𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒌𝒊

┇ 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Francisca Ivalina Sokolova

┇ 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐎𝐂𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥

Madison Dorothea

Prologue and Chapter 0

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Maverick

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Squibs

Augustus Septimus

Molly Lucy

┇ 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐱 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Linden

Chapter 0

Marlene

Katherine

┇ 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐂 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Euphemia

Darien

Aegirion

┇𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Nate Caroline Booth

Jeremy Booth

┇ 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧...

"And while I'm going to do my best to prepare you guys, you probably noticed the Dementors hovering around everywhere this year. They are going to make your exams a lot harder- not by attacking you I promise- but by guiding you off track. You're going to feel their presence, you're going to feel the coldness. It's possible that you're going to lack your usual concentration or even your motivation. Yes, Penelope?"

The monologue was interrupted by the ravenclaw raising her arm.

"But Sir, Professor Dumbledore mentioned in his speech that the Dementors are not going to enter Hogwarts. They're not going to be in the exam hall."

The chalk faltered and stopped writing for a second, mirroring the thought in the spellcasters mind.

"While that is true, they're still going to be near you guys. The Great hall is going to serve as the exam hall after all. But- Yes, Percy?"

"The Dementors are still going to affect us the most, because we're probably going to be the most stressed people in the whole castle. And Dementors, excuse my wordchoice, feast of happiness. They do so, excuse my poor choice again, to remove all the happy memories of ours and leave us with a feeling of desperation and gloom- which is quite counterproductive in such an important exam."

Suddenly their teacher jumped up and clapped into his hands.

"Perfect transition, thank you Percy. To PREVENT, that exact feeling of desperation and gloom, I'm going to teach you something you're going to use during the exam. To help you concentrate, think, and feel more optimistic. Security Workers in the Ministry and Unspeakables SWEAR by it. And it's nothing other than the-"

He picked up the chalk and started writing down by hand now.

"Patronus charm."

He turned around and looked at the students expectantly.

"Who of you has ever heard of the Patroni spell? Everyone. Great."

Noted.

"Who is familiar not only with the theory but also with the practice? Woah, what? Noone? Your past teacher wasn't a fan of practice huh?"

"Sir, our last teacher was Gilderoy Lockhart."

Marcus Flint, one of the few Slytherins, spoke up.

"No idea who that it. Could you elaborate?"

Once again, the defense against dark arts teacher was sitting on the table.

"He's a fraud. He searches for people with extraordinary talents or those who encountered dangers, talks with them, removes their memory and claims their work as his own. Makes a bloody amount of money with it. He was our teacher last year- but he disappeared before the end of the term."

A look of absolute bafflement painted the teachers face, "I have to admit, that flew completely over my head. So I guess he just talked about being able to conjure a patronus, but then wasn't?"

Seventeen nods greeted him.

"Okay okay. Then we're going to do something else. We're going to start conjuring the Patroni next lesson, as for homework I want you to think of the happiest memory of yours and write it down- until next lesson obviously. That memory is sufficient for the conjuring, but fear not- you don't have to tell that memory to anyone. Not to your classmates, not to me."

"As for now. I want this class to be as comfortable as possible for everyone. Like I said, due to the Dementors, this is going to be a hard year for you guys and I want you to have at least one class you look forward too. One you feel safe in. You're allowed to talk to me about everything that concern you, you're allowed to sleep here if you promise to catch up with what we learned."

As he spoke, a stack of parchment began to distribute by itself.

"But for that, we need to trust each other. Or you have to trust me at least. I want you know to write on that parchment either what topics you feel uncomfortable with- so I can avoid them as much as possible, if there are some lessons you'd like to skip due to Traumata or other reasons- we can talk about this in private, or I don't know something you'd like to tell me, advise you have from your previous teachers, or simply things you look forward to."

The sound of quills scribbling on parchment filled the room, and their teacher took the opportunity to walk around in the classroom. If you would've watched him carefully you would've seen how he sometimes passed students- who's scribbling sounded particularly aggressive- and do a double take on their parchment.

After a couple minutes everyone had handed over their parchment and the Ginger was sitting on the table again.

"For the time we have left, we can do a little Q&A session about me. Ask anything you want."

"Your full name? Like with your second and third name?"

"My full name is Maverick Weasley. Who told you guys I have more than one name?"

"How old are you?"

"26."

"What's your patronus form?"

"You'll see next lesson, but feel free to guess."

"How many O.W.L.s did you have?"

"All 12."

"Your job before becoming a teacher here?"

"That's confidental."

"What do you mean 'confidental'?"

"That means it's secret business that only my family and the minister are allowed to know."

"...Are you single?"

"Ooops would you look at the time. The lesson is over. Out now- you kids need fresh air."

"Chasing Black alone with Dementors is useless. While they are able to decent him and suck his soul out, they're no big help in any other way. If we want the Dementors to take care of him, we need to bring him to the Dementors.

So.

The following.

I've made a lot of research about Blacks personal life before he entered Azkaban.

His family dynamic, his life in Hogwarts, his life after graduation, his trial."

It was quiet in the teachers room, since everyone's eyes laid on the Ginger man- waiting for him to continue. Among the teaching staff, at the rather end of the table, Percy Weasley and Penelope Clearwater also attended the security meeting- their obligation as Headboy and Headgirl.

"I've marked spots and dates that had emotional value to him. We're not going to tell the students, but we are going to take safety measures. I personally recommend-"

"Maverick listen. We all know, that you graduated with excellent grades in Defense against dark arts, and that you have a tendency to protect others. But. There is no way that Sirius Black is going to appear here in Hogwarts. I think you're a bit paranoid."

And then, with just a little interruption, all eyes layed on the teacher by the window.

"Without any respect, Sir. If the ministry hasn't assigned it, I wouldn't be here. Do you really think I don't have better things to do than to teach little kids? As one of the highest ranking- Percy don't you dare tell the others- Azkaban guards?

"She said my handwriting is worse than the one of a troll, most of it is unreadable and the things she could read were wrong. That's why she had to give me a "D". But! She also said if I write it again, with more effort, she might read it again and give me a new grade. But for that it has to be on her desk by tomorrow."

Marcus replied, sitting down on the table next to her herbs, but he stood up quickly again when he noticed Madisons' glare.

"What speaks against writing it a second time? I mean you can do it here and I'll look over it once you're done- or give you a kiss for every nice and legible paragraph. How does that sound?" The Ginger knew exactly what she was doing with Marcus' tie in her hand.

"Are you trying to seduce me into getting good grades?"

Because her boyfriends face was flushed in a deep red.

But Madison didn't feel the need to answer the question. She just shrugged and cleared up the table with a 'flick' of her wand.

"If you need me, I'm in Madame Pomfreys office checking our storage on potion ingredients. We have to reorder everything before the holidays."

𖹭

"Madison?"

Percy Weasley crossed the hospital Wing with confident long steps before noticing the Slytherin sitting at the table, hunched over a roll of parchment with his tongue sticking out in concentration.

Disgusting.

"She's in Pomfreys office mate."

Not even bothering to look up at him.

"Don't call me that. We're far from being friends. What are you even doing here? You don't seem injured and-"

The redhead took a closer look at the paper.

"You can do your homework elsewhere. Like the library or your common room."

With that sentence Percy turned around on his heel and walked towards the officedoor, but not before;

"Oh and Flint? Your scrawl looks like chicken scratch, to decipher a single word of yours is a pain. I pity your parchment."

Percy shot him a look full of displeasure, before he turned away and entered the office.

Not closing the door behind him, led to Marcus being able to eavesdrop the whole conversation the twins were having.

Something about Christmas sweaters and their color.

But Marcus didn't have to follow their conversation in secret for a long time, because after a few minutes Madison left Pomfreys office and began to stock up the cabinets in the hospital Wing. While doing that, Marcus took great effort into acting as if he was working on his essay and not listening to their conversation, but he couldn't help but notice that Percy shot him a ton of glances and continued their conversation in whispers. Until-

"PERCY WOULD YOU SHUT IT? I told you that I already owled Mom about the yarn, and about the other Christmas presents. I don't have to justify myself to you, and you don't have to follow me around nagging. Also the color of my sweater is none of your business- maybe I changed my mind about burgundy huh?

Also- a boyfriend? Merlin, Percy neither do I have time for one, nor are there any decent candidates in this castle."

She was about to continue her speech, when the two gingers got interrupted by noone other than Neville Longbottom hopping into the hospital Wing.

The annoyance as well as the pain in Madisons eyes vanished within seconds, as she helped the first-year on a chair and removed the Leg-Locker-Curse with ease. "May I ask what happened?"

The simple question was enough for Neville to start crying, but between all the hiccups and snorts it was able to understand that it had something to do with Slytherins. Draco Malfoy in particular.

"Let's go Neville, I'll walk with you to the common room." It was Percys' offer, as Gryffindors prefect, which Neville gladly accepted. And with another glare shot at Madison and Marcus, the younger twin walked out of the hospital Wing accompanied by the first year.

𖹭

"You didn't tell him we're.. dating?" The quiet way Marcus had spoken up made him sound painfully insecure. And Maddys thought was proven true by his next question.

"Are you ashamed of me?"

In the two months they were dating each other, Marcus had told her lots about himself- well about his father mostly- while Madison on her side was more comforting him and keeping quiet. She knew that Marcus wouldn't make fun of her, but looking at the situation from another perspective proved that Marcus' father issues had a lot of things to do with his behavior in school. Madison on the other hand only had growing complexes, but as long as she wasn't lashing out on anyone she had still time to solve them by herself.

Unlike Marcus' insecurity- he definitely needed help with that.

"Honeybear I would never be ashamed of you." She crossed the hospital Wing in fast steps until she was standing behind him. "It's just- if Percy, or anyone of my brothers actually, would find out I'm dating you, I'd never hear the end of it." Gently she wrapped her arms around his chest and placed her cheek between his shoulder blades. "And then they'd tell other people and in less than a week the whole castle will know. And- I just want one thing that only belongs to me without having to share it." If she hadn't been so close to him, Marcus wouldn't have been able to make out the end of her sentence because she grew quieter with every word she spoke.

So Marcus did what he thought every good boyfriend would do in his place. Return with words of comfort and a tiny bit of physical contact.

The tiny bit of physical contact meant that he turned around in her arms rather ungracefully and gently hugged his girlfriend, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Except that Madison took a step back from him, only taking his hands into hers.

"Not right now please."

The situation itself would be alright, if Madison didn't try to keep herself from crying- tears that had nothing to do with the hug.

"Madison- hey hey what's wrong??"

In a matter of seconds Madison had started crying.

"It's nothing really I just- need a second okay???"

She has turned around and sat down on one of the nearest hospital beds, her legs pulled close and her face in her hands.

Marcus had no other just but so sit down next to her, keeping a hand at her lower back- gently stroking it.

"Can I trust you with something?"

Minutes of silence had passed, before Madison prepped up her chin on her arms, looking holes into the walls- but not at him.

"Of course."

Gently, he put his arm around her and pulled her into his side.

"I hate Burgundy."

The silence that followed felt as if Madison had just admitted murder. But she didn't.

The silence was rather uneasy- especially because Marcus felt as if it was his turn to say something but the had no idea what to say?

His girlfriend just said she disliked a color- so what?? Is that a crime??

His internal rambling got interrupted by Madison- who had continued talking.

"But it's a family tradition that Mum knits sweaters for us. And I know that she always asks about what colors we want, because after all we have to wear it- but I just feel so ungrateful if I'm asking for a certain color- one that I know we don't have because Mum never knits in those colors- and then she has to go and buy yarn just for me. And yarn is expensive.! And I won't even wear the sweater because they're too warm and they're tight and I feel fat and disgusting whenever clothes are too tight. And I- UGH. I hate being poor. I hate it's so much. Do you have any idea how horrible it is to never have something for yourself. I can only be glad that Charlie had a normal sense of fashion when he was my height-"

The took a deep breath to steady herself, before her voice toned down again.

"But I love my parents deeply, they're trying hard to give us everything we need. I'm grateful to have a roof and to have access to education. I'm studying to be a healer so I can help my parents and make sure they don't have to flip around every knut and worry about us. I'm not going to be selfish, I am not selfish. My mum won a whole package of burgundy yarn from her Witch-Knit Magazine and I asked for a burgundy sweater in order to safe money. It's okay. I. Am. Okay. I love my parents and I am a good daughter."

During her monologue, Madison stood up and walked in circles in front of her boyfriend- steadying herself with breathing techniques that suspiciously looked like she got them straight out of a healing-book.

Now she's sitting next to him again, her head resting on her shoulder, her eyes without tears.

"Your favorite color is moss green, right?"

Marcus had no idea on how he should comfort the girl that was so dear to him.

He didn't know what it was like to think twice before buying something- his great-great-grandfather from his mum's side was the founder the Falmouth Falcons- that meant a ton of money whenever they won a game. His grandparents invented other various quidditch items, such as special gloves and goggles and thanks to the patent, a fortune was guaranteed to them here as well.

His mother was able to pursuit her research because of their financial stability up until the accident had her under permanent surveillance in the St. Mungos.

But even after that- there's no need to worry.

He was bloody wealthy.

But he knew that noone else could comfort her as well as he could- especially in the position of her boyfriend.

She hated sharing? Merlin then he'll buy her a copy for her own.

She hates when people spend money for her? Bloody hell then he'll do it BY HAND.

She feels overlooked between her siblings and others? He's going to make her feel like the only person on this planet.

And that starts by remembering.

Everything, but especially the little things.

"I literally told you that weeks ago, no way you remembered that."