I'd like to thank you all for reviewing! It really makes my day when I see a couple of encouraging words in my inbox, but I would like to ask that anyone who leaves criticism signs in 'cos I would really like to talk to you about it so I can get better! Thank you!
I own nothing written here except the OC's and ideas for locations that are not from the original series. Anything you recognise belongs to J.K. Rowling.
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Siren glared at the dementors as she walked passed them and through the Hogwarts gates. She clutched Snuffles close to her chest as he shuddered.
"It's okay," she whispered and planted a kiss on his head before pulling her wand and conjuring a patronus, the ball of mist shot off towards the dementors and made it so that the pair passed through the gates unchallenged, "Being scared of them is completely normal." She added before stopping as a rather stern looking witch walked towards her from the opening doors leading into the Hogwarts great hall. The witch wore her hair up in a tight bun and wire-framed glasses over her sharp eyes.
"Welcome to Hogwarts Miss Celeste."
"Thank you," Siren shifted Snuffles in her arms; whose tail had started to wag on seeing the older looking witch, so she could shake her hand, "Please call me Siren."
"Of course," she agreed, "I am Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher, Head of Gryffindor House and Deputy Headmistress. The Headmaster apologises for not been able to welcome you himself but he is still at the ministry trying to arrange the removal of the dementors from the boundaries of the school."
"Understandable, one would hardly want children exposed to them without knowing how to defend themselves." McGonagall nodded.
"I will show you to your rooms, classroom and office before leaving you in the Great hall to wait for the feast."
"Thank you." Siren smiled. McGonagall turned and lead the newest Hogwarts Professor to the second floor. She stopped beside a large tapestry of a young woman in a garden, sitting with her back against a tree as she read a book.
"This is the entrance to your private room, I suggest you ward it as soon as possible as the schools pranksters are likely to try and track it down as soon as they meet you." The Professor warned with a small smile, obviously thinking of some of the more humours pranks that had been played over the years.
"Thanks for the warning." McGonagall smiled.
"The password is currently set at its default of 'Defence' but simply ask to reset the password and Victoria-" she was interrupted as the girl with the book called.
"Tory!"
McGonagall frowned but Siren laughed.
"I'll change it now," she grinned as Tory turned to her, "Rebecca."
Tory nodded.
"Password changed." She acknowledged before swinging open.
"I will wait here." Siren nodded before crossing the threshold.
She placed Snuffles down on the floor and he immediately ran around to work off some of his energy, Siren laughed silently at the man turned puppy before studying the room. It was large, about the size of her living room; the walls were white as was the carpet; a roaring fire on the left wall had comfortable looking chairs circling it, all of them in varying shades of light blue; the right wall had a single empty bookcase that she filled with the books in her luggage, that she removed and returned to normal size from in her pocket; the wall in front of her held a single door that led to her bedroom which was painted the same blue as the furniture in the first room, the bed was large enough for Siren and Snuffles even in his adult form with the bedding a silver colour. Siren left the rest of her bags on the floor as an elf popped into the room.
"I is Pixy miss," the small pick creature introduced itself, "I is being your elf, Miss." Siren smiled at the knee-high creature.
"Thank you, if you could unpack the rest of my things and set up the dogs bed in the bedroom."
"I is be doing that Miss."
"Thank you Pixy." She turned away as the elf started to work, "Coming Snuffles." The puppy barked happily and ran to her. He walked at her heal as they left the room, Tory swinging shut behind them.
"Ready to move on?" McGonagall asked.
"Very."
They walked to the fourth floor.
"This is Professor Lupins' class," McGonagall explained as she pointed at the closed door, "This is yours." She opened a door further down the corridor. The room was the same size as a small church and had raised benches along the walls apart from one area where a door rested, "As I understand it you will be teaching duelling when Professor Lupin is unable to take his classes, I hope the room is acceptable."
"Very much." Siren grinned. Snuffles barked his approval from where he was sitting beside her feet.
"Your office is through the door at the far side of the room," McGonagall was about to lead the way over when an owl landed on her shoulder. She pulled the letter off and it took flight once more. Siren watched as the Professors face paled.
"What happened?" Siren asked, frightened it had something to do with what Hermione had hinted would happen on the Express on the way to school.
"Dementors searched the train on its way to the school," McGonagall was slowly regaining her colour, "your counterpart, Professor Lupin, was riding the train as an extra security measure and witnessed the event and managed to drive them off. If you will excuse me." McGonagall turned and walked away without waiting for answer. Siren picked Snuffles up off the floor and hugged him to her chest for comfort just as her watch started to burn.
"Harry!" she exclaimed, almost dropping Snuffles in her attempts to pull the watch out from under her robes. She flicked it open quickly and sighed in relief as Hermione and Harry's faces appeared.
"Dementors attacked the train." Harry spoke, "We got rid of them though," he reassured her.
"Good," Siren opened her mouth to continue when another voice came through the watch.
"We've arrived." A very dreamy sounding voice stated.
"Got to go mum," Siren's heart seemed to skip a beat as Harry continued not realising what he had said, "I'll call you after the feast." The call ended as Harry snapped his watch closed.
"He called me mum." Siren whispered as she placed the watch back under her shirt, Snuffles licked her cheek to bring her back to reality though he would be the first to admit that he loved seeing that smile on her face.
Siren, still slightly dazed, turned and walked back to the great hall.
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Siren took her seat at the Head table beside a wizard wearing a rather shabby set of robes that appeared to be darned in several places, he looked slightly ill and exhausted even though by Siren's guess he couldn't be more than forty years old, his light browned hair was flecked with grey.
"Hello," he greeted her, his voice rather soft, "I'm Remus Lupin but please call me Remus." They shock hands.
"Siren Celeste, but call me Siren."
"Ah you would be my co-teacher then?"
"Yes, and just so you know; I have no issues with your 'furry little problem'." Lupin sat dumfounded as the student started to trail their way into the room.
Professor McGonagall was missing but a much shorter man, (Professor Flitwick Remus whispered in her ear) continued with the sorting anyway. After he was finished Siren noticed Harry and Hermione make their way into the hall followed by McGonagall. The two sat at the red and gold table while McGonagall sat to Dumbledore's left. The old man stood.
"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candle light shimmering on his beard, "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast." He cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, out school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." He paused giving the hall the impression of his unhappiness at this action, "They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave the school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises- or even invisibility cloaks," he added blandly, "It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors." He paused again and the students stared at him in silence, "On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome three new teachers to out ranks this year. Firstly Professor Lupin and Professor Celeste who have kindly consented to share the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." Lupin stood first and gained some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause, when Siren stood however the Gryffindor's followed Harry's example and applauded loudly joined by the purebloods around the hall that recognised her name. "As to our third new appointment," Dumbledore continued once the applause for Siren ended and the two sat back down, Siren smirking when she saw the shocked but happy looks on both Harry and Hermione's faces, "well I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy some time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his game-keeping duties." Loud applause came for the Gryffindor table as Hagrid looked down at his lap. Was the hall was quiet again Dumbledore spoke up, "Well, I think that's everything of importance, let the feast begin!" *
The golden plates and goblets filled with food and all four tables broke out in chatter. Siren spent the feast talking with Remus about their lessons both combined and separate and introducing Remus to the excitable Snuffles when he jumped onto his lap in order to access the table full of food.
When Dumbledore gave the word that everyone should make their way to bed Harry and Hermione made their way up to the head table first congratulating Hagrid and being shoed away by Professor McGonagall and then waving to Siren with a promising in their eyes to talk tomorrow, Snuffles trying to follow them out of the hall and up to the tower but pulled back by a summoning charm.
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The next morning Harry and Hermione entered the hall earlier than what they were normally known for due to their continued avoidance of Ron. They walked in at sat at the end of the table closest to where the Professors sat so the when Siren arrived they would be able to speak to her and started to eat.
When McGonagall walked down the table handing out timetables and Siren had still not appeared the two considered going looking for her. Hermione looked at her timetable as Harry scanned the head table again thinking that she might have snuck in while he was talking to his head of house.
"Divination and then Transfiguration before break," Hermione sighed, "remind me why we kept the same subjects as the first time I did this."
"Because you wanted to keep as much as you could the same." Harry grinned at her.
"But I already know it all." She pouted.
"It was your choice." he reminded her before going back to watching the doors.
"You have a point." She frowned before smiling, "At least this time I know not to drive myself to the point of exhaustion and use some of the turns to get a nap or two in in the Room of Requirement." Harry nodded distractedly as he spotted Ron enter the hall. The red head had yet to try speaking to either Harry or Hermione but he thought it was only a matter of time. Harry still wasn't certain about the boy, he knew for a fact that in the future Ron would dose he and Hermione with love potions but still he hadn't done it yet, he had even tried to tell Harry about his own mother taking money from his vault!
Hermione noticed Harry frowning in thought as he watched Ron sit with Dean throwing the two of them a sad look. Neville tapped Harry on the arm.
"Do you mind if I sit here?"
"Not at all Nev." Harry moved slightly so the boy could sit beside him. Hermione handed Neville his timetable that McGonagall had left with them to give to the boy.
"Here Neville."
"Thanks Hermione." The brown haired boy looked over the day, "Divination, Transfiguration, History of Magic, Charms, and then double Care of Magical Creatures." He put it down and served himself some bacon and eggs.
"We'll be together then Nev'." Harry informed the boy.
"I still think Divination's a stupid subject to try and teach to students though," Hermione spoke up, "either you have the gift or you don't it can't be taught." Neville shrugged.
"I agree with you Hermione but we can't change it."
Hermione frowned but nodded at the boy.
Siren walked into the hall and Harry leapt to his feet, Hermione copying his actions moments later. Both ran down the gap between the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables and latched onto her their arms encircling her waist.
"You should have told us that you were going to teach this year!" Harry scolded her playfully, not letting go.
"And ruin the surprise? Never!" Siren grinned at the two as they let go. Harry grabbed her hand lead her back down the table to where he and Hermione had been sitting, leaving the early risers around the great hall whispering about what they had just seen.
"Neville," Hermione introduced as Siren sat down between Harry and Hermione, "this is my very distant cousin Siren Celeste, I call her Aunt Siren, and Harry's adopted mother." The whole table fell silent hearing that.
"My Lady Advocate Potter-Celeste," Neville said, bowing as much as he could while sitting, he glanced at her hand, did a double take and added, "Shadow." Harry glanced at Siren's hand as well and saw three different rings; one was the Potter, one was the Shadow (he didn't know she had that and only recognised it due to the fact that it was on every set of formal robes he owned) and the third seemed to shimmer in and out of sight, it was bearing the Hogwarts Crest.
Siren smiled gently at the boy and he gave a hesitant smile in return.
"Siren will do just fine Neville." The boy nodded, the noise in the great hall slowly returned to normal as Hermione started interrogating Siren about what she was going to teach.
"Technically I only teach you three times a week," she explained, "give me your timetables," the three handed them over and Siren marked down which lessons she taught them explaining as she did so, "Professor Lupin teaches you the first two lessons of the week and the third on Thursday we both work with you but your double on Friday I teach you alone, when Professor Lupin can't make a class I take over but teach what he intended rather than what I am going to teach you." Hermione opened her mouth to ask but Siren beat her to it, "You'll just have to wait and see." She said with a grin.
Hermione pouted. Siren stood.
"I have to go and set up my fifth year lesson so I'll see you at lunch."
"The Weasley twins are in fifth year!" Hermione called after her retreating back getting a wave in response, "I hope she knows what she's getting into." Hermione muttered.
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Siren grinned as she watched her first victims…ehm…students enter her classroom.
"Take a seat on the left side of the room please!" she called. She spotted a set of ginger twins and a boy with dreadlocks as they sat right at the front. It was a Ravenclaw Gryffindor class so she knew that what she was going to suggest next would be safer than if it had been Slytherin and well anyone actually.
Siren raised her hand for silence and got it, the class weren't going to risk the new teacher's anger just yet as they didn't know how she was going to respond. She waved her wand and a chalk board from inside her office came zooming out, it skidded to a stop just behind her.
"This is the only piece of writing you will be doing in my class for the whole year, this is a practical class," the Ravenclaws looked alarmed while the Gryffindors grinned, "book learning is to be done outside of class, I will recommend books if asked and will answer any questions you have at the start of each class if you have any." She waited but no hands were raised, they were all on the edge of their seats, "Very well." She turned to the board and quickly wrote: Professor Siren's Classroom Rules across the top.
"I expect you to have memorized these by next lesson; there will be a quiz." She turned back and wrote: 1. When Professor Siren says stop you IMMEDIATELY do so, or you do NOT come back, ever.
She turned back to the class and watched them take out quills and parchment, they had to lean on their defence books to write as there were no desks but they coped.
2. When Siren is talking no spells are to be cast.
3. Never cast until Siren has fully explained what that spell can do.
4. Disobey Siren's rules three times and you will never return to any of her classes for the rest of your time at Hogwarts.
"Are those understood?" She asked sharply once everyone had finished writing. The class nodded, "You will answer out loud with either yes Professor or yes ma'am so that I KNOW you understand."
"Yes Professor." The class chimed.
"Excellent." Siren smiled at the class, "No I am going to place you in pairs, this person will be your partner for everything we do this year if you can not work with your partner tell me at once and I will change them after this lesson there will be no swopping, understood?"
"Yes Professor." The class chimed.
Siren waved her wand again and a piece of parchment flew from her office into her hand at the same time as the chalk board going back. The list was split into two sections one for the Ravenclaws and one for the Gryffindors, she wanted to have as many cross-house pairs as possible in the younger years but for fifth years and up due to OWL's and NEWT's they had to be in the same house.
"Fred and George Weasley." She looked up at the ginger twins. "You will be working together, do you have a problem with this pairing?"
"No ma'am." They answered.
"Good, go sit on the right side of the room please." The twins moved off, "Lee Jordan and Angelina Johnson. Barry Cole and Shelia House, Susan Pennyworth and Kyle Jones." When all ten pairs (twenty students) were on the right hand side of the room Siren turned to them. "Last chance to object to your pairings." Silence, "Very well," she clapped her hands together and grinned in a way that made even the Weasley twins nervous, "Let's get started. How many of you know what the Expelliarmus spell is?" all the hands in the room went up, "How many of you can cast it?" all the hands stayed up.
Siren pointed her wand at her office and summoned a life sized wooden dummy, it had a bulls-eye painted on its chest, knees, forehead and shoulders and a wand in tis hand, "This dummy is on its lowest setting; it will not move or cast spells back, it will stand there and allow you to disarm it. Who would like to go first?" a girl from Ravenclaw held up her hand, "Come on then."
The girl stood in front of the dummy and drew her wand.
"Expelliarmus!" she yelled. The wand twitched but didn't leave the dummy's hand. Siren blinked.
"Next." She called. The Ravenclaw sat down again. The best the class could do was make the wand twitch. Siren was frowning as the last student went back to his seat. She waved her wand and the dummy multiplied itself, "Each pair take a dummy, tap it with your wand and it will follow you to a clear area of the room and only spells that you cast on it will have any effect, you will continued to practice the spell, I will walk around the room and help." The pairs jumped to their feet and did as told.
Siren waited for a minute before walking to the closest pair, Angelina and Lee, Lee was preforming the spell.
"Expelliarmus!"
"You are gripping your wand to hard," Siren told him, "think of it this way: if your knuckles are white no spell will work right." She held up her own wand to the pair showing them her grip, "find a position that your hand is comfortable in and use that." Lee tried again after changing his grip so his wand stuck out between his pointer and middle finger sand the rest curved around the grip.
"Expelliarmus!" the wand went flying across the room and hit the wall before falling to the floor. Angelina clapped as the boy grinned.
"Five points to Gryffindor Mister Jordan and a single point in the class register."
"Professor?" Lee asked.
"The person with the most points in the class register is permitted to pick a single spell during the last week of school before any holiday to be taught, points can be earned by: mastering a spell first, using a spell correctly or winning a practice duel. The harder the spell the more point you earn." Siren explained, "Continue." She ordered once she noticed that everyone had stopped to listen to her explanation. The Ravenclaws and the Weasleys attacked the dummy with a vengeance, all of them wanting the change at learning a new spell of their choice.
By the end of the lesson all of the class could cast the spell with varying degrees of success, every time they cast the spell correctly they earned themselves a class point, only earning house points on the first successful casting. As the class left the room she called after them.
"Remember to memorise those rules! One class point for each one that's correct in the next lesson!" the class were all talking excitedly as they left making Siren grin; she loved to teach.
Siren had a free lesson before break then she had to teach the 6th years in a paired lesson with Remus.
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Harry had chosen not to take Arithmancy and Ancient Runes before he had moved to Sirens' that summer, he didn't regret his decision at all but he did wonder if he should have chosen something other than Divination the only reason he chose it in the end was because Ron had. He knew that Hermione was using a time turner to get to all of her classes and covered for her when she had to run off to use the small device that hung around her neck with the communication watch.
After having his death predicted by Professor Trelawney Harry went to Transfiguration where he impressed Professor McGonagall with his knowledge of Animagi and helped Neville with the class work.
"I think you need a different wand Nev." Harry told the boy as they left the classroom for break.
"I know," Neville sighed, "but Gran wants me to use my dad's." Harry snorted.
"The wand choses the wizard Neville." Harry quoted.
"Try telling that to my Gran." Neville sighed.
When the bell rang the two went to History of Magic where Harry used the opportunity to visit with the memory of his parents. Next they went to charms and sat beside Hermione and after lunch they went to their first ever Care of Magical Creatures lesson, their last lesson of the day as it was a double period.
When Malfoy insulted Buckbeak the lesson was cut short however as Hagrid had to carry the boy up to the hospital wing. Harry, Hermione and Neville went to dinner early and sat down only to be joined by the Weasley twins moments later.
"Have you had Professor Celeste yet?" they asked excitedly, when the three third years shook their heads the Weasley twins grinned.
"She's the best DADA Professor we've ever had!" they insisted.
"Don't know-" one twin started.
"How Lupins' gonna be able to-" the other continued.
"Beat her." The finished together. Harry grinned proudly as Hermione giggled, the twins too caught up in their thoughts to notice.
"She's brilliant!" Fred exclaimed once Harry was paying attention again.
"Not to mention bloody gorgeous!" George muttered.
"That too!" Fred agreed. Harry's smile disappeared; he really didn't want to think about Siren in that context.
Siren was sitting up at the head table and as Harry turned to look up at her winked before returning to her conversation with Professor Lupin.
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On Tuesday and Wednesday both of their DADA lessons were cancelled so it wasn't until the shared lesson on Thursday that the 3rd years got to experience what was fat becoming everyone's favourite subject; Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Professor Lupin wasn't there when they arrived at his first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. They all sat down, took out their books, quills parchment, and were talking when he finally entered the room. Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he had at the start of the year feast, as though he had had a few square meals.
"Good afternoon," he said, "Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today's lesson will be a practical lesson. You will only need your wand." * they followed him to the staffroom and entered just as Professor Snape was leaving. He scowled at the class insulted Neville and then left.
Lupin lead the class to the back of the room where a wardrobe was resting against the wall, as Lupin stood next to it; it gave a shudder.
"Nothing to worry about," he explained as Siren entered the room and stood at the back of the class, "There's a Boggart in there." Siren froze in place. Harry tuned out whatever Lupin was saying as he watched his adoptive mother I concern. Both of them snapped out of it when Neville turned his Boggart Snape into a cross dresser however.
After Ron faced the Boggart and removed the legs of its spider form it rolled in front of Hermione. Siren watched the Boggart as it rolled and froze as it stopped in front of Hermione. The Boggart shifted forms once more and now laying on the floor was the prone body of the boy-who-lived alive no longer. Hermione's wand dropped from her hand and landed on the floor with a clatter, the rest of the class was in shock; even Lupin didn't move as the Boggart lifted its head and opened its mouth to speak.
Siren launched herself at the Boggart, landing on top of it and slamming its head into the ground hard.
"Don't you dare touch my children!" she growled. The Boggart smirked before shifting again, Siren backed away from the Boggart and it stood now her exact twin.
"Is that anyway to greet your family sister?" Boggart-Siren tutted, "Living with the humans has cost you your manners." Siren didn't answer and raised her wand to cast the charm, "I have a message for you sister." Siren lowered her wand slightly, "Fate deemed that you should hear it." Siren remained silent and the Boggart smirked before opening her mouth once more, its voice came out childish and sweet which only managed to make its words all the more haunting.
"Tick tock goes the clock
And all the years they fly
Tick tock and all too soon
He and you must die.
Tick tock goes the clock
You laughed at fate and mourned her
Tick tock goes the clock
Even for the Siren.
Tick tock goes the clock
He cradled her and he rocked her
Tick tock goes the clock
Even for the Siren."
Siren backed away from the Boggart hastily.
"No," she muttered, "no."
"Yes." The Boggart grinned, "Yes."
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*adapted from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
I will be updating once a month at least from now on.
The Time Table I will be using is below:
Monday
Divination (Muggle Studies, Arithmancy)
Transfiguration
Break
History of Magic
Charms (Ancient Runes)
Lunch
Care of Magical Creatures
Care of Magical Creatures
Dinner
Tuesday
Care of Magical Creatures
Defence Against the Dark Arts (Lupin)
Break
Divination (Muggle Studies, Arithmancy)
Charms (Ancient Runes)
Lunch
Transfiguration
Transfiguration
Dinner
Astronomy (midnight)
Wednesday
History Of Magic
Defence Against the Dark Arts (Lupin)
Break
Charms (Ancient Runes)
Transfiguration
Lunch
Herbology
Dinner
Thursday
Potions
Potions
Break (15min)
Herbology
Charms (Ancient Runes)
Lunch
Defence Against the Dark Arts (Both)
Care of Magical Creatures
Dinner
Friday
Potions
Divination (Muggle Studies, Arithmancy)
Break
History of Magic
Herbology
Lunch
Defence Against the Dark Arts (Siren)
Defence Against the Dark Arts (Siren)
Dinner