Chapter 1: A New Teacher

This is my first fanfic ever, so please review, flames are accepted; I just ask that you don't do it anonyomously. I won't rant or rave. I simply would like to be able to PM you and ask you for your further opinion. Thanks!


"Andrea, honey, can you help me get Kaylynn on the train? It's going to leave in a few minutes and I can't get her on!" I heard my mom's voice call to me and I grudgingly left my group of friends to see why Kaylynn didn't want to go back to Hogwarts.

"Professor Snape." Was all she would say, but she wouldn't meet my eyes, and I knew there was something else; I had a feeling I knew what it was. I only tried to remedy with words what she actually mentioned.

"Kaylynn, you're acting like a second year. In fact, I almost expected this last year, but you're thirteen now and you're going in to your third year. You can't be afraid of him."

"He wasn't too bad first year, but he was horrible last year!"

I suddenly had inspiration. "Would you like me to introduce you to a group of other kids in your year that hate Snape, too? In fact, I think you'd get along really well with them." I knew that they would not only trash Snape with her, but one or two of them could help her unspoken issue. She nodded, and I led her to the train, searching for the compartment that held the three students I had met often as a prefect of their house.

"Here they are!" I told Kaylynn as I slid open the door to the correct compartment. "Guys, would you mind if my little sis, Kaylynn, sits with you? She's kind of anxious to go back to Snape." They all grimaced in empathy.

"Yeah, definitely." Harry responded, introducing her to his other friends in the compartment. "I'm Harry, this is Hermione, and he's Ron." Kaylynn had enough sense to not stare at his scar.

The train whistle blew, and I had to leave to head to the prefect's compartment, hoping that Lilith had found someone to sit with. I hadn't even noticed the man-sized lump of clothing where I had left my youngest sister.

(I thought that, since you all knew what happened, I could skip the dementor scene on the train. But tell me if you really wanted it, and I'll probably add it.)

When the train stopped at the school, all of the students were buzzing about the dementor on the train and the "Boy Who Lived" fainting at the sight of them. I'd have to ask Kaylynn about that later. As I headed to the carriages, I found Lilith, my fourth year sister, walking in a group of kids. When I caught up to them, though, I wished I hadn't. She was walking with none other than the twin trouble makers, Fred and George Weasley. I was going to say something, but I was almost forcibly dragged away by an all too eager Percy Weasley.

At the Year opening feast, I tried to listen to Dumbledore's speech. I heard him talk about the dementors and mention two new teachers, but I couldn't bring myself to look away from Kaylynn, who was blushing and whispering with, I suspected, her new friends. I was so happy for her, if a bit overprotective. I just wanted her to be happy.

So imagine my surprise when I realized, the next day, that I had no clue who the new DADA teacher was. I saw a door I hadn't known existed open; I suspected it lead to an office. I saw shabby robes, then slightly too long light brown hair with streaks of gray. I only saw his back at first, and I expected to have another old teacher that I wouldn't listen to for a year. But then he turned around. I almost gasped. His face was a bit pale, thin, and drawn, but his green eyes were youthful and bright as he surveyed the class. Also, instead of making him look older, the grays in his hair just made him look more mature, knowing, and insanely handsome.

"Hello, I am Professor Remus Lupin, and I will be teaching your class. Now, I want to start out with something simple to tell me what I need to teach you this year. Okay…you," He pointed to me. "What's your name?"

"Andrea Spitts." I answered, wondering how I could remember my name.

"Okay, Andrea, let's see…what does expecto patronum create and what is it used for?"

"It creates a patronus, a silvery figure that can either resemble a sort of mist or an animal. It's used most commonly to repel dementors, but can also be used for communication." It seemed as though my mouth was working on its own because it sure didn't feel like I could form half-coherent sentences.

"Very good! Now, let's move on…"

No one did as well as I had, and I secretly reveled in the fact that I was probably his best student. By the end of the class, Professor Lupin had compiled a list of rudimentary spells and creatures that he would touch on before heading into the curriculum he had scheduled. All too soon, the class period was over.