Wanton Confessions of a Teenage Witch

Chapter One: Mr. Macmillian

Ok. Focus. Dementors are stationed in this school. It is not in their nature to be...er...what did Dumbledore say? I glanced up from my seat at the Hufflepuff table to see Dumbledore gesturing towards the front of the Gryffindor table, where Head Boy Percy Weasley sat rather pompously. We were supposed to rely on him for safety from the dementors? Ridiculous. The boy could hardly stand a few hexes from his younger brothers, Fred and George Weasley. I took a deep breath and focused again on Dumbledore's words. Geez...couldn't he just save the welcome speech for later? I'm bloody hungry here!

"On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year." Dumbledore said. His voice sounded pretty serious. Two new teachers, eh? Oh, that's right. Defense Against the Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures. I scanned the line of professors sitting at the staff table, and in Professor Kettleburn's usual spot sat Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts. Oh God, Dumbledore didn't give the job to him, did he? Well, not that it mattered, I gave up Care of Magical Creatures in 6th year...

"First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." said Dumbledore, motioning a hand to his right, where I saw an unfamiliar face--a shabby looking man was sitting next to Professor Snape. Yikes. Did he get battered on his way here or something? I clapped along with everyone else, glancing around to see if anyone else thought his appearances were a bit odd. Sure enough, there were scattered murmurs amongst the crowd of students, and the occasional finger-pointing in the direction of Lupin. And quite a bit of sniggering from the Slytherin table. Arrogant little prats.

Professor Lupin smiled vaguely and turned his attention back to Dumbledore, who was now introducing Hagrid as the new Care of Magical Creatures professor. Hmm...ratty old clothes aside, he was kind of cute. He looked pretty young, but old at the same time, what with the wisps of grey that flecked his light brown hair. Just like Ernie Macmillian's father. Before I could stop myself, I sighed. What I would give to be Mrs. Macmillian. I mean, the man was just so damn charming...the way he'd flash a smile at you when you shook his hand...the way he'd run his fingers through that gorgeous silver hair...Oh God, if Ernie knew...He might be a good four years younger than me, but he's clever enough to hex me into oblivion for thinking of his father that way. Quite a pitiful declaration, I know, but there it is. More reason to keep these fantasies to myself.

Right, back to Professor Lupin. He certainly looks like a teacher. Those streaks of grey, the fine lines that defined his face, that pensive look...well, he certainly looks more like a teacher than that Lockhart did. Geez, that man did not belong in a classroom. In a witch-oriented magazine, maybe, but definitely not in a classroom. Pretty as he was, the man had shit for brains. I feel sorry for anyone who had him in their fifth year. I heard the whole lot of them did horrible on their O.W.L.S., poor bastards...

"So what do you reckon about that Lupin fellow?"

I look up and saw my fellow hufflepuff Cedric Diggory smiling wryly at me. God he was cute. Shame I'm older than him. Not that it matters, I know...and it's only a year...but still...the idea of me being older than a potential beau just irks me. Yet I have a natural propensity to fancy men that are old enough to be my dad...I'm silly like that, I know. Anyway, I don't really like Cedric like that. He's a sweet guy and a good friend, but he does not rev my engine. Plus, I heard rumors that Cedric fancies some girl in Ravenclaw. Cho-something. Fourth or fifth year, I think...

"What about him?" I asked, helping myself to some baked potatoes. Yum. God bless the house elves. "He certainly looks like a teacher..."

Cedric shrugged. "But did you see his clothes?"

I looked up from my potatoes and stared at Cedric. Did he really just ask that? Cedric, of all people... "Yeah? What about them?" I asked.

Cedric laughed. "Relax, Suzie...I'm not judging him or anything. I just thought...well, it's obvious that he's...well, less than well-kempt. I'm just wondering why."

"Beats me...maybe he was attacked or something on his way here..." I offered.

"I don't think so. He was on the train with us, didn't you know?" Cedric said, raising an eyebrow in suprise. Equally suprised, I returned the look to him.

"Really? I didn't know! Wonder why he was on the train...teachers never travel with us..."

Cedric shrugged as he turned to his own meal. "Maybe to guard us...what with Sirius Black on the loose."

I nodded and turned back to my meal. "Yeah, that could be it..."

Sirius Black. Of course, that made perfect sense. And what better teacher to have protecting the students than the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor? But why on earth would Sirius Black want to attack a bunch of students? He was just some nutty killer in ranks with You-Know-Who...Oh. Duh...Harry Potter. Maybe Black was after Harry...but even that...that seemed a bit far-fetched. Maybe he went looking for his master...there were rumors that he's still alive somewhere, virtually powerless...just waiting for some loyal servant of his to come to him. Oooh...getting shivers. I can barely remember the war, I was so little...I just remember there being a very gloomy atmosphere...I was almost never allowed to be alone, even in the house. I remember my mum crying quite a bit...people getting killed right and left. But then all of a sudden the man gets defeated by Harry Potter and the mood was completely uplifted. People laughed and went out more. I was allowed to sleep in my own room...everyone was so much more relaxed. Oh, I hope we weren't heading back in the direction of war. But the way everyone's gotten all panicked about Black's escape...it makes me wonder.

Ten minutes later, I was climbing up the steps to head back to the Hufflepuff common room with my mind still on Sirius Black. He looked so frightening in the photos in The Daily Prophet. And his eyes...they gave me goosebumps. Just looking at his face was like a horrible accident--it's so terrible you want to look away, but at the same time you're completely drawn in. I have a confession to make though. It's actually quite disturbing to the point that I feel ashamed even thinking about it. But here goes. Dad works for the ministry, and a week before term started he had forgotten his lunch at home, so I walked over to the ministry to deliver it to him. I'm walking through the rows of cubicles, trying to find my dad's. All I remember was that it was next to this really gorgeous black man. He was bald and wore an earring...very sexy. Anyway, I found my dad's cubicle, because I saw the black man sitting at his own. He was dictating something on a piece of parchment. Something about Azkaban. God, he had a sexy voice. Deep and slow...oh, right...getting off track here. Anyway, I was able to correctly locate my dad's cubicle from my gorgeous landmark so I left his lunch on his desk with a note. As I turned to leave, I ran straight into the black man (I really wish I knew his name...I should ask dad...), who had gotten up to leave his desk. He smiled (I think I might have drooled in response) and apologized before continuing on his way. I casually glanced into his cubicle when he was out of sight. His papers had vanished (figures...) and his desk was bare save for a a tray of quills and a few bottles of ink. But the walls of his cubicle were covered with photos and a large map with little pins on them. It was the photos that really got my attention. Most of them featured Sirius Black. I recognized a lot of them because they were published in The Prophet...pictures taken from when he first entered Azkaban... but then there were some other ones that I did not recognize...not immediately, anyway. It took me a few moments to realize they were Sirius. Picture of Sirius Black as a young man. There were a few pictures of him at what she assumed to be a wedding. He was laughing and looking cheerful...and very, very handsome. All I could think to myself was How on earth could evil look so damn good? I know that sounds terribly shallow...exactly why I'm ashamed to think it...He was a terrible man who did terrible things, but sometimes when I see his photos on the streets or in the papers, my mind automatically wanders off to the images of a young Sirius Black. That elegant black hair, those dark grey eyes and aristocratic features...sometimes I wonder if it's possible to seduce someone into becoming good...I mean, if you try hard enough, and you have enough sex appeal, I bet you could... Hmm, a new defense technique...I'm a genius! I wonder if anyone else has thought of this. Maybe I could ask Professor Lupin tomorrow in class. I laughed out loud at the mere thought, getting a few looks from timid looking first years in the process. I don't know the man, but I imagine he'd be a bit taken aback if I asked him if seduction was a practiced method in defense against the dark arts...

"Oi!"

Woops. I looked up to see who I had bumped into. Ohhhh dear... Heart beating oh-so-fast...

"Oh, sorry about that, Oliver..." I said, forcing a grin. "Wasn't watching where I was going!"

He cocked an eyebrow at me. I love it when he does that... "Well, that was obvious"--

"So...how was your summer?" I asked immediately, realizing he was about to turn and leave. "Have fun?"

Oliver shrugged. "It was alright. I spent most of the summer planning for the season...not saying anymore on that subject though..." he added with a grin.

The season? I had been about to ask what the hell he was talking about, but then I saw the manic glint in his eye. Of course, he was talking about quidditch...

"Hey Suzie, you guys are supposed to be looking for a new seeker, right?" Oliver asked. He was looking at me rather keenly, which I normally would have been flattered by, except now it was quidditch that had gotten him all roused up. "Any ideas on who it might be?"

I shrugged. How the hell should I know? I couldn't care three straws for the sport. I only came to the matches because all of my friends went. Oh alright. And because I enjoy watching guys like Oliver wood riding on brooms. So sue me... Although, now that I think of it, I do recall one student expressing a desire to try out for seeker... I smiled slightly as an idea came to my mind. Ok, breathe. Be bold, be cool. It's just a boy...

"Well," I said, trying to sound casual while I smiled in a hopefully coy manner, "I do know one person who's going to try out..."

"Who?" he asked, taking a step closer to me. You know, for someone with such big feet, you'd think he'd be able to take bigger steps. He was still a good couple of feet away from me. Shucks...

"Oh...I don't know, how much is it worth to you?" I asked, grinning before I could help it.

Oliver frowned. "You're kidding, right?"

"Absolutely not."

"Ok...how much do you want?"

"Quite a bit. This candidate is very able and would definitely get the position if he or she tried out."

Oliver dug into his pockets and pulled out a few galleons. "I've got three galleons and five knuts on me..."

I laughed. "I don't want your money...do you think money is a sufficient temptation to get me to betray my house and my friend"--

"Oh, so it's your friend?" Oliver asked, a smile playing around his mouth. "Well, that would narrow it down..."

"You know who my friends are?" I asked. "Are you stalking me, Mr. Wood?"

He rolled his eyes. "No, but I think I'll start doing it."

I laughed again. "Well, you won't get very far. I'm friendly with pretty much all the Hufflepuffs...I consider them all my friends."

"Ok...so what do you want then, in exchange for this piece of information? And mind you, I'd have to have it now. You guys are having tryouts in three weeks, and it'd be no use to have you tell me a day before tryouts when I've already heard from word of mouth." Oliver said in a matter-of-fact tone. This is fun, even though my heart is beating at about a thousand beats a minute...Ok, be bold...

"Well, how about a ride on your broom tonight?" I asked in the most innocent voice I could muster. I thought to somehow slip his surname into the joke, but then he would probably faint from shock...

His eyed widened and his jaw dropped. Maybe that was a bit too bold. "You want to touch my most prized posession?"

I bit my lip. Now that's a bit posessive...

"You know how much I need that thing? What if you broke it?"

My mouth twisted into a wide smile. Don't laugh...

"I don't want to break it"--

"Well, you easily could! I dedicate hours a week to grooming it, making sure it's in tip-top condition to maximize its performance..."

A moment ago I wanted to burst out laughing. Now...I have to admit, I'm a bit...weirded out. Why the bloody hell was he telling me this?

"...and you think you can just ask me for a ride? My Cleansweep is my pride and joy, and it has brought me countless victories on the quidditch pitch! You want a ride, go get a Shooting Star from Madam Hooch!" Oliver exclaimed, and with that, he stormed off.

Cleansweep? A Shooting Star from Madam Hooch? Ooooh! I stared after Oliver's retreating figure. God, what an idiot. He actually thought I was talking about his Cleansweep... That guy needs to spend a bit less time on the quidditch pitch... Ah well. I sighed as I retreated to my own common room. At least I was able to flirt with him a little. Maybe with a bit more effort, he'll get it through his thick head what I want from him... But in the meantime, I have several other objects I can prey on this term. I wonder if Mr. Lupin will be one of them...

A/N: Dumbledore's lines in the beginning are taken from J.K. Rowling's Prisoner of Azkaban.