Chapter 1: Vows of Loyalty
It was the start of his seventh year, the young man with the scar. Her uncle had died protecting the boy and the school. She was now alone. She had no family left unless you counted Ableforth and she never was close to him. The love of her life was now on the run for killing her last family member. The blood line of the great Merlin now hung on her to be passed to a new generation. So she was going to the very school her uncle died to protect, she saw it as another torch passed on to her. No more hiding in the department of mysteries making predictions for her fellow aurors. It was time for her to teach others her skills.
Enzeru walked through the wall to platform 9 ¾ not expecting anything to happen, just walk through and get on the train. She was wrong. She was met by her old friends Molly and Author. "Hello Enzeru," Molly began, "I feel it safe to warn you Ginny has recently become quite the prankster. And do keep an eye on Harry for us." Author smiled weakly, "Please be careful, Hogwarts is not as safe as it once was."
Enzeru nodded, "I will do all I can to protect the students. That is why they are calling me in. Too bad Mad-eye won't be joining up, too." Author smirked and Molly elbowed him. "Just please do not go looking for Severus," Molly pleaded. "Don't worry, he will find me," Enzeru replied. The train gave a whistle. "Well, I guess I better be off then," Enzeru said, with a nod to the Weasly couple. She boarded the train and got a seat in the back where there would hopefully be no one there to bother her. She sat in silence for all of ten minutes before two students walked in, one of whom she recognized immediately.
"Well, looks like I shall be teaching Harry Potter after all, and getting to have a short chat before hand," She chimed in a way hat seemed to encourage a positive atmosphere. "Are you there new defense against the dark arts teacher?" Harry asked. Enzeru nodded, "Actually I am the new head mistress." The girl walking with him smiled, "The paper said you are related to the late headmaster."
Enzeru took a deep breath, "Yes. I and his brother are the last two remaining of our bloodline. I am also being charged with protecting the school. So that means I get to plan all the security measures. I'm trying to plan something where we can have the grounds protected enough for there to still be quiditch, care of magical creatures, and perhaps Hogsmede trips. But that would be so large scale that I may not be able to do it."
Harry and Ginny sat in the seat across from her. "So Hogsmede is out of the question this year?" Ginny asked with a frown. "No, no. Not yet. I have some ideas that the Ministry is working with," Enzeru replied. "So exactly what did you do for the ministry?" Harry asked. "Mostly helped in the capture of some of Voldemort's followers," Enzeru answered. Ginny gasped gleefully and Harry grinned.
"Another trait I share with my uncle besides startlingly blue eyes; the failure to fear a name." Enzeru smiled and opened a book titled, 'Predicting Persons.' Another student walked into the compartment looking slightly dazed. "Hello everyone! Father's magazine has a wonderful article on using seers to catch dark wizards," The girl said sitting next to Enzeru. "Good book, Professor?" She asked. "Yes, L.L. it is," Enzeru answered without thinking.
"Oh, are you one of the seers working for the ministry?" Luna asked. Enzeru made a motion for her to keep it secret. "So you're a seer. That explains how they tracked down so many of the Dark Lord's followers," a cold voice said from the walkway. "A Malfoy, how perfectly evil," Enzeru began, "But no evil is perfect, after all, they did capture your father." Harry was obviously hiding a laugh. "I'm surprised they let him come back after what happened last year," Ginny replied with a wave of her hand.
"Didn't you hear? I was under the imperious curse the whole time," Draco mused, ignoring Enzeru's comment. "And he lies as well as his father, too," Enzeru said gruffly. "And who are you? A hobo?" Draco snickered. "I'm the new headmistress. You better be careful or you will find yourself in detention before we even get off the train. Oh, and for that, you will call me Madame Enzeru for the rest of the year," Enzeru smirked. Draco glared and walked off.
"I think we're going to get along just fine," Ginny said, beaming. "Just so we're clear, you can call me whatever you want to call me, just selfish little gits who have criminal parents in Azkaban have to be formal," Enzeru buried herself in her book once more.
"What house were you in?" Harry asked suddenly. "Griffindor," Enzeru answered shortly. "So that explains you hating Slytherns," Luna mused. "No, that's not it at all. The fact I was once foolish enough to share my uncle's faith in one does," Enzeru said, slamming her book shut, "Excuse me while I do a patrol."
She left the compartment and went to the lavatory to splash some cold water on her face. When she had finished she walked to each compartment to introduce herself. She also briefed the prefects, head boy, and head girl on security options and some simple protection spells. When she had finished she returned to the compartment.
"Sorry for the outburst earlier, I was feeling a little bothered having not briefed the patrols on protecting the train. Now, maybe, no it can wait," Enzeru said, sitting in her seat. "What can wait?" Ginny asked. "I need to have a little talk with Harry. There are some things he needs to know," Enzeru replied in a casual way.
"Go ahead and tell me. I don't mind if they hear," Harry replied. "Well," Enzeru began, "Let's just say that when I was in school your mother was one of my best friends, as was your mother, Ginny." Harry smiled, "What was my mother like?" "She was kind and much better at charms than I was. She was always totally against any kind of bullying as was I. Our favorite spot was the lake. I miss her terribly," Enzeru let out a sigh.
"Was my mom as much of a worry wart as she is now?" Ginny asked. Enzeru laughed a little, "Yes, she was always reminding us of the rules and telling us that we should not forget to wash behind our ears when we take a bath."
Everyone laughed. "Well, if most of the students are as fun as you this should make for an interesting year." "Good luck with that, there are a lot of students who are, well, not nice," Harry replied.
"Draco's father being a deatheater makes me think the little git is also one but the governors let him stay anyway. They think the school can reform him while he is here and his father is in prison. He pointed his wand at a professor and not just any professor, your uncle!" Ginny told Enzeru.
"Thanks for the input. I'll watch my back around that one," Enzeru replied as she took a drink of a soda she had been keeping in a pocket. She felt like she should tell them that the Dumbledore family was being targeted by Voldemort but decided to keep it to herself in hopes it would not come down to her telling anyone.
"So, professor, we're going to be short a potions and a defense against the dark arts instructor. Have anyone filling the position?" Ginny asked in an attempt to fill the silence darkening the compartment. "Well, I'm thinking about teaching one of the subjects and calling in someone else for the other position." She replied.
"What about the Slythern Head of House position? Who is going to fill it?" Harry asked. "I don't know yet, but I will decide that upon my survey of the staff this evening. I will be speaking to the staff as a whole to make my final decision. Besides, we have to also place new defenses around the school. I'm thinking about talking to the centaurs about guarding the forest end." Enzeru put the cap on her soda and put it away.
"I thought the centaurs were refusing to get involved." Harry spoke. "When they learn what Voldemort is planning for them and the other creatures in the forest they might not think that way." Enzeru whispered.
Harry looked at her, puzzled and then shrugged it off, thinking that it was probably better if he did not know seeing as how Voldemort was still getting into his head. Ginny spoke up, "What is he planning? How did you find out about it?"
Enzeru shook her head, "I can't tell you yet. Maybe when we are at the castle I'll tell you what I can. Right now it is not safe to talk about anything we do not want others to hear." Ginny nodded. Luna had been sitting quietly all this time, reading a magazine. She finally spoke up, "Does it have anything to do with placing dragons on the grounds?" Enzeru shook her head, "I'll tell you about the security measures later."
Enzeru suddenly snapped her fingers and she had an expression on her face that told everyone around her she had an ingenious idea. She took out a piece of parchment and a muggle ink pen. She wrote something on the paper quickly. "Owl, owl, I need an owl," Enzeru said, looking around. "Use mine. She's a snowy white in a bronze cage. Has my name on a tag," Harry offered. "Thanks," Enzeru grinning and hurried off to find Harry's owl.
When she returned she was humming a tune. "If you're wondering what that was about I may have found a new defense against the dark arts teacher. I remembered an auror friend from the ministry owed me a favor."
Ginny grinned, "Who is it?" "I suppose you already know Tonks. She's a great auror and an expert at disguises." Harry smiled. He remembered Tonks alright. "Hopefully I'll have a reply when I reach the castle," Enzeru continued and looked at her watch.
"We'll be there soon, perhaps we should all go change now," Enzeru stood and nodded to each of the students. They obediently left the compartment and headed to the changing rooms.
Enzeru opened her small suitcase and pulled out a set of silver robes. She quickly changed before the students returned. She was sitting down reading a copy of the Dayly Prophet when the students returned.
"Nice robes," Ginny said as she sat down across from Enzeru and next to Harry. "Thank you. I had these made for my new position. Before this I was wearing mostly just white robes, but now I'll be wearing silver," Enzeru said as she folded the paper and set it on the seat.
Luna returned to the compartment clutching a copy of her father's paper, "There is a rumor that the dementors are on you-know-who's side. Is that true?" Enzeru closed her eyes a moment in thought, "It is possible, but I can not confirm nor deny it as of yet."
"It would make sense, though, wouldn't it?" Harry began, "After all, they like to kill and he likes to kill. Not to mention the effect they have on me. We know now that there were people on his side here at the castle when it happened so more than likely he knows about it."
"Yes, Harry, he does know. Anything that happens to you he will know. My uncle told me that the two of you are connected some how. He thinks it has something to do with your scar. Well, I guess all will be revealed in due time." Enzeru smiled in a way that told them everything would be fine.
They continued to talk about how things were going to change and what they planned to do in the coming year.
"We're there!" Ginny said as the train came to a stop. "Well, then, this is where I shall leave you," Enzeru said with a bow and exited the train.