Disclaimer : I don't own JKR's characters. Don't sue me.

A/N : Ok, so I'm on a roll this week, I'm like having 1000 ideas and this is my shot at the new DADA's teacher kind of story. This is one of those stories that can go one way or the other, so I have to decide further on. Hope you guys enjoy it!

-THE CURSED POSITION

CHAPTER ONE

"Another dull year at Hogwarts .." thought Snape with his hands crossed behind his neck. His greasy black hair falling clumsy over his face as he lazily balanced back and forth in his chair.

Later that night those annoying little dunderheads were going to arrive, the first years would be sorted and Dumbledore would introduce them the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

The thought of yet another idiot taking the position he so longed for all these years made him sigh in disappointment. He never would have imagined anyway, that he would be stuck in a dead end job like this... dealing with children... "Me of all people!"

The intriguing part though, was that Dumbledore always told him before hand, who was to get the position, and this time he was making a big deal in not letting anyone know. Why the secrecy?

Something wasn't right ... He went on, inert in his thoughts, when he realized it was already time to take his place at the table for the feast.

The feeling of something weird about to happen was creeping on him.

When he got to the table, everybody was already there except.... except for the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

He sat next to the empty seat where the new teacher was supposed to be.

"Great start, late on the first day!" thought Snape "I wonder what criteria Dumbledore bases his choices for a teacher!"

The sorting ceremony began while Snape was staring at an empty space, unaware of everything around him, he could hear the faint voice of Professor McGonagall calling the students, but his mind was so far away, everything seemed unreal and distant.

Suddenly he sensed something different in the room, giving him a jolt back to reality. The sinking feeling of something strange and unknown to him had increased and his heart was beating faster than ever. He found himself shaking a little and only then he noticed the utter silence in the room.

Dumbledore was standing and everyone was looking in the direction of the door.

Walking towards them, was a woman in a black and purple robe. Her hair was a mess of dark brown curls, tied in a pony tail, as if she had merely pulled them together without even checking in the mirror, strands were falling on her eyes, making her brush them away constantly.

Her face was small, making the hair much more evident than everything else. She was wearing purple acrylic glasses that kept falling half way on her nose, so she had the constant "push glasses up" kind of thing.

All in all she looked pretty clumsy and insecure.

Snape couldn't take his eyes off of her, "I can't bloody believe that woman is capable of handling any class, let alone a Defense Against the Dark Arts' class!"

When she finally reached the big table, Dumbledore broke the silence. "I trust you had a safe trip?"

Snape then heard a soft firm voice, she spoke low but very clear and audible. "Yes Sir, thank you."

"Good, good, well then ... everyone ... I would like to introduce you our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Kali Nox."

The students clapped their hands and Dumbledore pointed the empty seat next to Snape, guiding her to take her place at the table.

Every hair on Snape's body was rising as she came closer. He couldn't understand why he could be even remotely uncomfortable by that woman. She looked like she couldn't even hurt a fly!

As if reading his mind, she raised one eyebrow with an amused expression and twisted her lips in a little smirk. It was as if she could suck all the confidence out of him and increase her own.

Their eyes locked as she stood in front of her chair. She then sat very slowly, never breaking eye contact.

Snape felt like everything was happening in slow motion. He couldn't really gather his thoughts in order to make some sense of this... he had to inquire Dumbledore about her, he had to know what was going on.

She was the one to break eye contact first, for McGonagall started talking to her upon returning to her seat. Snape spent the entire evening staring at his food unable (or too afraid) to turn his head and look at her.

After Dumbledore asked everyone to go to their dormitories, Snape found himself running towards his office as fast as he could. He had to be alone to think, to sort this whole thing out.

Who is she? Why was Dumbledore being so secretive about her? ... but ... above all, why on earth he, who always was able to coldly control his emotions, why had he completely lost it at this woman's presence?

At this very moment there was a knock on the door. Annoyed by the intrusion, when he needed to be alone, he stood up lazily and opened the door. He thought his heart was going to jump right out of his chest! At the entrance grinning, stood Professor Nox.

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I know it's short, but it's a start, so Reviews Please!