Disclamer: I did not or do not own any characters from the HP series. Or the characters created by my fellow rpers at the lovely Hp site I rp on.
It was once again the fall of September, meaning the start of another academic term at the witches and wizards school of magic, Hogwarts. The great hall was again decorated for the start of term feast. This feast was the same as the others before it, the benches of the tables for each of the four houses of Hogwarts were filled with students, while the seats were Headmistress and the professors that ran the school were occupied, all but two chairs. One of the chairs belonged to Professor Ripley, Deputy Headmistress, who was outside the great hall with all the first years, which waited to be lead in and then sorted into one of the four houses. The other chair owner was still a mystery to all but the Headmistress herself.
After the first years were sorted and sitting with their fellow housemates, Professor Ripley returned the sorting hall and it's stool before returning to her seat; Headmistress Alba Dumbledor then stood up and began her usual welcome speech.
"I and the staff of Hogwarts, wish to welcome all our new first years, may Merlin guide you wisely in your future days and years here and in the world." She paused as the room was filled with the sound of applause and cheering from the older students. "And a warm welcome to our returning students. I hope you will continue to respect your Professors, your fellow students and I. I am proud of our new prefects, Head boy and girl" the Headmistress went on to name each house prefect and then the head boy and girl for the new term. "I have great news for those of you that are starting your 3rd year here at Hogwarts besides having the ability to now attend the all wizard city of Hogsmeade you will be allowed to chose from a new elective class. This class will also be available for you students who are also above your 3rd year. The new class is to be."
Suddenly everyone's attention was distracted from the Headmistress and her speech by the sound of the great hall's doors being pushed open again. All the students turned in their seats in hopes to see who or what it was that would dare to interrupt the Headmistress. There in the door stood a dark emerald green velvet cloaked figure, whose facial features where hidden by the cloak's hood. The students and even the professors started to talk among themselves, all wondering whom the figure was.
The Headmistress simply smiled and then spoke in a soft voice, as if trying to coax a scared child out of hiding. "Ahh Professor Pendragon, I see your gryffin was able to find the school again."
At the mere mention of the cloaked figure's name many of the older students and even a few professors gasped out of shock. But one person was beyond shocked by the mention of the name; he wondered if this Pendragon was the Pendragon he remembered.
The figure, Professor Pendragon, smiled though this simple act was hidden by the shadows that were cast over their face. Slowly two hands encased by two black velvet gloves, rose to the hood removing it, thus allowing all to view the person's face.
It was this simple act that caused one man's heart to race faster then it had ever before, for there standing before all in her rare beauty was the very Pendragon he and many of the school remembered and yet she was different then he and they had known.
The woman started to walk down the main aisle towards the staff table, toward the chair that still stood empty. "Why yes Maelgrim still remember the flight path, though we had to stop a few times because of some bad weather, though he and I, as you can see, am fine." She had taking her seat, which oddly enough was the chair on the left of the Potions Master's seat. Stealing a glance to the dark haired gentleman, she smiled before nodding to the Headmistress.
After nodding to Professor Pendragon, Headmistress Dumbledor turned back to face her students who if they were not before they were certainly were now excited, many wished to know why someone who was once a fellow student, one that had until her last year at the school, had haunted the classrooms and halls, had returned as a Professor; they also were excited to find out what class she would be teaching and if it was the new class that the Headmistress had just mentioned before the professor's entrance.
"Now I see from your faces, that many of your recognize our new Professor and what class she will be teach? I am also sure that you are all wondering what the new class is. Well, Why don't I let our newest Professor tell you Miss, I mean Professor Pendragon, if you please." The headmistress smiled at the beautiful Professor, as she sat down. The woman that had caught so many people's attention, just as she had done during her student years, even before she stood and started to talk.
"Ciao to everyone, students, professors and dear Headmistress." The woman's voice was soft and seemed to invisibly catch the attention of almost every male that sat in the great hall, just as her smile and eyes seemed to do. "As many of you know I am Yalva Marie Pendragon, and just last year was a student just like many of you are now. After graduating, I left England and returned to my homeland of Italy.
During the summer I was contacted by the Headmistress about returning to Hogwarts but this time as a Professor. I gladly accepted, and then informed her of the class I would be willing to teach. Thus you 3rd years and up now can chose to take my class in which I will be teaching you, Dragon Lore, how to cataroizes them, how to breed and take care of them nd the myths behind them and the many different species.
I thank you Headmistress for allowing me to return and help enlighten the students of this grand school." Professor Pendragon then gracefully tucked her green dress and robes before she retook her seat.
The hall went wild with cheering, applause, hollering and even a few sharp whistles from a few male students, which only succeeded in bringing a blush to the exotic woman's scalped cheeks, and seemed to cause her uniquely hued eyes to sparkle like two highly rare gems.
Professor Alba Dumbledor stood, still clapping for the young woman, after she finished she continued with her speech. "Now I hope many of you will decide to take Professor Pendragon's class for Dragon Lore is an interesting subject and can lead to an interesting career." She chuckled, as did the students and the professors, including Professor Pendragon.
But the man that sat to the Italian woman's left, only smirked at the comment, for he was himself stealing glances at the young lady. He was amazed how much of the woman had stayed the same, yet there was a noticeable change in she. Hair of ebony still framed her face that held a doe skin tan, eyes were so rare in their hue they might as well have been twin gems of an emerald green with a hint of silver. It was her eyes that seemed to pierce a person's very soul, breaking through one's defenses and any barriers were set up in their hearts.
As the headmistress finished her speech and announced, in a warm yet loud tone, that the feast could begin, food appeared on plates, platters and dishes, and pitchers were magically filled with drinks like butterbeer and water for the students, while the pitchers on the staff table filled with butterbeer, water and even two filled with wine.
Students turned to eat and talk among their fellow housemates, the professors and Headmistress ate and talked to the person next to them of the new school year, but two hearts raced as questions flooded their minds, and though they wish to ask each other these questions they stuck to simple conversation about the school, students and their lesson plans for the term.
After everyone had finished their meals, and the older students and the house perfects lead the first years to their respected houses, the Professors and the headmistress stayed behind to talk to their newest staff member.
"Why Yalva you haven't changed, you're still your exotically beautiful self." was heard from the Care of Magical Creatures Professor, Professor Lockhart.
"Why Gilroy, can't you see there is something different about our young Miss Pendragon." Professor Ripley replied.
Yalva simply smiled at the men and women that had once been her superiors, and in her heart they still were for they had been Professors longer then she had or would ever be.
"I think Miss Pendragon needs to get settled, before you all start attacking her with a billion questions." The familiar deep voice of the Potions Master broke through the onslaught of questions his fellow professors had been firing at the woman.
They all turned to face the tall, dark haired professor who was not just the Potions, the Defense Dgainst the Dark Arts, and the Dueling Club Professor but also one of the Deputy Headmasters. It was then that the Headmistress also spoke up. "Yes I agree Severus, Let's let Yalva get a good night sleep and then maybe tomorrow she can tell us all about her trip and anything else she cares to inform us with."
Yalva smiled at Alba Dumbledor, but also at Severus Snape. She nodded before speaking, "Yes I promise I'll answer all questions you may have as soon as tomorrow morning. But for now I wish to unpack, and get a good night's sleep." With that the Professors, the Headmistress and Yalva left the great hall, each returning to their offices and private chambers.
Yalva turned and headed for the stairs that lead down into the dungeons of the medieval castle, much to Professor Snape's surprise. As the young woman walked a few steps in front of the Potions Master, he tried to figure out the questions that flooded his head and heart. He remembered the day she had left the school as a young thirteen-year-old girl, she had then returned to the school after a three-year leave, but in returning she had changed. No longer was she the sweet innocent girl whose hair was keep short, and whose clothes conveyed a youthful innocence. No she had grown up while away from Hogwarts, and the male students had not been the only to take notice of the change. Severus had watched from a far as the young Italian had charmed her way back into many of the students and his fellow professors hearts, but it had been his heart, though unknown to her or anyone else, that she had charmed the most.
A smile dared to cross his lips as he thought back to the days they had shared just talking about simple things, then the day he had told her how he had felt for her and that he would always wait for her, but it had pained him to see her date one of her fellow Slytherins, but he had to let her so that she wouldn't be expelled and he wouldn't lose his job. But he still continued to fall for the girl the last three years she was a student at Hogwarts, she had raisin to a bright and strong woman, she had even become a leader among her fellow students and Slytherins.
He could even remember the day she graduated, she had looked so beautiful in her Italian gown and Slytherin robes. It had been hard for him to hug her and then to watch her fly away on her pet gryffin, that was the day he felt like he had lost his soul, a soul he had started to find because of her.
"Severus?" it wasn't his name that snapped the man out of his thoughts, it had been the person who had said his name, well the voice at least. Looking up he literally felt his breath leave his lungs. There piercing the darkness of the dungeon corridor was the silverish green eyes of the young exotic female, a smile was caressing her lips as she looked at him.
"Yes Miss Pendragon?" He finally managed to speak.
Yalva smirked as the man that had stolen her heart at such a young age, called her by her last name as if she was still but a student. "Severus I said good night. And please call me Yalva or Professor Pendragon but any thing but Miss Pendragon. I am no longer one of your students." It was after this that she leaned forward and placed a small kiss on his cheek before leaving and closing the door that lead to her office.
Professor Snape stood there for what seemed the longest time, shocked that she had once again dared to kiss him, but he had liked the feeling that had flooded his body as her soft lush lips touched his skin. He was amazed how much her lips felt like something made of silk and velvet. Finally the man, many students feared, turned and walked back to his own chambers. closing the door behind him he walked to his room, removed his feast robes, slipping into the black japanese silk robes that had once been a gift to him from the very young woman he had just said good night to. Severus moved over to his bed, and though he should have been going to bed he could not sleep. And though this was sometimes normal for the wizard, this time was different, he was awake as he thought of her and the kiss. Finally in the wee hours of the morning he closed his eyes and fell into a peaceful slumber.