◇

FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, Sirius Black was the talk of the school. The other Houses had taken to constantly bombarding Gryffindors questions about the Fat Lady's portrait, which had since been replaced with a painting of an arrogant and dim-witted knight named Sir Cadogan. Most of the Gryffindors were happy to oblige, and over the next few days, the story of Sirius Black's attempt to infiltrate Gryffindor Tower was quickly replaced with outlandish theories as to how he managed to get into Hogwarts in the first place.

Some thought that he had Apparated; however, Robyn as well as Hermione Granger were quick to remind everyone that Apparating in and out of Hogwarts was impossible. Third-year Hufflepuff Hannah Abbott guessed that Black could Transfigure himself into a flowery shrub, and second-year Ravenclaw Flarity Fortescue theorized that Black had shrunk himself to no larger than the size of a peanut and had just walked under the main doors of the castle.

Many, however, began to suspect that Flynn had somehow assisted her father in entering the castle. By the end of the week, nearly everyone in the school had heard the rumors, including Robyn, Flynn, Lisa, and the twins. They couldn't walk from one class to the next without hearing someone in the corridors yelling accusations towards Flynn, and Robyn began to notice that Flynn had gone from being simply a bit irritable over the subject to outright hostile, sending her into a fit of rage if she even heard mention of her father's name.

It all culminated a few days after the night in the Great Hall when a first-year Hufflepuff approached Robyn and Flynn in the corridor before breakfast, prodding the two with questions about the Fat Lady and the destruction of her portrait and what happened with Sirius Black and how he got into the castle and how he managed to escape afterwards. Robyn was about to tell the kid to just bugger off when Flynn grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled his tiny face mere inches from her own, which was warped with some sort of crazed fury, her dark eyes flashing dangerously.

"Look, kid, just because I'm a Black, that doesn't make me a mass murderer, too. Got it?" She snapped before throwing the poor boy down on the marble floor, storming away to leave Robyn to make sure he was alright. The rest of the corridor, all of whom were watching, fell into a stunned silence until Professor McGonagall appeared from around the corner, asking what was going on.

"Flynn Black went mental, Professor!" Said third-year Gryffindor Seamus Finnigan. "Attacked that first-year!"

Professor McGonagall, a concerned look on her face, walked over to where Robyn and the boy were sitting on the floor. She knelt down to rest a hand on the boy's shoulder, her lips pursed together into a thin line.

"Are you alright?" Professor McGonagall asked. The boy nodded, though Robyn didn't believe it; she could see he was shaking with fear. McGonagall then turned to her. "What happened, Miss Abrams?"

"We were going to the Great Hall for breakfast, Professor, and he came up asking about what happened Halloween night," Robyn replied. "Flynn got mad and sort of...snapped at him. Pushed him down and stormed off."

Professor McGonagall sighed before standing up to face the other students. Her stern eyes looked around to meet the gazes of every single student in the corridor as she spoke. "While understandable, Miss Black has seriously crossed a line with her actions, and will be receiving appropriate punishment. However, the rumors that she helped Sirius Black gain entrance into Hogwarts have absolutely no basis in fact. From this point onward, detention will be given to any student found spreading such a preposterous presumption." She turned back around and helped the boy up before marching off down the corridor.

Robyn continued on to the Great Hall, wrapping her red jumper tightly around her as the chilly November air gusted in through the windows. She found Fred, George, Lisa, and Rose all together at the Gryffindor table, the twins looking in particular more mischievous than usual.

"What's going on with you two?" Robyn asked the twins as she approached, sliding in to sit next to Rose and grabbing a muffin from the tray in the middle of the table.

"They've declared war on Sir Cadogan," Lisa said simply. Robyn raised her eyebrows, glancing between Fred and George curiously.

Ever since being replaced as the portrait to Gryffindor Tower, Sir Cadogan had spent half of his time challenging nearly everyone that passed to a duel and the rest thinking up different ridiculous passwords, which he changed at least two or three times every day. He was starting to get on everyone's nerves, but their complaints went entirely unheard as, according to Percy Weasley, none of the other pictures wanted the job, leaving Sir Cadogan as the only one brave enough to volunteer.

"We didn't declare war," George retorted with a laugh.

"We're just taking matters into our own hands, that's all," added Fred, grinning.

Robyn let out a confused laugh, looking at Lisa, Fred, and George for any sort of explanation, but none of them made a move to answer. She opened her mouth to ask what they meant when she saw Lisa glance towards the doors to the hall, a wide smile spreading across her face before being replaced with a look of mild confusion and concern.

Robyn followed her gaze to see Flynn making her way down the aisle of tables towards them, looking less angry but more bitter and resentful than earlier. She sat down across from Robyn and next to Lisa, who put a comforting arm around her friend's shoulder.

"Is everything alright?" Lisa asked kindly, to which Flynn shrugged, shaking her head. Robyn noticed out of the corner of her eye Rose looking at Flynn rather worriedly before carefully grabbing a plate from the middle of the table.

"I kind of lost my shit on a first-year on the way here, and McGonagall gave me detention for it," Flynn explained. "Looks like I'll be helping her take care of some porcupines for the third-years' lesson tomorrow."

Rose shook her head in disappointment. "Detention, Flynn - again? You really need to learn how to control your temper," she said, passing Flynn the plate she'd filled with food. Flynn took the plate reluctantly, but gave Rose a small smile in thanks.

"I know," Flynn snapped. Both Robyn and Rose looked at her pointedly, and she sighed. "I know," she said again, this time in a much calmer tone. "I just can't stand it when people think I'm in league with my father. I mean, I hate the man more than -"

A sharp, stupid giggle interrupted Flynn before she could finish her thought. Jackie Bradley slipped into the seat next to Fred's, a beaming smile on her face, as usual. Flynn looked over at Robyn to give her a look that seemed to say, okay, maybe I don't hate him more than her. Robyn nodded in agreement.

Rose suddenly coughed uncomfortably. "I have to get going," she said. "I'll see you all at lunch." With that, she grabbed her books and wand and an extra muffin before ducking out of the hall.

"Hey, Freddie," Jackie said sweetly, her voice laced with seemingly innocent concern, "where were you Halloween night when we were all in the Great Hall? I was looking for you, but I couldn't find you."

Fred turned his head away from Jackie to look at Robyn, deep brown eyes as round as saucers, his face quickly becoming as red as his hair. He looked as though he'd gotten caught with his hands stuck in a cookie jar. Robyn sent him a soft shrug and a sharp look; he was just going to have to tell her the truth and suffer the consequences.

Fred turned back to face Jackie, guilt written across his face. "Oh, Merlin," he said. "I'm so sorry, Jackie, I completely forgot."

Robyn was sure Jackie wasn't going to take that lightly, but to her and apparently everyone else's surprise, Jackie's smile didn't waver in the slightest. Instead, it simply morphed into one of understanding, and she leaned in to give Fred a quick peck on the cheek. He blinked in surprise.

"Hey, babe, it's okay!" She chirped. "That was a really scary night, a lot must have been on your mind. I'm glad you're okay!" Jackie stood up and gave Fred a hug from behind before skipping away back to the Hufflepuff table.

Fred, Flynn, and Robyn shared equally startled looks. None of them expected Jackie to continue to be so unwaveringly nice; Fred had just admitted that he'd completely forgotten about her, and she didn't seem bothered by it at all.

"You lucky bastard. I was half expecting her to finally snap and go full-on bitch on you," said Flynn, her voice low.

"I mean, it's gotta happen at some point, she can't be nice forever," Robyn added incredulously. She couldn't understand it. Jackie was just so nice all the damn time. It was seriously off-putting, and though Robyn still hated her, it was becoming increasingly difficult to find a justifiable reason for her dislike of the apparent saint that was Jacinda Fucking Bradley.

Lisa shook her head, standing up from her seat. "Come on, guys," she said, changing the subject. "Class starts in ten minutes. We'd better get going."

The five of them left the Great Hall, making their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Flynn walked between Fred and George, and Robyn noticed she was intentionally trying to conceal herself as much as possible from everyone else in the corridors.

As they rounded a corner, Robyn saw in a quick glance Rose curled up in a windowsill, sitting and talking with none other than Oliver Wood. They were both smiling and laughing, Oliver gesturing wildly as he spoke. Robyn glanced over and met Rose's eye, and Rose's cheeks flushed to the same shade of her pink as her name's likeness. Robyn shot her friend a sly wink; she knew Rose had harbored a crush on the Gryffindor Quidditch captain for several years and had been looking for an excuse to talk to him. It seemed she'd finally found her chance.

The group finally made their way to the Defense Against the Darks Arts classroom, where they all shuffled in and found their seats. To Robyn's surprise, she looked around to see that every single desk in the room was adorned with a copy of The Essential Defense Against the Dark Arts, a third-year textbook for the class.

Robyn leaned over to Fred, who was sitting next to her. "What's going on?" She muttered before glancing around at the other students who were filing in and taking their seats, looking about as confused as Robyn felt.

Fred shrugged. "I dunno. D'you reckon Lupin wants us to review older material? Because if that's the case, I've got better things to do." Fred shot Robyn a mischievous grin and stood up from his seat, grabbing his bookbag and slinging it over his shoulder, but before he could move, a silkily malicious voice stopped him.

"Sit down, Mr. Weasley," said Professor Snape. He had just walked into the classroom and was standing, hands clasped behind his back, just inside the doorway.

Fred sat down as slowly as possible, all while maintaining unwavering eye contact with Snape. First, Robyn watched as he slid his bookbag back off of his shoulder and took extra care to set it down on the floor as silently and as slowly as he could. Then, he pulled his chair back, the metal feet loudly scraping against the floor. Robyn looked over to meet Flynn's eyes, who shook her head impatiently.

Not until Fred had finally taken his seat did Snape move from the back of the classroom. He stormed to the front of the room, then turned to face the class, his already twisted face distorted into a hideous snarl, his long, greasy black hair gleaming in the candlelight.

"Professor Lupin wasn't feeling well, therefore, I'll be teaching your lesson for today. Everyone, pick up the books provided to you and turn to page 394," he demanded. He glanced down to look at Robyn. "And Miss Abrams, would you please do us all a favor and comply with the school's dress code? Or are you so arrogant that such simple things are below you?"

Robyn looked down at her outfit in confusion when she realized she was still wearing her red jumper over her robes. "Sorry, Professor," she muttered dryly, yanking her arms out of the sleeves of the jumper and draping it over the back of her chair.

"That will be twenty points from Gryffindor, Miss Abrams, ten each for you and Weasley's insufferable lack of respect for authority," Snape snapped. Robyn rolled her eyes.

"Need I make it fifty?" He sneered.

Robyn didn't answer. Snape's black eyes glittered maliciously.

"As Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far, we will be taking this opportunity to review past curricula in order to prepare you for your O.W.L.s next term. Our subject today is werewolves. Now, which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?" said Snape.

The entire room sat in dead silence, not a single student willing to raise their hand. Everyone adored Professor Lupin as a teacher, and to hear Snape belittle him when he wasn't even there to defend himself was cruel, not only to Robyn but apparently to the rest of the class as well, as no one said a word to answer Snape.

"Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't covered werewolves in O.W.L.-level Defense Against the Dark Arts? It seems you are hopelessly further behind than I thought. I would've expected you to learn this third year." Snape smiled, but it was warped and filled with a sort of cold ruthlessness that made Robyn incredibly uncomfortable.

Snape was wrong in assuming they'd never learned about werewolves. Professor Quirrell had taught the subject in their third year, and Professor Lockhart had briefly discussed werewolves while telling a grandiose story of how he saved an entire village from them. Granted, Lockhart's tale focused mainly on himself, but Quirrell's teachings provided them with actual benefits in their studies.

Finally, Lisa raised a shaky hand. Snape's eyes flickered over to her, but he didn't acknowledge her otherwise.

"The snout of a werewolf is shorter and its eyes are more human-like than those of a real wolf," Snape snarled. "I would suggest you all take notes, as I will be making a point to inform Professor Dumbledore how very behind you all are...Can anyone tell me the difference between a werewolf and an Animagus?"

"Professor," Flynn snapped, not even bothering to raise her hand, "a werewolf is forced to turn every full moon, while an Animagus can transform as they please." Snape's face darkened significantly at Flynn's aggressive outburst.

Robyn glanced over at Flynn, who appeared to be fuming, and decided she'd better pipe up and help out her friend. "Additionally, werewolves lose all sense of themselves when they turn, while Animagi are still aware of their self-being," she said. Professor Snape's eyes turned to glare at Robyn now, who merely smirked back. Snape didn't scare her. Sure, he frustrated her to no end, but she found solace in her ability to return the favor.

"That'll be another ten points from Gryffindor, Miss Abrams and Miss Black, for talking out of turn on a subject you clearly know nothing about," said Snape bitterly, his eyes lingering on Robyn dangerously, as though he knew something she didn't.

"But we learned about werewolves our third year," Flynn shot back defensively.

"Yeah, it's almost as if we actually did already know, Professor," said Robyn, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Now isn't that a shock?"

Snape glared daggers at the two Gryffindors, his black eyes steely and cold. "Make it fifty points from Gryffindor, and the next person who talks out of turn will receive a month's worth of detentions."

Robyn and Flynn shot each other an irritated look, but promptly stopped talking. Snape continued the lesson before leaving the class to review the chapter in the textbook and take notes. No one made a sound throughout the rest of the hour, and as they took notes, Snape took to stalking up and down the rows of desks, peering over everyone's shoulders at their work.

Finally, when the bell rang at the end of class, Snape called for everyone to remain in their seats.

"For homework, you will each write an essay, to be handed in to me, on the ways to recognize and kill werewolves. I want three rolls of parchment on the subject, and I want them by Monday morning. It is time somebody took this class in hand. Now get out."

There had never been such a mad rush for the door as the stampede of Gryffindors out of the classroom and into the sunny hallway. Robyn shrugged her red jumper back on over her shoulders and took in a deep breath, glad to finally be out of that stuffy classroom.

As the group made their way through the corridors to their next class, they passed by the portrait of Sir Cadogan. The knight was yelling his usual threats and challenges at passersby, but Robyn noticed something off about his voice. She quickly realized that everything Sir Cadogan was saying was being spoken in reverse.

"This was your idea of 'taking matters into your own hands'?" Robyn said accusingly to the twins, both of whom merely gave her equally mischievous grins in reply. As they continued on, they watched as a very angry Filch led a very flustered Professor Flitwick down the corridor in the direction of the portrait.

The group rounded a corridor and started down a staircase on their way to the Transfiguration classroom. Lisa and Flynn pulled Robyn back away from the twins, who noticed, but rather than be nosy, as would be their usual prerogative, they instead busied themselves with messing with a couple of Dungbombs.

"So, Lisa and I were totally paying attention in class -" Flynn started.

"Not passing notes at all," Lisa interjected.

"- and we both realized something."

Robyn glanced between them, furrowing her brow in confusion. She wasn't used to Flynn and Lisa being so in sync like this. That was a phenomenon normally reserved for the twins. She raised her eyebrows expectantly, prompting Flynn to continue.

"Did Lupin ever mention a name?" Flynn asked bluntly.

"A...name...?" said Robyn, her confusion growing even further.

"Yeah, your mother's name! Did he ever tell you what it was?" Lisa chirped.

Robyn paused, racking her brain to try to remember if it ever came up in her conversation with Lupin during her detention. Nothing was coming to mind, and Robyn began to think that if he had mentioned it, she probably would've remembered.

"Um...no, actually. He didn't," Robyn admitted, shaking her head.

Lisa let out a soft hum in thought, sharing a curious look with Flynn.

"Weird."