Title: One Too Many Additions

Summary: A new DADA professor has come to Hogwarts with a mindset of helping her move on from her lonely past, and Severus Snape certainly isn't helping!

Chapter 1: Opposite Greetings

'Peck, Peck, Peck' Severus Snape looked over at his window from his armchair and saw a brown, rather handsome owl carrying a letter. He let the owl in quickly as to not arouse suspicion in his muggle community, not that there was really anyone any way. He unfolded the parchment with the Hogwarts seal and scanned the contents curiously.

Severus,

I appreciate your interest in the Dark Arts teaching position at Hogwarts for the upcoming year but unfortunately I have found a replacement that will do quite nicely I believe. I look forward to seeing you on August 28, hope you are having a splendid summer holiday. Until next year's application...

Albus Dumbledore

"Miserable old coot!" Another year had passed and still he had not secured the position he wanted above all. Year after year he sent in the application and year after year Dumbledore seemed to find another person, even though they only lasted a year. He sighed and threw the letter in the fireplace, "Incendio" and watched the letter splinter until at last it was just a pile of ashes. Walking over to his window he reflected on another year beginning: another year of idiot children. Most children he had to teach were not even fit to step in his classroom, he sneered when he remembered an unfortunate incident last year with Christopher Lome: the miserable brat had poured extra armadillo bile into his cauldron for a remedial potion, and when it came time to test the potion, it had not cured anything, but produced bloody puss balls all over the boy's body. He had to escort the daft child to the hospital and took away 95 points from Gryffindor.

Of course, about 3 hours later Miss Minerva McGonagall came waltzing into his office demanding why Gryffindor was now in the negatives; oohh that woman! Severus didn't know how much longer he could put up with the constant thorn in his side that interfered with his teaching—although they had pretty humorous arguments whenever they had a chance.

He looked out onto the badly paved stone street of Spinner's End, his home since he was 18 years old. It wasn't much...in fact it wasn't anything at all! A river flowed adjacent to his home which often gave off the stench of rotten fish.

There were only a couple houses on the street mostly unoccupied, which was how he liked it. During the summer he needed peace and quiet to calm his ragged nerves from all the chaos during the year, the last thing he needed was a miserable muggle asking for a cup of sugar. Sugar! Ha! Opening up his cupboard, there was nothing except a loaf of bread, and a few bottles of wine. His refrigerator wasn't that impressive either: a slab of ham, milk, potatoes, and chicken in the back. It wasn't like he was a starving man, when he was hungry he ate, but he wasn't often so there was no need to gain unnecessary weight. Rolling his eyes at his own attempt to justify his living conditions, he sat back down and finished with his books, he would have to remember the dust spell before he left for Hogwarts so it would keep his of books in order and clean. As he turned the pages he imagined what kind of dim witted, unintelligent, stupid Dark Arts teacher would be making an appearance this year and chuckled imagining a brother of McGonagall.

August 28. Platform 9 3/4 leaves station 11:00 a.m.

These were the readings on her train ticket to Hogwarts. She pushed her trolley to the barrier and feeling as if she were a giddy child, ran through the barrier like she had when she was a student.

She could hear the whistle of the train blowing and that told her that she should hurry or she would miss it. Smiling from ear to ear she only too well remembered her days at Hogwarts and her first on this train, she was so happy to back and to be teaching for that matter.

She walked over and gave her luggage to the porter he smiled and said, "Welcome aboard Kathryn Landon!" She smiled and climbed aboard the train, walking down the corridor almost all the compartments were full. Walking past she recognized several of her old professor's including one in particular: Severus Snape. He had his feet propped up against the adjoining bench reading the Daily Prophet; she thought about joining him but decided that she needed to rest first. She found an empty compartment and settled down inside it. Laying down on the bench and looking out the window she realized just how lucky she was that Dumbledore thought of her for the job. She was joining the Ministry in the International Committee area but was denied the position because the other applicant was a relative of the head of the department. Without a job, without a plan, she wrote to her old professor and good friend Minerva McGonagall who had kept in close correspondence with her ever since she left Hogwarts two years ago and even coached her for the transfiguration exam that was needed for the job. She had passed but wasn't good enough in the end. 'Not good enough' her whole world was set on her dream job in that area so naturally she was devastated when she heard the news. Minerva told her of an opening in the staff and because of her expert marks in the Dark Arts she should apply; four weeks later she had received a letter of acceptance from Albus Dumbledore.

Miss Landon,

I have reviewed your application and welcome you to the staff of Hogwarts of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You will be teaching the Dark Arts classes which consist of double hours, O.W.Ls, and N.E.W.T classes. I remember you receiving top marks from you previous Dark Arts professor so I am delighted that you have decided to join us. We expect you at Hogwarts on August 28.

Looking forward to meeting you again.

Albus Dumbledore

Kate saw this job as a chance to pick herself up and start over. She supposed some fibers of her body always wanted to teach but she never considered it as a possible career. Now she was looking forward to be among her fellow professors and to teach young minds and hopefully inspire them to become great as her professors had. With the grievous exception of Severus Snape; smirking she made up her mind it was time to go visit the old git.

I know its a little short right now viewers, but it will get longer as the story progresses. My first fic so please leave me reviews!

---webs