Harry and his friends had scarcely reached the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom when Bill Weasley opened the door and gestured for the waiting queue of students to enter.

Normally Harry and Ron preferred to find seats either in the middle or the back of a classroom, but this class was different. Defense had always been Harry's greatest strength. Ron was good at it, too, and with Bill being the professor, they were more than willing to join Hermione in the front row. But when they reached the front, they paused.

These desks were arranged in pairs. Always before, when they had to choose, Harry and Ron had sat together and Hermione had joined Neville. It was not something that they had ever discussed. It was just how they had always automatically arranged themselves. But this time Ron glanced uncertainly between Harry and Hermione, with his gaze lingering on Hermione.

Harry noticed and gave him a little push. "Go on, sit with her." He turned towards Neville who was further behind them. "Hey, Neville, come on up here and sit with me."

Ron leaned close and whispered. "You don't mind?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm just across the aisle. I think I can survive being that far from you."

Ron grinned and lightly punched him on the arm before sliding into the seat next to Hermione.

The Gryffindors and Slytherins shared Defense Against the Dark Arts and once he was seated, Harry looked around to see who else was in the class. All of the Gryffindor sixth-years had received the required OWL, but of the Slytherins, only Blaise Zabini, Daphne Greengrass, and Pansy Parkinson were present.

Harry frowned as he noted Draco Malfoy's absence. That didn't make sense. Malfoy was plenty smart enough and Harry couldn't imagine that he hadn't scored well on his OWL exam. Perhaps he was making a point of snubbing the Weasleys by either showing up tardy or dropping the class altogether. But whatever the case, there was no sign of the blond boy.

Well, it certainly didn't matter to Harry. Malfoy's absence would likely make his own life easier. Harry shrugged and took his Defense text, a sheet of parchment, and a quill from his schoolbag.

Bill Weasley closed the classroom door behind the last student and strode to the front of the room. This morning he was wearing dark blue robes and his hair was pulled back into his customary ponytail. He was also wearing his dragon-hide boots and his silver earring shaped like a fang, Harry noticed.

"Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts," Bill began confidently. He pointed his wand and a piece of chalk rose and scrawled "Professor Weasley" on the chalkboard behind him.

"Many of you already know me, but for those who don't, I'm Bill Weasley. I admit that this is my first year teaching, but I've worked as a curse-breaker for Gringotts for the past ten years so I do have experience fighting the Darks Arts."

"We are all fortunate that Voldemort is dead and a second war has been averted." Bill gave Harry a quick smile. "But it would be a mistake, possibly a tragic one, to assume that all danger has passed and that this class is unimportant. There are still several known Death Eaters on the loose, and the werewolf Fenrir Greyback."

A mutter of voices passed through the class. All of them knew that their former professor Lupin was a werewolf and some of them had heard of Greyback.

Harry had not so he leaned over to Neville and whispered, "Who's this Greyback?"

But before Neville could answer, Bill held up his hand for silence and continued, "For anyone who has not heard of him before, Greyback is a most dangerous character, a foul and perverted monster. He delights in infecting others with lycanthropy and he actively searches for victims during the full moon. He's been known to attack and kill people at other times too."

Bill paused, before adding. "You all know that there is a lot of prejudice against werewolves in our society. I want to emphasise to you that werewolves should be judged on an individual basis, just like everyone else. Many are like Professor Lupin, good and decent people who just happen to have a dangerous affliction, and they take every precaution to protect the innocent. But they're not all like that, and Greyback has proven his inhumanity."

"Now, on to other matters. Most of our class time will be devoted to the practical application of spells. There will be very few essays, but there will be a weekly quiz on Fridays covering the assigned readings. Besides the quizzes, you will also receive a grade each week based on your performance in here. I've already had to deduct points from your grade, Miss Parkinson, as I doubt the contents of that note you just passed to Miss Greengrass have anything to do with Defense. Any further trouble and you'll have detention on Friday evening," Bill finished. His voice was pleasant, but left no doubts that he wasn't going to be a pushover.

Pansy flushed, though no one knew if it was from embarrassment or anger, and Daphne Greengrass quickly slipped the offending note into her desk and sat up straight with her eyes glued to Bill.

"One last thing before we begin." Bill's eyes swept the class. "In all of your classes this year, you will spend time learning to cast spells nonverbally. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?"

Hermione's hand shot into the air before anyone else's.

Bill nodded at her. "Miss Granger?"

"Your adversary has no warning about kind of magic you're about to perform, which gives you a split-second advantage," she answered.

"Very good. Five points to Gryffindor. Now, for the remainder of class, I want you to pair up and practice casting and repelling jinxes at one another. The trick is that you have to do it without speaking. Decide which spell you want to use and imagine it happening. It requires great concentration, especially in the beginning, but it does become easier with practice."

Everyone found a partner, though since there was an uneven number of students, the three Slytherins formed their own group. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville alternated switching against one another. All eight Gryffindors had been part of Dumbledore's Army last year and could perform a wide variety of spells, including Shield Charms, but casting nonverbally was more difficult than it seemed.

Many people resorted to whispering under their breath, but after half an hour Hermione was able to send a silent Jelly-Legs Jinx towards Neville. It earned her another ten points for Gryffindor and scowls from the Slytherins. But just at the end of class Pansy Parkinson was able to cast a nonverbal stupefying charm, and Bill praised her and awarded Slytherin ten points as well. Pansy preened, obviously considering her earlier rebuke forgotten, and Blaise Zabini and Daphne Greengrass looked pleased, though startled that Bill Weasley would reward their House.

Bill called to Ron, Hermione, and Harry to stay for a minute after dismissing the others. When they came up to his desk, he asked, "Well, what did you think? Did I do all right?"

"That was a great class!" Hermione said enthusiastically before looking slightly confused. "Sir? Professor?"

"You have to call me ‘sir' or ‘professor' in front of others, but as long as it's just us, you can call me ‘Bill'," he told her. "Thanks, Hermione."

"She's right. It was great. It was fun and we were learning, too," Harry said. "I'm glad you're going to have us doing real work this year."

"Yeah, everything was good," Ron agreed. "You just have to be careful not to award Slytherin too many points."

Bill shook his head. "I have to be fair, Ron, and Pansy Parkinson did do well to cast nonverbally at this stage. I really wasn't expecting any of you to manage it yet." He smiled at Hermione. "I should have known not to underestimate you, though."

He grinned at Harry and Ron. "You two better get busy."

Ron looked at Hermione and said, "We'll never catch up with her. Hermione's one of a kind."

Hermione turned pink, but before she had to think of a way to respond, Bill said, "Well, you better run along. You don't want to be late for Charms and my fourth-years will be showing up any minute now. I just wanted to know what you three thought about my first class."

"See you later, Bill," Ron grinned at him. "But I'm going to write to Mum and Dad if you give Slytherin more points than us."

Bill pretended to be horrified. "And I'll give you detention for the rest of term, too. I mean, how would it look for a professor to get a howler from his mum?"

Charms was fun, too. Tiny professor Flitwick was always kind and cheerful and the Gryffindors shared this class with the Hufflepuffs. They all got along well with one another and the students milled about chatting until Professor Flitwick gave his wand a swish and a tinkling sound like bells ringing filled the air.

When it died away, he smiled but said firmly, "As happy as we all are to see one another again, we do have a lot to accomplish this year so please take your seats and we'll begin."

He showed them how to cast an Aguamenti Charm, which caused a jet of water to shoot from their wands, as well as the complimentary drying spell. Though the students were capable of throwing up Shield Charms, most of them seemed to find it more enjoyable to either dodge out of the way or else to let the water hit them. Most of Charms classes were noisy and this one was no exception. Still, by the end of it, everyone could perform the Aguamenti Charm.

The sixth-years had a free period after Charms and Harry went up to the Tower with the other Gryffindors. Lavendar and Parvati promptly headed for the girls' dormitory. Lavendar had apparently developed a crush on Justin Finch-Fletchley and wanted to re-do her hair before going down to lunch. For some reason that Harry didn't understand, this task also required Parvati's presence.

Dean, Seamus, and Neville decided that they needed a nap after the previous night's revels and they went off to the boys' dorm, leaving Harry, Ron, and Hermione alone in the common room. Ron gazed longingly at the stairs, too, but when Hermione began badgering them about working on the essay Flitwick had assigned, he gave in with fairly good grace.

They sat down together at a side table and spread out their parchment and textbooks, but they actually got very little done because Harry told them about meeting the younger Slytherins and offering to help Alec Morland with flying.

Ron looked shocked. "You're going to help a Slytherin kid make the Quidditch team? Harry, does the term, ‘conflict of interest' mean anything to you?"

Harry raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm just going to fly with him and maybe give him a few pointers. It's not a big deal, Ron."

"You're a Gryffindor. He's a Slytherin. Trust me, Harry, it's a big deal," Ron retorted.

"Well, I don't see why. I mean, why do Gryffindor and Slytherin have to be enemies? We get along fine with the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Why not with Slytherin?" Harry asked.

"Because they're Slytherin," Ron answered. "You can't trust them, Harry. Turn your back on them and they'll stab you every time." He looked around and lowered his voice to a whisper. "Look at what Draco Malfoy did to you. Isn't that a perfect example?"

Remembering how Malfoy had cast the slavery spell on him was painful, but the implied insult to his father was even more so.

Harry glared and hissed back. "Draco Malfoy doesn't represent all of Slytherin anymore than Peter Pettigrew represents Gryffindor. And Severus is Slytherin. Have you forgotten that, Ron? I can't believe you would say that about my dad!"

Ron actually grew pale. He swallowed and said in a very different tone of voice. "I did forget. I can't believe it, but I did. Harry...I'm sorry. Really I am. I know that Snape...Severus isn't like that. I know he loves you."

Harry sighed. "It's even more than that, though, Ron. Severus is a good person, a trustworthy person. And he's Slytherin. They're not all bad. Can't you see that?"

Ron sighed too and was quiet for a while before saying slowly. "I guess so. But Harry, for whatever reason, Gryffindor and Slytherin have been enemies for a long time, and some of them were on Voldemort's side. Just because he's gone doesn't mean that it's all over. Some of those Slytherins would be really happy to see some really bad things happen to you."

Hermione spoke for the first time. "He's right, Harry, at least about that. You're right too, I think, that probably some of the Slytherins are okay, and it would be nice if we could get along. But considering that some of them had strong ties to Voldemort and that they hate you, I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon. And I don't want you to get hurt because you're trying to be friendly with them."

"Severus warned me about that, too," Harry admitted.

"Well, if even Severus is telling you that some of the Slytherins are bad news, don't you think maybe it's a bad idea trying to play nice with them?" Ron asked.

"Well, I'm not planning to go up to any junior Death Eaters and ask them to be pals," Harry answered. "But I think Alec Morland is all right. Severus said he didn't come from a Death Eater family."

"Maybe he is," Ron said, "But even so, do you really think helping this kid make their Quidditch team is a good idea? Slytherin is our biggest rival, you know."

"I'll do my best for us. You know I will," Harry told him.

"I know it," Ron replied. "I'm just saying that some of the other Gryffs might not like it."

"Well, I don't see why this is such a big deal. I'm just going to give him a few tips. I'd do that for anyone," Harry insisted.

"I'm going with you," Ron told him.

Hermione nodded. "Me, too."

Harry gave them a bemused look. "I don't think he's going to cast any Unforgivables at me. And he's only a second-year."

"A second-year Slytherin who might know more than you think," Ron replied.

Before Harry could argue, Hermione chimed in. "Think about everything we got up to in second-year, Harry. Don't underestimate them."

"And even if this Morland kid is all right, you never know when some older Slytherins might decide to show up," Ron added. "We're going with you, Harry, and that's that."

"We don't want you to get hurt again, Harry," Hermione said softly. "And I just don't think we can trust the Slytherins."

She hesitated before saying slowly, "It's all well and good to want things to be better between our Houses, but it does seem like you've had a big change of heart all of a sudden, Harry. I know you want to please Severus and..."

"Severus didn't put me up to anything," Harry said. "In fact, he's warned me about being careful around the Slytherins, too."

He sighed again. "It's just...I don't know, Severus and I used to misunderstand each other and always think the worst of each other. But once we got past all that we found out that we could get along, and I guess I can't help wondering if it could be like that for all of Gryffindor and Slytherin, too. I mean I know what's like to be misunderstood and to have people hate you when they don't even know you."

Hermione laid her hand on his arm. "You're a good person, Harry. But just remember that while that may be true for some of the Slytherins, they're not all poor misunderstood innocent kids."

Harry grimaced. "Believe me, guys. I do know that."

"I hope so," Ron said soberly. "You've been through enough. We don't want anything else to happen to you."

The three of them looked at one another solemnly. Then Harry gave them a smile. "Thanks. You're really good friends."

That somber discussion had dampened their spirits slightly and they worked on their essays in silence until lunch. But eating sandwiches and stew together in the Great Hall cheered everyone up again. Severus was with the other professors at the staff table. Harry waved to him and his father smiled and nodded back at him.

Ginny was there, too, and Luna came over from the Ravenclaw table to eat with them. They all talked about classes and bemoaned the amount of studying they already had to do. Harry had such a good time that he didn't think twice about the Slytherins and didn't notice that Draco Malfoy wasn't at lunch either.

In Herbology, Professor Sprout had them re-potting Venomous Tentaculas. They were allowed to work in groups and Professor Sprout didn't mind chattering so long as they got their work done, so in spite of the ornery plants, Harry managed to enjoy himself.

After class Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the greenhouse and headed back up to the castle. They parted ways in the Great Hall, promising to meet back in a few minutes. Then Ron and Hermione went up to Gryffindor Tower while Harry found a side chamber with a fireplace connected to Hogwarts internal Floo system.

Severus was in their parlour when Harry tumbled out of the fireplace. He looked grim, but his face relaxed when he saw Harry and he came over to slip an arm around his son's shoulders and hold him close for an instant.

"How was your day?" Severus asked.

Harry beamed. "Brilliant. We had so much fun in Defense and Charms, and Herbology was all right, too."

"I hope you're actually learning something as well," Severus commented dryly.

"Oh, we are," Harry assured him.

"Good," Severus smiled at him. "I look forward to hearing more about it this evening."

"How was your day?" Harry asked, remembering how forbidding Severus had looked just a few moments ago.

"Tolerable, I suppose," Severus replied. "Unfortunately I have an unpleasant Head of House duty to attend to. Mr. Malfoy has decided that he no longer has to attend classes and I must disabuse him of that notion. But I have to locate him first."

"Oh. Well, I haven't seen him today," Harry offered.

"Apparently none of his Housemates have seen him since early morning either," Severus growled. He looked at Harry. "You're going flying with the Morland boy?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, sir. I just came to drop off my schoolbag and get my Firebolt."

Severus was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "Harry, I am glad that you're making an effort to reach out to the Slytherins, and Alec Morland is a good boy. But I do want you to be careful. Could any of your friends accompany you?"

Harry thought how odd it was for Ron, Hermione, and Severus to all be feeling the same way about the Slytherins.

He nodded. "Ron and Hermione are coming with me."

"Good. Well, have fun flying, but no foolhardy stunts. I will see you at dinner." Severus patted his shoulder.

Harry went to his room, shrugged off his robe and put it away. He laid his bag beside his desk, collected the Firebolt from the corner, and Flooed back up to the Great Hall.

Ron and Hermione were waiting for him and the three of them left the castle and walked down to the Quidditch pitch to meet the Slytherins.