Minerva McGonagall strode back through the main entrance of the castle clutching a heavy paper parcel that contained a couple of books for her night time reading. She shook out her travelling cloak after placing her large umbrella into a Dragon's foot holder situated just inside the main door. It was while she was shaking out her cloak that she noticed the head master chatting to a young lady. Both were heading her way. A huge smile lit up Minerva's face. She hadn't seen the girl in nearly a year.
"Shan!" Minerva excitedly called out, "how wonderful to see you, so pleased you are here at last my dear."
Shan equally moved forward to hug the older woman enthusiastically. "I'm glad to see you too, I'm a bit nervous being back."
The headmaster let the two friends chat as he returned to his quarters, happy to have passed the new herbology professor into the capable hands of his second-in-command.
Minerva guided Shan upstairs to her new private residence for the duration. It was close to Minerva's own so if the young woman needed her she was close to hand.
"Looks like Filtch has put your trunk up here, that's good. You have a nice big window allowing in lots of light and you are well away from any noise from our students. Up above your rooms is one of the cooks who manages the catering as well as the house elves, she keeps to herself does our Mrs Slocome. "
Shan was delighted with her private rooms. She loved her study area and her big bedroom with its en-suite.
"Tea, we need tea. Come on my dear, leave this unpacking and things till later, I am parched and am sure you are too. Dinner is at 7 at the weekends as you may recall and we have more than 3 hours to catch up."
Minerva took Shan's arm and they headed back up the corridor towards Minerva's quarters.
With the tea served along with a pile of sandwiches and cakes prepared by Minerva herself- she leaving the house elves to do their own thing with regards to housekeeping and main castles meals, but she preferred to do her own catering in her private accommodations.
"So come on fill me in, what has been going on? Sorry never gave you time to get a word in."
"Well apart from nearly turning tail and heading for the hills when I rang the bell." Shan grimaced and wrinkled her nose.
"Why? What happened?"
"An angry man stormed down the drive and opened the gate checked my letter briefly then turned,expecting me to follow him. He was like a giant bat from hell."
Minerva choked with laughter as her tea went down the wrong way. "Oh goodness, I forgot Severus was on call this afternoon."
"He never introduced himself to me, he just stormed off, although he did wait for me inside the main door, then took me up to see Dumbledore. I think he thought I was a new student."
"Typical of the man, he can be so stand-offish. He does not give a good first impression to anyone, but once you get to know him he is not too bad. He has a mean mouth and his glares can make the paint disappear, let alone students. Sad to say he is not a very popular man, both with students and staff alas. He is a superb potions master and is an asset to Hogwarts in that respect."
"I got the sharp edge of his tongue in the Headmasters study. He stood behind my chair and was sure he was glaring down at me. I shall have to watch my step with him, but as you know, I can give as good as I get." Shan smiled and sipped at her tea.
"Oh my dear, don't get on the wrong side of Severus." Minerva warned as she raised her eyebrows and nodded to Shan, proving to her she was serious on this occasion. "And your eyes, how are they faring?" Minerva asked, knowing this was a sensitive subject with the young woman.
"Not too bad. I still won't allow any magic to repair them further. I have had enough of that before so now am using herbal remedies and am seeing a superb consultant in London."
"Really, that is so good. You did say in your letters that the treatment you got in NewZealand was very good and it helped increase your vision?"
"Yes, I met some ancient family, a magical family but they based their knowledge of healing using herbs. It fascinated me so much that is why I stayed for over a year. They put me in touch with a healer in London. Sadly he was booked up for over 6 months in advance, but I got this other man and he uses relaxation therapy and a unique plant derived balm on my eyes. He gives me the treatment every 4 weeks and it helps me to see clearly in front of me , although I am not good at going down stairs and things as my vision gets tilted. But If I keep my head level I'm fine."
"You look so well and I can't believe you are 28." Minerva shook her head and sighed. "I remember the day you were born here in Hogwarts."
"Don't remind me. I feel old." Shan ate some of the sandwiches and filled in Minerva with the other gossip of common friends.
"I told Dumbledore after that Snape fellow left his study that I needed time off every 4th Friday at 4pm to go to my appointment in London. He wants me to use the flue system to save time, but you know how I am not keen to use magic."
"Yes, I know my dear, but you must take up the offer as others will get suspicious and may even think you a squib or worse a muggle. I know your reasons for disliking magic but some of the staff may not be so understanding."
"Huh, I get the impression Snape will be first in line to point fingers."
"Yes, but as he uses potions all the time and also encourages our students to learn spells on a daily bases you may need to show them you do magic."
"I know, but I have not used any magic since... well you know when and why. Shan's face fell.
"That was not your fault. Lightfoot died from a heart attack, it was the man's silly fault for not wishing out a cauldron as you well know. Even the Ministry of Magic and Education know this. You did well a few years back and got your Degree in herbology and also in teaching. You are going to be popular here. I do hope you can help me find something to help with my hair."
Shan chuckled and nodded now they were discussing something she knew about and herb shampoo or colouring products were her speciality.
The dining hall was full of both students and staff when Minerva guided Shan to her seat next to her for this evening.
"I'm sorry my dear you will be on the other side of Snape from tomorrow. This seat is only temporary as it is your first night with us, as a special guest, so you get to sit with me."
Dumbledore stood up and raised his hands for silence, the whole hall fell silent in seconds.
"You may have already noticed an extra member at our table tonight. She is Miss Nettlesworth, she is going to be our new herbologist tutor from a week Monday. She is a previous student of Hogwarts and I hope you will enjoy her classes. Please put your hands together to welcome our new member of staff."
The whole room broke into loud applause as Dumbledore invited Shan to stand . She stood and smiled awkwardly, then gave a little wave and mouthed hello.
"Well done." whispered Minerva.
Shan was amazed how swift the mealtime passed. she sat drinking coffee at the table then as the other staff members disappeared, Minerva prodded her to come with her.
Shan knew the direction she was heading, she had only ever been in this area if in trouble, or if required to pass a message to a teacher. She was invited into the staff sitting room that had a big fire blazing in its grate. Most of the staff sat around in big leather arm chairs. Some smoked and some were now drinking amber liquid in tumblers.
"Your usual, Minerva?" Asked a tubby man with bright red robes. Shan knew she had never met him before and was introduced to Professor Pippin, who taught mathematics.
Shan rejected an offer of alcohol,but did get more lovely black coffee. Dumbledore appeared and welcomed Shan once more into their community. Professor Snape stayed for a brief moment until the headmaster disappeared.
Shan yawned and excused herself leaving Minerva and the other teachers to chat. She was tired. she had travelled up by train that morning and had been on her feet since just after dawn preparing her trunk to be sent ahead of her. Shan yawned widely as she exited the staff room and headed down the corridor towards the front of the castle to pick up the main stair case that led to her private quarters. She thought a good hot bath and bed would be top of her list and a long lie in bed for sunday.
She had barely put a foot onto the first step up onto the stairs when a deep throated request for her to stop halted her in her tracks.
"Miss Nettlesworth, could I have a word?" Snape had lain in wait for Shan near the main door. He had hid himself in the shadows and popped out to intercept the new teacher. He had seen her yawning and was aware of her probably being tired, but he wanted to make some things clear to her before she headed to her quarters for the night.
"I just wish to confirm you know your place."
Shan stared at him. He was dressed all in black and she got a good look at him, he had long hair and she immediately thought one of her herbal conditioners would work wonders on it, she also noticed his sneer that went along with his glare- she knew she would have to watch him.
"What do you mean?" She asked .
"I am sure you know what I mean. I am the senior teacher and wish you to know that I am in charge and if I say you are to teach about a particular herb, then I expect you to do so immediately. "
"I agree to follow the directions that Dumbledore has laid out and I will abide by any clashes to your classes but I am the herbologist, Professor Snape."
Severus took a step closer to this young woman, as he got closer, he realised she was a little older than he first assumed. Younger than he, but certainly not a teenager. He slowly but firmly pointed out once more. "I will supervise your teaching timetable and if I do not agree on any item I shall delete it from the schedule- do I make myself clear?"
"You do, but I likewise will inform you of my reasons for its inclusion and if I do not like your reason for its exclusion, then I shall take the matter up with the head master." Shan glared back at him as her anger had been raised. She was no pushover. If he checked his records of past students, he may get a fright. Shan had had many scrapes in her time at Hogwarts as a student, but her knowledge of magic and potions was high above that of an average student. One other thing made her special at Hogwarts- she had been born under its roof. Hogwarts looked after its own and more so in her case- she was still alive to prove that.
"I am tired and am off to bed." She turned and headed back to the stairs and heard the mutterings of annoyance from Snape. She added fuel to his fire by calling out after him, "Good night Professor Snape." She was not surprised when she did not get a reply.