Defense Against the Dark Arts was rather boring, even in Harry’s opinion. Karis made them all sit a test and they had to make a list of all the illegal curses and jinxes along with all the legal disarming spells and charms, and elaborate on why it was better to shield and protect oneself than to retaliate. Harry didn’t see the point, but nonetheless he obliged along with the rest of the class.

There was much small talk and distant whispers coming from the right hand side of the class room from the Slytherins, about Draco. He tried to listen to as much as possible like Snape had asked of him, but they were keeping very low key and didn’t let a great deal slip into the open air.

Harry and Neville spent a large part of the lesson sending notes to one another; Neville had trouble with spelling some of the spells so Harry helped him. He found it was justified as Neville knew the answers and he didn’t want to see him fail on the small inability to spell them properly. After all, he had seen Neville do many of the legal spells himself, and succeed.

“Harry. Is everything alright?” asked Karis quietly as he handed her his test paper.

“Yes, everything is wonderful actually.” replied Harry with a large beaming smile that reached his eyes.

Karis smiled back, and Harry glimpsed a small note of surprise. “Well that’s good. Looks like Luna really is a remarkable young lady Harry.” she said with a wink.

Harry smiled. “You too Karis, more than you realise.” he then leaned in closer so no-one else could hear. “I’m so pleased we met and to have you as my sister.”

Karis looked up, she had a mild expression of thanks on her face, and she gave him a small smile before he turned away and left her classroom.


After he had left, Karis frowned in wonderment. “What is he up to?” she whispered quietly to herself.

Luna had met up with them all at lunch time, and gave Harry her usual tight bear hug embrace before they sat down to eat.

This time however, Harry held her tighter, and she winced after a minute of him not having let her go. “Oh, sorry.” He replied with flushed cheeks. “I uh, just… Sorry babe.” He stuttered; feeling a little embarrassed at his clumsiness.

Luna giggled and took him by the arm, and they approached the Gryffindor table so as to eat their regular daily routine of lunch together.

Karis suddenly entered the great hall with Severus Snape by her side. She quickly glanced over at the Gryffindor table and sent a warm smile to Harry and Luna while she then proceeded down the hall to the large staff table to sit and eat her own food.

Severus sat beside her and they both immediately went for the ham and salad.

“Oh, sorry Severus, you first.” said Karis politely.

“Very well!” he replied, and stuck a large fork into a piece of honey roast thickly sliced ham.

Karis raised her eyebrows with a cheeky smile on her face. “Never heard of ladies going first then Severus?” she taunted.

“I never get a look in when its chocolate cake Karis, or fudge brownies, so you gave me a chance and I took it! Don’t try to be polite next time if that’s how you feel!” he retorted, sticking a juicy cherry tomato in his mouth.

“Don’t worry, I have known you long enough to realise your days of being a gentleman are as long gone as Bellatrix Lestrange’s brains!” she shot sarcastically, while Severus lips curled at the corners, as he found her statement a little amusing.

“Have you noticed anything odd about Harry today?” she whispered quietly to Severus, changing the subject slightly.

He looked at her, his brown eyes narrowing with a knitted brow. “Odd? No Karis, Potter has always been odd, what’s different today than from any other day?!”

“Very funny!” she replied, tapping him on the arm.

“Do you think he is up to something?” he scoffed, staring at Harry from across the hall.

Karis rolled her eyes. “I didn’t say that now did I! All I meant was, well… he actually looks really happy today.”

Severus sneered. “Well, that makes a change.”

Karis shot Snape a look of pure bewilderment. “Umm, yes, like someone else I could care to mention!”

Severus ignored her and took a mouthful of ham and pickle.


“Well why don’t you ask him in Occlumency, isn’t it about time you gave him another tutorial Karis?” he said after he swallowed his morsel.

“Yes, maybe I will. But what about the plans for you know what?” she replied, eyeing him carefully.

“Leave that with me. You find out what Potter’s up to, after all, he isn’t going to tell me is he!” replied Severus, while picking up his goblet and taking a sip of mango juice.

“Very well.” she replied, and then stood and approached the Gryffindor table where Harry and his friends were residing.

“Quick word Harry if I may!” she ordered sharply, not wanting to cause suspicion to the rest of the students.

Harry frowned. He was enjoying his time with his friends and Luna, after all, lessons were to re-commence in ten minutes.

“It won’t take long!” she continued, in a small tone of exasperation.

Harry stood up and followed Karis’ lead out of the Great Hall and into a side room that was empty in the long corridor.

“Sorry about that Harry, I don’t want to cause suspicion.” she said as she closed the door behind her.

“No problem, what’s up? Is there anymore news on Draco?”


Karis shook her head. “We are formulating a plan, but I don’t want to talk to you about that.” she replied, as she started to pace the floor, from side to side, her hands on her hips and her head down in thought. It reminded Harry of Albus, the way he did that in his office now and then, except he crossed his arms.

“Well what do you want to talk to me about?” Harry asked, waiting for her to continue their discussion. He looked at his watch expectantly.

Karis stopped pacing the floor; she bit her lower lip and looked up at him. “I sense you are ready Harry. Tonight I want us to have an occlumency lesson together, I feel time is drawing near for your need to want answers, I sense your strength.” She paused and stared Harry directly in the eye. “Especially today for some reason….” she said with a questioning frown.

Harry turned away, he felt his cheeks start to flush but he didn’t want her to see, he hated lying to her, but he wanted to keep last night’s actions between himself and Dobby.

“What time?” he replied, turning away and walking over to the far wall, pretending to look interested in the polished trophies that stood on the mahogany shelves.

“About seven, is that alright with you?” she replied.

“Yeah, that’s alright. Quidditch practise will be finished at six, so seven will be fine.”

“Right, well, I will see you in my classroom then, and you may want to bring some chocolate!”

Harry knitted his brows. “Uh, why?” he asked.

But Karis just smiled at him and approached him slowly and gave him a quick hug, before leaving the room. Harry shook his head in amazement, wondering what that was all about, as he too headed back into the great hall, to say goodbye to Luna, whom he now wouldn’t see until tomorrow.