The Christmas cheer was beginning to disappear and everyone seemed (especially Sirius) to be dreading the days when the holiday ended.

The house, now that the Christmas decorations had been taken down, seemed once more, dull and dreadful as if the walls were hiding Dementors to make sure you felt as depressed as the house looked.

Eleanor found the weight of her situation bearing down on her again since the holiday was coming to an end. She tried not to let it show though and constantly reminded herself that she and her family were safe as long as they stayed where they were.

It had turned out that Kreacher had been lurking in the attic since his mysterious disappearance. Sirius had said he had found him up there, covered in dust, no doubt looking for more relics of the Black family to hid in his cupboard. Eleanor remembered Harry's uneasy look as Sirius had told them all this but she didn't question it. She thought he was being rather paranoid.

Eleanor was dreading the end of the holiday just as much as Sirius. Harry had told her that Sirius didn't seem as down as when they all left for Hogwarts in the summer which Harry suspected was because he wouldn't be completely alone this time, he'd have Eleanor and Josh around most of the time apart from the hours when they were at school.

Eleanor was glad that her presence seemed to lift Sirius' spirits some what, and she didn't mind his company either but she didn't want to say goodbye to everyone. It would be months before she saw Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George again and she had already gotten used to having them around her constantly.

Eleanor's parents had decided to send Eleanor and Josh back to school after the holidays, with the agreement that they had an escort there and back. They thought it important that Eleanor went back to school because she had her main exams in a few months time which would help shape her career. Eleanor, although begrudgingly, had to agree with them.

Just like whenever someone was dreading something, time seemed to speed up drastically and soon the last day of the holiday was upon everyone at last.

Eleanor was sat in the dining room, reading one of Harry's textbooks. She was reading one of his old Defence against the Dark Arts books. It was one of the subjects that interested her the most but she also wanted to learn about different spells and jinxes, so when Harry was talking to her about the D.A. she had a better understanding of just what he was going on about. It was a very interesting read, especially to someone who normally didn't enjoy reading unless it was a fictional book of some kind. But Eleanor was enjoying herself immensely.

Before this, she had been up in Harry's room, where everyone was playing wizards chess together. They had been playing all morning and while Eleanor enjoyed watching the game immensely as the chess pieces actually moved and smashed one another, she had quickly formed a headache so she took refuge in the quiet dining room for a while where she was perfectly safe from hearing the banging and smashing of chess pieces with the added scream of frustration from Harry or the cry of glee from Ron when he kept winning. Harry was terrible at chess.

Just then the door bell rang. Sirius went to answer it. Eleanor soon heard hushed voices and then Mrs. Weasley was bustling past to get to the door and greet the guest also.

Sirius soon came marching into the dining room wearing a scowl. Eleanor's first thought was that Dumbledore might be at the door as Sirius and Dumbledore weren't on the best of terms at the moment with what Dumbledore had been instructing Sirius to stay indoors but then this thought stuck her as odd because Dumbledore barely came around for the Order.

Eleanors questions were soon answered when a tall slender man glided into the room. He had greasy hair, a hooked nose and a sallow face. His expression told Eleanor quite clearly that he would rather be anywhere else.

Sirius sat down at the table still scowling.

Eleanor recognised the hooked nose man as Severus Snape. Harry had mentioned Snape in a few of his letters to her. Snape was the Potions master at Hogwarts and from the way Harry described him, a huge bully. But without the information Harry had given her, Eleanor knew from appearance alone that she did not like the man.

"I'll just go and get Harry then." Mrs. Weasley said, completely oblivious to the tension in the room as she left to trudge up the stairs.

Eleanor felt like she was intruding on something big as Sirius sat, rigid and scowling still.

Snape's eyes landed on Eleanor and a sneer took over his features, showing off his yellow teeth.

Eleanor was immediately reminded of one of the hyenas in the Lion King as Snape bared his teeth at her. "Ah, the Muggle." His voice was soft, calm but Eleanor detected something sinister beneath those words and it seemed Sirius had too but before Eleanor or Sirius could retort, Harry came down the stairs looking confused. As soon as Harry saw Snape standing there, his face paled.

Snape took a seat. "Sit down, Potter."

"You know," Sirius said loudly, leaning back on his rear chair legs and speaking to the ceiling. "I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see."

As an ugly flush suffused Snape's pallid face, Eleanor knew there must be history between the two adults. They were both rigid and looking at each other with deepest loathing.

Harry finally sat down. He noticed Eleanor and the feeling of intruding doubled in Eleanor's stomach.

"I was meant to see you alone, Potter." said Snape, still sneering. "But Black-"

"I'm his godfather!" said Sirius, louder than ever.

"I am here on Dumbledore's orders," said Snape whose voice was becoming increasingly wapish. "But by all means stay, Black. I know you like to feel...involved."

Eleanor thought this was a low blow and her dislike for Snape increased ever more still.

"What's that supposed to mean?" said Sirius, letting his chair fall back on all four legs with a loud bang.

Eleanor was beginning to feel increasingly alarmed. This clearly wasn't going to end well.

"Merely that I am sure you must feel - ah - frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful," Snape laid delicate stress on the word useful. "for the Order."

Again Eleanor thought this a low blow. Sirius was only acting on Dumbledore's orders to stay indoors. Sirius would jump at the opportunity to do more if he could. But while the rest of the world still thought Sirius a convicted murderer, there wasn't much Sirius could do.

It was Sirius' turn to flush. Snape's lips curled in triumph and Eleanor was surprised to see him turn to her again.

"You are permitted to stay here, Black but why is the Muggle still here?"

It was Eleanor's turn to sneer. "My name is Eleanor!" And remembering what Harry had wrote in a letter long ago, addressing his Potions teacher, added; "You slimy haired git."

Snape's lips curled even more and Eleanor thought that if he carried on, he would no longer have any lips to curl.

Harry and Sirius seemed to be suppressing the urge to laugh.

"Well, Eleanor," Snape said with a look of utter dislike. "This is a private matter between me and Potter."

As Eleanor went to stand, a hand rested on her shoulder.

"She can stay." Sirius said defiantly while gently pushing Eleanor back into her seat. She had the sneaking suspicion that Sirius was only allowing this to get back at Snape but she allowed herself to be pushed back down nevertheless.

"Touching, Black, but this is not for you to decide."

"She can stay," Harry echoed and Eleanor allowed herself a moment of satisfaction as she watched Snape's eyes flash dangerously. "It's not like I won't tell her with Hermione and Ron anyway."

Snape glared at Eleanor for a moment and Eleanor determinedly held his gaze, fighting the urge to blink. Then Snape, seemingly coming up with the idea to pretend that Eleanor simply wasn't there, turned back to Harry.

"The Headmaster has sent me to tell you, Potter, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term."

Eleanor was glad to see that Harry looked as confused as she was.

"Study what?" Harry said blankly.

Snape was sneering again. "Occlumency, Potter. The magical defence of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one."

Harry looked worried for a moment then blurted; "Why do I have to study Occlu- thing?"

"Because the Headmaster thinks it a good idea." Snape said smoothly.

Could this have anything to do with the visions and dreams Harry kept having? Eleanor thought.

"You will receive private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody (Snape's eyes flashed to Eleanor) what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You understand?"

"Yes," said Harry. "Who's going to be teaching me?"

Eleanor thought this much already seemed obvious but it seemed Harry's worst suspicions were answered when Snape raised an eyebrow.

"I am." He said.

Harry quickly looked at Sirius for support.

"Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry?" asked Sirius aggressively. "Why you?"

"I suppose because it is a Headmasters privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks," said Snape silkily. "I assure you I did not beg for the job." He got to his feet. "I will expect you at six o'clock on Monday evening, Potter. My office. If anybody asks, you are taking remedial Potions. Nobody who has seen you in my classes could deny you need them."

He turned to leave, his cloak billowing behind him and Eleanor was just about to rejoice when-

"Wait a moment," said Sirius, sitting straighter in his chair.

Snape turned back to them, with no surprise to Eleanor, yet again sneering. "I am in rather a hurry, Black. Unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time."

"It's not his fault!" Eleanor burst suddenly unable to fight down the anger at the injustice of all the sly comments Snape was making.

Snape gave a nasty smirk at Eleanor. "Your mother must be so proud, Black. To think she thought you could stoop no lower when you befriended a werewolf."

Sirius who shot Eleanor a fleeting smile, decided to ignore Snape. "I'll get to the point then." Sirius said while standing up. Sirius was much taller than Snape. "If I hear you're using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you'll have me to answer to."

"How touching," Snape sneered. "But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father?"

"Yes, I have." said Sirius proudly and Eleanor watched as Harry sat up straighter in his chair at Sirius' words, looking pleased.

"Well then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him." Snape said sleekly and Eleanor couldn't help but thinking that that sounded nothing like Harry at all.

Sirius pushed his chair roughly aside and strode around the table towards Snape, pulling out his wand as he went.

In a flash Snape had his out too. Eleanor stood up, unable to think what to do as the two men squared eachother up.

Eleanor ran around the table to join Harry but Harry had jumped up at the sight of the wands too. He pushed Eleanor behind him. Eleanor didn't protest as she was defenceless and knew wizard duels could end very badly.

"Sirius!" Harry said loudly, but Sirius appeared not to hear his godson.

"I've warned you, Snivellus," said Sirius, his face barely a foot from Snape's.

Eleanor had a fleeting feeling of glee at the nickname Sirius had given Snape.

"I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed, I know better-"

"Oh, but why don't you tell him so?" whispered Snape. "Or are you afraid he might not take very seriously the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six months?"

"Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts, isn't he?"

"Speaking of dogs," said Snape softly. "Did you know that Lucius Malfoy recognised you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform...gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?"

Sirius raised his wand.

"NO!" Harry yelled, vaulting over the table and trying to get between them. "Sirius don't!"

"Harry!" Eleanor said, feeling very exposed and helpless seeing everyone's wands out. She couldn't even run to get help because Snivellus was blocking the exit.

"Are you calling me a coward?" roared Sirius, trying to push Harry out of the way but Eleanor was impressed but also worried to see he would not budge.

"Sirius!" Eleanor said loudly, not daring to move from where she was standing. "Don't fall for the bait! He's succeeding in winding you up!"

But Siruis again, seemed blind to their desperate calls for him to stop.

"Why, yes, I suppose I am." said Snape.

"Harry - get - out - of - it!" snarled Sirius, finally managing to push Harry aside.

Harry had time to cast a desperate look at Eleanor before the kitchen door opened. Eleanor breathed in relief when all the Weasley's, including Hermione, entered.

They all froze at the threshold though, when they witnessed the scene in front of them, which was suspended in mid-action. Both Snape and Sirius were looking towards the door with their wands pointed into eachothers faces. Harry, who was immobile, was standing between them, a hand stretched out to each, trying to force them apart and Eleanor was off to the side looking extremely nervous.

"Merlin's beard," said Mr Weasley, the smile sliding off his face. "What's going on here?"

Both Sirius and Snape lowered their wands at once. Harry looked from one to the other. Each wore an expression of utmost contempt, yet the entrance of so many unexpected witnesses seemed to have brought them to their senses. Snape pocketed his wand and swept across the kitchen.

"Six o'clock, monday evening, Potter." And Snape was gone. Sirius glared after him.

"What's been going on?" asked Mr Weasley again.

"Nothing, Arthur," said Sirius, who was breathing heavily. "Just a friendly little chat between two old school friends." And with what looked like great effort, he smiled.

Eleanor moved and sat back down at the dining table. She was feeling particularly weak-kneed after that.

She looked up at Harry, who was sharing a similar look to her own. The pair couldn't help but think that if that was meant to be friendly, they hated to imagine what an argument between the two would look like.

(I used the Order or the Phoenix book to help me write this one a bit. Hope you are still all enjoying the story.)