Disclaimer: I do not own any of the HP characters. Just my own creation, Kate Serpentine.
This story will have elements of the 7th book, but will not follow the storyline at all.
Thank You, and enjoy!
: So You Think You Want Me? :
Chapter 1
"Snape-y-kins?"
To begin at the beginning
It is night at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The first day back from a cold, sunless summer.
The sky is a dismal black, lit only by the strike of lightning. Thunder resonated through the castle walls, shaking the windows, echoing the empty hallways. But besides that, all was silent.
Even in the Great Hall, where merrymaking was commonplace, was deathly silent. The students were crying, and the teachers were in mourning.
...Dumbledore was dead...
It was the first year without him. The first year without his cheerful smile, his bright eyes, his comfort.
Severus Snape stood up, taking his place as Hogwarts new Headmaster. The teachers all exchanged wary glances as Severus started the usual announcements.
"As you all know, Albus is...", he paused and his eyes glazed over to Harry's, "...no longer with us". Harry glared, and Severus returned his gaze to his many students. "However", he continued, "before he..left us, he assigned a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. I have no knowledge of her, let alone who she is, only that it is a woman. As she is new, I suppose I must introduce her. If you would, turn your attention to the doors", he said, gesturing to the Grand Doors of the Great Hall, "and welcome...
...Professor Kate Serpentine".
The doors of the Great Hall opened, and there stood a figure dripping head to toe in cold rain water. Around her feet was a puddle of water, growing steadily larger each passing second she stood still. Her demeanor alone was enough to send chills down all the students' spines.
She stood a graceful 5'10, with stone cold pale skin. She had long, dirty blonde, wavy hair that reached her mid back. However; due to the rain her hair clung to her neck and back in thick strands. She had eyes of pure stone, grey like slate. Her skin held little droplets of water that slowly fell down her bare arms, through her lace arm warmers, and onto the ground.
Her outfit was impressive too. She had a corset that clung to her full bosom, strapped tight by a few belts. Slightly lower to her waist was a studded black belt with vials, of what seemed like potions, dangling on the side. She had a burgundy, long, slide silted skirt with numerous rips and tears. The slit ran up to her mid thigh. Under the rag of a skirt were ripped, fishnet stockings. Her feet were covered with plat formed, steel toed boots. They went up to right under her knee. They too were held by belts. The platform shoes raised her height to an impressive 6 foot. But what was most impressive was what hung around her neck. An amulet of a thin vial filled with a golden liquid. The vial was wrapped in a metal snake statue, as if protecting the vial from anyone who dared to take it.
Severus gestured her to come forward; and she walked; steadily, slowly through the middle aisles. Her steel toed boots making a 'clanking' sound, the droplets of water hitting the floor in slow 'drips' and 'drops' followed quickly afterwards.
Clank...drip...drop
Clank...drip drop
With each step closer to the front of the room, her amulet beat against her chest, and became clearer of what it was to the people in the front, near the teachers table. With every step she took, realization stared to dawn on Snape, of who she really was. Every clank of her boots, every drop of water that hit the floor.
Only just a few feet away now, Severus was able to get a clear view of who she was.
When he came to terms with his inner arguments his eyes widened only slightly. He thought he recognized the name.
This was ridiculous.
Of all the people Dumbledore could have chosen, he chose her .
Although very much annoyed by her mere presence, he had to admit of how much she had changed. The years certain were in her favor, and she had matured into a... beautiful woman.
'Wait', he thought 'I did not honestly think that'
He shook that thought from his head, just as she reached him. They both stared at each other. Hers was a blank, lifeless stare. His was a shocked, yet composed stare.
With a slight nod of his head, Kate walked to the empty seat of the teachers table, followed by Snape.
Food appeared in front of the students. But even the food looked sad and not well prepared. The sweets were bland, the punch was watered down, and the turkey was dry. It appears that the House Elves were depressed about Dumbledore's death as well.
When the food appeared, nobody rushed to fill their plates, and no voices erupted into chatter. The teachers table too, was choked in silence as well.
The new Dark Arts teacher, Professor Serpentine, bypassed the food and picked up her napkin. She unfolded it and dabbed it onto her face, wiping away the rain water. She did the same to her arms, hands, neck and shoulders.
"Is it always this dead in here? Was never like this when I came here."
The students and teachers all looked toward the source of the voice.
Their sat Professor Serpentine, her eyebrows raised, and holding a dripping wet napkin in one hand, and her elbows propped up on the table.
"I'll take that as a yes" she said, with a look. "Then again", she said thoughtfully, "it's to be expected if Snape-y-kins is Headmaster", she finished with a serious face.
Snape dropped his goblet, spilling his pumpkin juice all over the table. Several of the students as well as staff spit out whatever it was they had in their mouths at the moment.
'Snape-y-kins!?' several of the students thought, and the next thing that was heard was the sound of snickering and laughter coming from the Gryffindor table, specifically where Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny sat. Eventually, the entire Gryffindor table was laughing hysterically.
You know what they say, laughter is contagious, and soon enough the entire Great Hall erupted into laughter.
"That's one way to break the ice" Hagrid commented aloud.
"Indeed..." Snape said, clearly not amused. He glared contemptuously at the students, but switched his gaze to Professor Serpentine who laughed along with the students.
"Blimey, I like her already!" Fred said, picking up his goblet. George mimicked his actions. "To Serpentine!" Fred shouted, "The witty Snake Queen!" George yelled, and the students hoisted up their goblets and made a toast. After that, things went back, surprisingly normal.
After the feast was over, everyone started to clear out for the night. Tomorrow would be the start of classes.
As Prof. Serpentine walked out of the room, she carried with her a glass of pumpkin juice. She walked toward the dungeons, meeting a few cheery students along the way. Downwards she went, past the classrooms, headed for the Slytherin common room. She was to stay in the girls' dormitory for the night, until her room was repaired. Apparently, a stink bomb went off in that part of the dungeon.
Wonder who did it...
She turned the corner when out of the blue she was grabbed by the shoulder and spun around quite abruptly.
Severus Snape stood there, glaring eyes of hate and remorse to her very soul. He only said 4 words to her before throwing her and himself into an empty classroom.
"We...Need.To.Talk"
Lovely...
Well that's it for chapter one!
I promise the following chapters will be longer, and overall better. Please tell me what you think!
Just keep this in mind, its only the 1st chapter, I know it wasn't that exciting.
Thankies!