toward the back, most students had already filed out by the time she reached it.
"Hermione!" she called, darting to her side and raising her right hand as if taking an oath. "I, "
Hermione smiled, gently pulling Anne's hand down. "It's fine. I really don't mind."
Anne grinned and squeezed Hermione's hand tightly.
"But seriously," Fanny said as she caught up, "Why'd he call on you like that? Snape's never done that before."
Harry folded his arms and scoffed. "Isn't it obvious? He just didn't want to give Gryffindor any points. He only praises his own House."
"I don't think our Head of House is that petty," Fanny shot back quickly.
Harry grumbled again, but Ron tugged on his sleeve, "Whatever. We've got other chances to earn points, like Quidditch tryouts, right, Harry?"
Anne thought back to Snape's "compliment" that morning. Was it connected to this?
"You're still thinking about that, aren't you?" Hermione said, shaking her head. "Seriously, I don't mind. Even if he does it again next time, it's fine!"
"I know. That's why you're the most reasonable girlfriend ever," Anne whispered in Hermione's ear, then placed a quick kiss on her neck.
Hermione's neck flushed red, but she only shot Anne a half-embarrassed, half-exasperated look.
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