It was Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts. He was riding the train and speaking with Ron and Hermione about what the year might have in store for them. In no way did they expect a quiet year. Especially after the events that took place at the Quidditch World Cup just a few days prior to their train ride. Oh how right they were.

They arrived at the wizarding school just before dinner. The trio headed to their chambers to unpack their belongings and then immediately headed to the great hall for a feast. Harry sat on one side of the table with Ron and Hermione sitting opposite him. Harry was seated with a view of the Slytherin house table and Ron and Hermione were facing the Ravenclaw table, with Ravenclaw and Gryffindor being the two house tables centered in the room. Everyone was extremely hungry from the long train ride so nearly no one spoke during the dinner.

Towards the end of banquet, Dumbledore got up to speak. "As you all know, the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place this year at Hogwarts…" Harry started off intently listening to the headmaster but then his eyes drifted towards Professor Snape who had a very stern expression on his face, as usual. "…In a few moments students from Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic will be joining us for the rest of the evening…" Harry was anxious to meet other wizards outside of Hogwarts seeing as this school has been his only window into the wizarding world. "…But first, I would like to introduce our newest staff members, one of which who will be arriving shortly…" Both Harry and Hermione's heads and ears perked up. They hadn't noticed a missing member of staff prior to Dumbledore's acknowledgement, but once they scanned the staff table they noticed Filius Flitwick was missing from the lineup. Specifically, the seat next to Snape was empty. "…In addition to our new Defense teacher, Professor Moody, there will also be another new professor joining the Hogwarts staff…" Students were expecting a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor after what transpired with Professor Lupin last year, but not a new head of house. "…She will be the new head of Ravenclaw house and the new Charms professor…" Snape's face showed slight anxiety as Dumbledore said this. Couldn't be Snape thought. Harry noticed Professor Snape's expression change but decided to dismiss it. Snape was an enigmatic man and at this point Harry stopped trying to speculate reasons for his actions. "…and Professor Burbage will be taking over as maestro from now on. Ah, here she is now; Professor Lermernia." The doors to the great hall flung open just as Dumbledore was speaking his last sentence. A woman no taller than five feet nine inches and no older than twenty five or twenty six appeared in the doorway and began walking towards the staff table. She was wearing a beautiful dusky blue dress made of silk that was long enough to touch the floor with long sleeves and a wide, but conservative neckline, showing off most of her shoulders but no cleavage. Her dress was banded in the waist and got larger as it went down her incredibly long legs. She had red, voluminous hair parted on the side that went down a few inches past her shoulders, pale skin with light freckles, and eyes that would change color depending on what she wore. Her eyes were blue now of course because of her dress but they could also be green or teal with the right top. Everyone's eyes were on her as she made her grand entrance. Students were not expecting a young professor to begin teaching at Hogwarts, much less an attractive one.

"Hello Harry," she waved and said in her American accent as she walked past the infamous individual, not acknowledging anyone else. Harry turned around to see the expressions on his friend's faces. Ron was looking away from Harry and at the new instructor as she finished walking up to her seat.

"She looks like your mother!" whispered Hermione to Harry.

"You think?" Harry watched her say hello to her new colleagues as she finally took her seat next to Professor Snape, who did not welcome the young woman. Snape cringed and was very standoffish towards the new professor, but not in his typical way. Snape knew this woman and Harry could tell. He didn't seem to like her very much for whatever reason, and to Harry this meant that she must be a decent individual. Anyone Snape didn't like had to be a good person, he figured. After all Snape didn't like him, and he had good morals. Snape sat forward in his chair and rudely put his elbows on the table, still not paying any attention to Professor Lermernia. She could tell he was uncomfortable sitting next to her and felt ashamed. He stayed that way during the entire introduction of the other wizarding schools and the explanation of the Triwizard Tournament rules.

After everyone was introduced and rules were set in place, Snape decided it was finally polite to dismiss himself from dinner. He expeditiously exited the side door to the chamber of portraits, leaving Lermernia and the other professors in the dust. With this motion all the other professors stared at Lermernia. She flushed with embarrassment. Snape was too swift and too subtle for the students to notice, otherwise they would have stared at the new professor too.