Chapter 8

James and Kevin were among a group of Hufflepuff first years trying to find History of Magic. Lily had gotten up way earlier than them so she and the other Gryffindors had more than likely already found their way to class. "This is stupid. How come a professor doesn't come and help us to our class?" complained a dark haired Hufflepuff named Sean.

"Cuz they want us to learn things on our own." Answered Nate, who was among the last students. Sean didn't seem to like this response however.

"Get to class you lot!" called a prefect annoyingly, earning annoyed and irritable looks from the group of lost first years.

"Let's ask someone." Suggested a blonde Hufflepuff named Susie.

"Lost?" The kids froze and looked behind them at the smiling professor.

"Hello Professor Tabb." They all greeted in unison and he smiled warmly at them.

"I see you're lost. What class would you lot be heading to?" he asked as the older students rushed by, a few of the older girls giggling as they glanced shyly at the attractive new professor.

"We're going to History of Magic." Answered James, speaking up. Tabb nodded.

"I see. Well, why don't I take you there. I'm sure my class can hold on a moment. They're a group of sixth years." He explained as the group of eleven year olds followed him. "So, how well do you like this school… Magnificent isn't it?"

"You didn't come to Hogwarts when you were younger, Professor?" asked Kevin curiously and he shook his head.

"No, I went to school in America. Its nothing like this place I can tell you that."

"How old are you?" asked James making a face. Tabb looked at him curiously. "I'm just saying, you don't look too old and you're for some reason you decided to be a teacher." The man couldn't help but to laugh.

"Quite the little investigator aren't you?" he said and stopped outside their classroom, facing the boys. "Asking questions is good, but remember, if you pry too much it could cause trouble." James and Kevin both stared at him and he smiled warmly at them before giving a wave and leaving the kids. As the others began going into the classroom, they watched at the professor vanished down one of the corridors.

"He's a weird one." Said Kevin and James only nodded in agreement.


Matt and Mike sat in the back of their Defense Against the Dark Arts class with their heads resting on their desk. Tim hadn't arrived yet, but they were sure he'd make it on time. There was chattering all through the room as the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws entered the room and took their seats. "Hey boys!" chimed Brianna as she entered the room and took a seat at the desk in front of the twins.

"Hey Brianna." Greeted Mike as he sat up and yawned a bit. "You haven't seen Tim have you?"

"He was writing a letter home when I saw him in the common room." She answered and glanced over at matt, smiling a bit. "Hey you, better wake up before the professor gets here." Matt only grunted in response.

"We were up late." Mike explained with a tired smile. Brianna shook her head in a knowing manner.

"Honestly there is no reason for you to be up late on the first night back to school you know." At this, Matt lifted his head, eyes squinting tiredly.

"I'll have you know, we were tending to personal Hogwarts business-"

"What kind?" asked Brianna anxiously. The twins stared at her and were about to tell her it was none of her business when their professor walked into the room. The students immediately sat up straight and went silent. The woman moved to the front of the class and turned, looking around at the class of second years.

"Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts, year two." She said, smiling at them. "As you know, I am your new professor. You can call me Miss Ann, Miss Cunnings, or Professor if you prefer." She offered. She was an attractive young woman, probably the same age as Professor Tabb, but a few students wondered why and how she had become a teacher while a few of the boys were developing potential crushes.

"Wonder if she's as nice later as she is now." Crystal whispered to Brianna as Tim came rushing into the room right when role call started.

"Dunno… but no one can be as bad as Snape or McGonagall if you ask me." The girl responded.


"The new professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts is awesome!" The twins were telling Jordan excitedly later that day at lunch. Jordan obviously agreed with his younger brothers as the three Weasley brothers began rambling on about their attractive new professor. Jake had arrived with Jackie and was soon contributing to the conversation but when Brianna and her friends arrived they did not seem so pleased.

"If you love her so much, why don't you marry her." Muttered Crystal. The boys all stopped and Jackie smirked a little when she noticed Brianna had chosen to sit next to Matt but refused to look at him at the moment. Mike rolled his eyes and Tim shook his head from where he sat flipping through his Charms book.

"Like you guys don't have a thing for that Professor Tabb guy." He informed coolly. A few of the girls blushed and Brianna rolled her eyes.

"Professor Tabb happens to be very brilliant." She informed and Matt looked at her as if outraged.

"Brilliant! He just got here. He has yet to prove himself." He informed. He and Brianna glared at each other. Jackie shook her head and was greeted when someone came over and hugged her from behind from where she sat.

"Hey gorgeous!" The younger students stared in confusion at the boy who had arrived and the girl rolled her eyes and smiled up at her classmate, AJ, who had a huge crush on her and wasn't afraid to show it.

"Hey AJ. You were late to class today." She said and he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair as he sat down.

"Unfortunately. Snape gave me detention of course." He said.

"Snape… which teacher is he again?" asked Lily.

"Potions master." Answered Jake and looked at his younger cousins knowingly. "Never be late to his class or disrupt it. You thought Gran was scary when she was mad at you…" he trailed off and the younger kids exchanged nervous looks.

"Just stay outta his way and you'll be fine." Said Jordan knowingly and the younger kids nodded. At that moment, a girl came walking by and Jordan seemed to stop what he was doing and watch her before quickly looking away as she took her seat at the other end of the Gryffindor table. The twins were looking at their older brother curiously and glanced down the table at the girl.

"Who is she?" asked Matt curiously, raising an eyebrow at his slightly flustered older brother who just shrugged a shoulder.

"She's a new girl in our year. She just transferred here from America… I think her name was Anna." Answered Jackie, glancing down the table at their classmate. She had reddish brown hair that was a little past her shoulders and wavy and despite the fact her head was slightly lowered as she flipped through one of her books, Jackie remembered she had green eyes.

"Jordan fancies that one." Jake decided to add in, causing his cousin to look up swiftly and glare at him.

"Shut up! No I don't!" he yelled defensively, causing other students from their house as well as the other three, to look over at him curiously. Jackie just rolled her eyes and pulled out her Charms book, flipping through it.

"You're such a lost case, Jordan."


John looked up from his magazine as his best friend came walking outside to the area where auror training was usually held. He looked a lot more out of focus and worried than usually and all the other witches and wizards were so busy with their own side conversations they hadn't noticed his arrival. "Hey mate." John greeted and Chris gave a simple wave. "What's wrong?" he asked as his long time friend dropped down and sat next to him with a slump and defeated sigh.

"I think Jess hates me." He answered and his friend could only smile at him sympathetically.

"Mate, I thought we already confirmed this, it's the hormones from her pregnancy making her a bit irritable… and the fact you two haven't been able to-"

"Its not that!" Chris announced quickly, cutting him off. "Last night we had a bit of an argument and she left… I thought she'd be back in the morning but she wasn't…" John looked at him sympathetically. He, Jessica, and Chris had been friends ever since their first year of Hogwarts and when they had left Hogwarts, Jessica and Chris argued a lot but would be back on speaking terms hours later if not less. The two of them arguing was not unusual. Jessica leaving and not returning was however.

"I'm sure she's fine, mate. Have you sent her an owl so that she knows how worried you are?" Chris nodded.

"Yeah but still no response…" At that moment, Ron and Harry had come walking out with the new recruits following close behind.

"Alright you lot, take your positions so I can get these guys into groups!" called Ron. Chris sulked over in his spot where he was suppose to be dueling with his three new recruits. They did this to see where they new ones stood in their abilities.

"Hello Mr. Finnigan." Chimed one of the new girls, Mina Beacon, who seemed to have developed some form of attraction or crush on Chris, though the young man hadn't noticed or didn't cared to.

"Hello Mina." he said distractedly as people rushed about to their assigned instructor. Alex Weasley had come along and was standing by her father, waiting to be of assistance if anyone were to be hexed accidentally.

"Wands at the ready!" called Harry. "And-"

"Hey look, an owl!" Clearly everyone was as easily distracted as thought because all of their heads turned at once to the owl who made its way over and dropped a letter onto Chris's head. He didn't hesitate to open it as everyone watched and he paled/

"Chris, what's wrong?" asked Seamus, coming over as his son crushed the letter into his fist.

"Someone take over for me. I gotta go." He announced and began running off.

"Hey, where are you going?" called John as everyone watched in confusion.

"Jessica is in the hospital! Somethings going on with the baby!" he answered and vanished.


Author's Note: Sorry it took so long for an update! Been very distracted, but i'm back and trying to get things back up to speed! omg and i got the last harry potter book. finished reading it a few days ago!!! the book was awesome. won't be spoilers from that book for a while in this story. no worries, i'll put up a warning when it comes to possible spoilers! thanks to the loyal readers and reviewers tho!!!