Story notes: Zyria Lestrange is the younger sister-in-law of Bellatrix Lestrange. She has never supported her brother or the Dark Lord. She has come to work at Hogwarts as the new defense against the dark arts teacher in year 5. She was the youngest ever Slytherin seeker in her time and a rival of Snape in school. She grows close to the kids this year and even a little closer to Professor Snape. This is a story about her time, adventures, and romance at Hogwarts as a Professor.
Chapter 1
Professor Dumbledore sat behind his desk with his hands gently resting on a huge book in front of him and eyed Miss Zyria Lestrange sitting in the chair on the other side of his desk with a twinkle in his eye. Zyria Lestrange was the younger sister of Mr. Lestrange or better known as Bellatrix Lestrange's late husband. Zyria was never much involved with her brother or his pursuit of the dark arts and later his following of Lord Voldemort. She did not support the Dark Lord, but then she did not openly oppose him either, and since she was part of the Lestrange/Black family and a Slytherin, she was lumped in with all the rest. Zyria was of average height, but very thin with straight dark hair to her shoulders that always seemed to cover her right eye. She dressed like a typical Slytherin, darkly, in long dark green teachers' robes and a silver serpent ring on her finger. Dumbledore smiled at her as he said "So tell me Zyria, how was your summer?" She smiled back. "It was very nice headmaster, thank you." "And are you ready to start your job as our new defense against the dark arts teacher here at Hogwarts this year? He said to her with a clap of his hands. "I am ready sir, very excited actually." She said with a sigh shaking her dark hair from her eye for a moment, but then it slipped back again. "Good, good, my dear. And you know I've asked Severus to help you with anything you might need while starting out." He watched her expression change slightly as she said "Professor Snape sir?" "Yes my dear, is there a problem?" Dumbledore said with a half smile. "Well no of course not sir, it's just that, well, I don't think that Professor Snape is over fond of me, sir." She said trying to hide a slight smirk. "Ah yes" said Dumbledore "Well, Severus will have to put his old days of jealousy behind him, wont he. You are a singularly talented witch, and always have been Zyria. That is why I hired you as our new teacher." He said with a smile. "Severus had every reason to be jealous of you when you two were here at Hogwarts. Especially as the youngest Slytherin seeker, and a girl!" He laughed, and put his arm around her shoulder and said "I'm sure you will do fine here dear. I'm very glad to have you aboard." With that Zyria left the Headmaster's office and headed to her own office in the dungeons of the large castle. She passed familiar portraits, a few of which had shouted hello to her especially when she came closer to the Slytherin common room. Her office was right down the hall from the common room and for some reason was also guarded with a picture frame. It was one of the only professor's offices that was. The picture was of a small statured man in hunting gear, draped in the African plains around sunrise, waiting for lions, or so he said. He said hello to Miss Zyria and she asked how he knew her name. "One doesn't quickly forget the youngest Slytherin seeker of all time! Now does one!" He brandished as he pointed his gun up in the air and it went off by accident, making the other portraits above him holler down their disregard. She said "thank you" pride fully, but in a silly manner, then uttered the password and entered the office. She sighed and looked around at the dingy dark room, then with a wave of her wand and some incantation turned the place into a glittering cave with patches of green crystal and small waterfalls and various plants. It was still fairly dark and Slytherin'ish' mind you, but less menacing. More like the cave behind a beautiful sparkling waterfall would be on a sunny day. She smiled at her redecorating work and began going through the defense books on her shelf to get ready for the first class coming up in hour.
In the meantime the Slytherin common room was all a buzz with the news of the new defense against the dark arts teacher, Miss Zyria Lestrange, youngest Slytherin seeker of all time. The Slytherin boys were all taken with her as if she were a veela. She was very pretty with her dark hair, small frame and brilliant green eyes, but by no means a veela. Draco Malfoy was talking above all the rest with a crowd of boys around him saying "She's practically my family you know, being sister-in-law to my Aunt Bellatrix and all. I hear she goes to a lot of professional Quidditch games on the weekends, promised me when I was younger that she'd take me sometime." Crabb and Goyle were staring up at Draco in admiration along with the other boys, and the girls were teasing them all ruthlessly about being in love with the new defense teacher. "I'm not in love with her" Draco spat. "But I will say that she's the coolest Slytherin girl in this castle" he said with an evil look, and that seemed to shut them up. Although, they were still giggling behind his and the other boys backs.
