Disclaimer: See prologue


Sing a Song

Harry, Hermione, and Ron had almost completed their first week of classes, and two of the three were seriously looking forward to its end.

The trio of Gryffindors headed up from the dreary dungeons and back to where actual sunlight lit the halls.

"Yes! Finally, we've reached the last class of the week. Where's it at, anyway?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's question. "Honestly Ron, don't you ever pay attention? Our schedule said it should be somewhere on this floor."

"Well, in that case, we'll look for it after lunch. I'm starved." Harry led his friends into the Great Hall.

"Why do you think Dumbledore wanted us to take Music? I mean, what are we going to do, scare Death Eaters off with a bagpipe?"

"Come on, Ron," Harry answered, "a bagpipe's scary enough. There's no need to add Voldemort to that picture." He paused to pick up his bag from the table. "I don't know why we're taking Music. All I know is that it'll be nice to end the week with this and not Snape. What do you think we'll have to do?" Harry mentally shuddered at the thought of Potions; it had been hell the first time this week, and not much better the second time.

"I don't know what we'll be doing," said Hermione thoughtfully. "I went to the library for some research, and I didn't find anything but snake charming… in fact, there wasn't even a Music section."

Harry and Ron rolled their eyes. "Well, at least Harry doesn't need to learn snake charming; he's already got that part down."

The Trio laughed and continued eating.

oOoOo

"Wow." That was the only thought that passed through their Harry's mind as they entered Classroom 6. The stone walls were covered in shimmering curtains of burgundy edged with silver and the windows were covered as well. Torches lit the room with firelight, and the room as a whole had an ethereal, exotic flavour. The teacher's desk had a wooden flute, lyre, drum and violin resting on it, while various other instruments lined the cabinets to the back. Drawing their attention back to the centre of the room, they saw the rest of their class standing forlornly, not sure whether to sit on the stools in front or in the desks in back.

"Hey, what are those tools for – those on the shelf?" Ron finally broke their silence.

Hermione looked back at the shelves. "They look like woodcarving tools. Wonder what those are for…Hey look, sheet music!" She gestured up to the front of the room. "I wonder if any of it's for flute."

"You play the flute?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Yes, I was in the school band before Hogwarts. You never asked. Of course, I didn't play a Celtic flute, I had a concert flute. I suppose the music for one could be played on the other…"

The rest of the class had finally made their way into the room and were chatting amongst themselves when, in a swirl of silks, the mysterious new Music professor entered. Seamus leaned over to whisper to Dean, "I told you she was hot." The other boys agreed wholeheartedly with this sentiment.

When she stopped to face her class, they immediately turned to face her. She observed their silence. "Come. This first class will be a discussion. Leave your bags on the shelf; you won't be needing them." With a flick of her wrist, the stools had transfigured into cushions.

The class put away their bags and came to sit on the cushions. Harry sat down on the cushions and thought Hey, this is pretty comfortable. Wait – she didn't use a wand. She didn't use a …

He was pulled from his thoughts when Hermione leaned over to whisper in his ear. "She did wandless magic. How did she do that?"

"I don't know," he whispered back.

The professor folded her robes about her and alighted on the tall stool at the front of the room. "You no doubt have many questions, the first of which is most likely 'Why on earth am I taking Music?' We will get to that in time."

A few smirks broke out across the room. Noira surveyed her class and noted that they had already arranged themselves by House. I will have to fix that, she thought.

"I am Professor Rohal, as you have no doubt already heard. Ay, the rumours I have heard passing through the halls…" She crossed her arms and rose, "And no, I am not part Veela. I don't believe I've actually ever seen one." When her back was turned, a few Knuts and Sickles changed hands. She smirked but did not turn. "I will ignore that exchange this time, but don't bet in my class again, understood?"

The money immediately ceased to flow.

She turned to face her class. "Now, who can tell me the three parts of casting a spell? Yes, Miss…"

"Hermione Granger, Professor." Hermione had raised her hand eagerly and put it down once her name was called.

"What is the first part to casting a spell?"

"Intention. To cast a spell, you have to intend to produce a certain effect."

"Very nice, Miss Granger. Five points to Gryffindor. Does any one else know the second step?" She turned to point to a Slytherin in the back.

"Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." Draco put his hand down and smirked. "The second step is focus of mind. The intent has to be focused onto an object or being."

"Excellent, Mr. Malfoy, five points to Slytherin. And as for the third step, it is focus of power. Most wizards accomplish this with a movement of their wand; however, for lesser spells and for more powerful wizards, it is not necessary."

Noira went and stood behind her desk. "What I will teach you this year, is to harness the intent of your magic. As most of you should have realized by now, the emotions of the caster, as well as the recipient, can affect the outcome of the curse."

She paused when Harry raised his hand. "Yes?"

"Is that similar using a happy thought to cast Expecto Patronum on Dementors?"

"Yes!" Noira said with exuberance, "That is exactly what I am talking about. Five points to Gryffindor Mr.…"

"Harry Potter, ma'am"

"Excellent Mr. Potter. Now as I was saying…"

Hermione looked at Harry with admiration while Malfoy and his cronies glared at him with disgust. See, I did learn something in DADA, even though most of our teachers were rubbish, Harry thought. Except for Lupin, I wish he was still here.

Here Professor Rohal grew serious. "When uncontrolled, emotions can have disastrous results… However, you are here to learn to control your emotions through the demanding discipline and exquisite art of Music. A fond smile grew on her lips as she continued, "It is my hope that you will learn to appreciate the beauty of music's many melodies as they crescendo around you, bewitching the mind and ensnaring the senses."

Ron looked at Harry and whispered, "Blimey, she sounds like Snape; I hope she doesn't teach like him."

Noira began walking between her students and her eyes glowed faintly, almost imperceptibly in the firelight. "I can teach you how to imbue your allies with unshakable courage, to cast nets of fear, even weave the cloth of – romance…" Lavender and Parvati began tittering excitedly. "If you apply yourselves to the art and pay attention!"

The excited whispering that had crept across the room immediately stopped.

Noira gave an inviting smile and sat down. "Any questions?"

Her class was thrown for a loop and didn't know what to expect next. Their teacher was all at once intimidating and friendly, funny yet serious; not someone you'd want to get on the wrong side of. One of the Slytherins raised his hand in a calculated manner.

"If you're not a Veela, what are you? Your eyes are gold; I've never seen eyes like that."

Noira jumped on the inside, but hid it as she narrowed her eyes, almost as if she was calculating the absurdity of the question. She raised an eyebrow, "Then I take it you've never seen Madam Hooch's eyes." That was close. She couldn't believe there was someone else on staff with yellow eyes, even if they were closer to light brown.

Harry was the next to raise his hand. "Why don't you use a wand?"

She sighed at this observation, trying to find a way to say much, yet reveal little. "You're right, I don't have a wand. You use wands to focus your magic. In my country, we use very old magic; we can focus our power with our minds, our song, which I might add, is one of the objectives of this class. I will teach you the power of Music… And if not," she shrugged, "at least the school will have a larger choir."

Neville cautiously raised his hand. "Professor, will you sing something for us?"

She nodded her acquiescence, and her eyes began to glow and her voice was hostile and cold.

"Bound at every limb by your shackles of fear

Sealed with lies through so many tears

Lost from within, pursuing the end

You fight for the chance to be lied to again…"

The class began to sink into their cushions, tears began to fall and the room grew cold.

"…You will never be strong enough

You will never be good enough

You were never conceived in love

You will not rise above"

Tears fell freely now from some of the students as her voice slowly lilted into silence. "How do you all feel?" Noira's voice was soft and full of empathy.

Parvati said, "It felt as if I'd never be happy again."

Harry broke in, "I could see everything that ever happened…"

"What, Potter? Missing your precious parents?" Malfoy sniggered.

"ENOUGH! Mr. Malfoy, perhaps you would like to share what you felt with the class?"

Noira was livid and Draco saw this and immediately shut up. His face turned red and mumbled, "No, Professor."

"Very well, ten points from Slytherin for your blatant disrespect." Malfoy gave her a look promising retribution, and Noira simply ignored it.

"That song was designed to bring out the worst memories that all of you hold, to reduce you to tears. When your enemy can focus on nothing but their own failures and shortcomings, then it is easier to exploit them to your will. Now, let's have something… lighter in tone."

Waves of pure bliss and well-being swept through the room as Noira's voice swept exultantly around the room. The students tears dried and smiles broke out across the room. Harry recognized the feeling of courage that surged through his being.

When she was done, Noira observed her now-cheery class. "That song heartens all of your allies. When the battle has become long and weary, or you're simply buried under a never-ending pile of homework, it never hurts to have hope."

She was interrupted by the bell signalling the end of classes. "Class dismissed." Everyone stood up to retrieve their bags and left the room.

"Professor Rohal." She stopped transfiguring the cushions to see who had called her.

"Yes, Mr. Potter?"

Harry looked at her as if he didn't know exactly what he was going to say. "Why did you choose to make us all sad like that?"

She sighed and gave him a light smile. "I do not believe in 'sugar-coating.' One day, you will all have to reface the hardest parts of your life, and it would be best if you already knew how to, without breaking down in the process."

I understand, Professor. Can I ask you something else?" She nodded. "That last song," he started, "well, it reminded me of phoenix song…"

Noira interrupted him before he could say anything else. "That's exactly what it was Mr. Potter, well done." She smiled at him and he returned it. "Don't tell a soul."

He felt a warmth akin to sunshine go through him. "Yes, ma'am."

Harry turned to leave and was happy to realize that this professor acted like she didn't know who he was, as haughty as that sounded. He felt almost...normal around her. He caught up to Ron and Hermione who had waited for him just outside the door. They turned and headed for the common room, when Ron suddenly stopped walking.

"Did either of you sense something fishy about her?"

"No, Ron," Hermione answered. "Why?"

He blinked a few times before blurting out, "Oh, my God, she had fangs!"

Harry snorted in disbelief. "Honestly, Ron, next you'll be telling us you think she's a vampire."

"I'm serious, I saw…"

Hermione shook her head. "Come on, Ron, you're probably just imagining things."


A/N: Song lyrics are from "Lies" by Evanescence. Noira's speech was modelled on Snape's speech to the first years; it was just too good to pass up.