A Hogwarts Nytdmare

Disclaimer: Most characters in this story are the wonderful creations of J K Rowling, and I intend no infringement whatsoever by borrowing them for this little adventure. I am not making any money from this endeavor, and am merely having a little more fun.

That said, I hope you do too.

A/N: This is the continuing tale of wandless magic and romance at Hogwarts.

Harry is learning more wandless magic, Ron is his ever faithful friend, and Hermione is as brilliant as ever. The Weasley twins get into trouble, Sirius Black throws a party, and Ariel Sinistra is back causing much mayhem. Draco Malfoy gets thrown into the picture, Perth Taber and the Moody clan return, and I believe there'll be a wizard's duel - Nemorosi style. There's always plenty of wolfsbane potion being brewed, and of course, returning for adventure, romance, and maybe even a touch of angst here and there, are Remus, Severus, and Lorien.

Now, if you're sitting there wondering what all of this is about, go read 'A Witch, A Wolf, and A Serpent' first. If you're where I left you in the snow, welcome to the Nytdmare. Read on....

Transition ~*~

Albus Dumbledore had another staffing problem at Hogwarts.

Since Hagrid had been away intermittently during the fall term and would likely be gone at times in the Spring, Dumbledore thought it would be best to hire an additional teacher to cover Care of Magical Creatures. Even when Hagrid returned to his full duties the headmaster though it still might be wise to have someone available to teach the upper level classes. It would probably just be safer that way.

The headmaster had a lot on his mind, but along with looking into ways to step up Hogwarts security, finding the new teacher was high on his priority list over the end of the fall term. The interviews he set up over the holiday break, and he found himself meeting with three candidates for the position. It was the third applicant that caught his attention when he met with her just before the new year.

Marlina Perkins tried to get her son to hurry just a little bit as he lagged behind, gazing up at the enormous castle before them, but it was difficult to get the six year old Noah's attention.

"Come on, love. We're going to be late." She was trying to be patient with him since she knew he was captivated by the sight of the legendary wizarding school.

"Can we really go inside?" Noah's eyes were bright, and she could hear the excitement in his voice.

"Yes, love. That's where we're going right now," the red haired woman said.

Marlina was finally able to make it inside the door and she could see the stern looking witch there did not look happy to be kept waiting. " Miss Perkins...." the woman began, but stopped as Marlina called back over her shoulder.

"Noah. Here with me please." The little boy ran to stand next to his mother. Marlina saw the older woman's expression soften as she understood why the younger one was running behind.

"Nice to see you, Marlina." The Deputy Headmistress offered the woman her hand with a knowing smile.

Marlina took the other witch's hand. "So nice to see you, Professor. I apologize for being late."

"No need." McGonagall looked at the small boy again and smiled. "Mr. Perkins, do you plan to come to Hogwarts when you're old enough?"

The small boy nodded. "I'm going to teach here," he said confidently.

His mother shared a smile with the older witch who spoke softly. "I believe the headmaster is waiting."

Marlina nodded and she and Noah followed McGonagall.

The Headmaster smiled as he saw the small boy march into the room along with his mother, and was even more amused when the young lad proceeded to introduce himself.

"I'm Noah Perkins." The auburn haired boy stuck out his hand.

"Hello, Noah. I'm Albus Dumbledore. Is this your mother?" The headmaster looked toward the woman accompanying the boy.

"Yup. Marlina Perkins," the boy replied cheerfully.

"Nice to see you again Marlina." The blue eyes twinkled.

"And you, Professor Dumbledore." She sat in the chair next to her son.

"Well, I can see by your resume that you've been quite busy since you left Hogwarts, Marlina. Quite a bit of traveling you've done, work at the Wyandotte Zoo, internship with Theseus Pepperidge....do you know Charlie Weasley?"

"Just of him. He went to work with Pepperidge quite a bit after my time," Marlina replied.

"I see. Well, I should say I'm thoroughly....." The white haired wizard hesitated for just a moment as the large striking red bird landed on the lap of the woman with hair the same color and gazed at her with a bright eye.

Dumbledore smiled as he saw the bird's response to the woman, and then the boy's response to the phoenix as Noah's eyes became quite large.

"Go ahead, Noah. You can touch him." He turned back to Marlina while Noah was busy stroking the flame-colored feathers. "It appears that Fawkes is just as impressed with your qualifications. May I ask you one question?"

"Of course," she answered.

"If you take this position, what do you think should be the most important thing taught in the class?" Dumbledore asked.

Marlina didn't even hesitate. "Safety. You've go to be careful when you're around some of these creatures and it's most important that no one is ever hurt, preferably even the animals."

Dumbledore smiled. "The job is yours. Can you start right at the beginning of the term?"

Marlina smiled back. "I'll can be here the second week."

"Fine," the headmaster said, and then turned to the small boy. "Well, what do you think, Noah? Ok if your mother comes to work here?"

"Yes. Mom, can we have a phoenix?" Noah asked.

The headmaster laughed along with the new Care of Magical Creatures professor.

Harry Potter was not going back to the Dursleys for Christmas holiday. He never did, but what was different about this year was that he was not staying at Hogwarts either. He was going to be staying with his godfather, Sirius Black.

A lot had happened in the past month and a half, and Sirius had filled Harry in on much of it. He of course, had filled in Ron and Hermione.

It had started in October when the three of them had notice that Snape, Lupin, and Desjardins were all absent at the Halloween feast. Thinking it odd that this particular trio was missing, they decided to go to Lupin's rooms and ask Sirius if he knew anything. Sirius was missing as well.

The top stories of Saturday's Daily Prophet gave them much of the information they needed.. The Ministry of Magic had been attacked by Death Eaters the night before, but their attempts to kidnap Cornelius Fudge had been thwarted by a small band of aurors and several Hogwarts staff. The next story was almost as big as the first. Sirius Black had received a full pardon after it was discovered that Peter Pettigrew was indeed alive.

Sunday showed no sign of Desjardins, Snape, Lupin, or Black. The Sunday Prophet launched into stories about the Death Eaters that had been captured, (no names had been released other than Pettigrew's yet) and the ministry workers and others that had been injured in the attack. Lorien's name was listed.

"Did you read this?" Harry said to Ron. "Lorien's in the hospital. That explains why Remus isn't back yet."

"He must be with her," commented Hermione. "I hope she's going to be alright."

"Can you believe all of this?" It was Ron's turn. "I can't believe that Sirius is free. Isn't it great, Harry?"

"Yeah. You have no idea how happy I am for him." Harry was happy for himself, as well. He was already planning on moving out of 4 Privet Drive.

Sirius was the one that arrived that afternoon to fill the headmaster in on what exactly had happened. It was a grand moment for him as he walked through the door in broad daylight wearing black robes instead of black fur.

Dumbledore sat listening attentively for a long while as Sirius related the parts he knew of what had happened.

"And Lorien? How is she?" asked the concerned older wizard.

"She's going to be fine. Remus is still at the hospital with her," Black replied.

"And Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yeah, him too." Black looked less than pleased. "They'll both be in tomorrow for classes.

"Good. As for you, Sirius, I believe some congratulations are in order." The headmaster's blue eyes twinkled.

"Yeah, well it's been a long time coming. Sometimes I didn't know if it would ever truly happen."

Snape reported in next to the headmaster, and the older wizard now had the missing pieces to Black's story.

Dumbledore spoke seriously. "So, your old friend Lucius is going to prison?"

"Yes," replied Snape.

"And Lorien? She's doing better?"

"Yes. She's much improved." He saw the look the headmaster was giving him. "Lupin and I have been staying with her in shifts."

"I see. Well, it turns out you were right about things, Severus," the older wizard admitted.

"I would have rather been wrong," Snape said somberly.

"I agree." Dumbledore became very serious, and Snape knew what the man was going to bring up next. "Severus, about Ian Fincastle....."

Snape didn't let him finish. "I had no choice, Albus. I had only a second or two to act. It was him or me."

The headmaster nodded. "I'm glad it wasn't you, my friend." He wasn't pleased about Snape's use of the Unforgivable Curse, but he understood desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Try to get some rest, Severus," the white haired wizard said as he left.

Sirius had told Harry a great deal about what happened at the Ministry one night when he was visiting Sirius in Lupin's rooms. He spoke of how they had found Wormtail and met up with the Moody clan.

"And Harry," said Sirius, "Moony here was responsible for two of the Death Eater that were captured. Tell us about it, Professor."

"I've already told you," protested Lupin modestly.

"Yeah, but Harry hasn't heard. Tell us again," Sirius insisted.

Lupin gave in and told how he had fought off Crabbe and Goyle.

Harry found that the Defense professor had earned an even greater degree of his respect after the story.

It had by now become apparent to Harry, Ron and Hermione that something had changed between Remus and Lorien. They never met her in Lupin's rooms anymore, and they rarely saw the two speaking together. It bothered them all, and Hermione convinced Harry and Ron that they should ask Sirius about it when Lupin wasn't around.

Harry came back to the common room one night looking serious. He had been talking to his godfather, and didn't like the answers Sirius gave him to the questions he'd asked. He flopped into a chair near Ron and Hermione. "Bad news."

"What is it Harry?" Hermione looked worried.

"I found out about Remus and Lorien," Harry replied.

"Did they break up?" asked Ron.

"Not exactly, but that would have been easier to deal with I think," Harry said, staring at the floor in front of him.

"What are you getting at, Harry?" Ron inquired.

Harry looked up. "Lorien likes Snape, too."

"No!" Ron was horrified. "Snape? Is she mad?"

Hermione sat quietly listening to her two friends.

"I don't know, but I guess he likes her as well....." Harry started.

Ron interrupted. "You really needed to tell us this?" He looked pale.

"She can't be with both of them," Hermione said quietly.

"Exactly. That's what's happening. She's not spending time with Remus because she's trying to decide which one she wants to be with," explained Harry.

Ron appeared visibly upset. "What's there to decide? Remus is good. Snape is evil. All she has to do is pick Remus. That's what makes sense."

Harry had to admit that Ron had a pretty good argument.

"It's not that simple, Ron," Hermione spoke up.

"What? Of course it is. Black and White." Ron was adamant.

"Snape isn't evil, Ron. He might be irritable and even mean a lot, but that doesn't make him evil," Hermione argued.

Ron couldn't believe what he was hearing as Hermione continued. "Lorien seems like a pretty smart witch. I'm sure she knows things about Snape that we don't. Remember, she doesn't deal with him in class."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Ron asked crossly.

"He's different around her. Outside of class," she replied knowingly.

"You're taking Snape's side?" asked Harry.

"No." Hermione shook her head. "I'm just pointing out that Snape isn't always the way you two see him. I saw it the night Neville and I watched him make the wolfsbane potion. I know that he didn't want us there, but he gave in because Lorien asked him. He was a little different when I talked to him in the library too."

"You talked to Snape in the library?" Both boys were surprised.

Hermione related the incident with the article she had gone in search of on lycanthropy.

"I still can't believe that she can like Snape as much as Remus." Ron was being stubborn.

"It is hard to imagine, Hermione," added Harry.

Hermione was getting upset. "I'm sure Lorien is trying to do the right thing."

Ron wouldn't let it go. "Which is to pick Remus."

Hermione had enough. "You think it's easy for her? You think she's wrong for caring equally about two men? Is that a bad thing, to care about the important people in your life? You two don't know anything! You know what?" she asked angrily, slamming a book down and leaping to her feet.

"What?" asked Harry.

"Lorien does have it easy in one way, at least Snape and Lupin aren't best friends! At least she doesn't have to decide on neither!"

She stormed out of the room.

Harry and Ron stared after her and then at each other.

"Did you know?" Harry asked Ron.

Ron shook his head. "Did you?"

"No. Not a clue," said Harry. "I think we're going to owe her an apology."

Hermione ran to her bed and flung herself onto it in tears. She'd never meant to tell them. She never wanted either one to know. There was a point she cared about Ron so much, but then found herself feeling something else for Harry as well. She'd seen to it then that she never encouraged anything more than friendship between herself and the two boys. It was the only thing that made sense if the three of them were to remain friends. With a little time her feelings for them each had settled back into the realm of friendship, but hearing them judging the Nemorosi witch had dug it all back up.

"Men can be so dense," she said to Crookshanks, as the big ginger cat climbed up next to her and began to purr.

Nothing more was really ever said about Hermione's revelation, but her two male friends did apologized for being close minded and insensitive. That was good enough for her, and things soon resumed as normal.

The rest of the term passed fairly uneventfully, and the holiday break was almost here.

Sirius told Harry he needed to talk to him one night. "I need to know something, Harry," Sirius said.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Do you still want to live with me?" Sirius sounded just a little uncertain.

"Are you serious?" Harry asked incredulously.

Sirius watched Harry carefully. "Yes."

"Of course! I can't believe you'd even need to ask!" Harry was beside himself with delight.

"You'll spend Christmas with me then?" Sirius finally smiled at the excited teenager.

'Yes! Hey where will we be staying?" Harry asked.

"I've found a place outside Hogsmeade. That way you won't be far from school."

Harry knew that Sirius really meant Dumbledore and the protection that being at school lent him, but he didn't say anything.

The day after Harry had finished his final exams, he went to meet Sirius in Lupin's rooms so they could leave together for Hogsmeade.

They gathered up the things that Harry was bringing with him and headed for the door.

Sirius looked back at Remus, who was staring out the window. "You're sure you don't want to come with us?" he asked Lupin.

Remus continued to look out the window. "I'll be there later."

"Ok, Moony. See you in a while," Sirius replied quietly. He led Harry out of the room.

"What's wrong? Why doesn't he come with us now?" Harry asked.

"She's leaving today. He wants to be there if she comes to say goodbye."

~*~*~*~*~

Lorien had arrived at one of the places she loved best in the whole world, when she walked to the gate that led to the small house belonging to Perth Taber. She quickly stepped through and went to the door to knock.

He opened the door just before her hand made contact. "I knew you'd be here today." The older man smiled. "Come in out of the snow, Sylvanesti."

Lorien embraced her friend and mentor after she set her bag down in the hallway.

"How about some tea?" the wizard with steel gray hair asked as he started to walk to the neat little kitchen.

"That sounds wonderful." Lorien smiled at him.

"So, you're out of a job?" Taber asked as he passed a hand over the kettle, causing it to whistle.

"Temporarily," she informed him.

He looked at her questioningly.

"I've been asked to return, but I probably won't start again until fall term. The headmaster has also asked me to teach, Perth," said Lorien.

"Teach? What?" he asked, wondering what subject the other healer would be instructing.

She played coy. "Oh you know...stuff."

His eyes narrowed.

"He wants me to work with some of the students that have an interest in developing their skills with wandless magic. I've actually already been working with Harry Potter."

Taber smiled warmly. "This is good news. And your medical responsibilities? You'll keep those as well?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Excellent. But tell me, why did you leave if they feel they need you?" Taber asked in a concerned way.

Lorien looked a little sheepish. "Another conflict, Sylvani," she sighed.

"Another?" The older man looked slightly amused.

"Yes, I need a little time to work it out," she admitted, a little embarrassed.

"Do you want to tell me about it?" he asked.

"Later," she said softly. "First I want to show you how I resolved the first one."

Taber looked surprised and then very interested. "Shall we go to the garden?"

"Yes," said Lorien.

Lorien followed Taber to the back of the house to the door that led outside. It had been a while since she had been in his wondrous garden.

When the two of them stepped outside it was as if the months had melted away and spring had arrived behind the quaint house. Powerful magic was at work in Taber's yard, and the garden was a small blooming Eden all year long.

"It's been so long since I've been here." Lorien always like the garden best in winter when it snowed like today. It was lovely to see the snow falling as a backdrop for all of the flowers that were in bloom.

"Now, Lorien, are you going to show me, or are we just going to admire the daisies?" Taber was scolding her gently, but it was because he was anxious to see her accomplishment. He knew already that she had chosen to complete the transformation.

"Ok. Step back a bit," she instructed.

He raised an eyebrow, but did as she told him.

Lorien took a deep breath as she closed her eyes, and then Taber was no longer looking at the blonde witch.

His eyes went wide as he saw the blue-green scales and wings. "Unreal. That's quite an accomplishment, Lorien." He spoke like a proud father would have. He walked up to her and ran his hand over the smooth scales of her shoulder and then touched a leathery wing. "You did that quickly," he observed.

The golden eyes gazed at him and then they were blue again. "I've had a lot of practice lately." She thought of the night on the roof.

"Have you mastered flying yet?" he asked her curiously.

"Not yet." She thought of her spectacular collision with the ground that left her in the hospital for a few days, and she found herself laughing.

"What?" he asked.

"It's a long story," she said as she laughed.

"Well, it sounds like you're going to have plenty of time to tell me," said Taber.

The Christmas holiday was the best one Harry could remember. There were presents from Ron and Hermione, and Sirius and Remus, and the best part was he opened them all at the house he was going to live in when school was out.

Lupin had spent quite a bit of time at the house, since he had a lot of free time between terms. And of course because Lorien was not around.

The three of them had walked into town one morning to have breakfast together, and they were on their way back to the outskirts of town. Sirius was in a good mood and was determined to cheer up the somewhat melancholy werewolf. Harry noticed that as they approached the house he lagged behind a short way.

Remus started up the walk first, but only made it about halfway when a snowball hit him in the back of the head. He whirled around to face Black as Harry stifled a snicker. "What do you think you're...."

Another snowball hit him in the face. Lupin stood there for a minute sputtering, wiping snow off himself and then he noticed Harry laughing.

"So that's funny, huh?" He eyed the young Gryffindor.

"Yes." Harry still giggled until the next snowball hit him in the side of the head.

Lupin chuckled and pointed at Harry as he cleaned snow out of his ear. "I'd say that's just as funny."

Sirius hit him with another snowball in the back and he shared a look with Harry before the two of them ran at Sirius and tackled him in the snow. Remus pinned him down as Harry whitewashed his face until he was laughing too hard to even beg for mercy.

Finally they let him up as the three of them sat there in the snow, still amused.

"Ok. I'm going in for hot chocolate," Harry announced and got up.

"We'll be right in, Harry." Sirius watched his godson go inside, and then Remus helped him to his feet.

"It's eerie sometimes, you know, Moony?" Sirius looked in the direction that Harry had gone.

Lupin nodded, knowing exactly what Black meant. Both men found that the younger Potter was growing to look more like his father all the time.

Remus spoke after a moment "Padfoot?"

"Yes, Moony?"

"Thanks for making me laugh. It's been a while since I've felt like it," Remus said.

"You're welcome." Sirius was happy to see his friend smiling.

A/N: About Hagrid - I don't write him well, (kudos to those that do) and I find that he's more interesting interacting with the kids than the adults, and so since this story focuses more on the adults, I usually leave him out. He's around though, trust me.

About Hermione and H & R. Don't ask. I don't know. I was writing the scene when all of a sudden she got up and started yelling at them and spilling her guts. Any of you that have written fanfiction understand what happens when a character just takes over from time to time.( And who is more likely to speak her mind than Hermione?) I kinda liked the way it played out so I left it, but it really has little impact on the rest of the story. *author shrugs and smiles*

And about Marlina Perkins, if you know where her name comes from than you're probably an OLD witch (or wizard) like me.