debate among the authors:

C: Why can't the Cullens fly?

S: The Twilight vampires can't fly. In fact I don't know any flying vamps…

C: But they've got the brooms!

S: yes? We've got brooms, mine can't fly! Go downstairs and try!

C: but we haven't got the right brooms!

S: ?? They can't use the broom, they don't have magic (apart from Alice maybe) and Hermione can't use a broom very well…

C: Some people can't drive cars very well

S: So what? We get a Cleansweep 7 and get on?

C: Yes, would be great, wouldn't it?

S: Groan. Let's write!

CH8

The first conference of the new school year was almost finished, when the topic of the new students was brought up.

McGonagall who was chairing looked into the round of teachers sitting around the ancient table. "Well?"

"What do you think, Minerva?" Flitwick squeaked from his pile of books at her right hand side.

"I think they are very polite and well-bred…"

"But?" Snape was smiling sardonically.

"But I think they are a little arrogant, to tell the truth. They always give you the feeling they've got far more life-experience than you have, and they – at least that red-haired boy – tends a little to the know-it-all team." Lupin nodded congratulations for the excellent acting performance to his fellow order member.

Prof Sprout complained. "I'm sorry to say that Emmett Cullen keeps sneaking out at night, even though I've told him off for it several times. It is rather exasperating." She wanted to say more but Snape cut in. "Yes, they all show a dangerous disregard for rules. And that enormous chap started hanging around with the Weasley troublemakers, too."

Sprout nodded. "Yes, and as I was going to say, they are not that gifted for Herbology either. Emmett destroyed my whole plantation of Mandrakes accidentally two days ago. Now what am I going to do with my second years?"

Flitwick who had been in the greenhouse when that spectacular event took place chuckled. "Yes, he seems to be an even bigger health hazard than Mr Finnegan."

"Or Longbottom", Snape glared at Sprout who continuously gave Neville excellent marks to Snape's annoyance and thus kept him from failing.

"You have no idea", Lupin muttered ominously under his breath.

The door to the Staff Room opened and Prof Trelawney ghosted in clanking with jewellery.

"Sibyl, how nice of you to have decided to join us after all", McGonagall said sarcastically.

"Did I miss anything?" Trelawney blinked at the gathering short-sightedly.

McGonagall snorted. "We're talking about the Cullens, do you have anything to add?" She asked in an icy voice while Lupin tried to get away from his Nemesis as sneakily as possible.

"Oh, yes, yes, yes! Even though I foresaw lots of tragedies for this term" (yawning sounds from the staff), "I saw her coming of course – one of the best seers of the century. Alice Cullen", she clarified in a theatrical voice for those still interested, picked up a box of tea from the staff kitchen and disappeared again.

Prof Babbling nodded in agreement: "Yes, I must say too that Miss Cullen shows a great talent and creativity for Ancient Runes." Alice had thrown herself into a new language with a vengeance.

Prof Vector agreed. "Yes, the two boys I've got in Arithmancy are among the most excellent students I've ever taught."

"They certainly have amazing eyesight", Prof Sinistra added. "Sometimes I think they can see in the dark as well as cats." McGonagall suppressed a nervous chuckle, then cleared her throat and turned to Prof Binns. "How is your first NEWTs course for History of Magic coming along?"

"Well", drawled the ghost teacher in his most boring voice. "Two students – Edmund and James – are promising, but that tall goof has no historical talent whatsoever like the majority of nowadays students."

Sprout gingerly prodded Flitwick awake again.

"They know a lot about Muggles", Charity Burbage informed the rest. "It almost looks like they're from a Muggle background. In case that hasn't been done I think the Americans should be warned about He-who-must-not-be-named as well."

"Yes, I'll make a note of that and tell the Headmaster to contact his American colleagues."

"Good Luck!" Sinistra said dryly. "Have you tried getting past that hellhound of a new secretary lately? I tell you she's scary!"

"No, she's not", Hagrid contradicted at once, a dreamy look in his eye. "She's charming." Sinistra and McGonagall rolled their eyes in synch.

"Charming?" Flitwick frowned. "She overlooked me!"

"Was that before or after you turned up with a rose conjured from paper?" Snape asked ironically, and Flitwick blushed muttering something unintelligible about people minding their own business.

"Anyway", Hagrid said. "That Emmett bloke you're all putting down is just great! He helped me collect a whole tub full of nifflers in his free time." Several teachers blanched. "And his sister is charming."

"That's what you said a minute ago."

"No, the little pixie-ish one. Never afraid of even the biggest scariest animal. She rode a hippogriff in her first lesson!"

"You have hippogriffs with the students? Again?" McGonagall fixed Hagrid with a stern look over her glasses and the half-giant flinched. "Just as a treat, nothing happened. Her brothers came down later in the day, wanting to try it too."

"I bet", Snape said. "They're certainly not scared of monsters, are they?"

Hagrid looked clueless and McGonagall wrapped up the session when the dinner bell rang.

A/N: We know the Hogwarts teachers would usually talk about Mr Cullen when referring to the students, but we thought they would make it easier on themselves by not getting the brothers mixed up repeatedly by using surname only.